On the Choice of Thoughts
§ 1. Let them be solid — sach as will stand the test of a severe judgment; — for such they
passim. And as an admirable specimen Smithes Longinus.
Our author has manifested a decided partiality for Archbishop Tillotson as a writer of Sermons, and it is well known that he studied him, especially in his younger years, with great pleasure. It is not therefore improbable that the defects of this favourite writer, in point of energetic harmony, had an unpleasant influence on some parts of our excellent author’s writings; defects and an influence which have extended themselves even so far as to aflect, in gome degree, the national taste. It is presumed, therefore, that the following remarks on harmony of style in general, and the cnaracter of Tillotson in this respect more particularly, will form a very suitable appendix to this Lecture.
ON HARHOSr OF STYLE.
Among the principal defects of our English Orators, their general disregard of harmony has, I think, been the least observed. It would be injustice indeed to deny that we have some performances of this kind amongst us, tolerably musical; but it must be acknowledged at the same time, that it is morp the effect of accident than design, and rather a proof of the power of our language than of the art of our orators.
Dr. THUotsofij who is frequently mentioned as having carried this species of eloquence to its highest perfection, seems to have had no sort of notion of rhetorical numbers: and I may venture, Orontes, to add, without haasarding the imputation of an ajSTected singularity, that I think no man had ever less pretensions to senuine oratory, than this celebrated preacher. If any thing could raite aflame of elo-LeCt. 8.] TKE CHOICE OF THOUGHTS. 53
most expect; — and unless they will bear this, bowe?er you may adorn them, they will be
quence in the breast of an orator, there is no ocef sion upon which, one should imagine, it would be’ more Irkely to break out, than in celebrating departed merit; yet the two Sermons which he preached upon the death of Mr. Govgt and Dr. WhichcotCy arer as-cold and languid performances as were ever, perhaps, produced upon such an animating subject. — One cannot indeed but regret, that he, who aboundswith such noble and generous sentiments, should want the art of setting them off with all the advantage they deserve; that the sublime in morals should not be attended with a suitable elevation of language. The truth, however, is, his words are frequently ill chosen, and almost always ill placed: his period? ore both tedious and unharmonious *, as his metaphors are generally mean, and often ridiculous. It were easy to produce numberless instances in support of this assertion. Thus in his Sermon preached before Queen Anne, when srhe was Princess of Denmark, he talks of sqyeezing a parable, thrusting religion by driving a strict bargain with God, shark’^ ing shifts f &c. and speaking of the day of judgment, he describes the world as cracking about our ears. I cannot however but acknowledge, in justice to the oratorical character of this most valuable prelate, that there is a noble simplicity in some fewofhi» Sermons; and his excellent discourse on sincerity deserves to be mentioned with particular applause.
But to shew his deficiency in the article I am conjiidering at present, the following stricture will be auffifsient, among many others that might be cited to the same purpose. * One might be apt,’ says be, * t9 think at first view, that this parable was overdonCf and wanted something of a due decorum; it bein hardly credible, that a man, after he had been so mercifully and generously dealt toitkalf as upon bis humble request to have so huge a debt so freely forgiven, should, whilst the memory of so much mercy was (reph upon hiin.7 ovea in the. very next moment, handespised, — like “a fair woman without discretion,” — or, like the colouring of a picture where proportion is not observed.
die his fellow-servant, who had made the same humble request to him which he had done to his Lord, with so much roughness and cruelty, for so inconsiderable a sum/
This whole period, (not to mention other objections which might justly be raised against it) is Unmusical throughout,but the concluding members, which ought to have been particularly flowing, are most miserably loose and disjointed. If the delicacy of Tally’s «ar was so exquisitely refined, as not always to be satisfied even when he read Demosthenes? how would it have been offended at the harshness and dissonance of so unharmonious a sentence.
Nothing, perhaps, throws our eloquence at a greats er distance from that of the ancients, than this 6o« thic arrangement; as those wonderful eflects, which sometimes attend their elocution, were in ail probability, chiefly owing to their skill in musical concords.. It was by the charm of numbers, united with the strength of reason, that TuUy confounded the audacious CatilinCy and silenced the eloquent Jfortentiu9. It was this that deprived Curio of all power of recollection, when he rose up to oppose that great master of enchanting rhetoric: it was this, in a word, made even Cctswr himself tremble; nay, what is yet more extraordinary, made Ccear alter his determined purpose, and acquit the man he had resolved to condemn.
You will not suspect that I attribute too much to the power of numerous composition, when you recollect the instance which TuUy produces of its wonderful effect. He informs us, you may remember, in one of his rhetorical treatises, that he was himself a witness of its influence, as Carbo was once haranguing to the people. When that orator pronounced tho following sentence, Patris dictum sapienSf temeritas jilii comprohamt — it was astonishing, ftays he, to observe the general applause which foTr
LeCt 8.] THfi CtfOICB OF THOUGHTS. 55
2. Useful — Aemembet il is jour great business to edify,- not to amuse. — Oflen ask
lowed that harmoniouB close. A modern ear, perhaps, would not be much affected upon this occaeion; and, indeed, it is more than prol)abIe, that we are Ignorant of the art uf pronouncing that period with lie genuine emphasis and cadence. We are certain however, that the music of it consisted in the Dicho’ ree with which it is terminated: for Cicero himselc assures as, that if the finalvmeasure had (leea chan- «d, and the words placed in a different order, tkeir whole effect would hare been absolutely destroyed. This art was first introduced among the Greeks by ThrasyinackuK, thou-gh some of the admirers of isoe-Ttttts attributed the invention’ to that orator, it doee ’ not appear to have been observed by the Romans tiil ear the limes of TtUly and e.Ten then it was by no jueans universally received. The ancient and leps nttmerous manner of com/>«^sition, had still many admirers who were such enthusiasts to antiquity as to adopt her very defects. A disposition of thesarae kind luav, perhaps, prevent its being received with us; and while the Archbishop shall maintain his authority as an orator, it is not- to be expected that any great advancement will be made in this species of eloquence. That strength of understanding likewiee, and solidity of reason, which is so eminently our national characteristic, may add somewhat to the difficalty of reconciling us to a study of this kind; as at 6r8t glance it may seem to lead an orator from his grand and principal aim, and tempt him to make a sacrifice of sense to sound. It must be acknowledged, indeed, that in the times which succeeded the dissolution of the Roman republic, this art was so perverted from its true end as to become the single study f their enervated orators. Pliny the younger o• ten complains of this contemptible affectation; and the polite author of that elegant dialogue which, with very little probability, is attributed either to TtteUus or ^tdnetUian assures hs it was the ridiculoas boast of -certain orators in the time of the daelenyourselves, Will this thought be likely to do good?’ — If not Jay it aside. — Aa ingenious man, by attentive thought, may find oipt a set of just and rational, yet trifling and useless speculation.- — RirrLEA^s Sermons furnish ixs with some examples of this kind.
§ 3. JRroper to the subject. — Never indulge yourselves in loose digressions; — but keep u|^ a certain and easy connection. — The misery of sinners, — the nature of faith, — justificatioir by the righteousness of Christ &ic. — are brought in by many on every subject; — avoid this. — Nothing is more disagreeable in preaching than “semper €adetn”
4. Let them be such as naturally flow from the subject. — For this purpose dwell much on your subject in previous meditation. — Talk it over: — view it in its various rela-
»ion of genuine eloquence, that their harangues were capable of being set to music, and sung un tho Btafire. Bat it must be Femembered, that the true end of this art 1 am- recommending,, is to aid, not to supersede reason; .that it is so far from being neces sarily effeminate, that it not only adds grace but strength to the powers of persuasion. For this purpose TuUy and Qmnctiliany those great masters of numeBous composition, have laid it down as a fixed and invariable ruley that it must never appear ths effect of labour in the orator, that the tuneful ffow of his periods must always”* seem the casual resalt of their disposition; ^ndi that it is the highest offdnce against the art, to weaken the expression, in order to give a more musical tone to the cadence. In short, that no unmeaning words are to be thrown in merely to fill up the requisite measure, but that they must still rise in sense as they improve in soand«* MUnuUhs FtUosbonH^s Letters, No. 3(iv.
tions;^^and in composition keep rt stilf in mind. - — This will secure a happy diversity; — and the same leading thoughts will have distinguishing and agreeable peculiarities; — and the whole subject will appear one.
§ 5.- Let some, if possible, in every discourse be new, — These are generally to be gained by remarks* on scripture; — observing the workings of your own hearts ;-> and the general manners of men, in their diversified situations., — Reflect in reading what useful and agreeable thoughts the author you peruse has not inserted; — or how what he has said may be improved by any new thoughts which may arise in your own minds. — “Lateritiaminveni, marmoream reliqui.”
§6. Let them bepo;iM/flr; — that is, suited to the people in general; — and for this purpose attend to the reflections made by common people of plain sense on your own discourses, or those of your brethren. — Consider also the circumstances of your audience in particular; — and do not forget the cases of individual persons, — for thoughts which suit one you do know, often suit twenty whom you do not know. — When your Sermons are composed, as your first are, for various auditories, consider what is common to all.
7. Let them be select, — Do not attempt to exhaust yourselves on every head. — Take the most material things. — Often, in opening your discourse, or a single argument, content yourselves with hinting or passing lightly over what is most common, and expatiate raore largely on what is peculiarly your own; — or on some other account particularly use« ful for present consideration.