Mercy in the Streets. And they tell us, That preaching once before the Pope upon the Subject of Residence, he ftruck fuch a Terror into his Hearers with the Heat and Vehemence of his Difcourfe, that no less than thirty Bifhops posted the next Day to their feveral Dioceffes. Thefe mighty Effects do for the most part refult from an extraordinary Gift of Elocution, to which an Orator is often indebted for the Wonders he performs, especially on popular Auditories. For the Soul of the common People feems too ftrait and narrow, to be wrought upon by any Part of Elo- si ineft quence, but that which is fenfible, that is, by in oratione a warm and pathetical Addrefs. And yet this mixta moWay of addreffing, because it requires fuch deftiæ gra Pains and Application as few are capable of, hil admi is but little ftudied by any, and by moft is rabilius wholly neglected. Befides, there are few of fieri poteft. our Preachers that preserve any kind of Gra Cic. Of. vity or Dignity in fpeaking; fo that when they attempt to exprefs any Affection, 'tis very often furious, and almost always inde

cent.

XIX.

The pathetical Genius is of all the most excellent for the Pulpit, because it touches and ftirs every Spring of the Soul; it has fuch Figures and fuch Movements, as captivate the Heart without glittering upon the Eye, being wholly unconcern'd as to the outward Pomp and Luftre. Those who are fitted by Nature for the pathetick Style, and are able to practife it with Succefs, ought to relinquish all the other Gifts of Eloquence for their Improvement and abfolute Perfection of this alone.

vitas, ni

1. 2,

But then 'tis impoffible to fupport this Character without a folid Judgment, a large Capacity, and a compleat Knowledge of Human Nature and Manners. Otherwife it is apt to fall into vain and childish Exceffes, deftitute of all Truth and Senfe, and at length to degenerate unto extravagant Fury, and ridiculous Declamations, fuch as Longinus calls a Transport miftim'd and misunderstood. As a pathetical Speaker is the most unfit for Panegyrick, fo the ableft Panegyrift may be at a lofs in moving the Affections; these are quite different Talents; and 'tis the Remark of the fame Critick, that thofe who want Strength and Vigour for the pathetick Style, confine themselves to the painting of the Manners, Neque in which is a much inferiour Attainment. But parvis re- after all, he that will be too pathetical is in the bus adbi fure way of making himself ridiculous; efpebendafunt cially upon Subjects that won't bear him out; ces. Cic. it being the Folly of Children to make a ftir deOrat.. about Trifles.

dicendi fa

XX.

It is but too true, that thofe who defign for the Church do not allow themselves fufficient time for the Exercife of Pronunciation. Their Thoughts are bent upon quite other Things; they ftudy the Fathers, they study Rhetorick, they study the Language, but they don't study this Art of Action, which alone can have Power to quicken and animate what they fay, and to give it fuch an Agreeableness as is neceffary to engage the attention of an Audience. The neglect of this Part only, is enough to render all the others ineffectual. Not but that there are Extremes to be avoid

cd

ed in this, as well as in other Matters. For thofe Preachers who would be all Paffion, and who think themselves deficient if they don't Thunder in their Preface, spoil All by giving the Reins to their own exorbitant Fancy. It would be well if fuch Men were convinced, that by endeavouring always to move, they put themselves out of the Capacity of moving when they ought. There was, fome time fince, a Preacher of this Humour in Paris, tho' much follow'd and applauded. He had indeed an excellent Talent, and fuch Strokes in his Difcourfe as must be own'd to be very affecting; his Expreffion was ftrong; his whole Air forcible and vehement: And yet he loft all these Advantages by his too great Defire of moving, and by being very often noify out of Seafon. Thus his Delivery became too impe- Geftabetuous, his Gesture too particular, and his Vi- rit à Siefage too fcenical. In a word, his Manner was nico, nec fo utterly vitiated by his ftrain'd Grimace, and manu, nec his violent Agitations of Body, that Women excurfiowith Child were forbid to be of his Audience, nibus nibecause the Motions he us'd, were fo many mius. frightful Distortions and Convulfions. Thefe Quint.l.1. Transports of Zeal are, with the greatest Care, to be avoided, as being always blameable when they are exceffive. A Preacher ought to lay down this for a certain Rule, that he can never affect the Minds of his Hearers, if he betrays too much Defign of affecting them; that a Paffion of too long Continuance, is always falfe; and that Zeal becomes fufpicious when it grows too hot, or when it appears too forward in its Discovery.

vultu, nec

XXI.

Some again, are only fond of pleafing, without taking any care to move: Which is another dangerous Extreme. For the Temple must not be like the Theatre, whither the Company reforts only to be diverted. The chief Aim of a Preacher fhould be to fpeak Things that are useful. But as he cannot come at this otherwife, than by the Way of Pleasure, fo he should not ftudy to please his Audience, otherwife than by moving and exciting them: For he that goes to Church with the Disposition that he ought, goes to be really influenced, and to be the better for what he hears. I know, there's a certain Vein of Fineness and good Senfe, in the prefent Age, that cannot be without Effect. But commonly, Men are fo over-felicitous of appearing agreeable, as to lofe the real Fruits of Things, while they feek nothing but the Flowers. Dedit boc For that which pleafes, naturally opens and providen- dilates the Heart; which muft recover and contract it felf, 'ere it can be profited: And nus, ut bo- therefore we deprive our felves of what is fonefta ma- lid, if we are too much enamour'd of what gis juva- is fpecious and glittering. 'Tis certainly owrent: fed ing to this Humour, that we have fome, who nos ipfa had much rather fhew themfelves witty than make their Audience wife, and who stick not to introduce any fuch novel Tafte into theChurch, Quint.l.1. as happens to be fashionable in the Age. Of this Character were certain Preachers, not long fince in Vogue: They drefs'd for the Pulpit, and put themfelves into an Equipage to meet the Company of the Town, whom they entertain'd with a Piece of moral Gallantry,

nibus mu

dulcedo

longiùs ducit.

Y

deliver'd with the Air of an Amour. Al that can be brought home from fuch loofe Ef fays, is a lightnefs of Thought, and diffipation of Spirit, the most oppofite Thing in the World to true Devotion. What a Miffortune is it to thefe fparkish Preachers, that the Gospel, and the Apostles, were never thus in the Mode? How fhamefully Indecent must it be to preach the fevere and concerning Truths of Religion, the meeknefs and lownefs of Christianity, and the Scandal of the Crofs, with a gay Mien and a brillant Style: and by mixing these feeble Ornaments with the Myfteries of our Faith, to debafe their Greatnefs and Majefty? This is the common Fault of those who preach to Men of Quality and Honour. They amufe, or compliment, thofe whom they ought to Terrify by convincing them, that their State is directly oppofite to Salvation, and that there is not the leaft Footstep of the Gospel in the ordinary Life of a Courtier. Great Compaffion ought indeed to be exprefs'd towards thofe unwary Perfons, who have drawn in the Poyfon of an infected Air; but this should excite a Preacher with the more Plainnefs and Freedom to tell them the Truth. For we learn from past History, that the Court will be Chriftian, when Christianity is preach'd at Court; and that true Holiness may have admiffion into the Prefence, if it comes by the Chappel.

XXII.

For the fame Reason, we must conclude that Piety is an effential Qualification of a Preacher. 'Tis this that he ought to make the daily Food of his Soul, to keep up that vital

Heat