Two Treatises, Treatise
A plain PLATFORM FOR PREACHING: Whereby The Word of Truth may be rightly divided; And he that ſpeaketh, ſpeak as the Oracles of God.
I. What preaching is.
PReaching is an Ordinance of God, for the ſaving of mens ſouls, through the publique Interpretation of the Scriptures, by the voice of one aſſigned unto that office in the Church of God.
II. Miniſters are bound to preach the Word
Every Miniſter is bound conſtantly to perform this duty among the people where God hath ſet him; for he is to uſe not alone one or two, but all means of ſaving them, ſeeing all are little enough: and this of Preaching is one of the moſt ſpecial, and chiefeſt.
III. What the interpreting of the word is.
The interpreting of the word is the finding out the Order, Sum, and meaning thereof. This is done by a Logical, Rhetorical, and Grammatical Analyſis of the portion of Scripture treated of; of which alone the Logical is commonly to be brought in publique, and that with tearms not ſavouring of Art, when the people are unlearned and without Art.
IIII. The rules to be obſerved herein.
In interpreting the Word, theſe three Rules are of ſpeciall uſe.
1. The literall and largeſt Senſe of Scripture is the true ſenſe, ſo far as it breeds not ſome diſagrement and jarre between the ſeveral parts of Scriputre compared together.
2. When any ſuch diſagreement will ariſe from the literal and largeſt ſenſe, then muſt recourſe be had to a Figurative ſenſe, or to ſome diſtinction or limitation; one of which will ſurely clear the Text.
3. No diſtinction nor limitation muſt be embraced, but that which hath direct ground out of the Scripture, and will naturally ariſe from the comparing of places both different and agreeing. And the Figures muſt alſo be ſo explained, as that we muſt have ſome plain places of Scripture, upon which to ground our explication of them.
If theſe three Rules be not followed, the Scripture will be made as a Noſe of wax; we framing it to our opinions, not our opinions to it.
V. The word is moſt conveniently handled by way of Doctrine and Uſe.
The Word of God is moſt conveniently applied unto the Hearers by way of Doctrine and Uſe. For this Courſe of Teaching is moſt eaſie for the Capacity and Memory of the ſimpleſt Hearer, and moſt commodious for the Speaker himſelf. For hereby he ſhall be ſure to keep himſelf within the compaſs of his Text, and to ſpeak nothing but what is naturally grounded upon that Scripture which he then handleth.
VI. What a Doctrine is.
A Doctrine is ſome Propoſition expreſſed in the Text, or elſe rightly deduced from the ſame. If it be plainly expreſſed, it needs little proof, the Text it ſelf proving the ſame. And for ſuch Doctrines they may be eaſily ſeen and perceived by any.
VII. How a Doctrine is to be raiſed from the Text.
For the deducing of a Doctrine from the Text, this Rule is moſt ſure and infallible. Frame a true Categorical Syllogiſme, (chiefly of the firſt Figure) whereof ſomething in the Text being the medius terminus, and the Doctrine the Concluſion, then the Doctrine is ſoundly gathered, elſe not.
VIII. The order to be uſed in the handling of a Doctrine.
The Doctrine, whether expreſſed or deduced, muſt be orderly and ſubſtantially handled.
This (ſaving any mans better judgement) may be done very conveniently in four parts.
1. By propoſing the Doctrine, or ſetting down the Propoſition, ſhewing clearly how it is gathered out of the Text.
2. By illuſtrating the ſame, both by a repetition of the ſame thing in ſome variety of tearms, to the number of two or three, (whereof the laſt (if it may be) is to be the moſt ſhort and pithy, that it may beſt ſtick in the memory, and moſt delight the hearer) and alſo by ſome fit and apt ſimilitude. But herein care muſt be had, 1. Not to exceed, for Similitudes being chiefly for delight, two are enough. 2. The Protaſis muſt be a thing well known to the Hearer, not ſome abſtruſe thing in nature, whereof he is more ignorant, and leſs capable then of the Doctrine it ſelf, which is tob e illuſtrated. This were as if one ſhould go about to explain an obſcure thing by that which is more obſure. Obſcurum per obſcurius.
3. By confirming it both by allegation of like places of Scriptures, which tend to the ſame end, Two or three may ſuffice, for in the mouth of two or three Witneſſes ſhall every word be eſtabiſhed, 2 Cor. 13.1. And by Reaſons.
The Reaſons may be taken from the Cauſe, Effects, or any place of Logick, which (if they be ſtrong and lightſomely delivered) do much affect.
4. By explaining the Doctrine, and that by ſpeaking of both or one of the tearms of the Propoſition, whether ſhall ſeem moſt needful, ſhewing both the Kindes, Degrees, Cauſes, Effects Adjuncts, &c. thereof, or ſome of thoſe as ſhall be moſt behooful. But it is to be remembred that theſe explanations muſt be uſed onelyonly in matters as concern the moſt neceſſary points of Religion, or ſome moſt excellent vertue, or notorious vice, or ſomething that the Hearer doth not in likelihood well conceive of.
By thoſe four directions (if duly followed) the Doctrine will be plentifully and ſubſtantially handled. And when the explanation is needful, it is beſt to handle it laſt, that the minde of the Hearer may ſtill hang, as it were, upon the preachers mouth, deſiring to hear him ſpeak: for when a man thinks that ſuch a thing is true, which yet he doth not fully underſtand, he is hereupon the more deſirous to have it fully laid open.
IX. How an Uſe is to be raiſed.
The Uſe is a Propoſition deduced from the Doctrine, where the ſame Rule muſt be obſerved, which hath been already propounded: viz. The Doctrine muſt be the medius terminus; the Uſe the Concluſion of a true Syllogiſme. Then is it a right and well collected Uſe, elſe not.
X.
All Uſes do reſpect principally,The Uſes will have reſpect to the Judgement. either the Judgement, or the Practice.
The Judgement.
1. For confutation of a falſe Opinion, which the preſent Point doth well and fitly ſerve to confute.
2. For confirmation of a Truth, or inſtruction to be well grounded in the Truth, which the preſent Point ſerveth to confirm and manifeſt.
The Practice. And that either,The Uſes which reſpect the Practice.
1. To reprove and terrifie an Offender, that he may leave off and forſake his ſin: Or,
2. To admoniſh and exhort unto the performance of good duties: Or,
3. To comfort, ſtrengthen, and comfirm the Godly that they faint not.
XI. How the Uſes are to be handled
The Uſes alſo may be conveniently handled in this order.
1. Propoſe the Uſe ſhewing clearly how it followeth from the Doctrine.
2. Amplifie the Uſe and enlarge it, that it may work with more ſtrength and life upon the affections of the Hearer.
3. Preſs it more particularly upon the preſent Auditory, and every particular ſoul therein.
XII. Each Uſe may be ſeveraly amplified.
The ſeveral Uſes fore-mentioned admit of ſeveral wayes of Amplification.
XIII. An Uſe of Confutation how to be amplified.
An Uſe of Confutation may be thus amplified.
1. By a plain narration and deſcription of the errour to be refuted, and that as year as may be in the very words uſed by the Adverſary.
2. By ſhewing how contrary the Doctrine in hand, and the point to be confuted are each to other, and how they cannot ſtand together.
3. By taking away ſuch idle diſtinctions as the Adverſary haply doth or may uſe to reconcile them. Or if no ſhift be, yet by a conceſſion, that if it were as they ſay and think, yet that would not follow which they intend.
XIII. How an Uſe of confirmation and inſtruction is to be amplified.
An Uſe of Conformation of the truth, and Inſtruction to reſt in it may be amplified after the ſame manner that the former.
1. By declaring the Point to be confirmed.
2. By ſhewing directly that it muſt needs follow upon the Point in hand.
3. By anſwering ſuch Cavils as are or may be brought againſt it.
XV. How to amplifie an Uſe of Reproof.
An Uſe of Reproof may be amplified,
1. By a clear deſcribing of the parties to be reproved, namely, they that do ſo and ſo offend, that no man may exempt himſelf that is guilty: and here it will be beſt and moſt fit to uſe the very words of Scripture.
2. By declaring certain Adjuncts of the fault: viz. 1. The Commonneſs of it, whereby the Reproof will appear to be needfull, and therefore the more to be attended unto. 2. The Dangerouſneſs of it, to the Soul, Body, Name, Eſtate, of every of which it's fit to give one or more pregnant examples. 3. The Unfitneſs and unbeſeeming of it, in reſpect of our Profeſſion, Age, Calling, &c. 4. The Eaſineſs, or Hardneſs of leaving it, hereby to make ſuch as are guilty, aſhamed not to overcome, or diligent to reſiſt. And here the means would be propounded to keep againſt it.
3. By meeting with ſuch Cavils as are uſed in defence thereof, or any Objection that may be made againſt the Reproof; which yet muſt be done with the ſpirit of meekneſs, to prevent an occaſion of grief to any weak heart.
XVI. An Uſe of admonition or exhortation how to be amplified.
An Uſe of Admonition or Exhortation to the practice of a vertue muſt be amplified.
1. By a lively deſcription of the thing and parties, to whom and of which the Exhortation is made, and is tob e preſſed.
2. By a Declaration of the profit, commodity and benefit that will ariſe from ſuch practice (and here an example is very fit and convenient) as alſo of the poſſibility of attaining to the vertue by ſtriving, where the means furthering the performance of the duty muſt be declared.
3. By meeting with doubts and objections that may be made againſt the duty, or why a man ſhould not do it.
XVII. An Uſ of Comfort how to be amplified.
An Uſe of Comfort may be amplified.
1. By a deſcription of the parties to whom it belongeth, and that clearly that no man may abuſe himſelf.
2. By a declaration of the Comfort it ſelf, how needful, certain, great, conſtant it is, and here alſo examples are of great force.
3. By meeting with the looſe concluſions of carnal men, and ſetting them down in brief, by ſhewing how the comfort doth not appertain to them: and alſo of the doubts that a tender heart will never move againſt it, anſwering them lovingly, where are to be ſhewed the notes of the vertue that is the foundation of the Comfort.
XVIII. A Caveat about the kindes and order of amplifications.
It is not neceſſary to uſe all the kindes of Amplifications, but ſuch of them as ſhall appear moſt convenient: nor to uſe them all in order, but ſo as ſhall be beſt to delight, teach, and move the hearer.
XIX. The Concluſion of the Uſes how to be ordered.
The Concluſion of all Uſes is alike by an Apoſtrophe, wherein the moſt worthy things muſt be in ſome variety of ſpeech repeated, and urged upon every ſeveral ſoul, with Interrogations more or leſs, earneſt, as the Point requireth: And (if it may be) the whole ended with ſome pithy Apophonema, or the like.
XX. A neceſſary direction about the Uſes.
All Points afford not every one of thoſe Uſes; or, if they do, yet ſome one of them moſt principally, which muſt be handled more largely, and the reſt more briefly delivered. And the Miniſter muſt be ſure to uſe as well Inſtruction and Comfort, as Reproof, elſe the hearer will think hardly of him.
FINIS.