Section II. — In the pulpit use no others word but this, and handle it faith- fully. Renieniher who.se errand thou bringest.
First, Purel}', and that in a threefold respect. First, Pure from error. Tliink it not enough that your text is Scripture, but let your whole sermon be agree- able thereto. Thou art an ambassadoi-, and', as such, bound by thy instruc- tions. Take heed of giving thy own dreams and fancies in God's name, Jer. xxiii. 28 : ' He that hath my word, let him speak it faithfully ;' that is, purely, without mingling it with his own dreams : so he expounds himself, — ' What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.' All is chaff, except the pure word of God; and why should it be blended with it? Such an one may fear lest God from heaven should give him the lie while he is in the pulpit. Oh stamp not God's image on thine own coin! We live in high-flown times : manj^ people are not content with truths that lie plainly in the Scriptures; and some, to please their wanton palates, have sublimated their notions so high, that they have flown out of the sight of the Scripture, and unawares run themselves, with others, into dangerous errors. Be well assured it is a truth, before thou acquaintest thy people with it. If thou wilt play the mountebank, choose not the pulpit for thy stage. Make not experiments upon the souls of thy people, by delivering what is doubtful, and hath not undergone the trial of this furnace. Better feed thy people with sound doctrine, though it be a plain meal, than that thou shouldst, with an outlandish dish, light on a wild gourd, that brings death into their pot. Secondly, Pure from passion. The pulpit is an unseemly place to vent our discontent and passions in. Beware of this strange fire. The man of God must be gentle and meek, and his words with meekness of wisdom. The oil makes the nail drive without splitting the board. The word never enters the heart more kindly, than when it falls most gently : ' Ride thou prosperously, because of truth and meekness,' Psa. xlv. 4. Be as rough to th}' people's sins as thou canst, so thou be gentle to their souls. Dost thou take the rod of reproof into thine hand ? Let them see that love, not wrath, gives the blow. Nurses are cai'eful that they do not heat their milk, knowing- it will breed ill blood in the child that sucks it. The word preached, comes, indeed, best from a warm heart ; but if there goes a feverish heat withal, it breeds ill blood in the hearer's thoughts, and prejudice to the person makes him dislike the milk. I speak not against the minister's zeal, so that it be from above, pure and peaceable. Save all thy heat for God ; spend it not in thy own cause. Admirable was the meekness of Moses in this respect. An higli affront he received at the hands of Aaron and Miriam, Numb. xii. 2 : he did not retort upon them, it was his own cause, and it was enough that God heard it : but when a sin was committed immediately against God, this meek man could be all in a flame. He may take most liberty in reproving his people's sins against God, that takes least liberty in his own cause. Thirdly, Pure from levity and vanity. The word of God is too sacred a thing, and preaching too solemn a work, to be toyed and played with, as is the usage of some, who make a sermon but matter of wit and line oratory. Their sermon is like a child's doll, from which if you take its dress, the rest is worth nothing : unpin this storj', take off that gaudy phrase, and nothing is left in the discourse. If we mean to do good, we must come, not only in word, but with power. Satan moves not for a thousand such squibs and wit-cracks. Draw, therefore, the sword out of thy scabbard, and strike with its naked edge : this you will find the only way to pierce your people's consciences, and fetch blood of their sins. I do not here speak against the use of those parts which God hath given unto any ; nor against the fitting our discovu'se so as it may most insinuate itself into ovu' people's affections, and steal into their hearts, by the gratefulness it finds with their ear. This is our duty ; Eccles. xii. 9, ' Because the preacher was wise, he sought to find out acceptable words.' Not rude, loose, and indi- gested stuff, in a slovenly manner brought forth, lest the sluttcry of the cook should turn the stomachs of the guests. The apothecary mixeth his potion, so as his patient may take it down with less regret, if not with delight ; but still he hath a care that he weakens not its purging operation, by making it over- pleasant to the palate. As they were 'acceptable words,' so upriglit, — ' words of truth,' ver. 10.
Secondly, As purely, so freely. O, take heed of enslaving the word of God
PRAYING ALWAYS, KTC. gg^^