I know our stile must not be the same with different Auditories; Our language must not only be suited to our matter, but also to our hearers, or else the best Sermon may be worst; we must not read the highest Books to the lowest Form; Therefore was Luther wont to say, That Quipuerilitèr, popularitèr, trivialitèr, & simplicissimè docent, optimi ad vulgus sunt concionatores; but yet it is a poor Sermon that hath nothing but words and noise. Every Reasonable soul hath both Judgment and Affection, and every Rational Spiritual Sermon must have both: A Discourse that hath Judgment without Affection, is dead, and uneffectual, and that which hath Affection without Judgment, is mad and transporting: Remember the Proverb, Non omnes qui habent citharam, sunt citharaedi, Every man is not a Musician that hath an Instrument, or that can jangle it and ⟨p. 512⟩make an noise on it: And that other Proverb, Multi sunt qui Boves stimulant, pauci aratores, Many can prick the Oxen, but few can Plough; so many Preachers can talk loud and earnestly, but few can guide their Flock aright, or open to them solidly the mysteries of the Gospel, and show the true mean betwixt the extremes of contrary errors: I know both must be done; Holding the Plough without driving the Oxen, doth nothing and driving without holding, maketh mad work, and is worse then nothing: But yet remember, that every Plough-boy can drive, but to guide is more difficult, and therefore belongeth to the Master Workman; The violence of the Natural motion of the Winds can drive on the Ship; but there is necessary a Rational motion to guide and govern it, or else it will quickly be on the Rocks or Shelves, either broke or sunk, and had better lye still in the Harbour, or at Anchor: The horses that have no Reason can set the Coach or Cart a going, but if there be not some that have reason to guide them, it were better stand still. O therefore let me bespeak you, my brethren, in the Name of the Lord, especially those that are more young and weak, that you tremble at the greatness of this holy Employment, and run not up into a Pulpit as boldly as into the Market place; Study and Pray, and Pray and Study, till you are become Workmen that need not be ashamed,1 rightly dividing the Word of Truth, that your people may not be ashamed, or aweary to hear you;
I know our stile must not be the same with different Auditories; Our language must not only be suited to our matter, but also to our hearers, or else the best Sermon may be worst; we must not read the highest Books to the lowest Form; Therefore was Luther wont to say, That Quipuerilitèr, popularitèr, trivialitèr, & simplicissimè docent, optimi ad vulgus sunt concionatores; but yet it is a poor Sermon that hath nothing but words and noise. Every Reasonable soul hath both Judgment and Affection, and every Rational Spiritual Sermon must have both: A Discourse that hath Judgment without Affection, is dead, and uneffectual, and that which hath Affection without Judgment, is mad and transporting: Remember the Proverb, Non omnes qui habent citharam, sunt citharaedi, Every man is not a Musitian that hath an Instrument, or that can jangle it and ⟨p. 512⟩make an noise on it: And that other Proverb, Multi sunt qui Boves stimulant, pauci aratores, Many can prick the Oxen, but few can Plow; so many Preachers can talk loud and earnestly, but few can guide their Flock aright, or open to them solidly the mysteries of the Gospel, and shew the true mean betwixt the extreams of contrary errors: I know both must be done; Holding the Plow without driving the Oxen, doth nothing and driving without holding, maketh mad work, and is worse then nothing: But yet remember, that every Plow-boy can drive, but to guide is more difficult, and therefore belongeth to the Master Workman; The violence of the Natural motion of the Windes can drive on the Ship; but there is necessary a Rational motion to guide and govern it, or else it will quickly be on the Rocks or Shelves, either broke or sunk, and had better lye still in the Harbor, or at Anchor: The horses that have no Reason can set the Coach or Cart a going, but if there be not some that have reason to guide them, it were better stand still. O therefore let me bespeak you, my brethren, in the Name of the Lord, especially those that are more young and weak, that you tremble at the greatness of this holy Imployment, and run not up into a Pulpit as boldly as into the Market place; Study and Pray, and Pray and Study, till you are become Workmen that need not be ashamed,1 rightly dividing the Word of Truth, that your people may not be ashamed, or aweary to hear you;
- 12 Tim. 2.15.
