A priest to the temple, or, The country parson his character, and rule of holy life. The authour, Mr G.H.

CHAP. VII. The Parson preaching. (Book 7)

THe Countrey Parson prea∣cheth constantly, the pulpit is his joy and his throne: if he at any time intermit, it is either for want of health, or against some great Festivall, that he may the bet∣ter celebrate it, or for the variety of the hearers, that he may be heard at his returne more attentively. When he intermits, he is ever very well supplyed by some able man who treads in his steps, and will not throw down what he hath built; whom also he intreats to press some point, that he himself hath often urged with no great success, that so in the mouth of two or three wit∣nesses the truth may be more establi∣shed.

When he preacheth, he pro∣cures attention by all possible art, both by earnestnesse of speech, it being naturall to men to think, that where is much earnestness, there is somewhat worth hearing; and by a diligent, and busy cast of his eye on his auditors, with letting them know, that he observes who marks, and who not; and with particulari∣zing of his speech now to the youn∣ger fort, then to the elder, now to the poor, and now to the rich. This is for you, and This is for you; for particulars ever touch, and awake more then generalls. Herein also he serves himselfe of the judgements of God, as of those of antient times, so especially of the late ones; and those most, which are nearest to his Parish; for people are very atten∣tive at such discourses, and think it behoves them to be so, when God is so neer them, and even over their heads. Sometimes he tells them

stories, and sayings of others, ac∣cording as his text invites him; for them also men heed, and remember better then exhortations; which though earnest, yet often dy with the Sermon, especially with Coun∣trey people; which are thick, and heavy, and hard to raise to a poynt of Zeal, and fervency, and need a mountaine of fire to kindle them; but stories and sayings they will well remember. He often tels them, that Sermons are dangerous things, that none goes out of Church as he came in, but either better, or worse; that none is careless before his Judg, and that the word of God shal Judge us. By these and other means the Parson procures at∣tention; but the character of his Sermon is Holiness; he is not wit∣ty, or learned, or eloquent, but Ho∣ly. A Character, that Hermoge∣nes never dream'd of, and therefore he could give no precepts thereof.

But it is gained first, by choosing texts of Devotion, not Controver∣sie, moving and ravishing texts, whereof the Scriptures are full. Se∣condly, by dipping, and seasoning all our words and sentences in our hearts, before they come into our mouths, truly affecting, and cordi∣ally expressing all that we say; so that the auditors may plainly per∣ceive that every word is hart-deep. Thridly, by turning often, and ma∣king many Apostrophes to God, as, Oh Lord blesse my people, and teach them this point; or, Oh my Master, on whose errand I come, let me hold my peace, and doe thou speak thy selfe; for thou art Love, and when thou teachest, all are Scholers. Some such irradi∣ations scatteringly in the Sermon, carry great holiness in them. The Prophets are admirable in this. So Isa. 64. Oh that thou would'st rent the Heavens, that thou wouldst come down,

&c. And Ieremy, Chapt. 10. after he had complained of the deso∣lation of Israel, turnes to God suddenly, Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, &c. Fourth∣ly, by frequent wishes of the peoples good, and joying therein, though he himself were with Saint Paul even sacrificed upon the service of their faith. For there is no greater sign of holinesse, then the procuring, and rejoycing in anothers good. And herein St Paul excelled in all his Epistles. How did he put the Romans in all his prayers? Rom. 1.9. And ceased not to give thanks for the Ephesians, Eph. 1.16. And for the Corinthians, chap. 1.4. And for the Philippians made request with joy ch. 1.4. And is in conten∣tion for them whither to live, or dy; be with them, or Christ, verse 23. which, setting aside his care of his Flock, were a madnesse to doubt of. What an admirable Epistle is the

second to the Corinthians? how full of affections? he joyes, and he is sorry, he grieves, and he gloryes, never was there such care of a flock expressed, saye in the great shep∣herd of the fold, who first shed teares over Ierusalem, and after∣wards blood. Therefore this care may be learn'd there, and then woven into Sermons, which will make them appear exceeding reve∣rend, and holy. Lastly, by an of∣ten urging of the presence, and ma∣jesty of God, by these, or such like speeches. Oh let us all take heed what we do, God sees us, he sees whether I speak as I ought, or you hear as you ought, he sees hearts, as we see faces: he is a∣mong us; for if we be here, hee must be here, since we are here by him, and without him could not be here. Then turning the dis∣course to his Majesty, And he is a great God, and terrible, as great

in mercy, so great in judgement: There are but two devouring ele∣ments, fire, and water, he hath both in him; His voyce is as the sound of many waters, Revelations 1. And he himselfe is a consuming fire, Hebrews 12. Such discourses shew very Holy. The Parsons Method in handling of a text con∣fists of two parts; first, a plain and evident declaration of the meaning of the text; and secondly, some choyce Observations drawn out of the whole text, as it lyes entire, and unbroken in the Scripture it self. This he thinks naturall, and sweet, and grave. Whereas the other way of crumbling a text into small parts, as, the Person speaking, or spoken to, the subject, and object, and the like, hath neither in it sweetnesse, nor gravity, nor variety, since the words apart are not Scripture, but a dictionary, and may be con∣sidered

alike in all the Scripture. The Parson exceeds not an hour in preaching, because all ages have thought that a competency, and he that profits not in that time, will lesse afterwards, the same affection which made him not profit before, making him then weary, and so he grows from not relishing, to loa∣thing.