Page images
PDF
EPUB

teach us to "number our days, that we may apply our your hearts unto wisdom. (7)

In general, the best exordiums are taken from. theology; for, as on the one hand, they have always more relation to the matter of the text, fo, on the other, they much better prepare the hearers' minds, being more grave, and free from the puerile pedantries of the college:

In order to compofe an exordium, after you have well confidered the fenfes of the text, and observed what are the principal matters, which ought to enter into the difcuffion, and after you have made the divifion, endeavour to reduce the whole to one common idea, and then choose fome other idea naturally connected with that common idea, either immediately, or by means of another. If it be immediately connected with the fubject, endeavour to reduce it to one propofition, which may be cleared and proved as you go on, or if it have parts, which require feparate explications and proofs, it must be managed fo as to include them, and finally, by the natural connection of that propofition with the difcuffion, enter into the text. If the propofition be connected with the text only remotely, then establish the firft, pafs on to the fecond, and fo proceed from the second to the text. (8) Exordiums

(7) Citations from profane authors may be ufed, when they are pertinent, and carry their own recommendation with them. Mr.Claude is to be underflood here, as almost every where elfe, as reprobating only improprieties. He wifely ob. ferves, that circumftances may

render every thing proper, and every thing improper. A fitting of compofition to thefe circumstances is the true art of compofing.

(8) Connect the parts of the exordium with the fubject of the difcourfe. "Quoties autem prooemio fuerimus ufi, tum

302

fiv:

Exordiums may be taken from almost all the fame topicks as obfervations, that is from genus, Species, contraries, &c. For there are but few good exordiums, which might not go into the difcuffion, under the title of general obfervations. Of fuch obfervations that must be chofen for an exordium, which is leaft effential, or leaft neceffary to the difcuffion, and which befides is clear, agreeable, and entertaining. (9) A comparison may fometimes be employed in an exordium: but not often, nor must trivial comparisons be used, which all the world know, or which are taken from any thing mean, nor muft they be embarraffing, taken from things unknown to the people, as thofe are, which are borrowed from mechanicks, aftronomy, &c. of which the people know nothing at all.

Bible-history may be used: but fparingly; and the application must be always juft, agreeable, and in fome fort new and remarkable.

Types may also be employed: but with the fame precautions, always confulting good fenfe, and taste.

five ad expofitionem tranfibimus, five protinus ad probationem, id debebit in principio poftremum effe,cuicommodiffimè jungi initium fequentium poterit. Ut non abruptè cadere in narrationem, ita non obfcurè tranfcendere eft optimum. Si verò longior fequetur, ac perplexa magis expofitio, ad eam ipfam præparandus judex erit: ut Cicero fæpius, fed hoc præcipuè loco fecit: Paulo longius ex

The

ordium rei demonftranda petam; quod quæfo, judices, ne molefté patiamini. Principiis enim cognitis, multo facilius extrema intelligetis."Pro Cluent. Quint. inft. lib. iv. de exordio.

(9) Exordiums must be agreeable and entertaining. "Verum quoniam non eft fatis demonftrare difcentibus, quæ fint in ratione procmii, fed dicendum etiam quomodo perfici facillimè poffit: hoc adjicio, ut dicturus intueatur, quid,

apud

The best method is to compofe feveral exordiums for the fame text, by turning your imagination divers ways, by taking it in all its different relations, for by fuch means you may choose the most proper. But after all thefe general precepts, which indeed ought to be known, and by which exordiums must be regulated, it is certain, the invention and compofition of an Exordium can only become eafy by practice. (1) A young preacher ought

apud quem, pro quo, contra quem, quo tempore, quo loco, quo rerum ftatu, qua vulgi fama dicendum fit, quid judicem fentire credibile fit antequam incipiamus: tum quid aut defideremus, aut deprecemur, ipfa illum natura eò ducet, ut fciat quid primum dicendum fit." Quint. ut Supra.

(1)Practice makes compofition eafy. The very ingenious author of Elements of criticism fays, "Tafte must be improved by education, reflection, and experience," and adds the following note. "That these particulars are useful, it may be faid neceffary, for acquiring a difcerning tafte in the fine arts, will appear from the following facts, which fhew the influence of experience fingly. Those who live in the world and in good company, are quick fighted with refpect to every defect or irregularity in behaviour: the very flighteft fingularity in motion, in fpeech, or in drefs, which to a peafant would be invifible,

not

escapes not their obfervation. The most minute differences in the human countenance, fo minute as to be far beyond the reach of words, are diftinctly perceived by the plaineft perfon: while, at the fame time, the generality have very little difcernment in the faces of other animals to which they are less accuftomed. Sheep, for example, appear to have all the fame face, except to the shepherd, who knows every individual in his flock, as well as he does his relations and neighbours. The very populace in Athens were critics in language, in pronunciation, and even in eloquence, harangues being their daily entertainment. In Rome at present the moft illiterate fhopkeeper is a better judge of statues, and of pictures, than perfons of the highest education in London. Thefe facts afford convincing evidence, that a difcerning tafte depends still more on experience than on nature." Chap. xxv. on tafte.

not to complain of trouble, nor to be any way negligent in the matter, for he may be fure of fucceeding by attention and application.

CHAP.

[ocr errors]

СНАР. Х.

Of the CONCLUSION. (1)

HE Conclufion ought to be lively and animating, full of great and beautiful figures, aiming to move chriftian affections-as the love of God-hope-zeal-repentance-self-condemnation-a defire of felf-correction-confolation

(1) Conclufion. This in a fermon anfwers to what in an oration is called the peroration. "It recapitulates, or fums up the strongest and chief arguments, and by moving the paffions, endeavours to perfuade the hearers to yield to the force of them," -Arift. Rhet.

The fire of the preacher fhould blaze here, he should collect the ideas of his whole fermon into this part, as rays are collected in the focus of a burning glass, and inflame the hearts of his auditors. The three following general rules feem very proper. "1. Let the peroration, or conclufion, be fhort.-2. Let it

admi

be bold and lively.—3. Let fome one or more striking idea, not mentioned before in the difcuffion, be reserved for this part, and let it be applied with vigour. Bucholtzer ufed to fay, A good preacher was known by his conclufion. He often clofed his fermons defignedly in a curt, terse, abrupt manner.- Here, my brethren! I ftop, and I leave the holy spirit to preach to you.- Now, chriftians! [ have done my part. May the Lord condefcend to do his in your hearts!-I have planted, and watered. May God give the increafe!-I have been preaching to you, and setting before you the gofpel of fal

vation,

« PreviousContinue »