[ 1075] Eloquence, if not affected, an excellent gift of God.
IT was certainly a great fault it Spyridon,* 1.1 Bishop of Cyprus, (though otherwise a very godly man) that when Triphilli••s his brother Bi••hop (more eloquent haply then himself) was preaching on that Text of the Paralytick, Take up thy bed and walk, Mar. 2. 4. where in stead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (the words being synonymous) not brooking that he should vary the least tittle of the Text, though for another of the self-same signification, said unto him, What, art thou better than Christ himself, that used the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉? And thereupon rose up off his seat,* 1.2 and departed in great discontent. This was somewhat too much; for certainly, there is some latitude, some Christian liberty left, wherein to expatiate. Eloquence, with∣out all doubt, is a singular gift of God, if not affected, idolized, abused; and be∣comes no man better then a Divine, whose part it is, by the tongue of the Lear∣ned, * 1.3 to time a word, and to set it upon its circumferences, to declare unto a man his Righteousnesse,* 1.4 when not one of a thousand can do it like him; to seek to find out acceptable words,* 1.5 such as have goads and nails in them,* 1.6 being neither lecta, nor ne∣glecta, too curious, nor too carelesse, because that Gods holy things must be hand∣led, sanctè magis quam scit••, with fear and reverence, rather then with wit and dalliance.