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。