第7章
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  AndsothesameapostlesaystoTimothyhimself,speaking,ofcourse,asteachertodisciple:\"Butcontinuethouinthethingswhichthouhastlearned,andhastbeenassuredof,knowingofwhomthouhastlearnedthem。\"(13)Forasthemedicineswhichmenapplytothebodiesoftheirfellow-menareofnoavailexceptGodgivesthemvirtue(whocanhealwithouttheiraid,thoughtheycannotwithoutHis),andyettheyareapplied;andifitbedonefromasenseofduty,itisesteemedaworkofmercyorbenevolence;sotheaidsofteaching,appliedthroughtheinstrumentalityofman,areofadvantagetothesoulonlywhenGodworkstomakethemofadvantage,whocouldgivethegospeltomanevenwithoutthehelporagencyofmen。

  CHAP。17。——THREEFOLDDIVISIONOFTHEVARIOUSSTYLESOFSPEECH。

  34。Hethenwho,inspeaking,aimsatenforcingwhatisgood,shouldnotdespiseanyofthosethreeobjects,eithertoteach,ortogivepleasure,ortomove,andshouldprayandstrive,aswehavesaidabove,tobeheardwithintelligence,withpleasure,andwithreadycompliance?Andwhenhedoesthiswitheleganceandpropriety,hemayjustlybecalledeloquent,eventhoughhedonotcarrywithhimtheassentofhishearer。Foritisthesethreeends,viz。,teaching,givingpleasure,andmoving,thatthegreatmasterofRomaneloquencehimselfseemstohaveintendedthatthefollowingthreedirectionsshouldsubserve:

  \"He,then,shallbeeloquent,whocansaylittlethingsinasubduedstyle,moderatethingsinatemperatestyle,andgreatthingsinamajesticstyle:\"(1)asifhehadtakeninalsothethreeendsmentionedabove,andhadembracedthewholeinonesentencethus:\"He,then,shallbeeloquent,whocansaylittlethingsinasubduedstyle,inordertogiveinstruction,moderatethingsinatemperatestyle,inordertogivepleasure,andgreatthingsinamajesticstyle,inordertoswaythemind。\"

  CHAP。18。——THECHRISTIANORATORISCONSTANTLYDEALINGWITHGREATMATTERS。

  35。NowtheauthorIhavequotedcouldhaveexemplifiedthesethreedirections,aslaiddownbyhimself,inregardtolegalquestions:hecouldnot,however,havedonesoinregardtoecclesiasticalquestions,——theonlyonesthatanaddresssuchasI

  wishtogiveshapetoisconcernedwith。Foroflegalquestionsthosearecalledsmallwhichhavereferencetopecuniarytransactions;thosegreatwhereamatterrelatingtoman’slifeorlibertycomesup。Cases,again,whichhavetodowithneitherofthese,andwheretheintentionisnottogetthehearertodo,ortopronouncejudgmentuponanything,butonlytogivehimpleasure,occupyasitwereamiddleplacebetweentheformertwo,andareonthataccountcalledmiddling,ormoderate。Formoderatethingsgettheirnamefrommodus(ameasure);anditisanabuse,notaproperuseofthewordmoderate,toputitforlittle。Inquestionslikeours,however,whereallthings,andespeciallythoseaddressedtothepeoplefromtheplaceofauthority,oughttohavereferencetomen’ssalvation,andthatnottheirtemporalbuttheireternalsalvation,andwherealsothethingtobeguardedagainstiseternalruin,everythingthatwesayisimportant;

  somuchso,thatevenwhatthepreachersaysaboutpecuniarymatters,whetherithavereferencetolossorgain,whethertheamountbegreatorsmall,shouldnotseemunimportant。Forjusticeisneverunimportant,andjusticeoughtassuredlytobeobserved,eveninsmallaffairsofmoney,asourLordsays:\"Hethatisfaithfulinthatwhichisleast,isfaithfulalsoinmuch。\"(2)Thatwhichisleast,then,isverylittle;buttobefaithfulinthatwhichisleastisgreat。Forasthenatureofthecircle,viz。,thatalllinesdrawnfromthecentretothecircumferenceareequal,isthesameinagreatdiskthatitisinthesmallestcoin;

  sothegreatnessofjusticeisinnodegreelessened,thoughthematterstowhichjusticeisappliedbesmall。

  36。Andwhentheapostlespokeabouttrialsinregardtosecularaffairs(andwhatwerethesebutmattersofmoney?),hesays:

  \"Dareanyofyou,havingamatteragainstanother,gotolawbeforetheunjust,andnotbeforethesaints?Doyenotknowthatthesaintsshalljudgetheworld?andiftheworldshallbejudgedbyyou,areyeunworthytojudgethesmallestmatters?Knowyenotthatweshalljudgeangels?howmuchmorethingsthatpertaintothislife?If,then,yehavejudgmentsofthingspertainingtothislife,setthemtojudgewhoareleastesteemedintheChurch。

  Ispeaktoyourshame。Isitso,thatthereisnotawisemanamongyou?no,notonethatshallbeabletojudgebetweenhisbrethren?

  Butbrothergoethtolawwithbrother,andthatbeforetheunbelievers。Nowthereforethereisutterlyafaultamongyou,becauseyegotolawonewithanother:whydoyenotrathertakewrong?whydoyenotrathersufferyourselvestobedefrauded?

  Nay,yedowrong,anddefraud,andthatyourbrethren。KnowyenotthattheunrighteousshallnotinheritthekingdomofGod?\"(3)Whyisitthattheapostleissoindignant,andthathethusaccuses,andupbraids,andchides,andthreatens?

  Whyisitthatthechangesinhistone,sofrequentandsoabrupt,testifytothedepthofhisemotion?Whyisit,infine,thathespeaksinatonesoexaltedaboutmatterssoverytrifling?

  Didsecularmattersdeservesomuchathishands?Godforbid。No;butallthisisdoneforthesakeofjustice,charity,andpiety,whichinthejudgmentofeverysobermindaregreat,evenwhenappliedtomatterstheveryleast。

  37。Ofcourse,ifweweregivingmenadviceastohowtheyoughttoconductsecularcases,eitherforthemselvesorfortheirconnections,beforethechurchcourts,wewouldtightlyadvisethemtoconductthemquietlyasmattersoflittlemoment。Butwearetreatingofthemannerofspeechofthemanwhoistobeateacherofthetruthswhichdeliverusfrometernalmiseryandbringustoeternalhappiness;andwhereverthesetruthsarespokenof,whetherinpublicorprivate,whethertooneormany,whethertofriendsorenemies,whetherinacontinuousdiscourseorinconversation,whetherintracts,orinbooks,orinletterslongorshort,theyareofgreatimportance。Unlessindeedwearepreparedtosaythat,becauseacupofcoldwaterisaverytriflingandcommonthing,thesayingofourLordthathewhogivesacupofcoldwatertooneofHisdisciplesshallinnowiselosehisreward,(1)isverytrivialandunimportant。Orthatwhenapreachertakesthissayingashistext,heshouldthinkhissubjectveryunimportant,andthereforespeakwithouteithereloquenceorpower,butinasubduedandhumblestyle。Isitnotthecasethatwhenwehappentospeakonthissubjecttothepeople,andthepresenceofGodiswithus,sothatwhatwesayisnotaltogetherunworthyofthesubject,atongueoffirespringsupoutofthatcoldwaterwhichinflameseventhecoldheartsofmenwithazealfordoingworksofmercyinhopeofaneternalreward?

  CHAP。19。——THECHRISTIANTEACHERMUSTUSE

  DIFFERENTSTYLESONDIFFERENTOCCASIONS。

  38。Andyet,whileourteacheroughttospeakofgreatmatters,heoughtnotalwaystobespeakingoftheminamajestictone,butinasubduedtonewhenheisteaching,temperatelywhenheisgivingpraiseorblame。When,however,somethingistobedone,andwearespeakingtothosewhoought,butarenotwilling,todoit,thengreatmattersmustbespokenofwithpower,andinamannercalculatedtoswaythemind。Andsometimesthesameimportantmatteristreatedinallthesewaysatdifferenttimes,quietlywhenitisbeingtaught,temperatelywhenitsimportanceisbeingurged,andpowerfullywhenweareforcingamindthatisaversetothetruthtoturnandembraceit。ForisthereanythinggreaterthanGodHimself?Isnothing,then,tobelearntaboutHim?OroughthewhoisteachingtheTrinityinunitytospeakofitotherwisethaninthemethodofcalmdiscussion,sothatinregardtoasubjectwhichitisnoteasytocomprehend,wemayunderstandasmuchasitisgivenustounderstand?Areweinthiscasetoseekoutornamentsinsteadofproofs?

  Oristhehearertobemovedtodosomethinginsteadofbeinginstructedsothathemaylearnsomething?ButwhenwecometopraiseGod,eitherinHimself,orinHisworks,whatafieldforbeautyandsplendoroflanguageopensupbeforeman,whocantaskhispowerstotheutmostinpraisingHimwhomnoonecanadequatelypraise,thoughthereisnoonewhodoesnotpraiseHiminsomemeasure!ButifHebenotworshipped,orifidols,whethertheybedemonsoranycreatedbeingwhatever,beworshippedwithHimorinpreferencetoHim,thenweoughttospeakoutwithpowerandimpressiveness,showhowgreatawickednessthisis,andurgementofleefromit。

  CHAP。20。——EXAMPLESOFTHEVARIOUSSTYLES

  DRAWNFROMSCRIPTURE。

  39。Butnowtocometosomethingmoredefinite。Wehaveanexampleofthecalm,subduedstyleintheApostlePaul,wherehesays:\"Tellme,yethatdesiretobeunderthelaw,doyenothearthelaw?Foritiswritten,thatAbrahamhadtwosons;theonebyabondmaid,theotherbyafreewoman。Buthewhowasofthebondwomanwasbornaftertheflesh;butheofthefreewomanwasbypromise。Whichthingsareanallegory:forthesearethetwocovenants;theonefromtheMountSinai,whichgenderethtobondage,whichisHagar。ForthisHagarisMountSinaiinArabia,andanswerethtoJerusalemwhichnowis,andisinbondagewithherchildren。ButJerusalemwhichisaboveisfree,whichisthemotherofusall;\"(2)andsoon。Andinthesamewaywherehereasonsthus:\"Brethren,Ispeakafterthemannerofmen:Thoughitbebutaman’scovenant,yetifitbeconfirmed,nomandisannulleth,oraddeththereto。NowtoAbrahamandhisseedwerethepromisesmade。Hesaithnot,Andtoseeds,asofmany;butasofone,Andtothyseed,whichisChrist。

  AndthisIsay,thatthecovenant,thatwasconfirmedbeforeofGodinChrist,thelaw,whichwasfourhundredandthirtyyearsafter,cannotdisannul,thatitshouldmakethepromiseofnoneeffect。Foriftheinheritancebeofthelaw,itisnomoreofpromise:butGodgaveittoAbrahambypromise。\"(3)Andbecauseitmightpossiblyoccurtothehearertoask,Ifthereisnoinheritancebythelaw,whythenwasthelawgiven?hehimselfanticipatesthisobjectionandasks,\"Whereforethenserveththelaw?\"Andtheanswerisgiven:\"Itwasaddedbecauseoftransgressions,tilltheseedshouldcometowhomthepromisewasmade;anditwasordainedbyangelsinthehandofamediator。Nowamediatorisnotamediatorofone;butGodisone。\"Andhereanobjectionoccurswhichhehimselfhasstated:\"IsthelawthenagainstthepromisesofGod?\"

  Heanswers:\"Godforbid。\"Andhealsostatesthereasoninthesewords:\"Foriftherehadbeenalawgivenwhichcouldhavegivenlife,verilyrighteousnessshouldhavebeenbythelaw。

  ButtheScripturehathconcludedallundersin,thatthepromisebyfaithofJesusChristmightbegiventothemthatbelieve。\"(1)

  Itispart,then,ofthedutyoftheteachernotonlytointerpretwhatisobscure,andtounravelthedifficultiesofquestions,butalso,whiledoingthis,tomeetotherquestionswhichmaychancetosuggestthemselves,lesttheseshouldcastdoubtordiscreditonwhatwesay。If,however,thesolutionofthesequestionssuggestitselfassoonasthequestionsthemselvesarise,itisuselesstodisturbwhatwecannotremove。Andbesides,whenoutofonequestionotherquestionsarise,andoutoftheseagainstillothers;ifthesebealldiscussedandsolved,thereasoningisextendedtosuchalength,thatunlessthememorybeexceedinglypowerfulandactivethereasonerfindsitimpossibletoreturntotheoriginalquestionfromwhichhesetout。Itis,however,exceedinglydesirablethatwhateveroccurstothemindasanobjectionthatmightbeurgedshouldbestatedandrefuted,lestitturnupatatimewhennoonewillbepresenttoanswerit,orlest,ifitshouldoccurtoamanwhoispresentbutsaysnothingaboutit,itmightneverbethoroughlyremoved。

  40。Inthefollowingwordsoftheapostlewehavethetemperatestyle:

  \"Rebukenotanelder,butentreathimasafather;andtheyoungermenasbrethren;theelderwomenasmothers,theyoungerassisters。\"(2)Andalsointhese:\"Ibeseechyou,therefore,brethren,bythemerciesofGod,thatyepre-service。\"(3)

  Andalmostthewholeofthishortatorypassageisinthetemperatestyleofeloquence;andthosepartsofitarethemostbeautifulinwhich,asifpayingwhatwasdue,thingsthatbelongtoeachotheraregracefullybroughttogether。Forexample:\"Havingthengifts,differingaccordingtothegracethatisgiventous,whetherprophecy,letusprophesyaccordingtotheproportionoffaith;orministry,letuswaitonourministering;orhethatteacheth,onteaching;orhethatexhorteth,onexhortation:hethatruleth,withdiligence;hethatshowethmercy,withcheerfulness。Letlovebewithoutdissimulation。Abhorthat,whichisevil,cleavetothatwhichisgood。Bekindlyaffectionedonetoanotherwithbrotherlylove;inhonorpreferringoneanother;

  notslothfulinbusiness;ferventinspirit;servingtheLord;

  rejoicinginhope;patientintribulation;continuinginstantinprayer;

  distributingtothenecessityofsaints;giventohospitality。

  Blessthemwhichpersecuteyou:bless,andcursenot。Rejoicewiththemthatdorejoice,andweepwiththemthatweep。Beofthesamemindonetowardanother。\"(4)Andhowgracefullyallthisisbroughttoacloseinaperiodoftwomembers:\"Mindnothighthings,butcondescendtomenoflowestate!\"Andalittleafterwards:

  \"Renderthereforetoalltheirdues:tributetowhomtributeisdue;customtowhomcustom;feartowhomfear;honortowhomhonor。\"(5)Andthesealso,thoughexpressedinsingleclauses,areterminatedbyaperiodoftwomembers:\"Owenomananything,buttoloveoneanother。\"Andalittlefartheron:\"Thenightisfarspent,thedayisathand:letusthereforecastofftheworksofdarkness,andletusputonthearmoroflight。Letuswalkhonestly,asintheday;notinriotinganddrunkenness,notinchamberingandwantonness,notinstrifeandenvying:butputyeontheLordJesusChrist,andmakenotprovisionfortheflesh,tofulfilltheluststhereof。\"(6)Nowifthepassageweretranslatedthus,\"etcarnisprovidentiamneincancupiscentiisfeceritis,\"(7)theearwouldnodoubtbegratifiedwithamoreharmoniousending;butourtranslator,withmorestrictness,preferredtoretaineventheorderofthewords。AndhowthissoundsintheGreeklanguage,inwhichtheapostlespoke,thosewhoarebetterskilledinthattonguemaydetermine。

  Myopinion,however,is,thatwhathasbeentranslatedtousinthesameorderofwordsdoesnotrunveryharmoniouslyevenintheoriginaltongue。

  41。And,indeed,Imustconfessthatourauthorsareverydefectiveinthatgraceofspeechwhichconsistsinharmoniousendings。Whetherthisbethefaultofthetranslators,orwhether,asIammoreinclinedtobelieve,theauthorsdesignedlyavoidedsuchornament,Idarenotaffirm;forIconfessIdonotknow。

  ThisIknow,however,thatifanyonewhoisskilledinthisspeciesofharmonywouldtaketheclosingsentencesofthesewritersandarrangethemaccordingtothelawofharmony(whichhecouldveryeasilywilllearnthatthesedivinely-inspiredmenarenotdefectiveinanyofthosepointswhichhehasbeentaughtintheschoolsofthegrammariansandrhetoricianstoconsiderofimportance;andhewillfindinthemmanykindsofspeechofgreatbeauty,——beautifuleveninourlanguage,butespeciallybeautifulintheoriginal,——noneofwhichcanbefoundinthosewritingsofwhichtheyboastsomuch。Butcaremustbetakenthat,whileaddingharmony,wetakeawaynoneoftheweightfromthesedivineandauthoritativeutterances。Nowourprophetsweresofarfrombeingdeficientinthemusicaltrainingfromwhichthisharmonywespeakofismostfullylearnt,thatJerome,averylearnedman,describeseventhemetresemployedbysomeofthem,(1)intheHebrewlanguageatleast;though,inordertogiveanaccuraterenderingofthewords,hehasnotpreservedtheseinhistranslationI,however(tospeakofmyownfeeling,whichisbetterknowntomethanitistoothers,andthanthatofothersistome),whileIdonotinmyownspeech,howevermodestlyIthinkitdone,neglecttheseharmoniousendings,amjustaswellpleasedtofindtheminthesacredauthorsveryrarely。

  42。Themajesticstyleofspeechdiffersfromthetemperatestylejustspokenof,chieflyinthatitisnotsomuchdeckedoutwithverbalornamentsasexaltedintovehemencebymentalemotion。Ituses,indeed,nearlyalltheornamentsthattheotherdoes;

  butiftheydonothappentobeathand,itdoesnotseekforthem。

  Foritisborneonbyitsownvehemence;andtheforceofthethought,notthedesireforornament,makesitseizeuponanybeautyofexpressionthatcomesinitsway。Itisenoughforitsobjectthatwarmthoffeelingshouldsuggestthefittingwords;theyneednotbeselectedbycarefulelaborationofspeech。Ifabravemanbearmedwithweaponsadornedwithgoldandjewels,heatofbattle,notbecausetheyarecostly,butbecausetheyarearms;andyetthesamemandoesgreatexecution,evenwhenangerfurnisheshimwithaweaponthathedigsoutoftheground。(2)Theapostleinthefollowingwithpatiencealltheevilsofthislife。Itis\"Behold,\"hesays,\"nowistheacceptedtime;

  behold,nowisthedayofsalvation。Givingnooffenceinanything,thattheministrynotblamed:butinallthingsapprovingourselvesastheministersofGod,inmuchpatience,inafflictions,innecessities,indistresses,instrifes,inimprisonments,intumults,inlabors,inwatchings,infastings;bypureness,byknowledge,bylong-suffering,ofGod,bythearmorofrighteousnessontherighthandandontheleft,byhonoranddishonor,byevilreportandgoodreport:asdeceivers,andyettrue;asunknown,andyetwellknown;asdying,and,behold,welive;

  aschastened,andnotkilled;assorrowful,yetalwayrejoicing;aspoor,yetmakingmanyrich;ashavingnothing,andyetpossessingallthings。\"(3)Seehimstillburning:\"OyeCorinthians,ourmouthisopeneduntoyou,ourheartisenlarged,\"

  andsoon;itwouldbetedioustogothroughitall。

  43。Andinthesameway,writingtotheRomans,heurgesthatthepersecutionsoftreatsthissubjectwithbothpowerandbeauty:\"Weknow,\"hesays,\"thatallthingsworktogetherforgoodtothemthatloveGod,tothemwhoarethecalledaccordingtoHispurpose。ForwhomHedidforeknow,HealsodidpredestinatetobeconformedtotheimageofHisSon,thatHemightbethefirst-bornamongmanybrethren。Moreover,whomHedidpredestinate,themHealsocalled;andwhomHecalled,themHealsojustified;andwhomHejustified,themHealsoglorified。Whatshallwethensaytothesethings?IfGodbeforus,whocanbeagainstus?HethatsparednotHisownSon,butdeliveredHimupforusall,howshallHenotwithHimalsofreelygiveusallthings?WhoshalllayanythingtothechargeofGod’select?ItisGodthatjustifieth;whoishethatcondemneth?ItisChristthatdied,yea,rather,thatisrisenagain,whoisevenattherighthandofGod,whoalsomakethintercessionforus。WhoshallseparateusfromtheloveofChrist?shalltribulation,ordistress,orpersecution,orfamine,ornakedness,orperil,orsword?(Asitiswritten,ForThysakewearekilledallthedaylong;weareaccountedassheepfortheslaughter。)Nay,inallthesethingswearemorethanconquerors,throughHimthatlovedus。ForIampersuaded,thatneitherdeath,norlife,norangels,norprincipalities,norpowers,northingspresent,northingstocome,norheight,nordepth,noranyothercreature,shallbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofGod,whichisinChristJesusourLord。\"(1)

  44。Again,inwritingtotheGalatians,althoughthewholeepistleiswritteninthesubduedstyle,exceptattheend,whereitrisesintoatemperateeloquence,yetheinterposesonepassageofsomuchfeelingthat,notwithstandingtheabsenceofanyornamentssuchasappearinthepassagesjustquoted,itcannotbecalledanythingbutpowerful:\"Yeobservedays,andmonths,andtimes,andyears。Iamafraidofyou,lestIhavebestoweduponyoulaborinvain。Brethren,Ibeseechyou,beasI

  am;forIamasyeare:yehavenotinjuredmeatall。Yeknowhow,throughinfirmityoftheflesh,Ipreachedthegospeluntoyouatthefirst。Andmytemptationwhichwasinmyfleshyedespisednot,norrejected;butreceivedmeasanangelofGod,evenasChristJesus。Whereisthentheblessednessyespakeof?forIbearyourecord,that,ifithadbeenpossible,yewouldhavepluckedoutyourowneyes,andhavegiventhemtome。AmIthereforebecomeyourenemy,becauseItellyouthetruth?Theyzealouslyaffectyou,butpotwell;yea,theywouldexcludeyou,thatyemightaffectthem。Butitisgoodtobezealouslyaffectedalwaysinagoodthing,andnotonlywhenIampresentwithyou。Mylittlechildren,ofwhomItravailinbirthagainuntilChristbeformedinyou,Idesiretobepresentwithyounow,andtochangemyvoice;forIstandindoubtofyou。\"(2)Isthereanythinghereofcontrastedwordsarrangedantithetically,orofwordsrisinggraduallytoaclimax,orofsonorousclauses,andsections,andperiods?Yet,notwithstanding,thereisaglowofstrongemotionthatmakesusfeelthefervorofeloquence。

  CHAP。21。——EXAMPLESOFTHEVARIOUSSTYLES,DRAWNFROMTHETEACHERSOF

  THECHURCH,ESPECIALLYAMBROSEANDCYPRIAN。

  45。Butthesewritingsoftheapostles,thoughdear,areyetprofound,andaresowrittenthatonewhoisnotcontentwithasuperficialacquaintance,butdesirestoknowthemthoroughly,mustnotonlyreadandhearthem,butmusthaveanexpositor。

  Letus,then,studythesevariousmodesofspeechastheyareexemplifiedinthewritingsofmenwho,byreadingtheScriptures,haveattainedtotheknowledgeofdivineandsavingtruth,andhaveministeredittotheChurch。Cyprianofblessedmemorywritesinthesubduedstyleinhistreatiseonthesacramentofthecup。Inthisbookheresolvesthequestion,whetherthecupoftheLordoughttocontainwateronly,orwatermingledwithwine。Butwemustquoteapassagebywayofillustration。Afterthecustomaryintroduction,heproceedstothediscussionofthepointinquestion。\"Observe\"hesays,\"thatweareinstructed,inpresentingthecup,tomaintainthecustomhandeddowntousfromtheLord,andtodonothingthatourLordhasnotfirstdoneforus:sothatthecupwhichisofferedmremembranceofHimshouldbemixedwithwine。For,asChristsays,’Iamthetruevine,’(3)itfollowsthatthebloodofChristiswine,notwater;andthecupcannotappeartocontainHisbloodbywhichweareredeemedandquickened,ifthewinebeabsent;forbythewineisthebloodofChristtypified,thatbloodwhichisforeshadowedandproclaimedinallthetypesanddeclarationsofScripture。

  ForwefindthatinthebookofGenesisthisverycircumstanceinregardtothesacramentisforeshadowed,andourLord’ssufferingstypicallysetforth,inthecaseofNoah,whenhedrankwine,andwasdrunken,andwasuncoveredwithinhistent,andhisnakednesswasexposedbyhissecondson,andwascarefullyhiddenbyhiselderandhisyoungersons。(4)Itisnotnecessarytomentiontheothercircumstancesindetail,asitisonlynecessarytoobservethispoint,thatNoah,foreshadowingthefuturereality,drank,notwater,butwine,andthusshowedforthourLord’spassion。InthesamewayweseethesacramentoftheLord’ssupperprefiguredinthecaseofMelchizedekthepriest,accordingtothetestimonyoftheHolyScriptures,whereitsays:’AndMelchizedekkingofSalembroughtforthbreadandwine:andhewasthepriestofthemosthighGod。AndheblessedAbraham。’(5)Now,thatMelchizedekwasatypeofChrist,theHolySpiritdeclaresinthePsalms,wheretheFatheraddressingtheSonsays,’ThouartapriestforeveraftertheorderofMelchizedek。’(6)\"(7)Inthispassage,andinalloftheletterthatfollows,thesubduedstyleismaintained,asthereadermayeasilysatisfyhimself。

  46。St。Ambrosealso,thoughdealingwithaquestionofverygreatimportance,theequalityoftheHolySpiritwiththeFatherandtheSon,employsthesubduedstyle,becausetheobjecthehasinviewdemands,notbeautyofdiction,northeswayingofthemindbythestirofemotion,butfactsandproofs。Accordingly,intheintroductiontohiswork,wefindthefollowingpassageamongothers:\"WhenGideonwasstartledbythemessagehehadheardfromGod,that,thoughthousandsofthepeoplefailed,yetthroughonemanGodwoulddriverHispeoplefromtheirenemies,hebroughtforthakidofthegoats,andbydirectionoftheangellaiditwithunleavenedcakesuponarock,andpouredthebrothoverit;andassoonastheangelofGodtoucheditwiththeendofthestaffthatwasinhishand,thereroseupfireoutoftherockandconsumedtheoffering。INowthissignseemstoindicatethattherockwasatypeofthebodyofChrist,foritiswritten,’They:drankofthatspiritualrockthatfollowedthem,andthatrockwasChrist;’(2)this,ofcourse,referringnottoChrist’sdivinenaturebuttoHisflesh,whoseever-flowingfountainofbloodhaseversatisfiedtheheartsofHisthirstingpeople。AndsoitwasatthattimedeclaredinamysterythattheLordJesus,whencrucified,shouldabolishinHisfleshthesinsofthewholeworld,andnottheirguiltyactsmerely,buttheevillustsoftheirhearts。Forthekid’sfleshreferstotheguiltoftheoutwardact,thebrothtotheallurementoflustwithin,asitiswritten,’Andthemixedmultitudethatwasamongthemfellalusting;theangel,then,stretchedouthisstaffandwiththeSpiritofGod,shouldburnupallthesinsofthehumanrace。Whencealsothelordsays’Iamcoetosendfireontheearth。\"(4)Andinthesamestylehepursuesthesubject,devotinghimselfchieflytoprovingandenforcinghispoint。(5)

  47。AnexampleofthetemperatestyleisthecelebratedencomiumonvirginityfromCyprian:\"Nowourdiscourseaddressesitselftothe(virgins,who,astheyaretheobjectsofhigherhonor,arealsotheobjectsofgreatercare。ThesearetheflowersonthetreeoftheChurch,thegloryandornamentofspiritualgrace,thejoyofhonorandpraise,aworkunbrokenandunblemished,theimageofGodansweringtotheholinessoftheLord,thebrighterportionoftheflockofChrist。ThegloriousfruitfulnessoftheirmothertheChurchrejoicesinthem,andinthemflourishesmoreabundantly;andinproportionasbrightvirginityaddstohernumbers,inthesameproportiondoesthemother’sjoyincrease。Andatanotherplaceintheendoftheepistle’Aswehaveborne,’hesays,’theimageoftheearthly,weshallalsobeartheimageoftheheavenly。’(7)Virginitybearsthisimage,integritybearsit,holinessandtruthbearit;theybearitwhoaremindfulofthechasteningoftheLord,whoobservejusticeandpiety,whoarestronginfaith,humbleinfear,steadfastintheenduranceofsuffering,meekintheenduranceofinjury,readytopity,ofonemindandofoneheartinbrotherlypeace。

  andeveryoneofthesethingsoughtye,holyvirgins,toobserve,tocherish,andfulfill,whohavingheartsatleisureforGodandforChrist,andhavingchosenthegreaterandbetterpart,leadandpointthewaytotheLord,towhomyouhavepledgedareyounger,waitupontheeiders,andencourageyourequals;stiruponeanotherbymutualexhortations;provokeoneanothertoglorybyemulousexamplesofvirtue;endurebravely,advanceinspirituality,finishyourcoursewithjoy;onlybemindfulofuswhenyourvirginityshallbegintoreapitsrewardofhonor。\"(8)

  48。Ambrosealsousesthetemperateandornamentedstylewhenheisholdingupbeforevirginswhohavemadetheirprofessionamodelfortheirimitation,andsays:\"Shewasavirginnotinbodyonly,butalsoinmind;notminglingthepurityofheraffectionwithanydrossofhypocrisy;seriousinspeech;uncertainriches,butintheprayerofthepoor;diligentinlabor;

  reverentinword;accustomedtolooktoGod,notman,astheguideofherconscience;injuringnoone,wishingwelltoall;

  dutifultoherelders,notenviousofherequals;avoidingboastfulness,followingreason,lovingvirtue。Whendidshewoundherparentsevenbyalook?Whendidshequarrelwithherneighbors?

  Whendidshespurnthehumble,laughattheweak,orshuntheindigent?Sheisaccustomedtovisitonlythosehauntsofmenthatpitywouldnotblushfor,normodestypassby。

  Thereisnothinghaughtyinhereyes,nothingboldinherwords,nothingwantoninhergestures:herbearingisnotvoluptuous,norhergaitmofree,norhervoicepetulant;sothatheroutwardappearanceisanimageofhermind,andapictureofpurity。

  ForagoodhouseoughttobeknownforSuchattheverythreshold,andshowattheveryentrancethatthereisnodarkrecesswithin,asthelightofalampsetinsideshedsitsradianceontheoutside。WhyneedIdetailhersparingnessinfood,hersuperabundanceinduty,——theonefallingbeneaththedemandsofnature,theotherrisingaboveitspowers?Thelatterhasnointervalsofintermission,theformerdoublesthedaysbyfasting;

  andwhenthedesireforrefreshmentdoesarise,itissatisfiedwithfoodsuchaswillsupportlife,butnotministertoappetite。\"

  INowIhavediedtheselatterpassagesasexamplesofthetemperatestyle,becausetheirpurposeisnottoinducethosewhohavenotyetdevotedthemselvestotakethevowsofvirginity,buttoshowofwhatcharacterthosewhohavetakenvowsoughttobe。Toprevailonanyonetotakeastepofsuchanatureandofsogreatimportance,requiresthatthemindshouldbeexcitedandsetonfirebythemajesticstyle。Cyprianthemartyr,however,didnotwriteaboutthedutyoftakinguptheprofessionofvirginity,butaboutthedressanddeportmentofvirgins。Yetthatgreatbishopurgesthemtotheirdutyevenintheserespectsbythepowerofamajesticeloquence。

  49。ButIshahselectexamplesofthemajesticstylefromtheirtreatmentofasubjectwhichbothofthemhavetouched。Bothhavedenouncedthewomenwhocolor,orratherdiscolor,theirfaceswithpaint。Andthefirst,indealingwiththistopic,says:

  \"Supposeapaintershoulddepictincolorsthatarrivalnature’sthefeaturesandformandcomplexionofsomeman,andthat,whentheportraithadbeenfinishedwithconsummateart,anotherpaintershouldputhishandoverit,asiftoimprovebyhissuperiorskillthepaintingalreadycompleted;surelythefirstartistwouldfeeldeeplyinsulted,andhisindignationwouldbejustlyroused。Dostthou,then,thinkthatthouwiltcarryoffwithimpunitysoaudaciousanactofwickedness,suchaninsulttoGodthegreatartificer?For,grantingthatthouartnotimmodestinthybehaviortowardsmen,andthatthouartnotpollutedinmindbythesemeretriciousdeceits,yet,incorruptingandviolatingwhatisGod’s,thouprovestthyselfworsethananadulteress。ThefactthatthouconsiderestthyselfadornedandbeautifiedbysuchartsisanimpeachmentofGod’shandiwork,andaviolationoftruth。Listentothewarningleavened。ForevenChristourpassoverissacrificedforus:thereforeletuskeepthefeast,notwitholdleaven,neitherwiththeleavenofmaliceandwickedness;butwiththeunleavenedbreadofsincerityandtruth。’2Nowcansincerityandtruthcontinuetoexistwhenwhatissincereispolluted,andwhatistrueischangedbymeretriciouscoloringandthedeceptionsofquackeryintoalie?ThyLordsays,’Thoucanstnotmakeonehairwhiteorblack;’(3)anddostthouwishtohavegreaterpowersoastobringtonoughtthewordsofthyLord?

  Withrashandsacrilegioushandthouwouldstfainchangethecolorofthyhair:Iwouldthat,withapropheticlooktothefuture,thoushouldstdyeitthecolorofflame。\"(4)Itwouldbetoolongtoquoteallthatfollows。

  50。Ambroseagain,inveighingagainstsuchpractices,says:\"Hencearisetheseincentivestovice,thatwomen,intheirfearthattheymaynotproveattractivetomen,painttheirfaceswithcarefully-chosencolors,andthenfromstainsontheirfeaturesgoontostainsontheirchastity。Whatfollyitistochangethefeaturesofnatureintothoseofpainting,andfromfearofincurringtheirhusband’sdisapproval,toproclaimopenlythattheyhaveincurredtheirown!Forthewomanwhodesirestoalterhernaturalappearancepronouncescondemnationonherself;andhereagerendeavorstopleaseanotherprovethatshehasfirstbeendispleasingtoherself。Andwhattestimonytothineuglinesscanwefind,Owoman,thatismoreunquestionablethanthineown,whenthouartafraidtoshowthyself?Ifthouartcomelywhydostthouhidethycomeliness?Ifthouartplain,whydostthoulyinglypretendtobebeautiful,whenthoucanstnotenjoythepleasureofthelieeitherinthineownconsciousnessorinthatofanother?Forhelovesanotherwoman,thoudesiresttopleaseanotherman;andthouartangryifheloveanother,thoughheistaughtadulteryinthee。Thouarttheevilpromptressofthineowninjury。Foreventhewomanwhohasbeenthevictimofapandershrinksfromactingthepander’spart,andthoughshebevile,itisherselfshesinsagainstandnotanother。Thecrimeofadulteryisalmostmoretolerablethanthine;foradulterytamperswithmodesty,butthouwithnature。\"(5)Itissufficientlyclear,I

  think,thatthiseloquencecallspassionatelyuponwomentoavoidtamperingwiththeirappearancebydeceitfularts,andtocultivatemodestyandfear。Accordingly,wenoticethatthestyleisneithersubduednortemperate,butmajesticthroughoutNowinthesetwoauthorswhomIhaveselectedasspecimensoftherest,andinotherecclesiasticalwriterswhobothspeakthetruthandspeakitwell,——speakit,thatis,judiciously,pointedly,andwithbeautyandpowerofexpression,——manyexamplesmaybefoundofthethreestylesofspeech,scatteredthroughtheirvariouswritingsanddiscourses;andthediligentstudentmaybyassiduousreading,intermingledwithpracticeonhisownpart,becomethoroughlyimbuedwiththemall。

  CHAP。22。——THENECESSITYOFVARIETYIN

  STYLE。

  51。Butwearenottosupposethatitisagainstruletominglethesevariousstyles:taste。Forwhenwekeepmonotonouslytoonestyle,wefailtoretainthehearer’sattention;butwhenwepassfromonestyletoanother,thediscoursegoesoffmoregracefully,eventhoughitextendtogreaterlength。Eachseparatestyle,again,hasvarietiesofitsownwhichpreventthehearer’sattentionfromcoolingorbecominglanguid。Wecanbearthesubduedstyle,however,longerwithoutvarietythanthemajesticstyle。Forthementalemotionwhichitisnecessarytostirupinordertocarrythehearer’sfeelingswithus,whenonceithasbeensufficientlyexcited,thehigherthepitchtowhichitisraised,canbemaintainedtheshortertime。Andthereforewemustbeonourguard,lest,instrivingtocarrytoahigherpointtheemotionwehaveexcited,weratherlosewhatwehavealreadygained。Butaftertheinterpositionofmatterthatwehavetotreatinaquieterstyle,wecanreturnwithgoodeffecttothatwhichmustbetreatedforcibly,thusmakingthetideofeloquencetoebbandflowlikethesea。Itfollowsfromthis,thatthemajesticstyle,ifitistobelongcontinued,oughtnottobeunvaried,butshouldalternateatintervalswiththeotherstyles;thespeechorwritingasawhole,however,beingreferredtothatstylewhichistheprevailingone。

  CHAP。23。——HOWTHEVARIOUSSTYLESSHOULD

  BEMINGLED。

  52。Nowitisamatterofimportancetodeterminewhatstyleshouldbealternatedwithwhatother,andtheplaceswhereitisnecessarythatanyparticularstyleshouldbeused。Inthemajesticstyle,forinstance,itisalways,oralmostalways,desirablethattheintroductionshouldbetemperate。Andthespeakerhasitinhisdiscretiontousethesubduedstyleevenwherethemajesticwouldbeallowable,inorderthatthemajesticwhenitisusedmaybethemoremajesticbycomparison,andmayasitwereshineoutwithgreaterbrilliancefromthedarkbackground。Again,whatevermaybethestyleofthespeechorwriting,whenknottyquestionsturnupforsolution,accuracyofdistinctionisrequired,andthisnaturallydemandsthesubduedstyle。

  Andaccordinglythisstylemustbeusedinalternationwiththeothertwostyleswheneverquestionsofthatsortturnup;justaswemustusethetemperatestyle,nomatterwhatmaybethegeneraltoneofthediscourse,wheneverpraiseorblameistobegivenwithoutanyulteriorreferencetothecondemnationoracquittalofanyone,ortoobtainingtheconcurrenceofanyoneinacourseofaction。Inthemajesticstyle,then,andinthequietlikewise,boththeothertwostylesoccasionallyfindplace。Thetemperatestyle,ontheotherhand,notindeedalways,butoccasionally,needsthequietstyle;forexample,when,asIhavesaid,aknottyquestioncomesuptobesettled,orwhensomepointsthataresusceptibleofornamentareleftunadornedandexpressedinthequietstyle,inordertogivegreatereffecttocertainexuberances(astheymaybecalled)ofornament。Butthetemperatestyleneverneedstheaidofthemajestic;foritsobjectistogratify,nevertoexcite,themind。

  CHAP。24。——THEEFFECTSPRODUCEDBYTHE

  MAJESTICSTYLE。

  53。Iffrequentandvehementapplausefollowsaspeaker,wearenottosupposeonthataccountthatheisspeakinginthemajesticstyle;forthiseffectisoftenproducedbothbytheaccuratedistinctionsofthequietstyle,andbythebeautiesofthetemperate。Themajesticstyle,ontheotherhand,frequentlysilencestheaudiencebyitsimpressiveness,butcallsforththeirtears。Forexample,whenatCaesareainMauritaniaIwasdissuadingthepeoplefromthatcivil,orworsethancivil,warwhichtheycalledCaterva(foritwasnotfellow-citizensmerely,butneighbors,brothers,fathersandsonseven,who,dividedintotwofactionsandarmedwithstones,foughtannuallyatacertainseasonoftheyearforseveraldayscontinuously,everyonekillingwhomsoeverhecould),IstrovewithallthevehemenceofspeechthatIcouldcommandtorootoutanddrivefromtheirheartsandlivesanevilsocruelandinveterate;itwasnot,however,whenIheardtheirapplause,butwhenIsawtheirtears,thatI

  thoughtIhadproducedaneffect。Fortheapplauseshowedthattheywereinstructedanddelighted,butthetearsthattheyweresubdued。AndwhenIsawtheirtearsIwasconfidentevenbeforetheeventprovedit,thatthishorribleandbarbarouscustom(whichhadbeenhandeddowntothemfromtheirfathersandtheirancestorsofgenerationslonggonebyandwhichlikeanenemywasbesiegingtheirhearts,orratherhadcompletepossessionofthem)wasoverthrown;andimmediatelythatmysermonwasfinishedIcalleduponthemwithheartandvoicetogivepraiseandthankstoGod。And,lo,withtheblessingofChrist,itisnoweightyearsormoresinceanythingofthesortwasattemptedthere。InmanyothercasesbesidesIhaveobservedthatmenshowtheeffectmadeonthembythepowerfuleloquenceofawiseman,notbyclamorousapplausesomuchasbygroans,sometimesevenbytears,finelybychangeoflife。

  54。Thequietstyle,too,hasmadeachangeinmany;butitwastoteachthemwhattheywereignorantof,ortopersuadethemofwhattheythoughtincredible,nottomakethemdowhattheyknewtheyoughttodobutwereunwillingtodo。Tobreakdownhardnessofthissort,speechneedstobevehement。Praiseandcensure,too,whentheyareeloquentlyexpressed,eveninthetemperatestyle,producesuchaneffectonsome,thattheyarenotonlypleasedwiththeeloquenceoftheencomiumsandcensures,butareledtolivesoasthemselvestodeservepraise,andtoavoidlivingsoastoincurblame。Butnoonewouldsaythatallwhoarethusdelightedchangetheirhabitsinconsequence,whereasallwhoaremovedbythemajesticstyleactaccordingly,andallwhoaretaughtbythequietstyleknoworbelieveatruthwhichtheywerepreviouslyignorantof。

  CHAP。25。——HOWTHETEMPERATESTYLEISTO

  BEUSED。

  55。Fromallthiswemayconclude,thattheendarrivedatbythetwostyleslastmentionedistheonewhichitismostessentialforthosewhoaspiretospeakwithwisdomandeloquencetosecure。

  Ontheotherhand,whatthetemperatestyleproperlyaimsat,viz。,topleasebybeautyofexpression,isnotinitselfanadequateend;butwhenwhatwehavetosayisgoodanduseful,andwhenthehearersarebothacquaintedwithitandfavorablydisposedtowardsit,sothatitisnotnecessaryeithertoinstructorpersuadethem,beautyofstylemayhaveitsinfluenceinsecuringtheirpromptercompliance,orinmakingthemadheretoitmoretenaciously。Forasthefunctionofalleloquence,whicheverofthesethreeformsitmayassume,istospeakpersuasively,anditsobjectistopersuade,aneloquentmanwillspeakpersuasively,whateverstylehemayadopt;butunlesshesucceedsinpersuading,hiseloquencehasnotsecureditsobject。Nowinthesubduedstyle,hepersuadeshishearersthatwhathesaysistrue;inthemajesticstyle,hepersuadesthemtodowhattheyareawaretheyoughttodo,butdonot;inthetemperatestyle,hepersuadesthemthathisspeechiselegantandornate。

  Butwhatuseisthereinattainingsuchanobjectasthislast?Theymaydesireitwhoarevainoftheireloquenceandmakeaboastofpanegyrics,andsuch-likeperformances,wheretheobjectisnottoinstructthehearer,ortopersuadehimtoanycourseofaction,butmerelytogivehimpleasure。We,however,oughttomakethatendsubordinatetoanother,viz。,theeffectingbythisstyleofeloquencewhatweaimateffectingwhenweusethemajesticstyle。Forwemaybytheuseofthisstylepersuadementocultivategoodhabitsandgiveupevilones,ifagoodcourse;wemayinducethemtopursueagoodcourse,wemayinducethemtopursueitmorezealously,andtopersevereinitwith,constancy。Accordingly,eveninthetemperatestylewemustusebeautyofexpressionnotforostentation,butforwiseends;notcontentingourselvesmerelywithpleasingthehearer,butratherseekingtoaidhiminthepursuitofthegoodendwhichweholdoutbeforehim。

  CHAP。26。——INEVERYSTYLETHEORATORSHOULDAIMATPERSPICUITY,BEAUTY,AND

  PERSUASIVENESS。

  55。NowinregardtothethreeconditionsIlaiddownalittlewhileago(1)asnecessarytobefulfilledbyanyonewhowishestospeakwithwisdomandeloquence,viz。perspicuity,beautyofstyle,andpersuasivepower,wearenottounderstandthatthesethreequalitiesattachthemselvesrespectivelytothethreeseveralstylesofspeech,onetoeach,sothatperspicuityisameritpeculiartothesubduedstyle,beautytothetemperateandpersuasivepowertothemajestic。Onthecontrary,allspeech,whateveritsstyle,oughtconstantlytoaimat,andasfaraspossibletodisplay,allthesethreemerits。Forwedonotlikeevento,notwithintelligencemerely,butwithpleasureaswell。Again,whydoweenforcewhatweteachbydivinetestimony,exceptthatwewishtocarrythehearerwithus,that,tocompelhisassentbycallingintheassistanceofHimofwhomitissaid,\"Thytestimoniesareverysure\"?(1)Andwhenanyonenarratesastory,eveninthesubduedstyle,whatdoeshewishbuttobebelieved?Butwhowilllistentohimifhedonotarrestattentionbysomebeautyofstyle?Andifhebenotintelligible,isitnotplainthathecanneithergivepleasurenorenforceconviction?Thesubduedstyle,again,initsownnakedsimplicity,whenitunravelsquestionsofverygreatdifficulty,andthrowsanunexpectedlightuponthem;whenitwormsoutandbringstolightsomeveryacuteobservationsfromaquarterwhencenothingwasexpected;

  whenitseizesuponandexposesthefalsityofanopposingopinion,whichseemedatitsfirststatementtobeunassailable;

  especiallywhenallthisisaccompaniedbyanatural,unsoughtgraceofexpression,andbyarhythmandbalanceofstylewhichisnotostentatiouslyobtruded,butseemsrathertobecalledforthbythenatureofthesubject:thisstyle,soused,frequentlycallsforthapplausesogreatthatonecanhardlybelieveittobethesubduedstyle。Forthefactthatitcomesforthwithouteitherornamentordefence,andoffersbattleinitsownnakedsimplicity,doesnothinderitfromcrushingitsadversarybyweightofnerveandmuscle,andoverwhelminganddestroyingthefalsehoodthatopposesitbythemerestrengthofitsownfightarm。Howexplainthefrequentandvehementapplausethatwaitsuponmenwhospeakthus,exceptbythepleasurethattruthsoirresistiblyestablished,andsovictoriouslydefended,naturallyaffords?WhereforetheChristianteacherandspeakerought,whenheusesthesubduedstyle,toendeavornotonlytobedearandintelligible,buttogivepleasureandtobringhomeconvictiontothehearer。

  57。Eloquenceofthetemperatestyle,also,must,inthecaseoftheChristianorator,beneitheraltogetherwithoutornament,norunsuitablyadorned,norisittomakethegivingofpleasureitssoleaim,whichisallitprofessestoaccomplishinthehandsofothers;butinitsencomiumsandcensuresitshouldaimatinducingthehearertostriveafteroravoidorrenouncewhatitcondemns。Ontheotherhand,withoutperspicuitythisstylecannotgivepleasure。Andsothethreequalities,perspicuity,beauty,andpersuasiveness。aretobesoughtinthisstylealso;beauty,ofcourse,beingitsprimaryobject。

  58。Again,whenitbecomesnecessarytostirandswaythehearersmindbythemaesticstyle(andthisisalwaysnecessarywhenheadmitsthatwhatyousayisbothtrueandagreeable,andyetisunwillingtoactaccordingly),youmust,ofcourse,speakinthemajesticstyle。butwhocanbemovedifhedoesnotunderstandwhatissaid?andwhowillstaytolistenifhereceivesnopleasure?Wherefore,inthisstyle,too,whenanobdurateheartistobepersuadedtoobedience,youmustspeaksoastobebothintelligibleandpleasing,ifyouwouldbeheardwithasubmissivemind。

  CHAP。27。——THEMANWHOSELIFEISINHARMONYWITHHISTEACHINGWILLTEACH

  WITH

  GREATEREFFECT。

  59。Butwhatevermaybethemajestyofthestyle,thelifeofthespeakerwillcountformoreinsecuringthehearer’scompliance。Themanwhospeakswiselyandeloquently,butliveswickedly,may,itistrue,instructmanywhoareanxioustolearn;though,asitiswritten,he\"isunprofitabletohimself。\"(2)

  Wherefore,also,theapostlesays:\"WhetherinpretenceorintruthChristispreached。\"(3)NowChrististhetruth;yetweseethatthetruthcanbepreached,thoughnotintruth,——thatis,whatisrightandtrueinitselfmaybepreachedbyamanofperverseanddeceitfulmind。AndthusitisthatJesusChristispreachedbythosethatseektheirown,andnotthethingsthatareJesusChrist’s。Butsincetruebelieversobeythevoice,notofanyman,butoftheLordHimself,whosays,\"Allthereforewhatsoevertheybidyouobserve,thatobserveanddo:butdonotyeaftertheirworks;fortheysayanddonot;\"(4)thereforeitisthatmenwhothemselvesleadunprofitablelivesareheardwithprofitbyothers。Forthoughtheyseektheirownobjects,theydonotdaretoteachtheirowndoctrines,sittingastheydointhehighplacesofecclesiasticalauthority,whichisestablishedonsounddoctrine。WhereforeourLordHimself,beforesayingwhatIhavejustquotedaboutmenofthisstamp,madethisobservation:

  \"ThescribesandthePhariseessitinMoses’seat。\"(5)Theseattheyoccupied,then,whichwasnottheirsbutMoses’,compelledthemtosaywhatwasgood,thoughtheydidwhatwasevil。Andsotheyfollowedtheirowncourseintheirlives,butwerepreventedbytheseattheyoccupied,whichbelongedtoanother,frompreachingtheirowndoctrines。

  60。Nowthesemendogoodtomanybypreachingwhattheythemselvesdonotperform;buttheywoulddogoodtoverymanymoreiftheylivedastheypreach。Fortherearenumberswhoseekanexcusefortheirownevillivesincomparingtheteachingwiththeconductoftheirinstructors,andwhosaymtheirhearts,orevengoalittlefurther,andsaywiththeirlips:Whydoyounotdoyourselfwhatyoubidmedo?Andthustheyceasetolistenwithsubmissiontoamanwhodoesnotlistentohimself,andindespisingthepreachertheylearntodespisethewordthatispreached。Whereforetheapostle,writingtoTimothy,aftertellinghim,\"Letnomandespisethyyouth,\"addsimmediatelythecoursebywhichhewouldavoidcontempt:

  \"butbethouanexampleofthebelievers,inword,inconversation,incharity,inspirit,infaith,inpurity。\"(1)

  CHAP。28。——TRUTHISMOREIMPORTANTTHANEXPRESSION。WHATISMEANTBY

  STRIFEABOUT

  WORDS。

  61。Suchateacherasisheredescribedmay,tosecurecompliance,speaknotonlyquietlyandtemperately,butevenvehemently,withoutanybreachofmodesty,becausehislifeprotectshimagainstcontempt。Forwhilehepursuesanuprightlife,hetakescaretomaintainagoodreputationaswell,providingthingshonestinthesightofGodandmen,(2)fearingGod,andcaringformen。Inhisveryspeechevenhepreferstopleasebymatterratherthanbywords;thinksthatathingiswellsaidinproportionasitistrueinfact,andthatateachershouldgovernhiswords,notletthewordsgovernhim。Thisiswhattheapostlesays:\"Notwithwisdomofwords,lestthecrossofChristshouldbemadeofnoneeffect。\"(3)TothesameeffectalsoiswhathesaystoTimothy:\"ChargingthembeforetheLordthattheystrivenotaboutwordstonoprofit,buttothesubvertingofthehearers。\"(4)Nowthisdoesnotmeanthat,whenadversariesopposethetruth,wearetosaynothingindefenceofthetruth。

  Forwhere,then,wouldbewhathesayswhenheisdescribingthesortofmanabishopoughttobe:\"thathemaybeablebysounddoctrinebothtoexhortandconvincethegainsayers?\"(5)Tostriveaboutwordsisnottobecarefulaboutthewaytoovercomeerrorbytruth,buttobeanxiousthatyourmodeofexpressionshouldbepreferredtothatofanother。Themanwhodoesnotstriveaboutwords,whetherhespeakquietly,temperatelyorvehemently,useswordswithnootherpurposethantomakethetruthplain,pleasing,andeffective;fornotevenloveitself,whichistheendofthecommandmentandthefulfillingofthelaw,(6)canberightlyexercisedunlesstheobjectsoflovearetrueandnotfalse。Forasamanwithacomelybodybutanill-conditionedmindisamorepainfulobjectthanifhisbodytooweredeformed,somenwhoteachliesarethemorepitiableiftheyhappentobeeloquentinspeech。Tospeakeloquently,then,andwiselyaswell,isjusttoexpresstruthswhichitisexpedienttoteachinfitandproperwords,——wordswhichinthesubduedstyleareadequate,inthetemperate,elegant,andinthemajestic,forcible。Butthemanwhocannotspeakbotheloquentlyandwiselyshouldspeakwiselywithouteloquence,ratherthaneloquentlywithoutwisdom。

  CHAP。29。——ITISPERMISSIBLEFORAPREACHERTODELIVERTOTHEPEOPLE

  WHATHASBEEN

  WRITTENBYAMOREELOQUENTMANTHANHIMSELF。

  If,however,hecannotdoeventhis,lethislifebesuchasshallnotonlysecurearewardforhimself,butaffordanexampletoothers;andlethismanneroflivingbeaneloquentsermoninitself。

  63。Thereare,indeed,somemenwhohaveagooddelivery,butcannotcomposeanythingtodeliver。Now,ifsuchmentakewhathasbeenwrittenwithwisdomandeloquencebyothers,andcommitittomemory,anddeliverittothepeople,theycannotbeblamed,supposingthemtodoitwithoutdeceptionForinthiswaymanybecomepreachersofthetruth(whichiscertainlydesirable),andyetnotmanyteachers;foralldeliverthediscoursewhichonerealteacherhascomposed,andtherearenodivisionsamongthem。NoraresuchmentobealarmedbythewordsofJeremiahtheprophet,throughwhomGoddenouncesthosewhostealHiswordseveryonefromhisneighbor。(7)

  Forthosewhostealtakewhatdoesnotbelongtothem,butthewordofGodbelongstoallwhoobeyit;anditisthemanwhospeakswell,butlivesbadly,whoreallytakesthewordsthatbelongtoanother,Forthegoodthingshesaysseemtobetheresultofhisownthought,andyettheyhavenothingincommonwithhismanneroflife。AndsoGodhassaidthattheystealHiswordswhowouldappeargoodbyspeakingGod’swords,butareinfactbad,astheyfollowtheirownways。Andifyoulookcloselyintothematter,itisnotreallythemselveswhosaythegoodthingstheysay。Forhowcantheysayinwordswhattheydenyindeeds?Itisnotfornothingthattheapostlesaysofsuchmen:\"TheyprofessthattheyknowGod,butinworkstheydenyHim。\"(1)Inonesense,then,theydosaythethings,andinanothersensetheydonotsaythem;forboththesestatementsmustbetrue,bothbeingmadebyHimwhoistheTruth。Speakingofsuchmen,inoneplaceHesays,\"Whatsoevertheybidyouobserve,thatobserveanddo;butdonotyeaftertheirworks;\"——thatistosay,whatyehearfrom。theirlips,thatdo;whatyeseeintheirlives,thatdoyenot;——\"fortheysayanddonot。\"(2)Andso,thoughtheydonot,yettheysay。butinanotherplace,upbraidingsuchmen,Hesays,\"Ogenerationofvipers,howcanye,beingevil,speakgoodthings?\"(3)Andfromthisitwouldappearthatevenwhattheysay,whentheysaywhatisgood,itisnotthemselveswhosay,forinwil;landindeedtheydenywhattheysay。Henceithappensthatawickedmanwhoiseloquentmaycomposeadiscourseinwhichthetruthissetforthtobedeliveredbyagoodmanwhoisnoteloquent;andwhenthistakesplace,theformerdrawsfromhimselfwhatdoesnotbelongtohim,andthelatterreceivesfromanotherwhatreallybelongstohimself。Butwhentruebelieversrenderthisservicetotruebelievers,bothpartiesspeakwhatistheirown,forGodistheirs,towhombelongsallthattheysay;andeventhosewhocouldnotcomposewhattheysaymakeittheirownbycomposingtheirlivesinharmonywithit。

  CHAP。30。——THEPREACHERSHOULDCOMMENCEHISDISCOURSEWITHPRAYERTO

  GOD。

  63。Butwhetheramanisgoingtoaddressthepeopleortodictatewhatotherswilldeliverorreadtothepeople,heoughttoprayGodtoputintohismouthasuitablediscourse。ForifQueenEstherprayed,whenshewasabouttospeaktothekingtouchingthetemporalwelfareofherrace,thatGodwouldputfitwordsintohermouth,(4)howmuchmoreoughthetoprayforthesameblessingwholaborsinwordanddoctrinefortheeternalwelfareofmen?Those,again,whoaretodeliverwhatotherscomposeforthemought,beforetheyreceivetheirdiscourse,toprayforthosewhoarepreparingit;andwhentheyhavereceivedit,theyoughttoprayboththattheythemselvesmaydeliveritwell,andthatthosetowhomtheyaddressitmaygiveear;andwhenthediscoursehasahappyissue,theyoughttorenderthankstoHimfromwhomtheyknowsuchblessingscome,sothatallthepraisemaybeHis\"inwhosehandarebothweandourwords。\"(5)

  CHAP。31。——APOLOGYFORTHELENGTHOFTHEWORK。

  64。ThisbookhasextendedtoagreaterlengththanIexpectedordesired。

  Butthereaderorhearerwhofindspleasureinitwillnotthinkitlong。Hewhothinksitlong,butisanxioustoknowitscontents,mayreaditinparts。Hewhodoesnotcaretobeacquaintedwithitneednotcomplainofitslength。I,however,givethankstoGodthatwithwhattheabilityIpossessIhaveinthesefourbooksstriventodepict,notthesortofmanIammyself(formydefectsareverymany),butthesortofmanheoughttobewhodesirestolaborinsound,thatis,inChristiandoctrine,notforhisowninstructiononly,butforthatofothersalso。

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