The saints everlasting rest

And as you must be plain and serious, so labour to be skilful and discreet, that the manner may somewhat answer the excellency of the matter. How oft have I heard a stammering tongue, with ridiculous expressions, vain repetitions, tedious circumlocutions, and unseemly pronunciation, spoil most precious doctrine, and make the hearers either loath it, or laugh at it! How common are these extremes, while one spoils the food of life by affectation, and new-fashioned mincing, and pedantic toys, either setting forth a little and mean matter with a great deal of froth, and gaudy dressing; or hiding excellent truths in a heap of vain rhetoric on the other side! How many by their slovenly dressing, make men loath the food of life, and cast up that which should nourish them! Such novices are admitted into the sacred function, to the hardening of the wicked, and the disgrace of the work of the LORD; and those that are not able to speak sense or reason, are made the ambassadors of the most high GOD.

And as you must be plain and serious, so labour to be skilful and discreet, that the manner may somewhat answer the excellency of the matter. How oft have I heard a stammering tongue, with ridiculous expressions, vain repetitions, tedious circumlocutions, and unseemly pronunciation, spoil most precious doctrine, and make the hearers either loath it, or laugh at it! How common are these extremes, while one spoils the food of life by affectation, and new-fashioned mincing, and pedantic toys, either setting forth a little and mean matter with a great deal of froth, and gaudy dressing; or hiding excellent truths in a heap of vain rhetoric on the other side! How many by their slovenly dressing, make men loath the food of life, and cast up that which shoul nourish them! Such novices are admitted into the sacred function, to the hardening of the wicked, and the disgrace of the work of the LORD; and those that are not able to speak sense or reason, are made the ambassadors of the most high GOD.

O therefore let me bespeak you my brethren, in the name of the LORD, especially those that are more young and weak, that you tremble at the greatness of this holy employment, and run not up into a pulpit as boldly as into the market-place: study and pray, pray and study, till you are become workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, that your people may not be ashamed, or weary to hear you: but that besides your clear unfolding the doctrine of the gospel, you may also be masters of your people's affections. It is a work that requireth your most serious searching thoughts: running, hasty, easy studies, bring forth blind births. When you are the most renowned doctors in the church of GOD, alas, how little is it that you know, in comparison of all that which you are ignorant of!