Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

But then the Ancients often took a Liberty for one thing, which would be in these Churches (if ever allowed upon some extraordinary Emergencies unto Persons of extraordinary Abilities,) but rarely approved; They commonly Preached Ex tempore: Thus both Jerome and Ruffin agree concerning many Homilies of Origen, Has Ex tempore in Ecclesia peroravit; and, In auditorio Ecclesiae Ex tempore, non tam Explanation is quam Edificationis intentione perorata sunt. And all that we have now of Cyril of Jerusalem, are, as Vossius observes, Catecheses ΣΧΕΔΙΑΣΘΕΙΣΑΣ, extemporales. Thus we find some of them, like Nazianzen, Preaching from the Psalm which happened to be sung before the Sermon. And Flavianus advised Chrysostom, To use an extemporary faculty in preaching. In Compliance with which Advice, Georgia Alexandrinus writing his Life, tells us, that the People saw him sometimes ΑΥΤΟΣΧΕΔΩΣ, Ex Tempore preaching unto them. And tho' Atticus had not the like Accomplishments of his Predecessor Chrysostom, yet Socrates tells us, that by Labour and Practice, he also attained unto the Faculty of delivering himself ex Tempore unto his Auditory. Jerome, 'tis true, was no constant Preacher, but several of his Discourses now in ⟨p. 59⟩our Hands, were as himself tells us, Ex temporales Dictationes, taken in short Hand; And his Interpretation of the Three Books of Solomon, was Tridui Opus dispatched in three Days time. Augustin likewise, as Erasmus observes, used Extemporali Diction, in his Preaching; and he judges this Father more excellent in his Extemporal Discourses than in his Elaborate; as if he had been what the Historian says of Tiberius, Ex tempore quam a Cura praestantior. Firmus the Manichee was converted by one of those Discourses, and the World had not now enjoyed them, if they had not been taken, Per notarios ex Ore Loquentis. A Faculty of Preaching with little Study, has been by too many it may be endeavoured in the Churches of New-England; and there have been diverse Temptations leading to it. But well studied Sermons are those which among Judicious Christians in these Churches find the best Acceptance, and are the best esteemed: The Churches do not ordinarily reckon it a Commendation for their Ministers, e Manicis Concionem excutere.

But then the Ancients often took a Liberty for one thing, which would be in these Churches (if ever allowed upon some extraordinary Emergencies unto Persons of extraordinary Abilities,) but rarely approved; They commonly Preached Ex tempore: Thus both Jerom and Ruffin agree concerning many Homilies of Origen, Has Ex tempore in Ecclesia peroravit; and, In auditorio Ecclesiae Ex tempore, non tam Explanation is quam Edificationis intentione perorata sunt. And all that we have now of Cyril of Jerusalem, are, as Vossius observes, Catecheses ΣΧΕΔΙΑΣΘΕΙΣΑΣ, extemporales. Thus we find some of them, like Nazianzen, Preaching from the Psalm which happened to be sung before the Sermon. And Flavianus advised Chrysostom, To use an extemporary faculty in preaching. In Compliance with which Advice, Georgi Alexandrinus writing his Life, tells us, that the People saw him sometimes ΑΥΤΟΣΧΕΔΩΣ, Ex Tempore preaching unto them. And tho' Atticus had not the like Accomplishments of his Predecessor Chrysostom, yet Socrates tells us, that by Labour and Practice, he also attained unto the Faculty of delivering himself ex Tempore unto his Auditory. Jerom, 'tis true, was no constant Preacher, but several of his Discourses now in