CHA P. XVII.

NRITICS inform us, that, in order to determine of what

C be,

kind the Compofition of any work should be, we are to confider the author and his character, the fubject, occafion, and defign, and the perfons to whom his work is addreffed. Such are the rules prescribed by * QUINCTILIAN, for writing Inft. L.11. with propriety; and by such we may safely try the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles.

Claffical elegance and politenefs of Style, we have seen, are utterly inconfiftent with their fubject, and their purpose, unfuited to their readers, and we must add (what is too evident to require a proof) to their own characters and conditions. It is alfo evident, that any studied Rhetorical ornament, any false or artificial eloquence, must have utterly disgraced both the authors and their caufe; as these are indeed the fuccedaneum to confcious perfuafion, the marks of fraud or affectation, and the effects of an attention to matters of much less moment than the general happiness of mankind.

*

C. I.

Plainnefs and ingenuous fimplicity, that language of noble fentiments and unfpotted integrity, we may juftly expect to form the general character of their elocution. We may reafonably look for elevation and greatnefs in the expofition of their fublime doctrines; warmth, tenderness, and earnestness. in their exhortations, and all thofe qualities of native genuine Eloquence which are reverenced and admired, not because adopted by any admired writers or fpeakers, but because they are in themselves venerable, as the indications of exalted manners, and clear and noble conceptions; thofe qualities, I fay, which captivate the heart, and delight the true genius who foars above the minutia of words and particles: that real and fubflantial Eloquence which no particularities of diction can impair, which does not depend on a nice conformity to the rules of any language, but can abide the fevere teft of LoNGINUS, and muft approve itfelf to all nations, tongues, and

ages.

Men of the most exquifite tafte in literature have given honourable teftimony to that SIMPLICITY, by which the Hiftorical parts of the New Teftament are diftinguished. And indeed there is nothing fo pleafing to the human mind, as to contemplate great and glorious objects thro' the medium of a Style unfullied by any falfe and artificial colouring. But in this fimplicity there is, at the fame time, fomething fo lively and affecting, to delightful to the imagination, fo conciliating and endearing, as, I am bold to fay, cannot be equalled in the whole circle of human compofition. Attempts have been fometimes made to imitate it. But thefe only fhew the feeble and ineffectual efforts of human genius, afpiring to an unaffected native dignity of compotition truely inimitable. The Abbé de SAINT REAL was a writer of tafte and elegance; his

language

language is a language of elegance; he lived in an age of refinement; he was eminent as a polished historian; and, in his Life of CHRIST, he hath strictly attended to the natural and fimple manner of the Evangelifts. But how utterly cold and languid, and even mean doth his narrative appear to one converfant in the Gofpels? I fhall detain the reader but with a fingle instance, and this, not the most striking in his work. And it is exhibited, under the fame disadvantage with the original, that of a literal translation. The polite Frenchman relates the miraculous appearance of Angels to the Shepherds, in the following manner.

Shepherds who passed the night by their flocks in the adjacent fields, faw, at the fame time, an angel, who affrighted "them at first, by a light intirely unusual, with which he "furrounded them. But he immediately quieted their fears,

by informing them of the news which was the occafion of "this prodigy. He even told them by what marks they "might know the Saviour that was born to them. And, at "that inftant they heard in the air a concert of many voices "like that of the angel, celebrating the glory of God in the "heavens, and the Peace which he had now given to men upon earth." *

ἐν

The fame particulars are thus related by the Evangelift.

* Des Bergers qui paffoient la nuit auprès de leurs Troupeaux dans les Champs d'alentour, virent en même tems un Ange qui les affraya d'abord par une Lumiere tout extraordinaire dont il les environna; mais il les raffura incontinent, en leur apprenant la Novelle qui étoit l'occafion de ce prodige. Il leur dit même à quelles

marques ils pourroient reconnoitre le Sauveur qui leur étoit né, & ils entendirent auffi-tôt, dans les airs un concert de plufieurs Voix comme de l'Ange, qui celébroient la gloire de Dieu dans les Cieux, et la Paix qu'il venoit de donner aux hommes fur la Terre. La Vie de Jefus-Chrift, p. 28. Tom. 1. Edit. Paris, 1757.

02

"And

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"And there were, in the fame country, fhepherds abiding "in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. "And lo! the Angel of the Lord came upon them; and the Glory of the Lord fhone round about them, and they were fore afraid. And the Angel faid to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall "be to all people. For to you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Chrift the Lord. And this "fhall be a fign to you, ye fhall find the Babe wrapped in fwaddling-cloaths, lying in a manger. And fuddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praifing God, and faying, Glory be to God in the highest, "and on earth peace, good will towards men." St. Luke ii. 8, &c.

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Here, the whole folemn scene is in a manner presented to our view, by the livelinefs and natural grandeur of the defcription. We fee the terror of the shepherds in the very words which defcribe the approach of the Angel [he came upon them,

in avleis.] And the effect of this appearance is expreffed in the original, by one of those instances of phraseology, common both to Greeks and Hebrews, but too bold and forcible for the weakness of modern language to fupport. [epononoan pólov μeyar ]-We are almost witneffes of the awe and reverence with which the divine meffage is received. And then, the fudden appearance of the heavenly choir compleats the grandeur of the fcene, a circumftance omitted by the French writer, who only takes notice that their voices were. heard in the air.

One might proceed in multiplying inftances of lively and beautiful narration in the facred writers. But the Eloquence which is addreffed to the taste and refinement of the Critic, is

fill

ftill of an inferior kind. There is another more valuable and exalted fpecies, as hath been already observed, which is admired, as it indicates exalted moral qualities in the speaker, and from hence derives it's influence. This it is which deter mines the superiority of any one among the renowned speakers and writers of antiquity, not the delicate choice of phrases, lively images, or flowing periods. FENELON pronounces fentence in favour of DEMOSTHENES against the pretenfions of the great Roman. And why? Not from the greater excellence of his language; not from the fuperior accuracy of his ftyle, the brilliancy or propriety of his figures, or fuch like inferior qualifications: but because he hath an enthusiasm of 1 generous paffion which warms the heart of a reader even at this distant period: because he displays an exalted regard to his country; a noble indignation against treachery and corruption; from which we catch the flame at once, and are ready to take arms against an imaginary tyrant and invader; while, in studying the Eloquence of CICERO, we are only delighted and furprized with his confummate addrefs. In the like manner the historical writer will be ftudied with the greatest pleasure, and most extenfive approbation, who difplays the most excellent moral qualities of an Historian in the most ftriking and pleafing light. In this sense, a writer divinely directed or infpired muft indeed be a model of perfect Eloquence. And fuch is that ftrength of character in which this species of perfection is expreffed by all the Evangelifts, that he who runs may read it. The events which they relate, were of all others most susceptible of ornament and amplification. And had they written to one refined and volatile people, had they been to recite their history at the national af

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