A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

Whereunto these two things are required; namely, that he preach the Word powerfully & plainly; powerfully to the consciences of all, & plainly to the capacity (as much as in him lieth) of those which are most simple. Of both we have the Apostle Paul for our pattern, who though he were ⟨p. 485⟩most learned above all other the Apostles, both in arts and tongues, and all other learning of the Jews, yet came not in excellency of speech, nor the ¹enticing words of mans wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; desiring to know nothing (that is, to make show of no other knowledge) saving Jesus Christ and him crucified; and preferring five words spoken to the understanding ²of his hearers, above ten thousand in an unknown tongue. Yea, we have herein our Saviour Christ himself, as our Precedent, who preached the Word, not like the Scribes and Pharisees (after a jejune and Scholastical manner) but with all power and authority. And though he were the wisdom of his Father, in whom all treasures of knowledge and learning were ³hid; and the word of his Father, exceeding in sound eloquence both men and Angels, yet preached the Word in a plain phrase and humble manner of speech, not respecting what he was able to speak, but what his Disciples were able to hear, conceive, and carry away; like a loving and