The Faithful Shepherd, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of the Analyſis and reſolution of the text.
THe text read, the Teacher is to reſolue his Scripture, toWhat to be obſerued in the Analyſis. late it open to the hearers: as Firſt, the Author of the words: Secondly, the occaſion thereof: Thirdly, if a particular portion of Scripture, or ſome Chapter, or verſe of a Chapter, then obſerue the coherence with that which goes before or followes after: Fourthly, the ſcope or principall intendement of the holy Ghoſt in that place, of which ſcope ariſeth the principall propoſition; called of Rhetoricians the State; of Lawyers the Iſſue. This chieflie is to be laboured in, and is to be found out by obſeruing theſe circumſtances: Quis, quid, vbi, quibus auxilijs, cur, quo modo, quando, How to finde out the ſcope of a place, and to reſolue the ſame Scripture.that is, the Perſon, the Thing it ſelfe, the Time, Place, the Meanes, the maner of Doing, and the End. By the Perſon, Time, and Place, may be found the occaſion; by the Thing, the matter handled; by the Meanes, the arguments; by the maner, the method how the arguments are laide downe, which method is often crypticke, and not naturall; by the End, the ſcope, and ſo the principall propoſition, which may be brought to one of theſe three kinds, Demonſtratiue, Deliberatiue, or Iudiciall.
It is a hard thing to finde the ſtate of a whole booke, andOf diuiding a text, and the benefit therof. to reduce it into one ſentence or propoſition, for that it is mixt of diuers kindes; but it is more eaſie in the parts of a booke, and in a particular portion of Scripture. Fiftly, after the ſcope be found out, the text is to bee diuided into his ſeueral parts: by this we limit our ſelues within bounds, to keepe our ſelues from ranging; the hearer will better follow the matter, and conceiue the meaning in the diſcourſe; It helpeth memorie to carrie away that which is heard. Where order wants without diuiſion, there muſt needs be a diſordered rouing, running in and out, here now in the beginning, by and by there in the ending; a confuſion there is, a mixture of things to be ſeuered, & a ſeparation of things to be conioined: the diſcourſe is looſe, tedious, and vncertaine, wandring without ſtaie or limitation.
Of the Diuiſion of bookes or Chapters, my purpoſe is not to ſpeake, for that helpes enow are to be had for the ſame, and ſo common in all mens labors and Commentaries, that it is a labour needleſſe to giuegive any precepts heerein. I therefore heere intend to ſpeake of particular Scriptures,How to diuide particular verſes. one or two verſes for a text, and of the diuiſion, interpretation, and gathering doctrines thereout onelyonly: Some verſes conteine euident doctrines, or propoſitions, as Prouer. 29. 18: Ioh. 3. 36. where note the qualitie thereof; Generall or Speciall, Affirmatiue or Negatiue, Neceſſary or Cōtingent: the parts, the Antecedent & Conſequent; where ſuch euident propoſitiōs be not, there, firſt look out atotum, What first to conſider and know to diuide a verſe.what in generall to name it; as a narration, a doctrine teaching ſomewhat; exhortation, dehortation; a commandement, a promiſe; threat, rebuke; petition, wiſh, vowe; curſe; profeſſion, declaration, a ſalutation, a counſell, comfort, prediction, praiſe, thankeſgiuing, diſpraiſe, admonition, queſtion, anſwer, mocke or taunt, definition, deſcription, accuſation, prohibition, deteſtation, denial or affirmation, & ſo forth. Then gather the parts by circumſtances, euen as the words lie in order, if it may be, for the better helpe of the meanerſort. To find what to call it, which terme or name cō teineth the ſcope of the words, & it may be found out from other Scriptures, as Mat. 28. 19. is called a commandement; by S. Paul Act. 10. 42. ſo Geneſ. 17. 4. which S. Paul cals a Promiſe, Rom. 4. 20. Pſal. 32. 1. interpreted by S. Paul, Rom. 4. 6. Againe, we may know how to call it by the ſenſe of the place, albeit wee finde it not interpreted elſwhere: and by other meanes, as by the Verbe, as Matth. 9. 30. its a charge giuen, Rom. 12. 1. an exhortation, Luk. 14. 29. 30. a mocking,By this ſee the vſe of Grammar neceſſary to a Diuine. Rom. 9. 14. deteſtation noted by abſit, which Verbe ſhewes the Apoſtles deteſtation of that blaſphemie by Nounes: Dan. 4. 24. it is a Counſell: by Aduerbes; Pſal. 119. 5. a wiſh: by Coniunctions, etſi, quamuis, and the like are ſymbola occupationis: niſi is often not a obiectionis, and ſed ſolutionis, as 2. Cor. 1. 24. by Interiections, as Pſal. 120. 5. a complaint. In one verſe there may be two or three generals, as Geneſ. 32. 30. the firſt part a narration, the latter a gratulation; whereupon in ſuch caſes according as the text will affoord, muſt bee firſt made a generall diuiſion into diuers totums, and eueryevery of them after into their branches by circumſtances: as for example, Ezech. 18. 30.
Theſe words are the Prophet Ezechiels, whom the Lord1. Author. raiſed vp, as to comfort the godly, ſo to ſhew the wicked their ſins and puniſhment for the ſame. Secondly, the wicked2. Occaſion. Iewes had blaſphemouſly accuſed the Lord of iniuſtice, and murmured againſt his chaſtiſements. Thirdly, which3. Scope and generall propoſition. the Prophet reprooues them for, and confutes their error, and ſhewes that Gods waies are equall and iuſt, and theirs vniuſt, and that not he, but they, are the cauſe of his iudgements vponupon them, which are iuſtly inflicted. Fourthly,4. Coherence. whereupon in theſe words the Prophet concludes, that for theſe their ſpeeches they deſerue puniſhment, and ſhould be puniſhed vnleſſe they repented. Fiftly, the verſe containeth5. Parts and generall diuiſion. three generals or totums, and therefore muſt firſt be obſerued: the firſt, is a threatning of iudgement: the ſecond, an exhortation: the third, a promiſe, which both the ſenſe &The ſubdiuiſion by obſervation of circumſtances. the Verbes (I will iudge; Returne; Shall not be) doe note out vntounto vsus. Now if men pleaſe, they may by circumſtances diuide theſe into ſeuerall parts, eueryevery one againe, and as the words lie in order: as thus; In the threat, note firſt the cauſe, in therefore; ſecondly, what is threatned, iudgement: thirdly, who in generall, the houſe of Iſrael, and more particularlie euerie one; fourthly, the maner of iudgement; iuſtlie, according to his waies. Fiftly, the perſon threatning, the Lord: So likewiſe proceed in the exhortation and promiſe.
Another example, Matth. 10. 14.
Theſe be the words of our Sauiour Chriſt in his commiſſion giuen to his Diſciples, who commanded them to preach, and to goe hither and thither, and yet without care of corporall prouiſion, intimating alſo to them, that all ſhould not receiue them; he fore-knowing mans thoughts, who vponupon hearing of enemies, would bee ſomewhat diſcouraged: he heere preuents an obiection or anſwers cloſely to that queſtion which they might make concerning their behauiour to the obſtinate, and what ſhall befall them. All which is to encourage the Diſciples in their Miniſterie. The parts whereof are two in generall, a Commination and a Commandement.
1. In the threat, note; Firſt the parties threatned, Whoſoeuer, the perſons; and after the place; the houſe or citie. Secondly why, for two offences, not receiuing the Diſciples, and for not hearing their words. Thirdly, the certaintie of the threatning confirmed to his Diſciples, truely I ſay to you. Fourthly, what is threatned, to wit, their certaine damnation and impoſſibilitie to be ſaued, deliuered in a comparatiue ſpeech; it ſhall be eaſier. Fiftly, the time when this ſhall be effected, in the day of iudgement.
2. In the commandement obſerue firſt the time, when they depart▪ ſecondly, who, the Diſciples, all of them: thirdly, what to doe, ſhake off the duſt of their feete.
Thus may we doe with any Scripture, if we can but know the generall, how to name it, and ſo laie it open by circumſtances, euen as the words lie in order. This maner of diuiding will affoord much matter, eaſie for the method, and diſcends to the capacitie of the ſimpleſt hearer. But heere is no ſmall cunning required, to gather out leſſons from eueryevery circumſtance fitly, yet eaſie to any one that vnderſtands, and hath laboured heerein, as ſhall bee after demonſtrated by example. If it be held too great curioſitie, ſo diſtinctlie to note euerie word as it were, and circumſtance, then the generall diuiſion may be onelyonly obſerued, and one or moe of the words followed, paſſing from one to another briefly at his pleaſure: The way is all one, this more eaſie and leſſe diſtinct to the vnderſtanding in particulars: the other more hard and ſubiect to the cenſure of a meane hearer, any whit exerciſed in the Word, who more eaſily iudgeth and ſeeth the collections of doctrines, and how it is followed, and when the Preacher keepes or roues from the preſent matter. If this way be not liked, in ſtead of this diuiding, and forHow to diuide after another maner, in ſhew more learned. generall heads, one, two, or three propoſitions may be gathered, and as parts followed, eueryevery propoſition conteining the ſubſtance of the circumſtances in the generall part.
As for example, to declare my meaning, Act. 10. 33.
The words are part of Cornelius anſwer, and containe in them three parts: Firſt, Cornelius obedience in theſe words; therefore ſent I for thee immediately: wherein we note theſe circumſtances; firſt, the cauſe, in therefore; ſecondly, the things done, in ſent; thirdly, who, in I, that is, Cornelius; fourthly, for whom; fiftly, when. Secondly Cornelius incouraging and commending of Peter: wherein note; firſt, who and whom; ſecondly, for what; thirdly, Cornelius readineſſe, in the laſt words, where obſerue firſt, when; ſecondly, the cauſe; thirdly, the parties; fourthly, the place; fiftly, the maner; ſixtly, the end; ſeuenthly, what. Theſe three parts thus ſet foorth by circumſtances, may be drawen into three propoſitions; and in ſtead of this diuiding, the Teacher may ſay: We will in theſe words (after hee hath read the verſe) handle and ſpeake of three things:
I. That the commandement of God muſt make him toTheſe three propoſitions contain plainly three ſeuerall circumſtances, knit vp together … doctrines. whom it is giuen, to obey the ſame without delay.
II. That thoſe which ſend for Gods meſſengers ſhould openly encourage them by commending their willingneſſe in comming.
III. That hearers knowing of their comming ſhould make the mſelues ready, wait for them, ſubmitting themſelues with reuerence to heare whatſoeuer they ſhall teach them from the Lord.
Which propoſitions may bee prooued and followed in the ſame order to a mans ſelfe, as the circumſtances ſhould be; but yet in ſhew differing to the auditorie: the other being deliuered plainly, and in a diſiointed ſpeaking, handling eueryevery circumſtance by it ſelfe; but this way largely ſet foorth with a continued ſpeech, to the end of eueryevery propoſition. The other eaſie to be conceiued of the hearer; and to be deliuered of the ſpeaker, requiring neither ſingular memorie, nor much libertie of ſpeech; and therefore to tickling cares a harſher way; though for all ſorts more profitable: this way not ſo eaſie nor ſo euident, hardlier to bee vnderſtood of the ſimpler ſort; and more difficult to bee performed of the Preacher, except he hauehave a good memorie to helpe well his vnderſtanding, and alſo a ready toong, freely vnfolding without ſtoppe, the conceits of the minde. Chuſe either after your gifts; but doe all to edification.
Heere is required in the Teacher skill in the arte of Logicke,What vſe to make of Logicke, an arte moſt neceſſary for a Miniſter. an eſpeciall handmaid by the aſſiſtance of Gods ſpirit, to ſerue for great vſe in reading the Scriptures, in interpreting & laying them open vntounto others. By Logicke we ſee the method of the Spirit, we behold the arguments, the coherence and the ſcope; by it we collect doctrines, confirme them, enlarge the proofes, gather thence conſequently apt vſes, and vrge them by reaſons vponupon the hearers. Without this, a Teacher can neuer ſoundly lay open the ſcriptures, ſolidely proſecute any matter, nor pithily perſwade, nor firmly eſtabliſh a truth, nor iudge of conſequents, nor conuince an aduerſarie well, nor anſwer warily mens ſubtilties, nor wittily preuent cauilling Sophiſtrie: Si Logica abſit, rationalis homo, praeterrationem in linguae ſono verſatur: A mans Oration without Logicke, is but ſound of words without reaſon; an ignorant diſcourſe, in which if the toong be flight, and memorie weake, as the hearer ſhall oft loſe the drift of his wordes; ſo hee ſhall not ſeldome forget himſelfe by ouerrunning both his owne and other mens wits.
Let Logicke bee then the ſterne to guide the courſe of thy ſpeeches, that the ſudden blaſts of affections ouerwhelme thee not, if thou intend to ſpeake iudicially.