The Faithful Shepherd, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Of Preuention of Obiections.
AFter Application followes Preuention of Obiections:Men neuer riſe vp to defend themſelues against the miniſter but in application. for men are no ſooner ſpoken vntounto, but if they diſlike any thing they will ſpeake againſt it: if diſobedient or erroneous and reproued, they will ſtand vponupon their defence, and will obiect againſt vsus, for their waies and opinions. If exhorted to good things, they hauehave their excuſes; all which muſt be taken away. Thus did our Sauiour Chriſt, as Luke 4. 23. It furthers much the matter, and cuts off theWhy and how to preuent obiections. occaſion of cauils. Firſt, it is done either by propounding what might bee ſaid and anſwered, as in the place of Luke, our Sauiour doth. Secondly, or els to anſwer an obiection which might be made cloſelie, without mentioning of it, as the Apoſtle S. Paul doth often in his Epiſtles.
In this, three things are neceſſarily to bee conſidered:Three things needfull heerein. Firſt, when it is needfull to make obiections and to preuent them. Secondly, what to obiect and anſwer. Thirdly, how farre it is needfull to proceed heerein.
I. Its needfull, firſt, when the word of the text it ſelfeWhen it is needfull. affoords plainly an obiection of neceſſitie to be anſwered. Secondly, when either a doctrine gathered, cauſeth anie, or a mans owne words, in following a matter, occaſioneth an obiection, as it often may doe: and therefore great care muſt be had, and wee muſt weigh our ſpeeches to preuent euer (if any thing ſlip vsus, as not well or doubtfully ſpoken,) mens cauilling at that which we vtter. Thirdly, if you ſpeak before a captious companie, and that thou art perſwaded ſuch there be, who will diſlike ſome particulars which thou art conſcionablie to deliuer. Fourthly, when a controueſie is to be handled in a learned auditorie, againſt the common aduerſarie. In which reſpects preuention of obiections is to be vſed.
The obiections either openly to bee made, or cloſely toWhat things to be preuented. be preuented, are ſuch, as the omitting thereof, might occaſion in thy ſpeeches either conceit of error, ſome approbation of ſinne, or ſome ſenſeleſſe abſurditie: alſo whaſoeuer may be a let and hinderance to the receiuing of that which is taught or exhorted vntounto, muſt by this meanes bee remooued. For alwaies there muſt bee vnderſtanding to know, both what we ſay for and againſt any matter, or alſo what may be ſaid with or againſt, on the contrarie, by anie other; els the matter will not ſucceed ſo well as we would deſire.
II. Heere for the Miniſter, to bee able to anſwer obiections,What the Paſtor … to conſider of to be able to preuent obiections. and to preuent what may be ſaid, muſt in exhortation to vertue, conſider carnall excuſes and impediments which may keepe men from the entertainment and practiſe of that vertue. In dehorting from vice, what ſhew of reaſon men make from pleaſure, profit, honour, cuſtome, and example to deteine them ſtill therein.
In conuincing of errors what arguments the aduerſaries hauehave, what obiections againſt our reaſons, to anſwer and ouerthrow them. Laſtly, in comforting weigh what the afflicted may ſay, to repell comfort, whether their affliction be inward or outward and thereto anſwer. By this means we may become skilfull in this neceſſarie point in preaching.How far to proceed in this matter.
III. For the meaſure heerein, how farre to proceed, ſtands in the wiſedome of the Speaker, in the knowledge of the hearers, and the neceſſitie of the matter in hand. All matters are not alike difficult or of hard receit: neither all congregations learned, able to make obiections, or to vnderſtand betwixt an obiection and an anſwer: and therefore leſſe care of preuention is to bee had and vſed amongſt ſuch in doctrinall points.
Whatſoeuer the matter or auditorie is, wee are not to continue making ſo many obiections, as either we can deuiſe or finde written from other, ſo ſhould we make no end; and ſuch a courſe as ſoone maketh doubts, as reſolues them, breeding in ſome mens heads an humour of contradiction, and to others occaſion of contention rather than to the hearers ſanctification and edifying. What thou in thy wiſedome ſhalt hold to be ſufficient for the matter, conuenient for the time, place and perſons; ſo farre proceed and no further. If any be not fully ſatisfied, let them be entreated to enquire further in priuate conference. For it is not fit, yea it is verie hurtfull, to make the Pulpit a place for a continual and full handling of controuerſies in a common auditorie.