The fifth ground concerns humane eloquence, and that 1is this, we must not use the excellency or wisdom of words, but deliver the word in the plain evidence of the ⟨p. 312⟩spirit and of Power. That is, that there be no mingling of humane learning with divine mysteries in showing the testimonies of God, though the words be pure matter, we may not set an excellent stile upon them, but plainness which becomes the gravity of it. The word may be delivered in an high still, yet so as pearls, that it may shine in its natural brightness, otherwise it rather beautifies the speaker then the word; I appeal to the consciences of men, if in these deliverances it doth not sapere aliquid humani, and though we think not so at the first, yet many on their death beds have said it. If this seem to slight, see the Apostle, I came not saith he in humane wisdom, that is in tricks of wit, and in the thirteenth verse which words we speak not in the words that mans wisdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghost teacheth. He was not only careful that his master was found, but that his words were also plain, 1 Cor. 1. 17. Christ sent me to preach the Gospel, not in the wisdom of words. And what can be meant by this but that curiousness of stile, which rather weakens then strengthens the work. To this there is this liberty; that when we cannot well express our selves otherwise, when some sentence taken out of an Author, will more pithily express our mind, we may use it, only these cautions observed.
The fifth gro•nd concerns humane el•quence, and that 1is this, we must not use the excellency or wisdom of words, but deliver the word in the plain evidence of the ⟨p. 312⟩spirit and of Power. That is, that there be no mingling of humane learning with divine mysteries in shewing the testimonies of God, though the words be pure matter, we may not set an excellent stile upon them, but plainess which becomes the gravity of it. The word may be delivered in an high still, yet so as pearls, that it may shine in its natural brightness, otherwise it rather beautifies the speaker then the word; I appeal to the consciences of men, if in these deliverances it doth not sapere aliquid humani, and though we think not so at the first, yet many on their death beds have said it. If this seem to slight, see the Apostle, I came not saith he in humame wisdom, that is in tricks of wit, and in the thirteenth verse which words we speak not in the words that mans wisdome teacheth, but which the holy Ghost teacheth. He was not onely careful that his master was found, but that his words were also plain, 1 Cor. 1. 17. Christ sent me to preach the Gospel, not in the wisdome of words. And what can be meant by this but that curiousness of stile, which rather weakens then strengthens the work. To this there is this liberty; that when we cannot well express our selves otherwise, when some sentence taken out of an Author, will more pithily express our mind, we may use it, onely these cautions observed.
- 15. Ground.
