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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66039	Ecclesiastes, or, A discourse concerning the gift of preaching as it fals under the rules of art shewing the most proper rules and directions, for method, invention, books, expression, whereby a minister may be furnished with such abilities as may make him a workman that needs not to be ashamed : very seasonable for these times, wherein the harvest is great, and the skilful labourers but few / by John Wilkins ...	Wilkins, John, 1614-1672.	1651 (1651)	Wing W2190; ESTC R22913	45,078	144

Ecclesiastes OR A discourse concerning the Gift OF PREACHING As it fals under the Rules of Art SHEWING The most proper Rules and Directions for Method Invention Books Expression whereby a Minister may be furnished with such abilities as may make him a Workman that needs not to be ashamed Very seasonable for these Times wherein the Harvest is great and the skilful Labourers but few The third Edition By JOHN WILKINS D. D. 2 Cor. 2. 16. Who is sufficient for these things London Printed by T. R. and E. M. for SAMUEL GELLIBRAND at the BALL in Pauls Church-yard 1651. To the READER I Have been encouraged to some enlargement of this Treatise in that part of it which concerns the account of Books and Authors There is here some Addition to the several kinds of them And because it would be of excellent use if the many choise Treatises upon particular subjects in divinity were so distinctly reduced that a man might have recourse to them upon any emergent occasion therefore I have here attempted something to this purpose namely to referre them unto the several heads in the Analysis of Divinity towards the latter end of this Book The Latine or Greck Tracts of the ancient Fathers and other eminent Writers are already thus reduced under several heads in Bolduanus Draudius Molanus c. by whose direction it is easie to finde the chief A●●●●rs or Discourses in those Languages upon any particular subject The like is here endeavoured for our English Treatises which for their clearnesse and fulnesse in matters of practical Divinity are generally esteemed to be of special use and eminency It cannot be expected but that the first attempt in this kinde must needs be very defective But it is easie for any one to alter or adde as his own better experience shall direct I have now by an Asterisk noted some of those Commentators who are esteemed most judicious and useful I did farther intend by some mark to have distinguished them according to their several times Professions whether Fathers Rabbies Papists Lutherans Calvinists The nature of their Works and Comments whether more brief by way of Annotation   Analysis or more large by way of Questions   Common places or Doctrines whereby younger Students might be directed in the choice of their several kinds But I am forced as yet to lay this aside as being a businesse which will require more pains and leisure then my other necessary employments can permit ECCLESIASTES Or the Gift of Preaching IT is the end of all Sciences and Arts to direct men by certain Rules unto the most compendious way in their knowledge and practice those things of which in our selves we have only some imperfect confused notions being herein fully and clearly represented to our view from the discoveries that other men have made after much study and long experience And there is nothing of greater consequence for the advancement of Learning then to find out those particular advantages which there are for the shortest way of knowing and teaching things in every profession Now amongst all other callings this of Preaching being in many respects one of the most weighty and solemn should therefore have its Rules and Canons whereby we may be directed the easiest readiest way for the practice of it Besides all those Academical preparation s by the study of Languages Sciences Divinity with which men should be qualified and predisposed for this Calling I say besides all these there is a particular art of preaching to which if Ministers did more seriously apply themselves it would extreamly facilitate that service making it more easie to us and more profitable to others There are two abilities requisite in every one that will teach and instruct another {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} A right understanding of sound doctrine and an ability to propound confirm and apply it unto the edification of others And the first may be without the other As a man may be a good Lawyer and yet not a good Pleader so he may be a good Divine and yet not a good Preacher One chief reason why divers men otherwise of eminent parts are herein so slow and unskilful is because they have not been versed in this study and are therefore unacquainted with those proper Rules and directions by which they should be guided in the attaining and exercise of this Gift It hath been the usual course at the University to venture upon this calling in an abrupt over-hasty manner When Schollers have passed over their Philosophical studies and made some little entrance upon Divinity they presently think themselves fit for the Pulpit without any farther enquiry as if the Gift of Preaching and sacred Oratory were not a distinct Art of it self This would be counted a very preposterous course in other matters if a man should presume of being an Oratour because he was a Logician or to practise Physick because he had learnt Philosophy And certainly the preheminence of this profession above others must needs extreamly aggravate such neglect and make it so much the more mischievous by how much the calling is more solemn Now there are several Treatises of many learned men both Protestants and others who have written particularly and largely upon this very subject concerning the Art of Preaching wherein they have laid down such various helps and rules as they from their own practise and long experience have found most useful Among whom these are some of the most eminent and common Bowles De Pastore Hen. Alsted Theologia Prophetica Frid. Baldvini Institutio ministrorum Rich. Bernard The faithful Shepheard Joh. Clark Oratoriae sacrae {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Lamb Danaei Methodus S. Scripturae in concion●bus tractandae Hen. Diest De ratione studii Theologici Des. Erasmi Ecclesiastes Nichol Hemingius De Pastore Barth. Keche●●anus De Rhetorica Ecclefiastica Geor. Laetus De ratione concionandi ad Method Anglican Will. Perkins Concerning the Art of Prophesie Casp. Strasonis Technologia Theologica De methodo concionandi Anonym. Jo. Segobiensis De praedicatione evangelica Abra. Sculteti Axiomata concionandi Will. Zepperus De arte habendi conciones   audiend●   Besides these there are above forty other Authors who have writ particularly upon this subject recited by Draudius in his Bibliotheca classica under the head of Concionatorum instructio pag. 132. To which may be added the directions to this purpose so briefly and fully comprehended in the Directory besides those many other discourses wherein these things have been largely handled on the by though not chiefly intended In all which many learned men have laid down various rules which to them according to their several Genius's and observations seemed most useful And we must not doubt but that in this as well as in all other professions every days experience may yeeld some farther advantage by discovering yet more facile compendious directions to

ovium Christi societ as in cujus medio Dominus ille est cui sol luna famulantur cui adsunt ministri ejus millia millium decies centena millia Quantae molis est regnum Christi erigere Satanae palatia demoliri c. But now because amongst those helps of invention which fall under the rules of Art this of Reading is one of the principall therefore it will deserve a more large and particular consideration There are two things which in our reading and study may be of great advantage 1. Good Books 2. A right Method and series of matter to be first and most exactly inquired into There is no externall help more effectuall to direct a man unto pertinent usefull matter upon all subjects and occasions then a weli contrived Library whe●ein upon any emergent doubt or difficulty he may have recourse unto the advice of other grave and learned men who it may be have bestowed a great part of their time and study in the resolution of that particular businesse which he hath occasion to inquire into There are many men whose naturall parts would extremely improve and grow very eminent if they had but the knowledge and help of such Authors as are most suitable to their genius and imployment whereas on the other side their abilities are much damped and kept low whilest they are confined only to a scant ill chosen Library There is as much Art and benefit in the right choyce of some Books with which we should be most familiar as there is in the election of other friends or acquaintance with whom we may most profitably converse And this knowledge of Books as it is in it self a very specious part of learning making oftentimes more pompous shew then the knowledge of things so is it likewise of very great use and advantage For the attaining of this the most proper effectuall way is by our own study and experience in the works of severall Authors But because that is a businesse of vast industry and much time scarce consistent with the frequent returnes of publike service required of a constant Preacher unlesse he be before-hand qualified for this by his education and leisure at the University therefore there is another help to expedite our enquiry in this kind namely the perusall of such Books as do give a particular account of all Authors the times when they lived the Works they have published with the several subjects they have insisted upon Their Editions Translations corruptions their esteem and authority of which kind there are severall Writers both Protestants and Papists Such are these Discourses Pauli Bolduani Bibliotheca Theologica Georg. Draudii Bibliotheca Classica Eufebius de scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis Gesneri Biblioth. cum Simleri supplemento Hieronymus de Scriptoribus Ecclesiast Fabiani Iustiniani Index Universalis Johan Molani Biblioth. Materiarum Photii Biblioth. Possevini Apparatus sacri Sexti Senensis Biblioth Trithemius de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis Dav. Tossani Synopsis de patribus Gilberti Voetii Biblioth. Theolog. Amongst whom there are some that go by an Alphabeticall order of the Authors names as Photius Sextus Senensis Possevine c. Others observe an Alphabeticall order in setting down the severall matters and subjects they insist upon as Bolduanus Draudius Gesner Iustinianus c. So that if a man would know either what subject any particular Authors have treated upon or what Authors have treated particularly upon any subject he may in them see references to this purpose These are esteemed the most advantageous helps for the understanding of Books in generall but more particularly the Authors which are most proper and usefull for the study of a Divine are reducible to these three heads Those which concern the study either of Scripture   The Body of Divinity   Antiquity The understanding of Scripture being one of the chief businesses of a Minister to which all his other studies are subordinate 'T is to be supposed therefore in the first place that he is provided with the Old and New Testaments both in their originals and most authentick Translations The chief Translations of the Bible may be distinguished into those which are either in the Learned Language   Vulgar   The Translations of the Old Testament into the Learned languages are chiefly of five heads 1. Into Chalde commonly called the Targum or Chalde paraphrase which in the Historicall Books do for the most part render the true sence of the Originall but in the Hagiographa is exceeding full of mistakes and do seldome come near the right meaning 2. Into Greek the chief of which is the Septuagint by the 72 Interpreters as the Tradition goes which hath been alwayes esteemed ofgreat authority and repute The other great Translations by Aquila Symmachus and Theodosio are now lost excepting only some few fragments of them which yet remaine 3. Into Arabick This Translation hath been formerly published onely for some parts of the Bible as the Pentateucb Psalmes and is by some learned men rejected as being ignorantly done not from the Originall but out of some other Translation and by some corrupt copy It hath since been published for the whole Bible in the King of France his late edition 4. Into Syriake This hath been esteemed for genuine and faithfull 5. Into Latine of which version there are severall kindes but the chief of them are these five 1. The Vulgar commonly ascribed to St. Hierom though there be great reason to doubt of it 2. Pagnines Translation which is of good antiquity and esteem published Anno Dom. 1523. Altered by Arias Montanus in the Interlineary Bible 3. The Tigurine Translation begun by Leo Iuda and finished by other reformed Divines Anno Dom. 1543. published by Robert Stephens 1557. with Notes annexed which he ascribes to Vatablus 4. The Translation of Sebastian Castalio which is for the most part very elaborate and subtile but not without too much affectation of Elegance published first Anno Dom. 1551. 5. The Latine Version which is in most common use amongst us being performed by those learned men Fran. Iunius and Eman. Tremelius with very great diligence and judgment The Translation of the New Testament into the learned languages are either into Syriack Latine 1. The Syriack is of good antiquitie and esteem but was heretofore defective in some Books namely the 2d and 3d. Epistle of John the 2d of Peter Iude and the Apocalypse which have been lately supplied by Mr. Pocock 2. The Latine Translations are chiefly of three kinds namely 1. The Vulgar 2. Erasmus 3. Beza which are all commonly known and in their severall kinds of good repute Now for the translations of the Bible into our own vulgar tongue there are some of these so ancient as Henry the 8th his time by Mr. Tindall and Matthewes but these Translations were not so much from the Originall Hebrew and Greek as from some other Latine Version and therefore are not esteemed of

any great authority The English Translations that have been of most common use and greatest repute are these three 1. The Geneva Translation so stiled because it was finished in that place by some English exiles in Queen Maries time being first published Anno Dom. 1560. 2. The Bishops Bible in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reigne by Arch-bishop Parker and others which because it was not so exact and carefully done too often following the Greek rather then the Hebrew and so liable to divers mistakes as may appear in the reading Psalmes of the Leiturgie therefore King Iames caused another most exact Translation to be made of it in his time which is by way of distinction called 3. The Kings Bible being that which is now in common use amongst us The Various editions of the Bible in the learned languages have been so multiplied that 't is not easie if possible to recite them Amongst those that are esteemed either of greatest Antiquity Elegance or Correctednesse I still mention some of the chief 1. The Hebrew with other Translations annexed is of severall kinds and editions The Complutensian in Spaine containing the Hebrew Greek Latine together with the Targum upon the Pentateuch in sixe Tomes fol. Anno Dom. 1515. Munsters edition with his Latine Version and some Notes out of the Rabines Printed at Basil. Anno Dom. 1534. The King of Spaines Bible Printed at Antwerp 1571. in 8. Tomes fol. Containing the Hebrew Text the Septuagint the Chalde Paraphrase and Vulgar with a Latine Translation of the 70 and Targum And for the New Testament the Originall Greek the Vulgar and Syriack Versions together with a Latine Translation of the Syriack by Guido Boderianus Besides an Interlineary Bible and a large Apparatus All very elegantly and correctedly Printed Vatablus his edition in 3 vol. fol. 1586. containing the Hebrew the Septuagint and Latine The King of France his Bible lately printed at Paris containing all that is in the King of Spains edition excepting onely the Interlineary Bible and the Apparatus and having further added The Samaritan Pentateuch and a Translation of it a Syriack Translation of the Old-Testament and an Arabick Translation of the whole Bible with Latine Translations to each of them A very pompous magnificent work had the Corrector bestowed as much diligence and skill as the Publishers did cost 2. The edition of the Hebrew Text without Translations are likewise of divers kinds By Plantine with much truth and exactnesse both in fol. 4o 8o with and without points at severall times By Robert Stephens at Paris in 4o in a very fair large Character and after very elegantly and most correctedly in 16o By Hutter in a faire elegant Character which distinguisheth the radicall and servile the deficient and quiescent letters Hamburgh 1587. By Buxtorfe with large Rabinicall Notes and Comments Anno Dom. 1618. 3. The Septuagint distinct from the Originall Text is printed at Rome and after both at Frankford and Paris with a Latine Translation and the fragments of the old Greek Interpreters Aquila Symmacus and Theodosio which fragments may likewise be had distinct in Drusius his fragmenta Veterum augmented with severall other explications and Annotations of his own 4. The New Testament for the cheif edition of it hath been mentioned before besides which there are very many others that are commonly known Next to these there are some other Discourses that in their severall kinds may be very usefull Amongst these some are 1. Preparatory 2. Principall and more direct 1. Those may be stiled Preparatory which lay down rules and directions for the profitable reading and right interpretation of Scripture such as these Ferdin de Escalante Clypeus Concionatorum Wolfang Franzius de Interp S. Script Salom Glassii Philologia sacra And. Hyperius de S. Script Lectione Flacii Illyrici Clavis Scripturae pars secunda Jo. Euseb. Nierembergius de origine Scripturae And. Rivet Isagoge Nicol. Serrarii prolegom. Biblica Ludov. de Tena Isagoge Michaelis Waltheri officina Biblica 2. The Books that do more principally and directly tend to make a man a good Textuary may be reckoned up under these three heads 1. Concordances 2. Commentaries 3. Reconcilers 1. Concordances are of very great use both for the unfolding of difficult Texts by referring to parallel Scriptures and to inlarge upon any Theme with the most proper quotations as also for the directing of us unto such Texts of which we have onely some confused imperfect remembrance These are of two kinds for Words   Things Concordances for words are those which reckon up the severall places wherein such a word is mentioned These are either for the Originall Old Testam. Hebrew Buxtorfius Chaldee in some places of Dan. Isa. Martin Trostius N. Testam. in Greek Hen. Stephanus Lucii Lexicon N. T. Translations Old Testament into Greek by the Septuagint Conrad Kircherus N. Testam. into Syriack Mart. Trostius Both into Latine Hen Stephanus English Cotton Newman A Concordance of things does summe up all the pertinent Scriptures unto any particular head or common place which drive at the same sense though it may be of different words Some of these are in Latine as Allotti Thesaurus Berchorii index moralis Pet. Eulardi Concordantiae morales Marlorati Thesaurus Enchridion Dan. Tossani Index Georgii Viti Doctrinale Bibliorum There are some others of this kinde in our English Tongue Mr. Bernards Thesaurus Biblicus The Fort-Royall of the Scriptures Clarks Holy Oyle Wilsons Dictionary Unto these may be added those Treatises that handle the severall acceptions of words and phrases in Scripture as Flacii Illyrici Clavis Scripturae Mr. Leigh's Critica Sacra Petri Ravanelli Bibliotheca sacra Commentators are either upon some particular Matter   Books Those I stile Commentators upon matter who do insist upon the explaning of some peculiar subject dispersedly contained in the severall parts of Scripture Such are those that handle Scripture Philosophy as Valesius de sacra Philosophia Levinus Lemnius de Plantis sacris Franc. Rueus de Gemmis sacris Wolf Franzius Hist. Animalium Sacr. Joan. Bustamantinus de Animalibus S. Scripturae Scripture Chronology as Hen. Alstedii Chronologia sacra Hugh Broughtons Consent Laur. Codomanni Annales S. Scripturae Mr. Lightfoot his Harmony Sr. Walter Raleighs History Jac. Saliani Annales à Creatione ad Christum Jos. Scaliger de Emendatione Temporum Scripture Geography or Topography as Jo. Adamannus de situ terrae sanctae Christ Adricomii Theatrum terrae sanctae David Chytraei Itinerarium totius S. Scrip.   Chronic.   Mr. Fuller Holy Land The Travels of the Patriarchs Scripture Measures and Weights as Boizardus Dav. Chytraeus Rob. Cenalis Pet. Ciaconius Epiphanius Hulsius Johan Mariana Occho The Proverbiall expressions either used or alluded to in Scripture or Adagialia Sacra as Martin Delrius Johan Drusius Andreas Schottus Joach Zehner The Allegories in Scripture Isidor Hispalensis de Alleg. Hieron. Laureti

Lat. 10. vol. Romae 4. vol. Crab 3. vol. Caranzae Epitom Longii à Coriolano Epitom Concil. Concilia Gallicana Sermond Britannica Spelman Hispanica Garcia Balsamon in concilia Zonaras in concilia Synodus Ephesina Iustelli codex Canonum Ecclesiae Universae The Councel of Trent History   Review Unto which may be subjoyned as being very usefull and something of this nature the Canon Law Corpus juris canonici 6. Confessions Corpus Confessionum Confessio Augustana Besides many other Confessions of particular Churches which according to the various light and severall occasions of those times wherein they were framed do comprehend the chief heads of Religion 7. Heresiogies Augustinus Damascen Epiphanius Petrei Haeresiologia Alph. à Castro Guido Carmelita Irenaeus Schlusselburgii Catal. Leontius de Sectis Io. Pontani Catal. Haeret. Vincentius Lyrinensis Philastrius 8. Lives Rob. Barns and Io. Baleus de vitis Pontificum Ioan. Bismarcus Theod. Bezae Icones virorum illustrium The Glory of their times or the lives of the Fathers M. Clarke The Lives of the Fathers Govanus de vitis Patrum Occident Halliox de vit. script patrum 1 2di saeculi Hieronymus de illustribus Ecclesiae doctoribus Lippomannus de vitis Sanctorum Melchior Adam de vit. Theol. Germ. Georgius Major Platina de vitis Pontificum Rosweydus de vitis Patrum Orientis 9. Martyrologies Baronii Martyrologium Eulardi Martyrol Martyrologium Romanum Gallicanum Monumenta Martyrum Book of Martyrs These are the severall kinds of books which are most proper and usefull for a Preacher and these are some of the most eminent Authors in each kind It would be expedient for a Minister to be provided at least with one of each sort unto which he might have recourse upon all doubts and enquiries of that nature And this may be one speciall advantage for the invention of matter The second help proposed for this purpose was a right method and series of matter to be first and most exactly inquired into When a man studies over the chief heads of the whole body of Divinity according to some naturall method and dependence by which means the several parts will give mutuall light to one another and the better inable a man to see into the principles and bottome of things And when he has thus deliberately passed over the whole he may afterwards with the more facility inlarge himself upon any particular text or subject as occasion shall require Our chief collections in the study of these heads may be contrived under the form of Sermons Every Sermon containing either one or more of them according to the nature of severall subjects There is a twofold series or order that may be observed in the matter of our Sermons Exegeticall Methodicall Exegeticall is when a man goes on in a continued course of unfolding some particular book or chapter which though it be of very great use yet is not so proper for a young Divine to begin withall Methodical is when we propose a certaine Scheme or designe of matter to be orderly insisted upon under several heads This again is twofold Catechisticall   Scholasticall Catechisticall does referre to those plain and most obvious principles of Religion laid down in the Catechisme contained under those four generall heads The Creed   Commandements   Lords Prayer   Sacraments The distinct unfolding of which may be of great advantage and has heretofore been esteemed a very good Method both for Ministers and people Scholasticall method or that which is by way of Common place is more particular and comprehensive then the former taking in all those chief heads that are insisted upon either in the Schoolmen or the Common-place-writers These Schemes of matter are various according to severall mens fancies and apprehensions But amongst all that is to be esteemed the best which is most naturall for the order and most comprehensive for the extent of it There are divers learned men who in Analyzing the whole body of Divinity have contrived the Scheme of it under 52 heads according to the number of weeks in a yeer so that in that space one who is a constant Preacher might go through all of them To which purpose see Mr. Crooks Guide BP Ushers Catechisticall Doctrine where the whole substance of Divinity is disposed under so many severall heads of matter and severall pertinent Scriptures for texts to each of them But amongst the rest there is a very full elaborate frame proposed by Doctor Staughton which takes in what is much neglected amongst other Protestant Writers the most profitable points handled amongst the Schoolmen who were great searchers into Divinity and their writings in many things very usefull This frame of his is largely set down in his third Sermon upon 2 Tim. 1. 13. Where he represents the whole body of Divinity under the notion of an AEdifice or building wherein there are two things considerable The Frontispice or Porch   Fabrick or pile In the Frontispice he proposeth four generall heads which are premised as the praecognita to this series In the Fabrick there are two stories and in each story two rooms In the first story is contained the chief principles to be known or beleeved Either more Generally in each of these 12. heads   Particularly   In the second story things for practise Duties in each 12 particular heads   Helps   In all 52. But in some of these the method seems obscure and involved especially towards the latter part of it Besides this there are divers other draughts and Systems of Divinity in several other Authors Amesius Trelcatius Tilenus Wollebius c. To which may be added Bishop Downhams Abstract a bookof singular use for direction in this kind out of these it is easie for any one to compose such an Analysis as shall be most sutable to his owne apprehension and that is certainly most proper for every one which he himself shall frame For instance and illustration consider this model which is collected from the Authors above named In Divinity two things are considerable The Praecognita or generals to be premised concerning Happinesse Psal. 4. 6. micab. 4. 5. Religion Eccles. 12. 13. Act 24. 14. Church M●tth 16. 18. Scripture 2 Tim. 3. 16. The Parts containing things to be Known and beleeved concerning God Vide A. Man Vide C. Done and practised commanded in the Law vid. I. Gospel vid. V. Happinesse Upon this subject See at large the Moralists Aquinas 1a 2dae The Commentators upon Ecclesiastes M. Reynolds his three Treatises Doctor Staugh ton Happines of man   Righteous mans   plea to happiness Rob. Bolton Discourse of true happinesse Jo. Downhāconcerning the vanity of all worldly things Spiritual warfare Religion in generall The controversies against Turks Jewes the Apologies of the Fathers for the Christian Religion against the Heathen Phil. Mornaeus Deveritate   Christianae Hug Grotius Religionis Ed. Brerewoods Enquiries Mr. Pagets Christianography S● Edwin Sands Relation of