XII.
The Office of Ministers is principally to Preach, and declare the Word of God to their People; and they shall be desir'd to abstain from teaching in any strange way, not tending to Edifi∣cation, and conforming to the Simplicity, and ordinary Stile of God's Spirit, taking heed there may be nothing in their Sermons which might bring any prejudice to the Honour and Authority of the Holy Scriptures. They shall not Preach with∣out chusing for the Subject-matter of their Discourse, some Text of the Bible, which they shall keep close to; and their Text they shall take, and explain the best they can, avoiding all unnecessary Amplifications, tedious and needless Digres∣sions, of many Passages of Scripture, not pertinent to the matter in hand; and of reciting various Expositions. They shall be moderate in alledging the Writings of Ancient Doctors, and much less Prophane Authors, and Histories. They shall not deliver their Doctrine in Scholastick manner, nor inter∣mix with strange Languages. To conclude, Let them avoid every thing that may tend to Ostentation, or any way give Occasion to suspect it; to which the Consistories, Colloques and Synods, shall take special heed.