xxiv INTRODUCTION 



But style was not merely a matter of words; it was, 

 he said, the "striving after the clear and forcible ex- 

 pression of definite conceptions; in which process the 

 Glassian precept, 'first catch your definite conceptions,' 

 is probably the most difficult to obey." Indeed his style 

 is so much a part of his matter that an unfriendly critic, 

 wishing to show that he was no great speaker, said that 

 "all he did was to set some interesting theory unadorned 

 before his audience, when such success as he attained 

 was due to the compelling nature of the subject itself." 



No tribute to his style could be more apt. Being al- 

 ways master of his subject, he is able to lead his reader 

 through the intricacies of a complicated explanation or 

 argument so as to make it not only clear but apparently 

 simple. His method of arriving at general truths by way 

 of particular facts stood him in good stead. Accustomed 

 to deal with details, his words are always "really clothed 

 with meaning," and he had always ready an appropriate 

 illustration or analogy. Equally accustomed to analyse, 

 to weigh ideas, and to relate them to one another, he 

 was able to set forth his own ideas with logical pre- 

 cision and in due order. He never hurries the reader into 

 the subject, but carefully prepares the ground. Although 

 illustrations abound, he never really disgresses. There 

 is a constant forward movement toward the conclusion, 

 which is reached with at least satisfaction and often with 

 admiration of the skill with which the thought has been 

 developed. Nor has he the defects which are often 

 associated with precision and logic. His style is fresh, 

 interesting, and varied, sometimes colloquial and homely, 

 sometimes dignified and impressive. There is a great 

 deal of humour, now genial, now biting, ironical, or grim. 

 And there is often a rich literary flavour that shows not 

 only familiarity with the great English classics and the 

 Bible, but also acquaintance with classical literature. 



