Post-mediaeval Preachers: Some Account Of The Most Celebrated Preachers (1865)

ome account of tfce most cddmitcd POST-MEDU1VAL PEEA. CHEBS. PREFACE, THE following work is of Theological, Biographical, and Bibliographical interest. It has been written with the view of bringing a class of Preachers before the public who are scarcely known even by name to the theological student, but who are certainly remarkable for their originality, depth, and spirituality. Among the numerous Preachers of the three centuries under review, it has been difficult to decide which to select, but those chosen are believed to be the most characteristic. The Author returns thanks to Mr. John Mozley Stark, of Fitzwilliam-street, Strand, for his assistance in the compilation of this Work, by the loan of some costly and scarce volumes not in the Authors library. The title-page, and the Dance of Death at the head of this page, are taken from the Sermons of Santius Porta, printed and published by J. Cleyn, Lyons, 4to. 1513. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION GABRIEL BIEL JEAN RAULIN MBFFRETH MATTHIAS FABKR . PHILIP VON HARTUNG JOSEPH DE BARZIA JACQUES MARCHANT JOHN OSORIUS MAXIMILIAN DEZA FRANCIS CesrEB . INDEX PAGE 1 . 61 . 69 81 . 100 . 116 . 134 . 165 . 177 . 192 . 206 . 237 INTRODUCTION. THE history of preaching begins with the first sermon ever delivered, the first and the best, that of our blessed Lord on the mount in Galilee. The declamations of the ancient prophets differ widely in character from the sermons of Christian orators, and in briefly tracing the history of sacred elocution, we shall put them on one side. For the true principles of preaching are enshrined in that glorious mountain sermon. From it we learn what a Christian oration ought to be. We see that it should contain instruction inGospel truths, illustrations from natural objects, warnings, and moral exhortations, and that considerable variety of matter may be introduced, so long as the essential unity of the piece be not in terfered with. In this consists the difference between Christs model sermon, and the exhortations of those who went before Him. Jonah preached to the Ninevites, Yet forty days, and 2 INTRODUCTION. Nineveh shall be overthrown, and that was his only subject. John Baptist preached in the wilderness, and on one point only, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. They confined themselves to a single topic, and that purely subjective, whereas a Christian sermon is to be both objective and subjective. It should be like Jacobs ladder, reaching from Gods throne to mans earth, with its subject-matter constantly ascending and descending, leading men up to God, and showing God by His In carnation descending to man. A Spanish bishop of the seventeenth century thus speaks of the Sermon on the Mount, the model for all sermons, and the pattern upon which many ancient preachers framed their discourses, He quotes St. John, I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and with out, sealed with seven seals and this book, he says, is the life of our blessed Lord, written with the characters of all virtues within, in His most holy soul without, in His sacred body. It is sealed with seven seals. St. John continues, I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. - Who, then, was worthy to open that book None saveChrist Himself. He opened it in the Sermon on the Mount, wherein He taught all men to follow and observe the virtues which He practised Himself. Hearken and consider as He opens each seal INTRODUCTION. O Blessed are the poor in spirit and behold Him at the opening of this first seal, poor and of no reputation. Blessed are they that mourn and this second seal displays Him offering up prayers for us, with strong crying and tears. Blessed are the meek and we see Him meek and lowly of heart, before the judgment-seat answering not a word...