Independently of loudness or lowness of voice, proper emphasis is necessary to fix the attention of your hearers.

Emphasis is as essential to every sentence as accent is to every word. It is merely the distinction which a good reader or speaker naturally makes between the most important and the least important words, whether for the sake of expressing more forcibly the prominent idea, or merely to mark the sense. Observe, however, that each sentence must be pronounced with a reference to the sentences which precede and follow, not considered solely by itself; and it will be seen that words which are the most important in a sentence, when viewed separately, are often not so, when you look at the context. Perhaps the most general use of emphasis is to distinguish primary information from what has been before mentioned or preunderstood. For instance, in the sentence, "Whosoever shall break one of the least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven 1;"-the accent in the last clause must be on "great," that being the only new idea.

Emphasis, again, may be applied to whole sentences and pages of your sermon; that is to say, when you

1 Matt. v. 19.

wish to impress any part more forcibly than the rest, you give it a sententious and emphatic character, by laying a stress on more words than you otherwise would.

Another mode of giving emphasis, is, by variation of the rate of utterance: as, in the words spoken by Nathan to David, you would pronounce "Thou art the man" much more slowly than what preceded or followed. And this, by the way, is very necessary to be attended to in the expression of different emotions of the mind. But I shall not enlarge further on the rules of pronunciation, your own good sense and ear will be sufficient to teach you them.

Generally speaking, it may be laid down as a rule, that if you fail to gain the attention of your congregation, there is something amiss either in the matter or manner of your preaching1. Some preachers have a wonderful power of interesting the minds of their hearers. "Such was the interest with which that good and amiable prelate (Bishop Porteus) was heard, that attention was completely suspended, and the most profound silence prevailed through the different periods, till he arrived at their conclusion, when a general coughing, as if by common consent, or upon an appointed signal, immediately took place 2. I have heard more modern preachers address their congregation with the same effect; but on this subject I shall speak more at large in the following letter.

1 See Christian Observer, vol. v. 278.

2 Ibid. vol. vii. 644.

LETTER XXXI.

EARNESTNESS AND FEELING.

MUCH has been said by writers on elocution' in praise or dispraise of natural manner: let me begin the present letter by a consideration of this point. If by natural manner be meant a familiar colloquial tone, few persons will contend that this is suited to the pulpit. For though it will, doubtless, excite attention, yet it will not call forth that serious attention which the subject of a sermon demands. Those preachers who adopt a manner approaching to colloquial familiarity, would do well to read the expression of their hearers' countenance. They would, I think, detect something more resembling a suppressed smile than serious interest; and it would be evident that

1 See Whately's Rhetoric, part iv. chap. i. sect. 5.

their attention was kept alive, rather by curiosity than by any profitable feeling, or real desire of instruction.

But, perhaps, by natural manner is meant, that manner which a person naturally uses when speaking on solemn and serious subjects'. I am afraid, however, that in most young men, we shall look for this manner in vain. Custom will be found too often to have superseded nature, at the age when a young man is called to the office of a preacher. It is but too true, that the education and habits of the present day are any thing but favourable to the development of holy and devotional feeling. A child will have a good natural manner, unless his spirit be checked by harshness or spoiled by indulgence, but the schoolboy will lose much of the artlessness and sincerity of childhood. The expression of anger, scorn, and pride, will be too often strengthened by practice; or, on the other hand, the uncontrolled exhibition of mirth and good humour, or, of generosity and high spirit, may be developed and become habitual; but the piously serious and devotional feelings will be nipped in the bud, or at least kept back and subdued, by the chilling frost of ridicule. Nor, when he comes to mix with men, will he be likely to improve in these respects. There is so much reserve in the present state of society, with regard to the best and holiest

1 See Whately's Rhetoric.

feelings, that, however well principled and sincere a Christian a young man may be, yet there will be but little scope for the development of that expression of feeling which is most becoming in a Christian preacher.

Since, then, by natural manner is not meant your common colloquial way of speaking, and since you have seldom or never exercised your natural manner of speaking on serious and solemn subjects— because, except in conversation, you have not been accustomed to speak upon them at all-it follows, that by the natural manner so much and so justly recommended by some writers, we must consider that manner in which nature would speak on these particular subjects if she were encouraged; so that it comes to this, that, however paradoxical it may appear, you have this natural manner to acquire. I do not mean that you are to assume or affect that which you do not feel, but you must disembarrass yourself of your habitual reserve on these subjects, and do every thing you can to let nature resume her proper and unfettered course 1.

The first point, then, at which you should aim, will be to unlearn all your faults," prima virtus vitio carere." You must get rid of all ungraceful peculiarities of tone and manner, and avoid affected mannerism. Most men have some peculiar way of

1 Id est maximè naturale quod fieri natura optimè patitur. Quintilian, ix. 4.