Selected quad for the lemma: lord_n
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 oâ—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 â—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 Sâ—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 malleÌ„ hanc culpaÌ„ agnoscere quà m deprecari If it be a fault to study Humâ—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
our hearts but the Arts and Philosophy help much to apply it more readily And howsoever a wooden key may serve to open a doore once or twice as well as a key of gold 't is a Fathers similitude yet there is not only more beauty but more profit also and longer continuance in the golden key And he is rich enough that hath wedges of Sylver and Gold but he has more use of his mony who has it ready coyned For in gold and in Divinity not only good matter but good forme is also required to make it goe currant We can't say of the Scripture Ornari res ipsa nequit contenta doceri For the very Treasures of Egypt were turned to adorn the temple of the Lord. And so not only rules of Rhetorick and Logick but as Austin saies Si quid Philosophi bene senserunt ab iis tanquam inâ—ustis possessoribus in usum nostrum est vind candum Hereupon the antient fathers to adde more credit to these arts said the Philosophers were not the true owners of them but usurpt the possession of them having taken them out of the Scripture For Austin Tertullian Euscbius and Cassiodore doe affirme that all Rhetoricians Logicians and Philosophers have taken all their knowledge and faculties out of the holy booke Hereupon Crinitus saies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what else is Plato but Moses speaking in the Graecian language And Hermippus sayes Pythagoram multa è Mose hausisse and Origeâ— how that in Pauls writings there are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hiatus c. And I take it for a Paradox but it is common in the mouth of every Jew Omnium artium omnis scientiae divinae humans integram cognitionem in quinque libris Mosaicae legis contineri dissimulatam autem occultam literis And so I hope by this time I have evinc't the truth of the affertion to all that are reasonable viz. That it is necessary a minister or Preacher should be skil'd in Humane Learning Now from what has been prov'd may be deduced these Confectaries 1. That Vniversities and Schooles of learning are lawfully instituted being instrumental for breeding up of wise learned and Godly Ministers 2. That the taking of degrees in the Arts and Sciences as evidencies of our knowledge is necessary before we be admitted to preach 3. That no illiterate ignorant person should take upon him the office of a Minister 4. That our University statutes aiming only at this to enforce the study of humane learning in subordination to divinity are grounded upon a right bottome to wit Scripture precept and therefore to swear the observancy of them is lawfull 5. That since Formalities are but for distinction sake of degrees in learning and this tends to a further service of God in the Church we may conclude they are innocent circumstances and not to be utterly rejected 6. Lastly To put downe Vniversities or Nurseries of learning is contrary to Gods holy will for whose service they were erected and so ought to be continued Having now ended the Position as to the argumentative part I shall take upon me from hence to admonish two sorts of Persons 1. All such as are ripe in learning and fit to be employed as workmen for the harvest of souls That they doe not retain and hold back to themselves that which they have received to bestow and pour out upon others He that is inwardy full of virtue and adorned with the gifts of knowledge and utterance holds back and retaines from his neighbour his right if either through fear or slothfullness or indiscreet base conceipt of his gifts he tye up in unprofitable silence that good word which might profit many to the salvation of their souls Whereby he not only refuseth to submit himself to that charge of St. Paul who adjured Timothy and in him all ministers before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge both the quick and the dead at his appearing and in his kingdome to preach the word to be instant in season and out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4. but voluntarily they doe incurre the curse which is spoken of in the Proverbs He that withholdeth Corn the people shall curse him 11.26 Upon which words one says that to withhold Corn is Praedicationis verba apud se retinere In populis talis maledicetur quia in solius culpâ silentii pro multis quae corrigere potuit damnatur And St. Paul speakes in plain termes without any Allegory Vae mihi si non Evangelizavero But notwithstanding this adjuration notwithstanding this danger how many are there that bury their Gifts and Talents which were given them to the use and profit of others How many clouds are there sufficiently full of waters to moysten our dry and stony earth which will hardly part with a morning and evening dew with a drop or two of moysture to comfort dry Souls or soften Stony hearts 'T is to little use to have learning and not to use it recondita doctrina ut in vaginâ gladius nisi educatur nihil prodest It 's said in Isaiah How beautifull upon the mountaines are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace that bringeth good tidings of good that publisheth salvation that saith unto Lion Thy Lord reigneth Beautifull upon the mountatres are the feet of the minister But of what Minister I pray Of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace c. And what meanes the Prophet hereby but that there should be an instancy an assiduity in the worke of the Gospell the use and exercise of that learned tongue which the Holy Chost hath given unto the ministers to the benefit and salvation of others 2. All such as are not yet arrived to the perfection of knowledge required in a minister That they would not be too hasty to pour out to others before they have sufficiently and abundantly received in for themselves For this is to goe to Plow with the first born Bullock and to shear the first born sheep which is contrary to the Law of God Deut. 15. This is a fault greatly to be complained of and here greatly and especially to be prevented by good counsel I write not this as though any age were too forward or immature for the grace of God For we know in this Vniversitie with thanks to God be it coÌ„fessed to the honour of this place there are a great number of young men that doe supra senes intelligere moribus antiquare dies provenire tempora meritis quod aetatis deest compensare virtutibus whose youth as St. Paul speakes of Timothy let no man despise for better are young men of good towardness then they that are old ignorant and foolish We know Samuel was an excellent yong man who assoon as ever he heard the Lord call answered Speak Lord for thy Servant heareth And Jeremiah was sanctified before he was born and when he