Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
conscience_n	godly_a	rejoice_v	simplicity_n	1,031	5	9.5439	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A79461	The watch charged. Or, a warning to God's watch-men. Being a sermon preached at Bridge-water in the county of Somerset on the 29. day of September 1658. which was a day set apart for ordination, and the generall meeting of the associated ministers in that county. / By John Chetwind, Mr. of Arts, preacher of the gospel, and one of the joynt-pastors for the city and parish of Cuthberts in Wells.	Chetwynd, John, 1623-1692.	1659 (1659)	Wing C3798; Thomason E1862_1; ESTC R210179	30,162	96

rightly that which is most proper save some with fear on others have compassion Honey cleared Ionathan's eyes and gall Tobit's meal healed the pottage salt the water 2 Kin. 2.23 and 4.42 The good Samaritan powred in both wine and oyl to cleanse and supple and thus must Gods watch-men cast down lift up terrify allure sometimes come with a rod sometimes with a spirit of meeknesse 1 Cor. 4.21 alwayes speak suitably to their hearers condition 2. To the hearers capacity 1 Cor. 14.8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself unto the battle The excellency of an Oratour is perspicuity so of a Preacher plainnesse True it is that as amongst Gods Prophets so amongst Christs ministers there is and may be difference an Isaiah as well as Amos a Paul rude in speech as well as an Apollo's eloquent in the Scripture 2 Cor. 11.6 Acts 18.24 But whatever skill talent and gift they have this they must and will regard to speak clearly and to apply themselves to the capacity of their present auditors Thus shall we find our Saviour did the wise Astrologers he drawes by a star the Samaritan woman at the well by water the Capernaits that followed him for loaves he minds of spirituall bread Andrew and Peter fisher-men by working a wonder in catching of fish he speaks to the husbandmen of sowing Thus did Christ and so should Preachers suit their instructions to their hearers capacities And therefore know that plain preaching is best I mean not crude carelesse negligent slothfull and slovenly handling the word but that which is most to the understanding and necessity of the hearers such preaching is best because it is 1. Most convincing 2. Most saving though not most pleasing 3. Most agreeable to a ministers calling 1 Cor. 1.21 who is a watch-man a Physician 4. Most agreeable to Scripture-language which as laws would loose their authority if written above peoples capacities States shew not their eloquence but their authority 5. It 's most comfortable for the conscience of the Preachers when they shall be able to say as the Apostle 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world Let not hearers then like mans wit better then Gods word the preachers affectation better then his affection nor storm at plain dealing as Pharaoh and Ahab nor scorn as the Athenians who when Paul preacht of the resurrection called him babler But love it submit to it and attend it as patients do Physicians who come to them not to hear their eloquence but procure their own health Let preachers then being Gods watch-men 1. Not speak falsly 2. Not speak impertinently 3. Not speak flatteringly that were to poison men with sweet meats 4. Not speak too highly in lofty and obscure expressions for that were to shew children bread hang it our of their reach which course would rather fret them then feed them It is not reasonable to apparell a chast virgin in the fashions of a strumpet nor to cloath divine wisdome in affected and fantasticall flourishes It is an observation I have read Lord G. Digby's Letter that some discourses are so tempered with elegancy of expressions and weaknesse of argument that they give great contentment but little satisfaction please the ear but not convince the judgement nor work upon the affections and least of all move the conscience True indeed carnall eares desire words without matter sauce without meat they would have their fancies pleased not their consciences wounded but God in the Old Testament would have his Altar built with unpolished stones to testifie that he loved simplicitie in his service Let not preachers endeavour to speak plausibly but plainly not make their sermons riddles and tire their auditours with Quotations let them not draw matter from Abana and Pharpar Plato Aristotle Seneca c. but from the wells of salvation Moses the prophets and Apostles Alas Beloved humane authorities are too weak to strike sin dead it is Gideon himself and not his sons that must kill Zebah Iudg. 8. It must be Gods word and not mans that must throw down strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4,5 It is only that which is the sword of the spirit Eph. 6. and as David spoke of Goliah's sword ther 's none like it This it was that Christ used in his encounter with the Devil and this alone is able to make a man wise unto salvation and the man of God throughly furnished 2 Tim. 3.15,16,17 One stone out of David's scrip one text of Gods word is of greater force to kill Goliah to destroy sin then all Saul's armour then all the counsels and precepts of the wisest moralists And therefore when men serve their humane and secular learning as the Israelites did by the Egyptians ear-rings make calves of them that they may be worshipped stuffe their sermons full of humane authorities sentences of Poets and Oratours to fish for applause Aaron's excuse will not serve the turn populus exigebat Exod. 32.23 But here I would not be mistaken as if I did mislike all use of secular learning Quotations authorities in sermons No know 1. There may be much use where there is no shew as that eloquence is best that flows naturally and is not forced as a native beauty is better then a painted face so is it the best art to conceal art 2. In some cases in some auditories for the understanding of the sense of words the customes of times as argumenta ad hominem there is and may be necessary and good use of such citations So that as Calvin speaks on Tit. 1.12 they may be accounted superstitious that utterly condemn the borrowing any thing from profane authours Yet I conceive in popular auditories in ordinary labours the more sparingly used the better Gods ministers are watch-men and such must not speak curiously and quaintly but scasonably and plainly suitably to their charges condition and their charges capacity They who would be fuller satisfied concerning the use of secular learning in sermons may consult Dr. Tho. Taylor on Tit. 1.12 Zanchy praefat ad lib. de Scriptura 3. Warning seriously Affectionately prevailingly earnestly endeavouring to the utmost that people may take warning Ministers must warn 1. Importuneately 2. Compassionately 1. Importunately Isa 58.1 Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice as a trumpet 2 Tim. 4.2 Eccles 12.10 Be instant in season and out of season exhort reprove rebuke with all authority speak home to the sinner that their words may be as nails fastened never give over till by Gods trumpet they be awakened call heaven and earth to witnesse warn night and day Isa 1.2 Acts 20.29 2. Compassionately with affection commiseration out of love and with abundance of pity towards perishing souls 2 Tim. 3. with long