The arraignment of pride, or, Pride set forth, with the causes, kinds, and several branches of it: the odiousness and greatness of the sin of pride: the prognosticks of it, together with the cure of it: as also a large description of the excellency and usefulness of the grace of humility: divided into chapters and sections. / By W. Gearing minister of the word at Lymington in Hantshire.

CHAP. 20. Of Pride of Eloquence.

ELoquence is an excellent gift wheresoever it is bestowed, and for this many heathens have been famous. The Athenians exiled Thucydides their Captain General: but after he had written his Chroni∣cle, they called him home again, wondring at the eloquence of the man. Socrates sold one Oration that he made for twenty talents of gold. Pliny saith, that Cicero's elo∣quence was the cause that all the Tribes renounced the law Agraria, as touching the division of lands among the Commons, albeit their greatest maintenance consisted therein; he saith that he was the first that was saluted by the name of Pater pa∣triae, Father of his country; the first that de∣served triumph in his long robe, and the Laurel garland for his language, and calleth him the Father of eloquence and of the Latin tongue: Suetonius saith, that in eloquence Augustus Caesar was most excellent and expert; and well might he be so: for even during his wars, he saith, he read, wrote and declamed every day; he would never deliver a speech to his wife or servants, but it was pre∣meditated,

lest it might rusticitatem olere, savour of clownishness, or gravitate carere, want gravity: and Caesar the Di∣ctatour in eloquence, either matcht or over-matcht the very best in his time, saith Suetonius; and Cicero de Oratore saith, he giveth place unto none. But most of these were pufft up because they had the trumpet at their lips. It is better for a man to be dumb then eloquent, if humility be not adjoyned thereunto: no man can be a good Oratour, unless also he be truly good: One being askt why he spake so well, and lived so ill: answered, because his words were in his power, but not his actions. When Calisthenes had made an eloquent Oration in the praise of the Macedonians, Alexander not pleased with his person, taxeth and disgraceth his action, saying the goodness of the cause made him elo∣quent, and any man might have spoken as well of such a subject; and therefore to try him, bid him to speak ex tempore in their dispraise, which when he had likewise done eloquently, he took him off and said, Before the goodness of the cause, now vain-glory and malice made him eloquent. And Hierome was wont to say of a Philosopher, that he was a vain-glorious crea∣ture, and a base bond-slave to praise. Doubt∣less eloquence in it self is much to be desired, especially by Ministers; this made Paul ex∣hort the Ephesians, as to pray for all Saints, so

for him in particular, that utterance might be given unto him, Ephes. 6.19. that he might open his mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel. And although some think that Paul was not eloquent (which they would collect from 2 Cor. 10.10. it being only, as I suppose, a slight opinion that that proud Church of Corinth had of him, as appeareth by the verses following) yet doubtless Paul was extraordinary eloquent, as appears in that the Lystrians took him for Mercury the god of elo∣quence, because he was the chief speaker, Act. 14.12. also it is evident by his divers Orati∣ons in the Acts of the Apostles, and by all his Epistles; yet such was his humility, and so meanly doth he think of himself in this respect, that he earnestly begs their prayers, that he may speak and speak to the purpose as he ought to speak. When the Holy ghost was poured out on the Apo∣stles on the day of Pentecost, they will not be silent, when the Spirit hath given them utterance and made them eloquent; where there is a head fraught with learning and know∣ledge, and an heart full of devotion, there will be a mouth full of instruction, as Solomon tells us, The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: and the lips of the wise disperse know∣ledge, being like Maries pound of Spikenard to persume the whole house, John 12.3. or

like a candle in a work-mans shop, to give light to all that are in it. Our Saviour and John Baptist were very eloquent and powerful Preach∣ers. Herod was much affected with Johns preaching, Marke 6.20. and the men of Nazareth were much ta∣ken with the preaching of Christ; their eyes were all sastened on him, and wondered at the gracious words that came out of his mouth: he taught them as one that had gravity and authority in his speech: so powerful were his words, that when the Phari∣sees and chief Priests sent their officers to take Christ, they were taken by his words; and be∣ing returned, they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Many by na∣ture and Art have Gratiam verborum Grace of words, but want verba gratiae words of Grace or gracious words; now Christ had both, and Grace was poured into his lips: they have Gratiam verborum that are eloquent, and many times by pride abuse it to reproach others, or set off themselves; but they have verba Gratiae, that speak a word in season to the wearied soul, and good words to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearer. Herod had an eloquent tongue, but was pufft up with it, and the peoples admiration of him for it;

whereas he had a thousand miscarriages in his life that troubled him not: But Herod by all his eloquence could not perswade the silly worms, who (as the Scripture saith) immedi∣ately devoured him, because he gave not God the glory, Act. 12.23.

Notes

• Pronunciatio & vita Philosophi debent esse compositae; it ought to be like snow coming leisurely, not like rain coming down as by buckets. Plin. nat. hist. lib. 7. cap. 30.
• Augusto prosluens, & quae principem deceret eloquentia fuit. Ta∣citus.
• Philosophi et multo ma∣gis Theologi debent ver∣ba ponere, non projicere, et imprimis quaerere non quantum, sed quemad∣modum dicant. Medicus aegros in transitu non curat; ergo concionator qui animarum medicus est, insistere debet, donec auditores condiderit. Seneca ad Lucil. E∣pist. 40.
• Gloriae ani∣mal, et po∣pularisaurae mancipium. Hieron.
• Optimi doctores sunt qui docent faciendo, & qui magis admiratione digni sunt cum viden∣tur quam cum audiun∣tur. Seneca ad Lucil. Epist. 53.
• Echerus bonus Orator, nunquam tamen dubita∣vit, nunquam intermisit, sed semel incipiebat, & semel desinebat. Seneca.
• Prov. 10.11. Prov. 15.7.
• Austin confesseth this to God of his Father, that he troubled not himself how he pros∣pered in Gods service, only his care was that he might be eloquent, and learned to speak well. Luke 4.20, 22.
• Mat. 7.29.
• Joh. 7.45, 46.
• Psal. 45.2.
• Ephes. 4.29. Whither our elo∣quence be natural or acquired, we should use it without affectation and ostentation, and not pride our selves in wit, words or phrases, Reyner.