Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

CONFORMITY.

The Preaching of the Word being the principal duty of the Holy Ministry, the Compilers of our Discipline have taken particular care exactly to prescribe to Mini∣sters the Subject and Manner of doing it; these are the two things contain'd in this great Article; As to what regards the Subject of their Sermons, it must always be taken in the Holy Scripture; The Council of Laodicea calls it, The Dispensation of the Word of Faith, * 1.1 and of the right and true Word; and it is with regard hereunto, * 1.2 that of Carthage, Ann. 398. appoints in the 20th Canon, That the Bishop should apply himself only to Reading, Prayer, and Preaching of the Word of God. The Council of Tolledo, assembled in the Year of our Lord 675. employs the 2d of its Canons to prescribe to Pastors their Duty, saying, They should always have in their mouth the Sword of Truth, be powerful in exhorting by holy Doctrine, and to convince Gainsayers; and not to turn aside from read∣ing the Holy Scriptures, seeing they have received the Office of Preachers: And having observ'd that the dumb Minister is not fit to instruct his Flock, The Assembly declares, That the true Pastor ought to find out those who are under his care, either to instruct them without arrogance, if they are ignorant; * 1.3 or to rejoice with them for the progress they have made in the knowledge of the Mysteries of their Salvation. The Council of Reims, in the Year of our Lord 813. enjoins Bishops and Pastors in the 14th Canon, To preach the Word of God to all the World. The VIth of Arles, in the same year, requires that all the business of Bishops should be Instruction, and Preaching, because Ignorance is the Mother of all Errors; and that the Word of God should be taught, not only in

Cities, but also in the Parishes. In the Year 858. Her∣rald, Bishop of Tours, made a Capitulary, taken out of Ancient Canons, in the 9th of which he appoints, That Priests should preach to all the Faithful, * 1.4 the Doctrines of Faith, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, his Death, Resurre∣ction, his Ascension, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the Re∣mission of Sins. To all which may be added the 58th Ca∣non of the Apostles.

If after the Decrees of Councils, we consult the An∣cient Doctors, they will also testify, that Ministers are particularly called to Preach the Gospel, and to declare to their Hearers the word of Truth; My Sheep, said to this purpose Gregory Nazianzen, * 1.5 My Sheep hear my voice; that is to say, that which I have received from the Divine Oracles, which I have preached ever after one manner throughout the whole course of my life, without com∣plying with the Times, and which I will never forbear to preach; * 1.6 and St. Jerom in his 3d Book of Commenta∣ries upon the 16th Chapter of Jeremiah, saith, It is the Du∣ty of Pastors to teach; it is what the putting the Bible on their head at their Ordination should put them in mind of.

This will appear yet more plainly, if after having con∣sider'd the Subject and Argument of Ministers Preaching the Gospel, we also examine the Matter, which accord∣ing to our Discipline, should be plain, conformable to the Scripture, fit to Edify, free from intricate School∣questions, and from all Ostentation. Let us now inquire if the Ancient Christians did otherwise. The Council of Carthage, * 1.7 in the Year 398. which we have often cited, desires in the 1st Canon, That the Doctrines of Faith should be taught with simplicity. Origen in his 16th Homi∣ly upon Leviticus, desires the Word may be preached to purpose, and that one should accommodate himself to the

Capacity of each person in giving Milk to some, and strong Meat to others; and in the 7th Hom. upon Joshua, * 1.8 he ad∣vises to shun the beauty, pomp, and ornament of Rhetorical Philosophers, Poets, and Writers of the Age, of whom Valentine, Basilides, and Marcian, learn'd their Heresies: In the 9th Book of his Commentaries on the 12th Chap. of the Epistle to the Romans, he saith, So much care must not be taken to please the Hearers, as to work on their Affections, and to inspire into them the love of Vertue; observing on this occasion, that it often hap∣pens, that the most Eloquent and sublime Preachers, only tickle the Ears with pleasing words of humane Learning, but do not work on the heart; whereas many times those which study plainess, and preach without af∣fectation, convert many to the Faith, humble the Proud, and bring Sinners to repentance.

St. Busil in his Morals, saith several things which agree very well with the Article, whose conformity we seek to find with the ancient Discipline of the Primitive Christians: For Example, * 1.9 That one must not teach other∣wise than we have learned in the Gospel; that we must preach all things our Saviour has prescrib'd to us in the Gospel, and by the Ministry of his Apostles, and all things conformable to them; That those to whom the preaching of the Gospel is com∣mitted, should not conceal any thing which is pleasing to God, fearing lest they should render them elves guilty of the death of those which perish; That the Word of God must not be preach'd for Ostentation, nor flatter those which hear it, the more to serve our own Pleasure or Conveniencies; but act as if we spoke for the glory of God in his presence; and that to preach the Gospel one must not make use of any Prerogatives or Ad∣vantages that should advance us above others, fearing lest the grace of God should be frustrated thereby. There can nothing in the World be seen more conformable to our Discipline.

In the main, all I have said on this Article is grounded on the Precepts and Example of St. Paul; I say on his Precepts, * 1.10 Hold fast, saith he to Timothy, the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before the Lord, that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Preach the word, * 1.11 be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine, repro∣ving those who having itching ears, make teachers after their own minds. * 1.12 I say in the next place, according to his Example; for he declares, That Jesus Christ sent him not to Baptize, but to Preach; not with wisdom of Words, nor with excellence of Speech; and that his Preaching was not in flattering words of humane Wis∣dom.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Can. 12.
• * 1.2

  Tom. 1. Concil. p. 728. Tom. 4. Concil. p. 820.
• * 1.3

  Tom. 1. Conc. Gall. Ibid. c. 3, & 10.
• * 1.4

  Tom 3. Conc Gall. p. 111.
• * 1.5

  Orat. 25. p 440.
• * 1.6

  Tom. 4. p. 266.
• * 1.7

  Tom. 1. p 110. Paris. 1574. Ibid. p. 185.
• * 1.8

  Ibid. l. 2. p. 393.
• * 1.9

  Tom. 2. Reg. 70. C. 5, 6, 7, 23, 26.
• * 1.10

  2 Tim. 1.13. & 2.14. & 3.2.
• * 1.11

  2 Tim. 3.3.
• * 1.12

  1 Cor. 1.17. & 2.14.