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to push down heavy bodies placed on the verge of a declivity, but much force is requifite, to ftop them in their progrefs, and push them up.

If a man should fay, that because the first is more frequently effected than the laft, it is the beft trial of ftrength, and the only fuitable use to which it can be applied, we should at leaft not think him remarkable for diftinctness in his ideas. Popularity alone, therefore, is no teft at all of the eloquence of the fpeaker, no more than velocity alone would be, of the force of the external impulfe originally given to the body moving. As in this, the direction of the body, and other circumstances, must be taken into the account; fo in that, you must confider the tendency of the teaching, whether it favours or oppofes the vices of the hearers. To head a fect, to infufe party-fpirit, to make men arrogant, uncharitable, and malevolent, is the eafieft task imaginable, and to which almoft any blockhead is fully equal. But to produce the contrary effect, to fubdue the spirit of faction, and that monster spiritual pride, with which it is invariably accompanied, to infpire equity, moderation, and charity into men's fentiments and conduct with regard to others, is the genuine teft VOL. I. T

of

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of eloquence. Here its triumph is truly glorious, and in its application to this end lies its great utility:

The gates of hell are open night and day;
Smooth the defcent, and easy is the way:

But to return and view the cheerful skies;

In this the task and mighty labour lies. DRYDEN.

Now in regard to the comparison, from which I fear I fhall be thought to have digreffed, between the forenfic and fenatorian eloquence, and that of the pulpit, I muft not omit to obferve, that in what I fay of the difference of the effect to be produced by the laft mentioned fpecies, I am to be understood as speaking of the effect intended by preaching in general, and even of that which, in whole or in part, is, or ought to be, either more immediately or more remotely, the scope of all difcourfes proceeding from the pulpit. I am, at the fame time, sensible, that in fome of thefe, befides the ultimate view, there is an immediate and outward effect which the fermon is intended to produce. This is the cafe particularly in charity-fermons, and perhaps fome other occafional difcourfes. Now of these

--Facilis defcenfus Averni:
Noctes atque dies patet atri janua Ditis :

Sed revocare gradum, fuperafque evadere ad auras

Hic labor, hoc opus elt.

VIRG. lib. vi.

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few, in refpect of fuch immediate purpose, we must admit, that they bear a pretty close analogy to the pleadings of the advocate, and the orations of the fenator.

UPON the whole of the comparison I have ftated, it appears manifeft, that, in moft of the particulars above enumerated, the preacher labours under a very great difadvantage. He hath himself a more delicate part to perform than either the pleader or the fenator, and a character to maintain, which is much more easily injured. The auditors, though rarely fo accomplished as to require the fame accuracy of compofition, or acuteness in reasoning, as may be expected in the other two, are more various in age, rank, taste, inclinations, fentiments, prejudices, to which he muft accommodate himself. And if he derives some advantages from the richness, the variety, and the noblenefs of the principles, motives, and arguments, with which his subject furnishes him, he derives alfo fome inconveniencies from this circumftance, that almoft the only engine by which he can operate on the paffions of his hearers, is the exhibition of abftract qualities, virtues, and vices, whereas that chiefly employed by other orators, is the exhibition of real perfons,

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the virtuous and the vicious. Nor are the occafions of his addresses to the people equally fitted with thofe of the fenator and of the pleader, for exciting their curiofity and riveting their attention. And finally, the task affigned him, the effect which he ought ever to have in view, is fo great, fo important, fo durable, as feems to bid defiance to the ftrongeft efforts of oratorical genius.

NOTHING is more common than for people, fuppofe without reflecting, to exprefs their wonder, that there is fo little cloquence amongst our preachers, and that fo little fuccefs attends their preaching. As to the laft, their fuccefs, it is a matter not to be afcertained with fo much precifion, as fome appear fondly to imagine. The evil prevented, as well as the good promoted, ought here, in all juftice, to come into the reckoning. And what that may be, it is impoffible in any fuppofed circumftances to determine. As to the firft, their eloquence, I acknowledge, that, for my own part, confidering how rare the talent is among men in general, confidering all the difadvantages preachers labour under, not only thofe above enumerated, but others, arifing from their different fituations,

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particularly confidering the frequency of this exercife, together with the other duties of their office, to which the fixed paftors are obliged, I have been of a long time more difpofed to wonder, that we hear fo many inftructive and even eloquent fermons, than that we hear fo few.

CHA P. XI.

Of the cause of that pleasure which we receive from objects or representations that excite pity and other painful feelings,

IT

T hath been obferved already *, that without some gratification in hearing, the attention muft inevitably flag. And it is manifeft from experience, that nothing tends more effectually to prevent this confequence, and keep our attention alive and vigorous, than the pathetic, which confifts chiefly in exhibitions of human mifery. Yet that fuch exhibitions thould so highly gratify us, appears fomewhat myfterious. Every body is fenfible, that of all qualities in a work of genius, this is that which endears it moft to the generality of readers. One would imagine, on

Chapter IV.

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