A64998:137
The wells of salvation opened, or, Words whereby we may be saved
The wells of salvation opened, or, Words whereby we may be saved by Thomas Vincent.
London: printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1668
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Ministers must not in preaching show more wisdom in their Words than in their Matter; and study more for outward show than for inward substance; more that their Sermons be well worded, than that their doctrine be well proved; more that their Sentences may have a handsome close, than that their Arguments be conclusive: It ill becomes thin and weak sense to be clothed with fine and neat speech: Ministers must take heed that their matter be not drowned and lost in the stream and abundance of words. Such whose wisdom and art doth show it self in gathering a bundle and heap of the finest words together, neglecting substantial matter, their wisdom is but folly, and pains to little purpose. Words may fill the ear; Things soak and sink into the soul to edification.
1. Ministers must not in preaching shew more wisdom in their Words than in their Matter; and study more for outward shew than for inward substance; more that their Sermons be well worded, than that their doctrine be well proved; more that their Sentences may have a handsome close, than that their Arguments be conclusive: It ill becomes thin and weak sense to be cloathed with fine and neat speech: Ministers must take heed that their matter be not drowned and lost in the stream and abundance of words. Such whose wisdom and art doth shew it self in gathering a bundle and heap of the finest words together, neglecting substantiall matter, their wisdom is but folly, and pains to little purpose. Words may fill the ear; Things soak and sink into the soul to edification.
2. Ministers must not ordinarily in preaching make use of words of another language which the people do not understand; nor fill their Sermons with quotations and allegations out of Fathers, School-men, and other Authors, which doth but stun and amuse ordinary and the generality of hearers, and savours mostly of ostentation, but tends ⟨p. 69⟩to little edification. Though the Apostle could speak with more tongues than any beside, yet in the Church he chooseth to speak five words in the known tongue to edify, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue,