I.  I am to speak against persons who pride themselves on their eloquence; so, to begin with a text of Scripture, “Behold, I am against thee, O thou proud one,” Jer. l. 31. not only in thy system of teaching, but also in thy hearing, and in thy tone of mind.  For there are certain persons who have not only their ears 2 Tim. iv. 3. and their tongues, but even, as I now perceive, their hands too, itching for our words; who delight in profane babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called, Ib. ii. 16. and strifes about words, which tend to no profit; for so Paul, the Preacher and Establisher of the “Word cut short,” Rom. ix. 28. the disciple and teacher of the Fishermen, S. Paul is called a disciple of the fishermen, as having been in some sense their follower (though in fact he was never a literal disciple of any of them); and their teacher as having taught such Successors of the Apostles as SS. Timothy and Titus. calls all that is excessive or superfluous in discourse.  But as to those to whom we refer, would that they, whose tongue is so voluble and clever in applying itself to noble and approved language, would likewise pay some attention to actions.  For then perhaps in a little while they would become less sophistical, and less absurd and strange acrobats of words, if I may use a ridiculous expression about a ridiculous subject.