Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/369

 cording to the Abilities of the several Preachers, make up the greatest part of their Discourses: And, after Origen, most Men busied themselves in giving the People Allegorical Interpretations of Passages of Scriptures, which were infinite, according to the Fancies of those that used them. St. Chrysostom, indeed, reformed this Custom in the Greek Church: His Authority went very far; and his Interpretations were almost always Literal, and, suitably to his vast Genius, very judicious. But he that considers Preaching as an Art capable of Rules and Improvement, will find a mighty Difference between a just, methodical Discourse, built upon a proper Text of Scripture, wherein, after the Text is carefully explained, some one Duty or Doctrine of Religion, thence arising, is plainly proved by just and solid Arguments, from which such Topicks of Persuasion are drawn at last, as are the most likely to raise such an Affection, and engage those Passions in the Minds of all the Auditors as will please and move good Men, and silence, at least, if not persuade the Bad; and between a loose, paraphrastical Explication of a large Portion of Scripture, which ends at last in a general Ethical Harangue, which is the usual Method of most of