1 Antimachus the famous poet held on in his exercise, when all his hearers had left him but Plato ; saying, Plato est viihi pro omnibus, Plato is to me instead of all. So a holy minister, when he is deserted by some, and cast off by others, yet he will hold on in his work. [Told also of Antagoras the Rhodian : see Welcker, Der Epische Cyclus, p. 105.— G.]
* H(Bc omnia tibi dabo, was the devil's great argument to prevail with Christ.
144 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [HeB. XII. 14.
perceived. In religions exercises, Panl seems to say to human eloquence and fleshly wisdom, to affected rhetoric and flattering oratory, Stand afar off, come not near ; I have now to do with God, and to do with souls, and to do with eternity, and therefore what have I to do with you ? Paul had an eye to divine glory in what he did, and therefore he durst not tip liis tongue and store his head with airy notions, or with ' the enticing words of man's wisdom.' Of all the apostles, Paul was most eminent and excellent in all human arts, parts, and gifts, and yet in religious exercises he lays them all by: 1 Cor. xiv. 18, 19, 'I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.' The church o^H^th excelled all other churches in gifts, I do not say in grace, an^H^y among them prided them- selves up in the exercise of their gifts and tongues in their church assemblies, that so they might win the more credit and repute to them- selves, of being men of great learning, reading, and parts ; but the holy apostle by his own example labours to win them to decline all vain ostentation, and to work them to express themselves so as might be most for the information, conviction, edification, and salvation of their hearers' souls. Holy Paul had much learning, and yet in religious exercises he used little. The Corinthians had less, and yet made such shows and flourishes of it, even in their religious duties, as if in their breasts all the libraries in the world had been locked up. This puts me in mind of what once I have read concerning a Rabbi, that had but little learning, and less modesty and ingenuity ; for he usurping all the discourse at table where many were, one much admiring of him asked one of his friends in private. Whether he did not take such a man for a great scholar ? to whom he answered, For aught I know he may be learned ; but I never heard learning make such a noise. The more learning, the less noise ; the less learning, the more noise men will make. The sun shews least when it is at the highest ; and those waters are most deep that run most silent : they usually are men of the greatest parts that use them least in religious works, i Famous Mr Dod was wont to say that so much Latin was so much flesh in a sermon. The gilt upon the pill may please the eye, but it profits not the patient ; the paint upon the glass may feed the fancy, but the room is rather the darker than the lighter for it. Painted glass in chm-ches is more glorious, but plain glass is most perspicuous. When men come to church-work, to pulpit-work, all plainness must be used. Starched oratory may tickle the brain, but it is plain doctrine that informs the judgment, that convinces the conscience, that bows the will, and that wins the heart. That sermon hath most learning in it, that hath most plainness in it. And therefore a great scholar was wont to say, ' Lord, give me learning enough that I may preach
^ At a festival time, when Bernard had preached very eloquently, and the people much admired and applauded him, he was much sadded ; the next day he preached a plain and powerful sermon without any rhetorical dresses, at which many curious, itching eara were unsatisfied, but himself and his meaner-capacitated auditors were much pleased and delighted ; and being asked the reason of it, he returned this answer, Heri Bernar- dum, hodie Jesum Chriatum: Yesterday I preached Bernard, but to-day, Jesus Christ.
HeB. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 145