THE FAITHFVLL SHEPHEARD OR THE SHEPHEARDS Faithfulnesse Wherein is for the matter largely but for the maner in few words set forth the excellencie and necessitie of the Ministerie A Ministers properties and dutie His entrance into this function and charge How to begin fitly to instruct his people Catechising and Preaching And a good plaine order and method therein Not so as yet published Very profitable both for yoong Students who intend the studie of Theologie heerein being also declared what Arts and tongues first to be learned what kinde of Authours to be râ—â—â— and books necessarie in the beginning and which in the first place as also for such Ministers as yet haue not atteined to a distinct order to studie write meditate and to preach methodically both for their better course in deliuering the Word and the peoples vnderstanding in hearing and memorie in reteining the same By RICHARD BERNARD Preacher of Gods Word 2. Tim. 2. 15. Studie to shew thy selfe approued of God a workeman that needeth not to be ashamed â—â—â—uiding the word of Truth aright LONDON Printed by Arnold Hatfield for 〈◊〉 1687. TO THE RIGHT WORshipfull his Honorable good friend M. Doctor MOVNTAGVE Deane of his Maiesties Chapell R. B. wisheth heartilie all true happinesse and felicitie for euer IT is the saying of him Right Worshipfull whom God did mooue you once to honour with this selected text Moses my seruant is dead to your great praise Grauis est arduus si quis alius ex omni Theologia locus is qui est deformandis concionibus by which being vttered of a man of that learning and experience I might be somewhat afraid to attempt the publishing of this Treatise vpon such a subiect but that I know it is acceptable to God if we haue no greater gift to offer to cast a mite into the Lords treasury I haue had also the approbation of some for my incouragement both in the Vniuersitie countrie A mite in a great treasurie is small in shew for encreasement thereunto neuerthelesse it is some what though but a mite What I haue performed in this labour for matter and method it may by reading of it appeare my labour hath not beene little my intendement good Whatsoeuer it is Right worshipfull I presume to offer it you as a poore present to testifie my humble and heartie thankfulnesse for your manifold kindnesses and liberall fauours vnto me I long ago offred it to your view in a naked shape and first conception which euer since I haue beene better proportioning and now haue thus clothed it as it is If before this I had prepared it I had not so long deferred off or if my pouertie could haue affoorded a better testimonie as in will I can wish it should most gladly haue gone forth as worthily deserued vnder the honor of your name Accept Right Worshipfull this labor and so looke vpon it as you haue bene and are wont louingly to accept of me so shall you encourage me to further endeuors and bind me still more in all dutiful respect to acknowledge your professed and approoued loue and good will constant towards me and to powre out my praiers to God continually for your preseruation and encrease in all spirituall graces for euer VVorsop this 16. of Iune Your worships bounden in Christ Iesus euer RICHARD BERNARD To his brethren of the Ministery and the beloued Readers Grace and peace THe Preaching of Gods word brethren in the Lord beloued an vnfolding therof to the peoples capacity with words of exhortation applied to the conscience both to enforme and reform and where they be wel to confirme as it is most necessarie so is it indeed a very hard worke to be performed though to the vnskilfull it seeme easie and thereupon not a few vnaduisedly take it in hand speaking without iudgement rashly without order preposterously tatching matter together without dependancie little to the peoples edification and lesse to the honour of this holy ordinance which by these is made odious with many and held rather a talke of the toong from a disordered affection without knowledge than a godly instruction rightly disposed by setled iudgment It may be they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of a good affection attempt this worke but withall they must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hauing abilitie in wisedome aptly to teach Discreet vnderstanding must goe with zeale and grauitie with sinceritie affection is headiâ— without wisedome this moderates as the other pricks forward they must be linked inseparablie Knowledge alone deliuereth coldly and zeale alone not respectiuely knowledge without zeale permitteth of more than is meet by distinction and zeale not according to knowledge breedeth but dissention It is requisite therefore the Ministers be neither 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom pride may puffe vp not yet hauing in a sanctified course learned to moderate the lusts of youth nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as yet not apt to teach and vnfit to be ouerseers in a Congregation for we must know what to teach for the matter and how for the maner and so to diuide the word aright to the hearers which is required in all that preach vnto the people And therefore to further both these vpon these considerations duly weighed I was encouraged to proceed and to vndergoe the maleuolous censure of this enuious age First for that I see many do obserue this order in part though not so exactly as were to be wished and as it is here by precepts briefly and plainly set downe whose good approbation I hope to finde as maintenance against the rest Secondly for that I haue found by my owne experience in teaching both the easinesse thereof to be atteined soone vnto as also that it is a very sound profitable way as I haue iudged hearing other and they me neither disliked of any that I haue heard of who list to speake faithfully and with profit Thirdly for that I hauing vpon an occasion studied the 11. of the first of the Corinthians from the 23. verse to the end I finde plainly this method set downe by the Apostle and so hath it a diuine and Apostolicall approbation for supposing the 23. 24. 25. verses to be as his text out of Matth. 26. 26. 27. 28. the 26. containeth the scope the 27. is a doctrine 28. an vse 29. a reason to enforce it 30. and 31. the application of that which went before to the present state of the Corinthians 32. a preuention of an obiection which must follow application as I haue declared in this treatise 33. 34. a louing exhortation for the conclusion with a briefe repetition of somewhat before reprehended with a prescribed remedie for the same This place gaue me the first and chiefest occasion to write this treatise of preaching and method therein Fourthly and lastly for that I hauing laboured for all such both old and new which haue writen of this matter to further me I perswaded my selfe that this my labour
memorie is the maintainer of knowledge so is method the preseruer Of writing Sermons the profit and antiquity therof See Hipperius in his first booke of framing Sermons cap. 6. of memorie Thirdly write what thou wouldest speake writing confirmes meditation shewes the minde to the senses and keepes things once thought of it makes thoughts set downe better to be iudged either by a mans selfe or by an other to whom it may be imparted for their approbation or correction Difficile est saith one simul cogitare qualiter cogites iudicare ex nuda mentis cogitatione It fixeth more firmely what is thought vpon brings to a stile and kinde of speaking it preserues a mans labours thereby afterwards to iudge how he profits to pleasure himselfe by perusing againe former meditations more easilie found in writing than called to minde or any other by his labour if it be held woorth looking on It declareth his industry and paines to speake profitablie with vnderstanding of that he deliuereth In writing a man loseth no thoughts so as at one time it s not requisite so exactly to remember what he hath inuented whilest his minde musing vpon farther matter as hee must doe in meditating without setting it downe Lastly in studie whilest one is intent vpon a matter often occasion is giuen of further matter which ariseth from reading or meditation which if it bee not noted downe will in following the point in hand soone slippe out of minde and hardly to be recalled except memorie bee verie good Therefore it is good to write and in writing to haue a voide or emptie paper by to set downe foorth with what comes to minde which will after fitly serue in the right place wee see writing to be exceeding profitable euerie way for our selues and others and nothing should let from this Sed est magni laboris quem desides nos plerunque fugimus Fourthly vse meditation seriously vpon Attent and serious meditation and what therein to be obserned Maner that which thou doest purpose to speak after it be penned Beware heerein of a wauering minde and by-thoughts begin not immediately vpon wearinesse and serious studie before without some relaxation betweene not sudden from one thing to another nor vpon vehement passions as of anger sorrow feare ioy and so forth Take also time for it Nam sicut concoctioni corporali spacium damus quietem ita meditations mentis quae mentalis quaedam concoctio est quâm animae nutrimentum cedat materia How much is sufficient to be allotted to meditation is to be iudged from euerie mans industrie and abilitie in quicknesse of conceit and firmenesse of memorie to retaine which is more or lesse in euerie one His meditation and paines must be so as that hee may preach so often as is conuenient for the people The time when it is not good after meat the vnderstanding Time then is dulled and as memorie is lesse able to beare away and minde to conceiue so its hurtfull for the bodie serious meditation much hindring natures worke in concoction Secondly it is best ouer night immediatelie before sleepe and foorthwith awaking earely in the morning aurora Musis amica It may be lying sitting standing or walking as a man perceiueth what is best for himselfe and is most vsed vnto but in walking beware of oft turning which is hurtfull to the braine For the place let it be solitary lest with noise to the eares Place variene of obiect to the eies the mind be distracted neither let it be too darke nor yet too light a meane is best in all Some in meditating doe vse to speake and gesture but this is a forewearing of the spirits and too Histrionian like In thy meditation two things are to be thought vpon Matter First the matter to be handled Secondly the order how to proceed according to this former method set downe doctrines with proofe vse with reasons application with preuention of obiections and finally the conclusion For words neuer be tied vnto them Puerili nimium est Discommodious to be tied to words verbulum non audere proferrae quod non ad notatur chartis scriptas conciones verbatim ediscere multa habent incommoda It hindreth deuotion restraineth libertie of speech it requireth much labour and thereby makes the Ministerie irkesome to such neither can such speake so often as is requisite and as iust occasion requireth It possesseth a man with feare which confounds memorie it curbes the good motions of the spirit and preuents a man of the benefit of such things as in speaking might offer themselues to his vnderstanding Vpon present occasion such an one can neither speake more nor otherwise than hee hath committed to memorie before a verie great hurt to a mans Ministerie and hinderance to the course thereof in pronuntiation also action and affection If a man feare to want words let him be well prouided for matter and words non inuita sequentur as one well saith Fiftly and lastly if all these meanes be not sufficient to helpe thy memorie that so thou maiest deliuer thy minde both for matter and maner as thou wouldest and as thou hast set it downe without faile adde this helpe withall note the chiefe heads of thy speech briefly in a little peece of paper No disgrace to note the chiefe heads of the Sermon in a little paper to helpe memorie a word or two for euery seuerall thing quae breuis delineatio erit memoriae presens subsidium si in libro repositam fixam eam ad manum inter concionandum in pulpito habeas If any should thinke this a disgrace it is not vnknowne how both in the Vniuersity other places many very learned and woorthy Diuines vse this helpe either taking vp little paper books bound like Testaments or the Bible with a paper fastned in it and these no whit at all lesse esteemed Eras li. 2 de ratione Concionandi pag. 117. speaks of this matter and saith tutum est capita sermonis in Charta notata habere ad manum quod in Psalmos aliquot fecisse videtur Augustinus hanc scio saith he an in omnes quanquam vir memoria ad prodignum vsque foelici So as we see it is ancient no disgrace at all It was a common thing in Gregories time out of writings to speake to the people as Hiperius hath noted out of one of his Homilies vpon Marke 16. It s better by this meanes to helpe defect of memorie to vtter all thy labour and with incouragement without feare to speake to vrge a matter affectionately and to prosecute things fullie as it pleaseth thee knowing at hand present helpe to keepe thee in minde with a little glance of the eie where thou art to bring thee fitly to that which doth follow al which benefit thou hast heereby Then knowing thy memory to be weake it is presumption to attempt to speake without this helpe
Be familiar but beware of contempt neuer permit any to laugh at others wants that will vtterlie discourage them from comming Make much of the meanest the best esteeme of as is meete to make the rest aemulous But the wilfull obstinate rebuke as they deserue lest their example make the inclinable carelesse and the better sort lesse dutifull Thus through Gods goodnesse thou maiest profit by Catechising draw them to it also without compulsion but if thou beest proud and cannot stoupe to their capacitie or impatient to heare an ignorant answer or disdainfull to be familiar few will come to thee willingly and none but by force and these will profit little by thee Experience hath beene my Schoole-master and taught me these things and I finde great fruit to my comfort Suspect that we bee wanting in our dutie when none profit by our paines happely our hearts seeke not vnfeignedly what we seeme to professe we teach vsually of course but endeuour not to saue our people of conscience III. If they haue beene a people taught and hauing Taught but vnsanctified 2. Cor 7. 8. knowledge but without shew of sanctification the doctrine of the Law must be vrged vpon them with legall threats to bring them to a feeling of sinne and note some speciall sinne whereof they bee guiltie and vrge the euill of that sinne and wrath of God therefore vpon them to make Act 8. 22. them sorie that at length they may repent thereof and bring true repentance for one and it will cause a hatred of all when they are humbled preach consolation IV. If they know and beleeue liuing religiously in a A beleeuing anâ—â—â—â—onable 〈◊〉 â— Thes 1. 5. 41. Act. 11. 23. holy conuersation they must be encouraged commended and entreated to continue with encrease daily deliuering the Law without the curse as a rule of obedience not to condemnation and prouoke them by the sweet promises of the Gospel to beleeue and practise vnto the end V. If they be declining or already fallen backe whether Backsliding Gal. 1. c. Esa 1. c. 1. Cor. in doctrine or maners recall them backe and labour to recouer them by conuincing the errors correcting the vices and by shewing their future miseries by relapse and their happinesse by a timely returne againe VI. If the people be mixt of all as our Congregations A mixt Congregation are they must be dealt withall euerie way as in the former particulars hath beene declared Informe the ignorant confirme such as haue vnderstanding reclaime the vitious encourage the vertuous convince the erroneous strengthen the weake recouer againe the backslider resolue those that doubt feede with milke and strong meat continually in season and out of season 2. Tim. 4. 1. 2. when thou thy selfe art loth to labour and the people list not to heare when pleasures withdraw wordly cares carrie away much labour before seeming mispent and little hope of after profit yea euen in persecution then cease not Remember Ezec. 3. Act. 20. that thou hast a flocke to feed and their blood to answer for weigh with compassion their miserie consider thy glorie and reward in winning of soules and that it is God that will fully recompence when the people despise thee and regard thee nothing But yet in performing thy office bee euer so desirous to It is not good to preach without prepararation speake as neuerthelesse thou come not to discharge the publike dutie vnprepared The best wit readiest to conceiue the firmest memorie to retaine nor the volublest tongue to vtter excellent gifts but much abused to idlenesse and vaine glorie may not exempt a man from studying reading writing sometime meditation and continuall praier The men of God indued with gifts extraordinarie were diligent searchers of the Scriptures The Sauiour and chief Prophet exhorts the Teachers in Ierusalem hereunto Ioh. 5. S. Paul bindes Timothie vnto it 1. Tim. 4. 13. S. Peter plainly shewes it to be the practise of the Prophets 1. Pet. 1. 10. It seemeth that Ieremie read the Psalmes Ierem. 10. Ps 79. 6. Daniel perused Ieremie It is certaine S. Paul had his books Dan. 9. 2. and parchments not to write in but to read on if Caluin 2. Tim. 4. 13. may be credited and Peter wee may see looked into Pauls Epistles 2. Pet. 3. 16. It is not beseeming the weightinesse of the worke nor reuerence The vanitie of Preaching extempore of the place to runne suddenly to stand vp in the roome of God A rash attempt in so high mysteries breeds but contempts A desire to shew a mans extemporall facultie declareth a mans indiscretion and folly Who will that is wise speake before Princes or Princelie Peeres of Princes affaires openly with leuitie of matters of great importance suddenly Who will that respects bloud giue sentence of life death rashly The Minister in Christs chaire speakes of Christ before God his Angels the matter is the secrets of the kingdome the precious treasures of heauen by him are opened and set to sale He is setting before his hearers life death heauen and hell and is pronouncing the sentence of saluation oâ— damnation vpon them Sudden conceits of the minde not digested must needs be rawly deliuered often little to the purpose and eftsoones as farre from the matter as he from serious meditations And the world is full of carpers all are not conscionable hearers by rash headdie powring out of some thing vnawares thou maiest giue an occasion to the euill disposed either of contempt or raising of contention Men of this disposition labour for praâ—â—e who either play the worldlings all the weeke or delight in their pleasures and yet of a sudden can giue men a sermon But they often lose that they looke for of the wise and iudicious hearers Holie things are not to bee handled hastily that we may not cast pearles to swine Maintenance is allowed time is allotted and suddenly we need not vnlesse we will vndertake such a worke without preparation This leuitie in preaching makes a light conceit of Preaching though not the often preaching done seriouslie by studie and foreset iudgement Preaching should not be a labour of the lippes or talke of the toong from a light imagination but a serious meditation of the heart in grounded knowledge by much study and illumination of the spirit So to preach will preuent light account of thy words it will moone the hearers to reuerence bring more credite to Gods ordinance worke more effectually yea pierce more deepely as spoken with authoritie when words carrie weight of reasons and religion and are deliuered with knowledge conscionablie CHAP. IV. Of Prayer before the Sermon THe Minister and man of God well prepared the godly order of Diuine Seruice so called as it is by the Church appointed without giuing of offence obserued and as the custome is after a Psalme sung then maiest Neh. 8. 7. thou ascend vp into the
thereof that would be further instructed heerein V. A minister must bee furnished with books as good Furnished with good bookes Of humanitie helps to further his studie and these of all sorts First for humanitie of the seuerall Arts of Ethickes Politickes Oeconomicks natural Philosophie such as haue written of Trees Herbes Beasts of Husbandrie Geographie Histories of Iewish customes of their Waights and Measures and what other matter the learned haue written of for the Scriptures especially Next these bookes of Diuinitie and other necessarie Of diuinitie with such as are immediate intended helpes therein First the Bible the booke of God in English Latin Greeke and The Bible Hebrue our best English translation Tremelius Septuagints translation Montanus interlineall or Vatablus Beza his Testament Secondly Dictionaries besides the Latin Dictionaries and Greeke common for all sorts the Hebrue Pagninus and Auenarius Thirdly Concordances Latin Greeke and Concordance and the singular vse therof to finde proofes for a Doctrine to enlarge the vse of the same by reasons and examples and to handle a common place Hebrue of which there is singular vse a Concordance helpes memorie much to finde out any place of Scripture also in comparing Scriptures to finde places the same with the text repeated or like places in words that affoord helpe to prooue doctrines by seeking the principall word in the doctrine which it will helpe also to enlarge by considering the seuerall places which speake of the same matter or haue the same words out of which may be obserued differences causes effects exhortations promises threats yea and examples also to handle therby a Common place As for example If a man would speake of Feare let him finde Feare in the Concordance and there he shall see some place wil tell him what feare is as Prouer. 1. 7. some the kinds of God of man true and false feare what to feare and what not as Matth. 10. Exhortations to true feare Deuter. 4. how to attaine it Prouerb 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Deuter. 17. 19. signes of feare Psal 119. verse 14. The benefits reaped thereby Psalm 25. 34. And diuers other things at large will bee offered to thy consideration to follow any point of Diuinitie thereout if once you had gotten an vse heerein the benefit of this is more then heere I can conueniently expresse Surely he that vnderstands his text well and knowes how to draw a doctrine needs no printed or written Sermons to helpe for to inlarge it the right knowledge how to vse a Concordance is euerie way a sufficient helpe for proofes reasons and illustrations of the same It may seeme and will prooue irkesome to him that at the first makes triall thereof but time and experience will make it easie and pleasant IV Analyticall expositions for the diuiding of bookes Analyticall exposition benefit therof and chapters and vnfolding of the Scriptures as Pflacherius hath done on the Historie of the Bible Piscator on the new Testament and some of all such bookes helpe to shew you the coherence the antecedents and the consequents the scope of the Author the whole method arguments for confirmation or confutation of the proposition handled It were verie good for a yoong beginner to read euerie day one chapter or two with some learned mans resolution of the same hee shall profit much thereby in knowledge of the Scriptures V. Of Annotations as Bezaes of Phrases Westhemerus Annotations and Illyricus in his Clauis Scripturae hath gathered many of diuers acceptations of words as also Marlorats Enchiridion The commoditie of Marlorats Enchiridion sets downe which booke is of verie good vse to shew how many waies many words are taken to helpe to finde out like places to compare with the text and to handle a Common place the benefit of these books and such of the like kinde is to further vse in the interpretation of any obscure portion of Scripture Reconciliation of places VI. Of reconciling places seeming to differ and to be one against an other as Christopher Obenhimius and Andreas Catcehismes Althamerus or any other if any haue more or done better of this matter VII A Catechisme conteining the doctrine of the Church and principles of Religion Caluins Institutions and Vrsinus Catechisme both which studied throughly will sufficiently informe a mans iudgment in the chiefe points of Religion which a Diuine must bee well practised in for the trial of his doctrine and other mens iudgements by the Analogie of faith as before declared It is good for a beginner to haue without booke the definitions and distributions of the principall heads of Theologie as Polanus Partitions setteth downe that so hee may readily know to what Common-place bookes and speciall traclates being particular common places of seuerall things at large head to refer his doctrines or other mens propositions to examine and iudge rightly of them VIII Common-place bookes Musculus Peter Martyr Zegedinus tables which booke is a sum of most principall learned mens labours before his time At the first a Diuine is to exercise himselfe in handling making Common places for so doing he shal furnish himselfe with much matter and learne to discourse follow and stand vpon a point in a Sermon Vnder Common places I conteine particular Tractats of seuerall things being some large Commentaries and what vse to make of them Common place of some speciall point of God of Christ his incarnation passion resurrection c. and of any other thing distinctly let downe IX Commentaries of Orthodoxwriters all which will helpe thee in vnderstanding the text they will more confirme thy iudgement seeing others to agree in that which thou hast conceiued thy selfe they by occasion of words may put into thy minde what of thy selfe thou canst not dreame of nor they themselues intended by these thou maiest as it were talke with and aske the iudgement of the Ecclesiasticall histories and Epistles of the ancient Fathers greatest Diuines in the world of any Scripture they write of they yet liuing and speaking to vs by their labours as Caluin Peter Martyr Musculus and others X. Ecclesiasticall Historiographers Eusebius tripartite Historie Ruffinus Socrates Theodoretus Sozomenus Euagrius Nicephorus Iosephus Philo Zonarus to which adde the Epistles of Ierome and other Fathers and of late writers These historicall books are of this vse for the knowledge of the Churches estate to reforme maners and to abolish superstitions XI The Acts and Canons of ancient Councels the Acts and Canons of Councells Centuries Functius Sleidans Commentaries and the book of Martyrs to see the iudgement of Churches in matters of Religion the condemning of heresies and maintenance of the truth Heereunto adde the Harmony of confessions of late reformed Churches XII Controuersies whereinto we may safely proceed Controuersies and when to studie them and whos 's in the first place being well grounded by these things aforesaid Heerein it is good
of the things distinctly by them I haue made seuerall Chapters yet the Preacher which will follow Artis est 〈◊〉 re artem this course may in speaking knit them altogither in a continued speech after the maner of an oration keeping the method to himselfe passing from the doctrine to the proofe from the proofe to the vse from the vse to the reasons thereof from thence to the application and to preuention of obiections and finally so conclude euerie doctrine and one finished passe by transitions vttered sometimes in one tearme sometimes in an other to a new doctrine in like maner and so in all to the end of the Sermon the finall conclusion of all Touching the finall conclusion of the Sermon it must How long time conuenient ordinarâ—ly for a Sermon bee made within the compasse of the houre or immediately after except vpon extraordinarie occasion Neither is this to binde Gods spirit to an houre but to follow the order of the Church and thereupon the expectation of the hearers and their infirmitie which who so regardeth not knoweth not well how to keepe measure in speaking neither hath discretion to see what is conuenient Manie The discommoditie of passing ouer commonly the a pointed time for want of obseruing time and commonly going beyond the customarie space allotted thereunto doe make their labour to their daily hearers tedious themselues to be condemned of pride louing to heare themselues talke or of folsie without wit to keepe a meane or to know that as much may be vttered in an houre as can be of any almost rightlie vnderstood and well caried away Heereof riseth the occasion often of the contempt of some such mens endeuour this scandall also as if the publicke assembly is made Auditorium non Oratorium that such preachers are not painfull to compact things substantially together but talke at randome quicquid in buccam venerit proferre In the Conclusion must be First a short repetition onely What must be done in the conclusion of the principall doctrines and vses of the whole Sermon especially if the Preacher be a stranger and doth but make one Sermon els in ordinarie exercises continued the repetition may be deferred vnto the beginning of the next Preaching and verie fitly to be as well a renuing of the old as teaching of new II. A pithie forcible and louing exhortation to mooue affection and to quicken the hearers to vnderstand to hold In conclusion to be most patheticall the trueth taught to detest the errours conuinced to loue the vertues and imitate the examples and to flie the vice it selfe and persons committing the euil spoken against Comforting and encouraging such as need picking out some one speciall doctrine vse scarsely mentioned before and thought most chiefly now to bee vrged vpon them from amongst all that which hath beene spoken and reserued to this conclusion that it may be more fresh in memorie than the rest And this enforce and exhort vnto liuely and to make it more effectuall stand no longer vpon it end of a sudden leauing them mooued and stirred vp in affection to long after more for as one saith Omnia tunc bona sunt quando clausula est bona Ex per orationem noscitur concionater Lastly thus all finished end with thanksgiuing and praier Knit vp all with praier againe and thanksgiuing also for a blessing vpon that which hath beene spoken mentioning the especials therein At que sic vt a praecatione exor dium sumpsit concio sacra ita in eandem pie desinet iuxta dulcissimum dictum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Praier ended after the Psalme bee sung put vpon the people the Lords blessing and end with Num. 6. 24. or this Praier of the Apostle Hebr. 13. 20. 21. or 1. Thessal 5. 23. 24. or els 2. Corint 13. 13. And thus much for these things concerning the seuerall The fruitfulnesse of this kinde of teaching parts of a Sermon and of the things required of a Minister particularly and of them distinctly which if wee haue and can thus vse we shall proceed religiously handle matters methodically teach soundly confirme beleeuers resolue them that doubt conuince gain-saiers reprooue the wicked comfort the afflicted preuent cauils and euery waie become profitable to Gods glorie the hearers edification and our owne comfort in this great and miraculous worke in conuerting soules CHAP. XIII Of such things as are required of a Minister to performe the whole worke HItherto hath beene deliuered what is required and to What things generally necessarie to a preacher be done in seuerall parts Now followes to shew what is necessary for a Preacher to haue in all and euery part requisite for the well performance of the whole I. Is a quicke apprehension either in premeditation A quicke apprehension or els in publicke deliuerie thereby to take what the spirit of God presently doth offer to our minds The holy Ghost forsakes not his owne worke neither saileth to assist a painfull Minister but euen in his preparation is with him and helps by affoording much in the verie speaking not before thought of A man not slauishly bound to words brings not all things with him into the Pulpit that there is deliuered The spirit in Praier helps Rom. 8. so doth he in preaching if there be a ready conceit to take it Heereto must be added inuention to finde out vnderstanding to know the thing what it is iudgement to dispose of it to bring euery thing into his proper place and prudence to discerne rightly to make application according to conuenient circumstances and occasions II. A good memorie firme and stable to retaine at least A good memorie things newly thought vpon which is a present memorie without this it is impossible to become plentifull in matter or in exhortation vehement for in the one a brickle memorie will omit much and in the other a Minister will soone forget himselfe where he was and what about A perfect memorie needeth no precept happie is he that hath it it is the store-house to vnderstanding and treasure of eloquence if wit want not nor the toong bee tied by helpe of a good memory a man with ease may speake as How to helpe the weakenesse of the memory much as he pleaseth and as he is disposed also A weake memorie needeth helpe and thus it may bee strengthened First vnderstand well the thing to be deliuered for as S. Hierome saith quae firmiter concepimus benè loquimur siquidem talia in ammae quasi substantiam concoquendo sunt conuersa Things of thine owne deuising are best for memorie and more easie to be borne away that which is from other more hardly and scarcely not at all without the right vnderstanding of the matter without which a man repeats but words as a Parat Secondly dispose into order and method what thou art to deliuer an vnorderly heaping vp of things together confounds memorie As