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Q. What is a capital property in speaking at the bar?

A. Distinctness; first, in stating the question; and second, in the arrangement of the parts of pleading.

Q. How should a pleader treat the arguments of his adversary?

A. He should never do them injustice, by disguising or placing them in a false light; but state them with accuracy and candour.

Q. What style should be used at the bar? A. The concise, in the narration of facts; and the diffuse, in argumentation.

Q. What place has Wit?

A. None at all.

Q. What attention should a Lawyer pay to honesty and probity?

A. The utmost; and never embark in a cause odious, and manifestly unjust.

ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT.

Q. What is the object of Pulpit Eloquence? A. To persuade men to become good. Q. What, therefore, should every sermon be?

A. A persuasive oration.

Q. Is it not the business of the preacher to instruct, to teach, to reason and argue ?

A. Yes. Persuasion is founded on convic

tion. The heart must be reached through the understanding; but a sermon that does not reach the heart, falls short of its proper end. Q. Is an abstract and philosophical manner of preaching to be condemned?

A. Yes. It deviates widely from the just plan of pulpit eloquence.

Q. What are the chief characteristics of this Eloquence, as distinguished from that of public assemblies and the bar?

A. Gravity and warmth.

Q. What do these two united form?

A. That character of preaching which the French call " ONCTION." They are of the utmost importance both in the composition and delivery of sermons.

Q. What must be the character of the Preacher, that he may be popular and successful?

A. That of a truly pious man.

Q. Against what will fervent piety be an effectual guard?

A. Excessive dulness and all frivolous and ostentatious harangues. It will make dis

courses solid, cogent, and useful.

Q. What should he keep constantly in view ?

A. The great end of his labour.

Q. What subjects should he choose?

A. Those which will be most useful. No man can long be reputed a good preacher who is not an useful one.

Q. What is the first rule to be observed in the conduct of a sermon ?

A. Let unity be preserved. Let there be one main point to which the whole strain of the sermon shall refer.

Q. What is the second?

A. Let the subject be precise and particular.

Q. What the third?

A. Never study to say all that can be said upon a subject.

Q. What the fourth?

A. Let instruction be made interesting to the hearers. A dry sermon can never be a

good one.

Q. What the last?

A. Avoid all particular fashions that chance.

to have the vogue.

Never become a servile

imitator of any preacher. It is disgusting and extinguishes all genius.

Q. What style does the Pulpit require ? A. A lively, animated style; with great perspicuity.

QAgainst what words should a preacher carefully guard?

A. All that are grovelling, unusual, swoln, or high sounding; and all that are merely poetical or philosophical.

Q. Where may he use strong figures or pathetic style?

A. Where the subject leads to them, and where he is impelled by native, unaffected warmth.

Q. May scripture language be employed in sermons ?

A. Yes. It is highly ornamental; gives authority to doctrine; and renders the discourse more solemn and venerable.

Q. Which is preferable, extemporary preaching, or that which is precomposed?

A. The former, if it could be depended upon; but it cannot, by the readiest genius. He who writes with care, will think and speak most fully, correctly, and usefully upon religious subjects.

Q. Which is preferable, the practice of reading or speaking sermons?

A. Speaking. No persuasive discourse can have the same effect when read, as when spoken.

Q. What is the difference between French and English sermons ?

A. A French sermon is a warm, animated exhortation; an English, a piece of cool, instructive reasoning.

Q. Who are the most distinguished of the French preachers?

A. Saurin among the Protestants, and Bourdaloue and Massillon among the Roman Catholics.*

* The finest encomium, perhaps, ever bestowed on a preacher, was given by Louis XIV. to the eloquent Bishop of Clermont, Father Massillon. After hearing him preach at Versailles, he said to him, "Father, I have heard many great orators in this chapel; I have been highly pleased with them; but for you, whenever

Who, of the English?

A. Tillotson, Barrow, Clarke, Atterbury. Q. What was the character of English sermons in the time of Cromwell?

A. They abounded with scholastic, casuistical theology; but had very warm addresses to the conscience in the close.

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Q. What form did preaching assume after the restoration of Charles II. ?

A. One more correct and polished; but less impressive.

Q. What is the character of Clarke's ser mons?

A. They abound in good sense and clear reasoning; but seldom touch the heart. Q. What of Tillotson's?

A. They are more free and warm, and are among the best models for preaching. Q. What do we admire in Barrow ?

A. The richness of his invention, and the uncommon strength and force of his concep tions.

Q. What peculiar advantages attend the Eloquence of the Pulpit?

A. Its subjects are infinitely important, and can be brought home to every man's heart; they admit of the highest embellishment in description, and warmth in enforcing. The preacher has leisure to prepare ; speaks to

I hear you, I go away displeased with myself; for I see more of my own character."

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