←1297
←1297
Campbell, ut supra. ‘An affected obscurity of style’ (Baxter remarks) ‘makes a fool admire the preacher’s learning; but it will make a wise man wonder at his hypocrisy or folly.’ Kirke White justly remarked of a preacher whom he had lately heard—‘I think in particular he has one great fault, which is elegance. He is not sufficiently plain. Remember (he adds) we do not mount the pulpit to say fine things or eloquent things. We have to proclaim there the good tidings of salvation to fallen man, to point out the way to eternal life, to exhort, to cheer, to support, the suffering sinner: these are the glorious topics upon which we have to enlarge—and will these permit the tricks of oratory, or the studied beauties of eloquence? Shall truths and counsels like these be couched in terms which the poor and ignorant cannot comprehend?’—See his Remains.