against Verres the oppreffor. Nor could he have incensed them fo much against treafon and confpiracy, as he did incenfe them against Catiline the traitor and confpirator. The like may be obferved of the effects of his orations against Antony, and in a thousand other instances.

THOUGH the occafions in this way are more frequent at the bar, yet, as the deliberations in the fenate often proceed on the reputation and paft conduct of individuals, there is commonly here also a much better handle for roufing the paffions, than that enjoyed by the preacher. How much advantage Demofthenes drew from. the known character and infidious arts of Philip king of Macedon, for influencing the refolves of the Athenians, and other Grecian ftates, those who are acquainted with the Philippics of the orator, and the hiftory of that period, will be very fenfible. In what concerns the pleasing affections, the preacher may fometimes, not often, avail himself of real human characters, as in funeral feimons, and in difcourfes on the patterns of virtue given us by our Saviour, and by thofe faints of whom we have the history in the facred code. But fuch examples are comparatively

few.

S 4

SEC

SECTION IV.

In regard to the Occafion.

THE fourth circumftance mentioned as a ground of comparison, is the particular occafion of speaking. And in this I think it evident, that both the pleader and the fenator have the advantage of the preacher. When any important cause comes to be tried before a civil judicatory, or when any important question comes to be agitated in either houfe of parliament, as the point to be difcuffed hath generally, for fome time before, been a topic of converfation in most companies, perhaps throughout the kingdom, (which of itself is fufficient to give confequence to any thing) people are apprized before-hand of the particular day fixed for the difcuffion. Accordingly, they come prepared with fome knowledge of the case, a perfuafion of its importance, and a curiofity which sharpens their attention, and affifts both their understanding and their memory.

MEN go to church without any of these advantages. The fubject of the fermon is not known to the congregation, till the minifter announce it just as he begins, by reading the text.

Now,

Now, from our experience of human nature, we may be fenfible, that whatever be the comparative importance of the things themselves, the generality of men cannot here be wrought up in an instant, to the like anxious curiofity about what is to be faid, nor can they be fo well prepared for hearing it. It may indeed be urged, in regard to thofe fubjects which come regularly to be difcuffed at stated times, as on public feftivals, as well as in regard to affize-fermons, charity-fermons, and other occafional discourses, that these must be admitted as exceptions. Perhaps in fome degree they are, but not altogether: for firft, the precife point to be argued, or propofition to be evinced, is very rarely known. The moft that we can say is, that the subject will have a relation (fometimes remote enough) to fuch an article of faith, or to the obligations we lie under to the practice of fuch a duty. But further, if the topic were ever fo well known, the frequent recurrence of fuch occafions, once a-year at least, hath long familiarifed us to them, and by destroying their novelty, hath abated exceedingly of that ardour which arifeth in the mind for hearing a difcuffion, conceived to be of importance, which one never had accefs to hear before, and probably never will have access to hear again.

I SHALL

I SHALL here take notice of another circumftance, which, without great ftretch, may be claffed under this article, and which likewise gives fome advantage to the counfellor and the fenator. It is the oppofition and contradiction which they expect to meet with. Opponents fharpen one another, as iron fharpeneth iron. There is not the fame fpur either to exertion in the fpeaker, or to attention in the hearer, where there is no conflict, where you have no adverfary to encounter on equal terms. Mr. Bickerftaff would have made but fmall progrefs in the science of defence, by pushing at the human figure which he had chalked upon the wall*, in comparison of what he might have made by the help of a fellow-combatant of flesh and blood. I do not, however, pretend, that these cafes are entirely parallel. The whole of an adverfary's plea may be perfectly known, and may, to the fatisfaction of every reasonable perfon, be perfectly confuted, though he hath not been heard by counsel at the bar,

SECTION V.

In regard to the End in view.

THE fifth and laft particular mentioned, and indeed the most important of them all, is the effect

*Tatler.

effect in each fpecies intended to be produced. The primary intention of preaching is the reformation of mankind. "The grace of God, "that bringeth falvation, hath appeared to all "men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness "and worldly lufts, we should live foberly',

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righteously, and godly, in this prefent "world." Reformation of life and manners -of all things that which it is the most difficult by any means whatever to effectuate; I may add,. of all tasks ever attempted by perfuafion, that which has the most frequently baffled its power.

WHAT is the tafk of any other orator compared with this? It is really as nothing at all, and hardly deferves to be named. An unjust judge, gradually worked on by the refiftlefs force of human eloquence, may be perfuaded, against his inclination, perhaps against a previous refolution, to pronounce an equitable sentence. All the effect on him, intended by the pleader, was merely momentary. The orator hath had the addrefs to employ the time allowed him, in such a manner as to secure the happy moment. Notwithstanding this, there may be no real change wrought upon the judge. He may continue the fame obdurate wretch he was before. Nay, if

* Tit. ii. 11, 12.