Others are withering and decaying in their affections, or stagger- ing and floating in their judgments: Prudence will enable the man of God to give to every one his proper food, or physic, in due sea- son. This will make us spend more hours in our studies, and set to it with all our might and skill, that thereby we may both save ourselves, and them that hear us.
3. Prudential expedient
This ministerial wisdom will not only direct us thus in the choice of our subjects, but of the language too, in which we dress and de- liver them to our people.
It will tell you, a crucified stile best suits the preachers of a cruci- fied Christ. A grave and proper stile becomes the lips of Christ's ambassadors. Prudence will neither allow us to be rude, nor af- fectedly gaudy, in our expressions. * " Tertullian checks those preachers, whose sermons dress up Christianity in philosophical, ra- ther than evangelical terms." Prtidence will chuse words that are solid, rather than florid : As a merchant will a ship by a sound bot- tom, and capacious hold, rather than a gilded head and stern. Words are but servants to matter. An iron key, fitted to the wards of the lock, is more useful than a golden one, that will not open the door to the treasure.
Some of Christ's ministers excel in a neat and pleasing plainness of language. From this Austin was so affected with the stile of Ambrose : -f* ' With his sweet words, which I loved, came into my mind the duties which I neglected.' And Zanchy saith of Viret, \ ' I admired his eloquence, and the force it had in moving the affections.'
Prudence will cast away a thousand fine words, for one that is apt to penetrate the conscience, and reach the heart. This made Basil look upon the famed allegories of his time, with a compassion* ate smile, saying, || ' We take them for pretty witticisms, but things of little use or value in the ministry.' Who, in the last age, was ever honoured with more success in his ministry, than blessed Mr. Burroughs.? And who ever excelled him in skill, to bring down the sublime mysteries of the gospel to the meanest capacity ?
4. Prudential escpedient.
Ministerial prudence will shew us, of what great use our own af- fections are, for the moving of others ; and will therefore advise us, That, as ever we expect the truths Ave preach should operate upon
* Qui Platonicum Christianissimum jyrocudunt Christinnis.
f Veniebant in aniinum metan simul cum verbis, qiue diligebam, etiam res ; quas neglbr gebam.
\ Singularem eloquendam, et in commovundis effectibus sfficacitatem admirabar, f] Cl '/.ixofx -^iv/MVQv fi'av Tov hoyov ccwQid X^^^^'
TUB CHAHACTER OF A TRUE EVANGELICAL PASTOE. 573
the hearts of others, we first labour to work them in upon our own hearts. Such a preacher was St. Paul ; he preached with tears ac- companying his words, Phil. iii. 18. An hot iron, though blunt, will pierce sooner than a cold one, though sharper.
And why, my brethren, do we think, God hath commission ated us, rather than angels, to be his ambassadors ? Was it not, among other reasons, for this.? Because we having been under the same condemnation and misery ourselves, and felt both the terrors and consolations of the Spirif, (which angels experimentally know not), might thereby be enabled to treat with sinners more feelingly, and affectionately, in a way more accommodate to them, and therefore more apt to move and win them,
5. Prudc7itial expedient.
Ministerial prudence will direct the servants of Christ (who high^ ly value, and earnestly long for the success of their labours) to he careful^ hy the strictness and gravity of their deportment ^ to main^ tain their esteem in the consciences of their people.
In your pulpits, you are carrying on a treaty of peace betwixt God and them ; and therefore it will not allow you to do any thing out of your pulpits, to make the breach wider, or hinder the happy close between him and them. The fowler that spreads his net to take the birds, will not leave a feather, or make the least noise, to scare the bird he intends to take. Let not them who aim no higher than a bird, be more prudent and cautious, than you that are set to catch immortal souls. Remember that of Solomon, Prov. xi. 30. ' He that winneth souls is wise.' Prudence will not allow the ministers of Christ to intermix themselves with vain company, and take the same liberty they do in vain jests, and idle stories. Nor will it allow, on the other side, a morose reservedness, and discouraging austerity ; but temper gravity with condescending affability.
To you that are juniors and candidates for the ministry, I will assume the boldness to address you with one seasonable word of ad- vice ; and it is this : Have a care of that light and airy spirit, which so much obtains every where in this unserious age. It was the charge of God against some ministers of old, that they were light persons, Rev. iii. 4. and yet I cannot but think, comparatively speak- ing, with some of our times, they might pass for grave and serious. The people have eyes to see how we walk, as well as ears to hear what we say. It will be our wisdom and great advantage, to be able to say, as St. Paul did, Phil. iv. 9. " The things which you have both heard and seen in me, do."
6. Prudential expedient.
Ministerial prudence zoill send you often to your Jcnees, to seelc a hies sin gj^rom God upon your studies and labours^ as knowing all your ministerial success entirely depends thereupon^ 1 Cor. iii. 7.
Those are the best sermons, that are obtained by prayer. Blessed Bradfqrd studied upon his knees. Luther obtained more this way.
574i THE CHARACTER OF A TRUE EVANGELICAL PASTOR.
than by all his studies. If an honest husbandman could tell his neigh- bour, that the reason why his corn prospered better than his, was, be- cause he steeped the seed in prayer, before he sowed it in the field ; we may blush to think, how much more precious seed we have sown dry, and unsteeped in prayer, and by this neglect have frustrated our own expectation. Thus laying our Jbundations in the knowledge of frindplcs^ chusingour subjects by the people's necessities ; handling thtm in apt language ; woi'king them Jirst upon your own affections^ enforcing them by strict conversation^ and steeping this holy seed in prayer ; we shall approve ourselves ihe prudent ministers of Christ. ^dly, Having said thus much of prudence, with respect to our single personal concernment in the work of the ministry ; I come next to shew its great usefulness with respect to others, who are concerned either,
1. With us, as friendly assistants in our work.
2. Or against us, as enemies, who labour to obstruct and frus-» trate our work.