3. Prudential expedient
will make us spend more hours in our studies, and set to it with all our might and skill, that thereby we may both save ourselves, and them that hear us.
3. Prudential expedient This ministerial wisdom will not only direct us thus in the choice of our subjects, but of the language too, in which we dress and deliver them to our people.
It will tell you, a crucified stile best suits the preachers of a crucified Christ. A grave and proper stile becomes the lips of Christ's ambassadors. Prudence will neither allow us to be rude, nor affectedly gaudy, in our expressions.4 "Tertullian checks those preachers, whose sermons dress up Christianity in philosophical, rather than evangelical terms." Prudence will choose words that are solid, rather than florid: As a merchant will a ship by a sound bottom, and capacious hold, rather than a gilded head and stern. Words are but servants to matter. An iron key, fitted to the wards of the lock, is more useful than a golden one, that will not open the door to the treasure.
Some of Christ's ministers excel in a neat and pleasing plainness of language. From this Austin was so affected with the stile of Ambrose:5 'With his sweet words, which I loved, came into my mind the duties which I neglected.' And Zanchy saith of Viret,6 'I admired his eloquence, and the force it had in moving the affections.'