[ 49 ] 



the writings of that day ; if examples be wanted, they may be 

 found thickly ftrewed in every page of them *. 



NOTWITH- 



* A few of thefe examples are here fubjoined, taken from Atterbury, Burnet, 

 Tillotfon, Petty, Temple, &c. in which, it is believed, all the faults which have been 

 above attributed to the ftyle of this period are exemplified. Thefe inftances have 

 not been feledted with a view to exhibit the moft faulty paflages in the works of the 

 refpeftive writers, but are fuch as occurred on a cafual opening, and in fome one 

 compofition of no great length, in each author. This mode of fele£lion candour 

 diftated ; for where is the author who has written much, in whofe writings invidious 

 indullry might not colleft a multitude of paflages cenfurable for their inaccuracy, 

 or ridiculous for their weaknefs ? 



Tillotfon, in his fermon on the incarnation, fays, " God fliewed not fuch grace 

 " and favour to the angels : the Son of God became mortal and miferable, and 

 *' fubmitted to all things that are accounted moft miferable and calamitous in our na- 

 " ture." " He was the meekeft endurer of fufferings that ever was." Synonimes— 

 a flat expreffion, and a drag on the fentence. 



" Which, how it can be fo eafily conceived upon any other fuppofition, I muft 

 " confefs I am not able to comprehend." Inartificial connexion and bad grammar, 

 •which being referred to the whole of the preceding fentence, and Handing without 

 a verb. 



" The tongues of men and angels, as they are faid to be a worthlefs gift in com- 

 «< parifon of charity, fo are they not able to fet out half the worth and excellence of 

 " it." 



" As it makes a kind of atonement to God for all the faults we commit, fo doth it 

 " make an amends to us for all the trouble we are at." 



Thefe two paflages exemplify a poize between the two parts of a fentence by a/ 

 and fo, which though perhaps not very faulty in itfelf becomes cenfurable from the 

 frequency of its occurrence in the writings of this ara. They are befides chargeable 

 with fynonimes, with baldnefs of expreffion, with bad grammar and colloquial fami- 

 liarity. 



In Petty's Tradt on the Conllitution and Laws of England, we meet with the fol- . 

 lowing : 



" The next article may require a more efpecial care and confderation of the juftices ; 



« and here I judge we are no way deficient in /aw, but altogether in the execution 



Vol. VI. G « of 



