《仙后》中之講道學與教牧學：聖潔殿堂裡的基督騎士養成

The Art of Preaching and Pastoral Care in The Faerie Queene: The Education of a Christian Knight in the House of Holiness

本文描繪《仙后》第一卷第十章中紅十字騎士如何在文意扭曲不明和假傳道人充斥的世界中，學習成為基督徒，以此檢視其中的牧師角色如何回應史賓賽時期對於在講道和教牧諮商中使用修辭學的疑慮。本文指出：史賓賽藉由聚焦於受教者的情感平衡與屬靈力量，強調有效的牧者靠的不是口才，不用依循古典演講術，不用語言建立自己的權威或取悅受教者。他相信牧者要教導平衡的救恩論，鍛鍊受教者的身體，使他們強壯到可面對理解和追隨真道的痛苦，可面對發現自身力量不足的羞恥感。本文也點出：藉由描述這些牧者如何以歷史中的基督為榜樣，如何用他們的聖潔生命激勵紅十字騎士在艱苦世道中，心懷永恆榮耀以活出聖潔，史賓賽顯示唯有這樣牧者的聖潔生命才能讓受教者看到永恆觀點，此觀點既是從歷史中建構而出，也能協助人重塑歷史意義，使得受教者得以根據此超越時間的觀點來重新定義自己的人生，重塑人生的方向。

This paper examines how the pastor figures in Book I, Canto X of The Faerie Queene respond to the concerns about the art of rhetoric used in sermons and pastoral counseling at Spenser’s time by showing Redcrosse’s Christian education in a world of confusing signs and false preachers. This paper points out that by focusing on the emotional balance and spiritual strength of the students, Spenser emphasizes that effective pastors depend not on rhetoric, not on building their own authority verbally or pleasing the students, as classical orators were instructed to. Spenser believes pastors should teach balanced lessons on the doctrine of salvation and discipline the students physically to help them become strong enough to face the pain in understanding and following the truth and the shame at sensing their insufficiency. This paper also argues that by presenting how these pastor figures follow the model of Christ in history and use their holy lives to inspire Redcrosse to live a life of holiness in a harsh world with the eternal glory in sight, Spenser shows that only the pastors’ holy lives can bring to the students an eternal perspective that is built in as well as helps redefine history, enabling the students to redefine and realign their lives from such a perspective above time.