Eke ?'rexcher.rplea. 533 utterly outof Sermons , I darenor , becaufc I find themvied by that worthie Taal three feucrall times f:yet t his I fay , that asPeatexample warranteth, JAasa738. foitlimiteth thevfe of filch telimonies , and ihewcth, that ir mull bee done 33 Tiros to z wifelyand foberly, and that open two óccafions chiefly : theone is, to coruince 7 redenter it 4theifts and irreligious perlons , which efteeme not the Scripture, that they(brie nab. may be driuen to fay, Weeare pierced with ear conegaillu ; and by that meases prepryK pessit may bee eitherconnected orli fenced. Anotheroccafionis,byIonicotheradli- zeewile. ors or Cpeeches oftheirs to dame thofe that profeffe thernfelues Chriffjaus. I r e p R rememberhowGod threatneth to provoke the peopleof IfraelwithafoolifhNa- t t)eüi. 17at. tins? According as many times the Prophets toreformethe backwardoeffe and flackneffe of the Iewes , preach to themof the forwardneffc and zeale that fhouid be in the Gentiles after their conuerfion, The famekind of reafo- fling nodoubt a Preachermay Cometieses very profitablyvfe , by the moral- ly good precepts odd a c ionsoftheHeathee,tocheckethecat'elefneffeofinen ptofelljng Chriftianity. Thus , now and then I hold amanmay tollerably al- leage a lentenceofa profane Writer, and a fpeechof a Heathen Author. As for the strangemanner ofpreaching whichis in vfe inmany places, both in the Vniuerfitiesand elfewhere,there is no manwell affeeted,but ifheeknowethir,. bee Both exceedingly pity it. One,as thdugh the pulpit were butas afcaffold, in which helike a Matter ofDefence were to playhis prizes, and to gluetefli- mony of his wit, playeth upon euery word , and defcantethopon curry let- ter in his text, and as though the Scripture were buta rattle for Childrenand raquam Ar- fooles tomake fport withall, he tolfeth it hither andthither, andwill notfaile tusumeeepita- to offerirany violenceto frame it toan imagined conceit, andto draw it to an idlepurpofe. Another, as if his purpofe were onelyto amaze the vulgar, and saJptam to affrightand aflonilb the multitude , mounted) aloft , and is all inhi/great tfc11ee, words, and newcoyned phrafes, more fitfor Come Mimickor Tragedian, then Proyoitam- a Wailer ofthe Gofpell. Athird,togaine the opinionofaprofoundman, that pauil&ln looketh into matters ofmoredepth then the common fort , rubbethouer the gerbeá; vnfauory wr;tings ofCome Moath.eaten Frier,and byan vncoth fafhionoftea- ching, v together with amultitude ofAllegories and intricatedilin&ions, ma- zethbothhimfelfe and all thole wholevnhappy chance iris to be his hearers.A fourth;to be reputed a goodlingnift, and a man ofgreat reading, Ituffethhis Sermon with alegionof allegations,andenterlaceth it with many fhreddings ofLatine and Greeke, andby that meanes, though lois do&rine perhaps may bee profitable, yet he cónfoundeth the memory of the diligent and arten- title hearer. Thus, whilemenbeing fcke ofthe Pharifaicall dtfeafe, Lon the praifeofmen mere then thepraifeofGed,, and preferre the oftcntation of their a /oh.,y3: ownefuppofed learningbefore theedification of-Gods Church , the peopleis brought either into filch an amazedneffe, as they thinke that any thingmay be made ofthe Scripture , or to fifthan vnfetledneffe its judgement, as thatthey doe rather hunt after varietyof Teachers for their ftrange manner ofpreach- ing, then leckefor foundirflru&ion for their owne better edifying. Thushaue you my lodgement touching the vfe of humane teflimonies in the exercife of preaching. Nymph. Iwillinglyagreevntoyen in thatwhich yonbanefind touching. fewmeitk coarfe efpreacbingr tbane [onetime, my felfebeenat fememew ferment whichhadthe name ofgreat Clarke,and/earned men , andyet (it maybee mine runedalneffe mar the eaafe)fetchbathbeen theirnaai,nerofhandling,fafall ofSehoolepuints, andrearm, and ponyofmen,:bat neitherbath my iadgemeutbeen bettered, nor my eenfcienceany whit confined. But I due notyet fee how you will make the parteof your rune finch teagree : yeafay muff bee learned and eloquent, andyet yen arefiraite in allotingtbeofe efthofe things rehabmay teflifie learning, andgarnifhandfetforth year Sermons:for Italon in-theCeantryhere,y?narena thonghilearered,noryete!ogacnt,fa ßb b 4 long
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=