Kaina kai palaia Things new and old, or, A store-house of similies, sentences, allegories, apophthegms, adagies, apologues, divine, morall, politicall, &c. : with their severall applications / collected and observed from the writings and sayings of the learned in all ages to this present by John Spencer ...

[ 638] The Scriptures Rhetorick.

IF we look up to the Heavens, we find in some part of the skie single stars by themselves, in others a Constellation of many stars together; So, in some passages of holy Writ, you may observe one Figure or Trope as a Membrum, or similiter ca∣dens; I was an hungry, and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty, &c. Mat. 25. 35. or an Allegory,* 1.1 as, Where the body is, there the Eagles will be, Mat. 24. 28. or an Exclama∣tion, O that they were wise, &c. Deut. 32. 29. Or an Apostrophe, which by a kind of Miracle, giveth life to dead things, and ears to the deaf, Hear O Heavens, Hearken O Earth! &c. Esay 1. 2. And in other passages there is a Conjunction of many figures, and Ornaments of speech, as in that Text; Is there no balme in Gi∣lead? no Physitian there? VVhy then is not the health of my people restored? Ier. 8. 22. Here now are four figures couched up together.

• 1. An Interrogation for more Emphatical conviction.
• 2. A Communication for more familiar Introduction.
• 3. An Allegory for more lively Expression.
• 4. An Aposiopesis for safer Reprehension. And the like may be observed in our Saviours exprobration of the Iews; O that thou knewest in this thy day, the things that belong to thy Peace, O Ierusalem, Ierusalem, &c. Mat. 23. 27. Where there is is a Posie of Rhetorical flowers.

• 1. An Acclamation, O si cognovisses, &c.
• 2. A Repetition, Ierusalem, Ierusalem.
• 3. An Interrogation, Quoties volui, &c.
• 4. An Icon, or lively expression to the eye, Sicut gallina congregat pullos, &c.

Where are now our A••••baptists, and plain pack-stasse Methodists, who esteem of all ••lowers of Rhetorick i•• Sermons,* 1.2 no better then sti••king weeds, and of all elegan∣cy of speech, then of prophane spells; and so at unawars censure the holy Oracles of God, which excell all other writings, as well in Eloquence as Science? And where too is the prophane Critick, that delights in the flesh-pot, and loaths Manna, that admires carnal Eloquence in Poets and Heathen Orators, and taxeth the Scripture for simplicity and want of all Art and Eloquence?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Funeral Ser∣mons, or, House of mourning.
• * 1.2

  Tanta est Chri∣stianarum pro∣funditas litera∣rum, &c. Aug. Ep. 2. ad Volu∣sian.