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Whereunto these two things are required; namely, that he preach the Word powerfully & plainly; powerfully to the consciences of all, & plain∣ly to the capacity (as much as in him lieth) of those which are most simple. Of both we haue the Apostle Paul for our patterne, who though he were
most learned aboue all other the Apostles, both in arts and tongues, and all other learning of the Iewes, yet came not in excellency of speech, nor the inticing words of mans wisedome, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; desiring to know nothing (that is, to make shew of no other knowledge) sa∣uing Iesus Christ and him crucified; and preferring fiue words spoken to the vn∣derstanding of his hearers, aboue ten thousand in an vnknowne tongue. Yea, we haue heerein our Sauiour Christ himselfe, as our Precedent, who preached the Word, not like the Scribes and Pharises (after a ieiune and Scholasti∣call manner) but with all power and authority. And though hee were the wisedome of his Father, in whom all treasures of knowledge and learning were hid; and the word of his Father, exceeding in sound eloquence both men and Angels, yet preached the Word in a plaine phrase and humble man∣ner of speech, not respecting what hee was able to speake, but what his Disciples were able to heare, conceiue, and carry away; like a louing and carefull nurse, chawing the harder and stronger meate in his mouth, that they might the better receiue it, whilst he explained more difficult points, by easie and familiar similitudes. Neither had hee onely care of more thorowly informing those who were men growne in knowledge, by tea∣ching them the high and hidden mysteries of his Kingdome, but also of instructing his little children and yong nouices in the first principles of true Religion, as it was prophesied of him by Esayas, All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be their peace. And like a faithfull and carefull Shepheard, hee did not onely apply himselfe to feed his whole flock, but extended his care and loue chiefly to his yonglings, gathering his Lambes with his arme, and carrying them in his bosome, and gently leading those which were great with yong. The which care and charge, when hee was to ascend on high, hee deputed to the Apostle Peter, and in him to all the whole Ministery, that they should feed his tender Lambes, as well as his older and stronger Sheepe. And therefore though the ouer-wise Grecians account the simple preaching of Christ crucified, foolishnesse; and the lear∣ned Doctors of the world make themselues sport with this easie plaine∣nesse: Let all that truely feare God, chuse rather to imitate Christ and his Apostles in their course of preaching, labouring to speake vnto the capa∣city of the meanest and simplest, seeing the charge of their soules is com∣mended vnto them by our great Shepheard, as well as theirs who are of greatest vnderstanding, and the soules of all being alike deare vnto God, they shall giue account of one as well as of another, of the little Lambes, as well as of the Rammes of the flocke. And seeing we must not only take care for our selues, that wee may goe to heauen alone, but are appointed Captaines and Leaders of Gods Armies, wee must not skorne plaine wayes, wherein all our company may goe with vs, the weake and sicke, as well as the strong and healthy; and mount aloft in learned discourses and Scholasticall speculations (as it were vpon the Alpes) which are no lesse high aboue their capacity, then cold and heartlesse, giuing no warmth to their zeale and deuotion; or trauell in the craggy and rough wayes of knottie controuersies, needlesse genealogies, and abstruse difficulties, where wee shall leaue all our hearers afarre off behind vs: but chuse rather such faire wayes and beaten paths, as will bring vs and our company with vs,
with most speed and safety to the end of our iourney. For though heereby we cannot commend our strength and swiftnesse, though we outrun others that haue set out before vs, because they go in mountainous wayes, & farre about, yet we shall commend our wisedome and prudence, in that we haue chosen the fairest and neerest way. And surely if an vnpartiall view were ta∣ken of seuerall congregations, and iust tryal made, whether those haue best thriuen in the Christian growth, who haue bin diligently fed with ordina∣ry food and daily bread, or those who are sometimes feasted with a banket of delicate dishes; I doubt not but it would be found, that as sometime Da∣niel and his fellows, that fed vpon plaine pulse, which God had sanctified to their vse, were fatter and in better liking then they that did eate the portion of the kings meate: so those people and Parishes would be found more thri∣uing Christians, both in knowledge & practice, who are fed with the pulse of plaine Preaching, & with wholsome, though homely food, because they can feed vpon it, and better disgest it, then others that haue a kingly porti∣on of abstruse learning, wit, and eloquence, sometimes (though rarely) al∣lowed vnto them, seeing they are meates of too hard disgestion for their weake stomakes, causing crudities, humorous and ill-concocted conceits, and seldome affording any wholesome nourishment.
1. Cor. 2. 1, 2, 4.
1. Cor. 14. 19.
Col. 2. 3.
Mar. 4. 33. Ioh. 16. 12.
Ioh. 3. 3, 4, 5.
Esa. 54. 13.
Ioh. 6. 45.
Esa. 40. 11.
1. Cor. 1. 23.
Dan. 1. 15.