The doctrine delivered by all preachers is the same: "So we preach,
and so ye believe." But the manner of delivering is suited to the
skill and abilities of each, which differ in preachers just as in
the rest of mankind. However, in personal dislikes of a particular
preacher, are these men sure they are always in the right? Do they
consider how mixed a thing is every audience, whose taste and
judgment differ, perhaps, every day, not only from each other, but
themselves? And how to calculate a discourse that shall exactly
suit them all, is beyond the force and reach of human reason,
knowledge, or invention. Wit and eloquence are shining qualities
that God hath imparted in great degrees to very few, nor any more to
be expected in the generality of any rank among men than riches and
honour. But further, if preaching in general be all old and beaten,
and that they are already so well acquainted with it, more shame and
guilt to them who so little edify by it! But these men, whose ears
are so delicate as not to endure a plain discourse of religion, who
expect a constant supply of wit and eloquence on a subject handled
so many thousand times, what will they say when we turn the
objection upon themselves, who, with all the rude and profane
liberty of discourse they take upon so many thousand subjects, are
so dull as to furnish nothing but tedious repetitions, and little
paltry, nauseous commonplaces, so vulgar, so worn, or so obvious,
as, upon any other occasion but that of advancing vice, would be
hooted off the stage? Nor, lastly, are preachers justly blamed for
neglecting human oratory to move the passions, which is not the
business of a Christian orator, whose office it is only to work upon
faith and reason. All other eloquence hath been a perfect cheat, to
stir up men's passions against truth and justice for the service of
a faction, to put false colours upon things, and, by an amusement of
agreeable words, make the worst reason appear to be the better.