126 
giving them for the prefent little 
more than mere grammatical cor- 
rection ; afterwards, upon a clofer 
review, he will polifh thofe parts 
that feem rude, harmonize them 
where they are unequal, comprefs 
what is too diffufive, rafe what is 
low, and zttune the whole to that 
general cadence, which feems mott 
grateful to his ear. 
But if our ftudent hath been fimit- 
ten with the turbuient oratory of 
the fenate, the acrimonious decla- 
mation of the bar, or the pompous 
eloquence of the pulpit, and fhall 
take the lof fty fpeakers in thefe fe- 
veral orders for his models, rather 
than fuch as addrefs, the ear in 
humbler tones, his paflions will in 
that cafe hurry him into the florid 
and figurative ftile, to a fublime 
and {welling period; and if in this 
he excels, it muft be owned he 
accomplifhes a great and arduous 
tafk, and he will gain a liberal fhare 
of applaufe from the world, which in 
general is apt to be captivated with 
thofe high and towering images, 
that ftrike and furprize the fenfes. 
In this flile the Hebrew prophets 
write, “ whofe difcourfe”’ (to ufe 
the words of. the learned Docfor 
Bentley) ‘< aiter the genius of the 
Eaftern nations, is thick fet with 
metaphor and allegory: the fame 
bold comparifons and dithyrambic 
liberty of ftile every where occur- 
‘ring—For when the Spirit of God 
came upon them, and breathed a new 
warmth and vigour through all the 
powers of the bedy and foul; when 
by the influx of divine light the 
whole fcene of Chrill’s heavenly 
kingdom was reprefented to their 
view, {jo that their hearts were ra- 
vithed with joy, and their i imagina- 
tions turgid and pregnant with the 
glorious ideas ; then furely, if ever, 
ANNUAL REGISTER; 1790. 
‘low him to the mount, and hear his 
ae 
their ftile would be ftrong and © 
lofty, full of allufions to all that is: § 
great and magnificent in-the king-, * 
doms of this world.’? (Cormmence- — 
ment Sermon. j—And thefe flights ~ 
of imagination, thefe effufions of ~ 
yapture and fublimity will occafion- ~ 
ally be found in the pulpit eloquence ~ 
of fome of our moft correct and ‘ 
temperate writers; witnefs that 
brilliant apoftrophe at the conclufion — 
of the ninth difcourfe of Btop Sher- — 
Jock, than whom few or none have 
written with more didaétic brevity ~ 
and fimplicity—* Go,” (fays he to, — 
the Deifts) “go to your natural © 
religion: Lay before ht: Mahemet ~ 
and his difciples arrayed in armour 
and in blood, riding in triumph 
over the fpoils of thoufands and tens © 
of thoufands, who fell by his vitte- © 
rious fword: Shew her the ‘cities © 
which he fet in flames, the countries © 
which he ravaged and deftroyed, 7 
and the miferable diftrefs of all the © 
inhabitants of the.,earth. When fhe © 
has viewed him in this fcene, carry © 
her into his retirements; fhew her — 
the prophet’s chamber, his concu- ~ 
bines and wives; Jet her fee his © 
adultery, and hear him alledge rex © 
velatton and his divine commifflioa 
to juftify his luft, and. oppreffion. | 
When fhe is tired with this profpect, 
then fhew her the .bleffed Jefus, 
humble and meek, doing .good. to 
al] the {ons of men, patiently in- 
ftructing both the ignorant and 
perverfe; let her fee him in his 
moft retired privacies ; let her fol- 
devotions and fupplications to God: 
carry her to his table to view his” 
poor fare, and hear his. heavenly = 
difcourfe: Let her, fee him. injured 
but hot provoked ; let her attend — 
him to. the tribunal, and. confider_ 
he: patience with ne ich, he endured 
: : the- 
: , 
es eee ee ae ee ee 
