Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	spirit_n	young_a	youth_n	30	3	7.7819	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62519	A defence of humane learning in the ministry, or, A treatise proving that it is necessary a minister (or preacher) should be skill'd in humane learning by H. Th., St. Ch. Ch.	Thurman, Henry, d. 1670.	1660 (1660)	Wing T1139; ESTC R22554	31,340	79

would have excused himself by his youth and ignorance the Lord placed him over Kingdoms and over Nations And the Lord stirred up the spirit of yong Daniel to convince the wicked Judges and to deliver the innocent And it is said in the Book of Wisdom Wisdom is the gray hair and an undefiled life the old age Now notwithstanding these particular Examples it is not amiss still to urge this general rule That we should not be too hasty to enter upon the Ministry For where there is a very young man for searning and discretion an old man it is the singular work of God which others should rather admire then think to imitate Much is required in a Minister and having but little learning with themselves how can such offer to teach other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is an easie and a decent thing for him that hath learned to teach others but a most foolish thing to teach before thou hast learned sufficiently thy self Let not such then that are not arrived to a competency of knowledge be too forward in this Exercise There is says Solomon a time to be silent and a time to speak first with silence to learn afterwards to speak with knowledge That was excellent counsel Bernard gave to a young man of his time Si sapis says he Concham te exhibebis non Canalem If thou bee'st wise choose rather to be a Cistern then a Channel or a Pipe The Pipe or Channel no sooner receives is water but pours it our again but a Cistern parts with nothing till it be full and then if any thing do superabound communicates it to others without any loss to its own self He is a fool says Solomon that poureth out his Spirits all his Learning and knowledge at once Truly it were to be wisht that there were more of these Cisterns and fewer of the Pipes in o●r Churches whil'st they now venture to make Sermons before they have Learned to declame in the Schools making that their beginning that should be their end like those forward Youngsters of whom Pliny the second complains in his times that they came into the Courts and would begin to plead at first dash In causis Centumviralibus When as before-times nè nobilissimis quidem adolescentibus locus erat nisi aliquo Consulare producente for Summâ veneratione pulcherrimum opus celebratur Hereupon it was that the Emperour Justinian and the ancient Fathers of the Church of Rome were forced to ordain leges annales for the Ministry and not to admit any one ad ordinationem or ad beneficium before he came to the age of 35 years I will adde onely that somewhat like what Sereca writes of some attaining unto Wisdom That many would prove excellent Divines if they were not perswaded they were so already This by way of Admonition A word or two more by way of Direction How Ministers should use their Learning And that 1. Seasonably and discreetly Either when the matter they treat of or the Auditory to whom they Preach to do rationally call for it As to the former men are blameable that stuff up a Sermon continually with distinctions out of Philosophy and Quotations out of several Authors to tell the World they are men well read As to the latter they are not without fault that without respect Preach alike to all Congregations whereas Milk is for Babes Meat for strong Men. Preach so in the Country as to win the will Preach so in the Vniversity as to convince the understanding there Doctrine that is practical here speculative is more proper 2. To a right end And that 1. Without a fruitless ostentation of parts to gain glory and applause for this is a base and an unworthy end 2. Not to poyson the Judgements or pervert the Consciences of men for this is a cursed and pernicious end Preachers must have a care that is Scholars those that are learned Divines must have a care they make not their depraved Reason a Canvaster of the Creed or place Learning on the ●ench to examine and judge of the mysterious Truths of Religion They must not let the Handmaid be Mistress Leah must not be in Rachels place nor the Peripaton above the S●nctuary The Arts and Sciences are as ground-colours upon which the Gold of Divinity is to be laid And learning to a holy man is as a golden Ring unto the Gem as the most learned Dr. Reynolds makes the similitude And thus much concerning this subject for my own satisfaction the times wherein welive putting me upon it I hope no man of Learning will be offended with me for it and for others I matter not It was wont at the least to be tolerable to praise Arts and Arts-men at Athens If in this our University it be otherwise for my part I say with Picus Mirandula Si turpe est bonas literas colere mallē hanc culpā agnoscere quàm deprecari If it be a fault to study Hum●nity I wish I could acknowledge it I profess I will never repent of it If any If any man there be in Oxford of another Opinion I judge him not and yet it were not amiss to tell him what hath been the judgement of other men heretofore apply it as he sees cause When Honorius the third Bishop of Rome did forbid Priests and Clergy-men the study and knowledge of the Civil and Canon Law they that lived in that time said he dealt like the Fox who endeavoring in vain to reach Grapes from a high Vine at last dispraised them and despised them affirming them to be but sharp and harsh meat The Moral I meddle not with And an ancient Father speaking in commendation of liberal Sciences which some dispraised drawing their Argument from the abuse of them says of them No Learning is to be despised for as much as all Science is de genere bonorum But we should rather account those that contemn it to be rustick and barbarous persons that would willingly have all aslike ignorant as themselves So that their ignorance lying hid in the multitude may not easily be found out and censured by others I hope these sayings cannot be applyed to any in an University For it were pity that Learning should finde any such discouragement there being already out of heart though the base entertainment it findes abroad For these studies are delicati flosculi which favor like a kinde and gentle air makes flourish and grow but reviling and undervaluing like some Inchantment makes them presently draw in their head and wither To conclude all by way of parenesis In regard of this as well as the glory of God let every one that intends the ministry first seek the knowledge of God to know Jesus Christ and him crucified And as in order to this only great end encourage one another to the study of learning and whatsoever may serve for the building and edification of Gods Church That they that have little and few Gifts and talents