THE FAITHFUL MINISTER-AMBROSE OF MILAN 53 83 THE "GOLDEN-MOUTHED" ORATOR-CHRYSOSTOM OF PREFACE. THE present volume is the result of the author's endeavours to acquire some knowledge of the ancient pulpit from the writings of the great preachers of antiquity,-to discover what manner of men they were, and what manner of gospel they preached. In aiming at fidelity in his representations of the six remarkable men here noticed, the author believes that he has also succeeded in exhibiting them in aspects more congenial to the sympathies of modern evangelical Christians than those which are brought prominently forward by the servile admirers of the Fathers. The extracts have been carefully selected with the view not only of exhibiting the matter and style of the pulpit oratory of each of the Patristic preachers here noticed, but also of conveying as clear an idea as possible of their piety, mental power, and complex personality. Accordingly, specimens have been given of exordia and perorations, one short discourse of Augustine in full, and an extemporaneous discourse of Chrysostom, with a few unimportant omissions, along with briefer selections of illustrations of particular points and striking thoughts. In discharging the office of translator, the author has endeavoured to adhere to the letter of the originals as closely as was consistent with a true rendering of the spirit, avoiding, on the one hand, the dainty nicety and flowing paraphrase, in which the manly, outspoken eloquence of the Ancient Preachers has been often disguised when presented in an English dress,-and on the other, that stiff literality, which can never truly express that which in the original is characterised by freedom, flexibility, and force. Enough, perhaps, has been said to show that this little work, in its plan, purpose, and contents, occupies distinctive ground of its own. It may be added, that the descriptive titles are not intended as |