Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

and a countenance distorted with cruelty, he orders the helpless victim of his rage to be stripped and rods to be brought; accusing him, but without the least shadow of evidence, or even of suspicion, of having come to Sicily as a spy. It was in vain, that the unhappy man cried out, "I am a Roman citizen, I have served under Lucius Pretus, who is now at Panormus, and will attest my innocence.' That blood-thirsty prætor, deaf to all he could urge in his own defence, ordered the infamous punishment to be inflicted. Thus, fathers, was an innocent Roman citizen publicly mangled with scourging; while the only words he uttered amidst his cruel sufferings, were, "I am a Roman citizen." With these he hoped to defend himself from violence and infamy. But of so little service was this privilege to him, that while he was thus asserting his citizenship, the order was given for his execution-for his execution upon the cross!

O liberty!--O sound once delightful to every Roman ear! O sacred privilege of Roman citizenship! Once sacred! now trampled upon !-But what then ! Is it come to this? Shall an inferior magistrate, a governor, who holds his whole power of the Roman people, in a Roman province, within sight of Italy, bind, scourge, torture with fire and red hot plates of iron, and at last put to the infamous death of the cross, a Roman citizen? Shall neither the cries of innocence expiring in agony, nor the tears of pitying spectators, nor the majesty of the Roman commonwealth, nor the fear of the justice of his country, restrain the licentious and wanton cruelty of a monster, who, in confidence of his riches, strikes at the root of liberty, and sets mankind at defiance ?

I conclude with expressing my hopes, that your wisdom and justice, fathers, will not, by suffering the atrocious and unexampled insolence of Caius Verres to escape the due punishment, leave room to apprehend the danger of a total subversion of authority, and introduction of general anarchy and confusion.

Chapter III.

ELOQUENCE OF THE PULPIT.

Section I.

REMARKS ON PULPIT ELOQUENCE.

Eloquence is the art of speaking with propriety, elegance, and effect. To enlighten the understanding, please the imagination, move the passions, and influence the will, are the important ends it proposes to accomplish. The darkness which envelopes the human understanding, must be dispelled by a clear exhibition of truth.-A combination of noble images presented to the mind, in the rich or agreeable colouring of a finely finished picture, tends to swell the imagination with vast conceptions, and transport the soul with sublime ideas.-The creative faculty, from her exuberant stores, produces those expressive figures, and exhibits those vivid features, which, when associated with objects of desire or aversion, love or hatred, pity or contempt, awaken the liveliest sensibility and precipitate the passive assembly, into all the perturbation of passion.-Would the orator not only agitate the soul, and inspire generous feeling, but produce volition, and propel to action, he must employ an artful mixture of the truths which convince, and the imagery which interests; he must incorporate argumentation with pathos, and the efforts of reason with the ebullitions of passion, before he can force his way to the heart, and wield at will its active powers.

The eloquence of the pulpit possesses advantages peculiar to itself. The dignity and importance of its subjects tend to solemnize Christian assemblies, and ought to interest every heart. The preacher has liberty and leisure to chuse his theme, and appears in public with all the advantages of mature preparation. The largeness and solemnity of his audience inspire animation, and powerfully prompt to exertion. His style may be embellished with the highest ornaments, and his delivery adorned with all the variegated graces of action.

Candidates for the sacred ministry should possess good natural talents: a clear understanding, to discriminate truth from error; a lively imagination, to open extensive fields of thought, and exhibit interesting objects in the most advantageous points of view; a retentive memory, to which he may commit the different sets of ideas, and the various parts of knowledge he collects in the course of his study, and may have occasion to use in the discharge of his duty; and an original gift of utterance, to fit him for speaking with freedom and fluency, on any subject which he thoroughly understands. Without a considerable share of such inestimable talents, I may venture to affirm, all the learning and industry in the world will be unable to render him an eloquent preacher.

Besides the possession of these natural and necessary qualities, much remains to be acquired by study and observation: An extensive knowledge of natural and revealed religion; of the theory and practice of moral, relative, and religious duties; of the doctrines of grace, the practice of piety, and pure experimental godliness: A comprehensive knowledge of the scriptures in their connection, dependence, and leading design; of the meaning and application of particular passages; of the principal idea contained in every text he undertakes to illustrate, and of the best method of dividing, explaining and impressing the instructions deduced from it, on the hearts of his hearers; An intimate acquaintance with the opinions, pas

sions, and propensities of mankind; the various scenes and circumstances through which they pass, the motives by which they are most easily actuated, and the avenues which lead most directly to the heart; with the characters, sentiments and humours, which prevail among the people he is destined to address.

The preacher, must be acquainted with books as well as with men. The clearest commentaries on scripture, and the most judicious systems of divinity should hold the highest rank in his estimation; but such as possess sublime moral sentiments, unfold the obligations, characters, and connection of men, explain the principal sciences with elegance and accuraey, inspire the brightest train of thought, enrich the soul with exalted perceptions, improve the taste for composition, give a compass and purity of expression, and afford materials for forming a style, in which simplicity and grandeur, elegance and chastity, animation and ease, copiousness and perspicuity, harmoniously unite ;-are also entitled to a frequent and attentive perusal. Every book of real merit, indeed. may contribute to assist him in his official capacity, but such as contain the best precepts and specimens of eloquence which either ancient or modern times have produced, should be selected with judgement, studied with diligence, digested by mature reflection, and rendered subservient to the great end of the gospel ministry. It must always be recollected, however, that the most extensive reading will be of little advantage to the Christian clergyman, unless it be accompanied by the reiterated practice of careful composition. It is this which converts the materials of reading to the nourishment of thought, which establishes a habit of arrangement, of viewing objects with accuracy and distinction, and of expressing sentiments with variety, fulness, and freedom.

The gospel preacher must retain an unremitting regard to the great ends of his office; which are, to honour his divine Master, by a faithful exhibition of revealed truths, and an ample declaration of his coun

sels to men; to promote the best interests of his fellow creatures, by conscientiously explaining the doctrines, and enforcing the duties of religion, by endeavouring to confirm their faith, increase their comfort, and influence their practice; to adapt his discourses to the nature of the times, and the capacities of his hearers ;-by trying to stop the progress of prevailing vices, directing to the proper uses of national calamities, and exciting to the grateful acknowledgment of public mercies; by avoiding unedifying conjectures about points confessedly obscure, matters of mere speculation, and the peculiarities of party opinion, which tend to foster a disputatious temper, and to "minister questions rather than godly edifying ;"-by guarding against those minute criticisms, abstracted reasonings and learned investigations, which are not level to the comprehension of a common audience, and turning his thoughts into such a shape, as shall bid fairest for drawing the attention, enlightening the minds, and affecting the hearts of his hearers ;-by confining himself in every discourse to a single leading truth, character, virtue, or vice, which, when properly explained, placed in interesting views, and enforced by suitable motives, can scarcely fail to penetrate and possess the heart.

« AnteriorContinuar »