Thirdly, Jesus Christ our great Prophet hath manifested to us the will of God plainly, and perspicuously. When he was on earth himself, he taught the People by Parables; and without a Parable he spake nothing, Matth. 13. 3, 4. He clothed Sublime and Spiritual mysteries in earthly Metaphors, stooping them thereby to the low and dull capacities of men. Speaking so familiarly to the People about them, as if he had been speaking earthly things ⟨p. 103⟩to them,1 Joh. 3.12. And so (according to his own example) would he have his Ministers Preach, using great plainness of speech, 2 Cor. 3.12. And by manifestation of the truth commending themselves to every mans conscience, 2 Cor. 4.2. Yet not allowing them to be rude and careless in expression, pouring out indigested, crude, immethodical words. No, an holy, serious, strict, and grave expression befits the lips of his Ambassadors. And who ever spake more weightily, more Logically, or persuasively than that Apostle, by whose Pen Christ hath admonished us to beware of vain affectation, and swelling words of vanity? But he would have us stoop to the understandings of the meanest. And not give the People a Comment darker than the Text. He would have us rather pierce their consciences, than tickle their fancies. And break their heart, than please their ears. Christ was a very plain Preacher.
Thirdly, Jesus Christ our great Prophet hath manifested to us the will of God plainly, and perspicuously. When he was on earth himself, he taught the People by Parables; and without a Parable he spake nothing, Matth. 13. 3, 4. He cloathed Sublime and Spiritual mysteries in earthly Metaphors, stooping them thereby to the low and dull capacities of men. Speaking so familiarly to the People about them, as if he had been speaking earthly things ⟨p. 103⟩to them,1 Ioh. 3.12. And so (according to his own example) would he have his Ministers Preach, using great plainness of speech, 2 Cor. 3.12. And by manifestation of the truth commending themselves to every mans conscience, 2 Cor. 4.2. Yet not allowing them to be rude and careless in expression, pouring out indigested, crude, immethodical words. No, an holy, serious, strict, and grave expression befits the lips of his Embassadours. And who ever spake more weightily, more Logically, or perswasively than that Apostle, by whose Pen Christ hath admonished us to beware of vain affectation, and swelling words of vanity? But he would have us stoop to the understandings of the meanest. And not give the People a Comment darker than the Text. He would have us rather pierce their consciences, than tickle their phancies. And break their heart, than please their ears. Christ was a very plain Preacher.
- 1Nec tamen cò tendit haec Apost•li Apologia quasi concionatoribus quaflibet loquendi sordes, & quicquid in buccam venerit, effutiendi libidinem nullo sensu, methodo, gravitate, judicio dictaret. Quis enim paulo nostro aut conscienciis bominum, altius intonat? Aut argumentoram ponder firmiorem assensum cogit? Quis suavi magis, sed calesti vî, affectus in transversum rapit? Reynolds ubi Supra.Nec tamen cò tendit haec Apost•li Apologia q•asi concionatoribus quaflibet loquendi sordes, & quicquid in buccam venerit, effutiendi libidinem nullo sensu, methodo, gravitate, judicio dictaret. Quis enim paulo nostro aut conscienciis bominum, altius intonat? Aut argumentoram pondere firmiorem assensum cogit? Quis suavi magis, sed calesti vî, affectus in transversum rapit? Reynolds ubi Supra.
