Those Ministers whose only delight it is to make Elegant Discourses, busking ⟨image 3⟩them up with a vain flourish of Words (as if the plain Truths of the Gospel were not palatable, but needed some correctives to render them more grateful to mens appetites) and those who perplex their Hearers with Intricate, Philosophical Notions, seem more to hunt after Popular applause than sincerely to endeavour the Conversion and Salvation of Souls: But those who design faithfully, to discharge that great Trust committed to them by their Lord and Master, will be sure to shun both these, and to deliver the Truths of the Gospel in as plain and homely a dress as may be, that the way of Salvation may be set forth to the meanest Capacities: Like the famous Gregory Nazianzen, who (tho he was Master of as much Learning as any in his day, yet) was very ⟨image 4⟩plain in his Preaching; and a Godly laborious Preacher here, sometimes since with the Lord, who when he had written his Sermon, used to read it over to his Servants; and if any thing in it transcended their Capacities, altered it, and made it so plain, that he was sure nothing in it could surmount the Understandings of the meanest of his Hearers. And all that ever heard the worthy Author or read any of his Sermons, can sufficiently testify how well he acquitted himself in this point: And those that have not, may fully be convinced of it by reading these Sermons, which they will find as plain and obvious as can be desired, delivered in as few words as possible, so as to leave out nothing necessary in order to explaining the true meaning of the Text. Were this ⟨image 4⟩golden Rule generally observed much more Fruit might be expected by the preaching of the Gospel than now is, and those who desire to be most serviceable in their Generation, would not be misrepresented as Canters by men that speak evil of things they understand not.
Those Ministers whose only delight it is to make Elegant Discourses, busking ⟨image 3⟩them up with a vain flourish of Words (as if the plain Truths of the Gospel were not palatable, but needed some correctives to render them more grateful to mens appetites) and those who perplex their Hearers with Intricate, Philosophical Notions, seem more to hunt after Popular applause than sincerely to endeavour the Conversion and Salvation of Souls: But those who design faithfully, to discharge that great Trust committed to them by their Lord and Master, will be sure to shun both these, and to deliver the Truths of the Gospel in as plain and homely a dress as may be, that the way of Salvation may be set forth to the meanest Capacities: Like the famous Gregory Nazianzen, who (tho he was Master of as much Learning as any in his day, yet) was very ⟨image 4⟩plain in his Preaching; and a Godly laborious Preacher here, sometimes since with the Lord, who when he had written his Sermon, used to read it over to his Servants; and if any thing in it transcended their Capacities, altered it, and made it so plain, that he was sure nothing in it could surmount the Understandings of the meanest of his Hearers. And all that ever heard the worthy Author or read any of his Sermons, can sufficiently testifie how well he acquitted himself in this point: And those that have not, may fully be convinced of it by reading these Sermons, which they will find as plain and obvious as can be desired, delivered in as few words as possible, so as to leave out nothing neeessary in order to explaining the true meaning of the Text. Were this ⟨image 4⟩golden Rule generally observed much more Fruit might be expected by the preaching of the Gospel than now is, and those who desire to be most serviceable in their Generation, would not be misrepresented as Canters by men that speak evil of things they understand not.
