Page images
PDF
EPUB

4. In order to be as concise as the subject will admit, it is necessary to throw out all superfluous circumstances; the ejection of which will likewise tend to make our narration more forcible and more clear.

Obs. In sermons, where there is seldom any occasion for narration, explication of the subject to be discoursed on comes in the place of narration at the bar, and is to be taken up much on the same tone: that is, it must be concise, clear, and distinct; and in a style correct and elegant, rather than highly adorned. To explain the doctrine of the text with propriety; to give a full and perspicuous account of the nature of that virtue or duty which forms the subject of the discourse, is properly the didactic part of preaching; on the right execution of which much depends for all that comes afterwards in the way of per

suasion.

499. Of the argumentative or reasoning part of a discourse. In whatever place, or on whatever subject, one speaks, this, beyond doubt, is of the greatest consequence. For the great end for which men speak on any serious occasion, is to convince their hearers of something being either true, or right, or good; and, by means of this conviction, to influence their practice. Reason and argument make the foundation of all manly and persuasive eloquence.

500. Now, with respect to arguments, three things are requisite.

First, the invention of them ;

Secondly, the proper disposition and arrangement of them; And, thirdly, the expression of them in such a style and manner, as to give them their full force.

501. The first of these, invention, is, without doubt, the most material, and the ground-work of the rest.

Obs. 1. But, with respect to this, it is beyond the power of art to give any real assistance. Art cannot go so far, as to supply a speaker with arguments on every cause, and every subject; though it may be of considerable use in assisting him to arrange and express those, which his knowledge of the subject has discovered. For it is one thing to discover the reasons that are most proper to convince men, and another, to manage these reasons with the most advantage. The latter is all that to which rhetoric can pretend.

2. The assistance that can be given, not with respect to the invention, but with respect to the disposition and conduct of arguments, may be reduced to the following methods.

502. Two different methods may be used by orators in the conduct of their reasoning. The terms of art for these methods are, the analytic, and the synthetic method.

Illus. The analytic is that in which the orator conceals his intention concerning the point he is to prove, till he has gradually brought his hearers to the designed conclusion. They are led on step by step, from one known truth to another, till the conclusion be stolen upon them, as the natural consequence of a chain of propositions.

Example. When one, intending to prove the being of a God, sets ou

with observing that every thing which we see in the world has had a beginning; that whatever has had a beginning must have had a prior cause; that in human productions, art, shewn in the effect, necessarily infers design in the cause; and proceeds, leading you on from one cause to another, till you arrive at one supreme first cause, from whom are derived all the order and design visible in his works.

Obs. This is much the same with the Socratic method, by which that philosopher silenced the Sophists of his age. It is a very artful method of reasoning; may be carried on with much beauty, and is proper to be used when the hearers are much prejudiced against any truth, and by imperceptible steps must be led to conviction. But there are few subjects that will admit this method, and not many occasions on which it is proper to be employed.

503. The mode of reasoning most generally used, and most suited to the train of popular speaking, is what is called the synthetic; when the point to be proved is fairly laid down, and one argument after another is made to bear upon it, till the hearers be fully convinced.

Illus. Now, in all arguing, one of the first things to be attended to, is, among the various arguments which may occur upon a cause, to make a proper selection of such as appear to one's self the most solid; and to employ these as the chief means of persuasion. Every speaker should place himself in the situation of a hearer, and think how he would be affected by those reasons, which he purposes to employ for persuading others. For he must not expect to impose on mankind by mere arts of speech. They are not so easily imposed on, as public speakers are sometimes apt to think. Shrewdness and sagacity are found among all ranks; and the speaker may be praised for his fine discourse, while the hearers are not yet persuaded of the truth of any one thing he has uttered.

504. Supposing the arguments properly chosen, it is evident that their effect will, in some measure, depend on the right arrangement of them; so as they shall not justle and embarrass one another, but give mutual aid; and bear with the fairest and fullest direction on the point in view. Concerning this, the following rules may be taken :

505. In the first place, avoid blending arguments confusedly together, that are of a separate nature. All arguments whatever are directed to prove one or other of these three things: first, that something is true; secondly, that it is morally right or fit; or, thirdly, that it is profitable and good.

506. These make the three great subjects of discussion among mankind; truth, duty, and interest. But the arguments directed towards any one of them are generally distinct; and he who blends them all under one topic, which he calls his argument, as, in sermons especially, is too often done, will render his reasoning indistinct and inelegant.

Illus. Suppose, for instance, that you are recommending to an audience benevolence, or the love of our neighbour; and that you take your first argument from the inward satisfaction which a benevolent temper affords; your second, from the obligation which the example of Christ lays upon you to this duty; and your third, from its tendency to procure us the good-will of all around us; your arguments are good, but you have arranged them wrong: for your first and third arguments are taken from considerations of interest, internal peace, and external advantages; and between these, you have introduced one, which rests wholly upon duty. You should have kept those classes of arguments, which are addressed to different principles in human nature, separate and distinct.

507. In the second place, with regard to the different degrees of strength in arguments, the general rule is, to advance in the way of climax, "ut augeatur semper, et increscat oratio."

Obs. 1. This especially is to be the course, when the speaker has a clear cause, and is confident that he can prove it fully. He may then adventure to begin with feebler arguments; rising gradually, and not putting forth his whole strength till the last, when he can trust to his making a successful impression on the minds of his hearers, prepared by what has gone before.

2. But this rule is not to be always followed. For, if he distrust his cause, and has but one material argument on which to lay the stress, putting less confidence in the rest, in this case, it is often proper for him to place this material argument in the front; to pre-occupy the hearers early, and make the strongest effort at first; that, having removed prejudices, and disposed his hearers to be favourable, the rest of his reasoning may be listened to with more candour. When it happens, that amidst a variety of arguments, there are some which we are sensible are more inconclusive than the rest, and yet proper to be used, Cicero advises to place these in the middle, as a station less conspicuous than either the beginning, or the end, of the train of reasoning. 508. In the third place, when our arguments are strong and satisfactory, the more they are distinguished and treated apart from each other, the better. Each can then bear to be brought out by itself, placed in its full light, amplified and rested upon. But when our arguments are doubtful, and only of the presumptive kind, it is safer to throw them together in a crowd, and to run them into one another; that, though infirm of themselves, they may serve mutually to prop each other.

509. In the fourth place, we must observe not to extend arguments too far, and multiply them too much. If we do, we rather render our cause suspected, than give it weight. An unnecessary multiplicity of arguments both burdens the memory, and detracts from the weight of that conviction which a few well-chosen arguments carry.

Obs. It is to be observed, too, that in the amplification of arguments,

a diffuse and spreading method, beyond the bounds of reasonable illustration, is always enfeebling. It takes off greatly from that strength and sharpness which should be the distinguishing character of the argumentative part of a discourse. When a speaker dwells long on a favourite argument, and seeks to turn it into every possible light, it almost always happens, that, fatigued with the effort, he loses the spirit with which he set out, and concludes with feebleness what he began with force. There is a proper temperance in reasoning, as there is in other parts of a discourse.

510. After due attention given to the proper arrangement of arguments, what is next requisite for their success, is, to express them in such a style, and to deliver them in such a manner, as shall give them full force.

511. We now proceed to another essential part of discourse, which was mentioned as the fifth in order, that is, the PATHETIC; in which, if any where, eloquence reigns, and exerts its power.

512. On the head of the pathetic, the following directions may be found useful.

513. The first is to consider carefully, whether the subject admit the pathetic, and render it proper; and if it does, what part of the discourse is the most proper for attempting it.

Obs. 1. To determine these points belongs to good sense; for it is evident, that there are many subjects which admit not the pathetic at all, and that even in those that are susceptible of it, an attempt to excite the passions in the wrong place, may expose an orator to ridicule. All that can be said in general is, that if we expect any emotion which we raise to have a lasting effect, we must be careful to bring over to our side, in the first place, the understanding and judgment.

2. The hearers must be convinced that there are good and sufficient grounds for their entering with warmth into the cause. They must be able to justify to themselves the passion which they feel; and remain satisfied that they are not carried away by mere delusion.

3. Unless their minds be brought into this state, although they may have been heated by the orator's discourse, yet, as soon as he ceases to speak, they will resume their ordinary tone of thought; and the emotion which he has raised will produce no effect.

4. Hence most writers assign the pathetic to the peroration or conclusion, as its natural place; and, no doubt, all other things being equal, this is the impression that one would choose to make last, leav ing the minds of the hearers warmed with the subject, after argument and reasoning had produced their full effect: but wherever it is introduced, observe,

514. In the second place, never to set apart a head of a discourse in form, for raising any passion; never give warning that you are about to be pathetic; and call upon your hearers, as is sometimes done, to follow you in the attempt. This almost never fails to prove a refrigerant to passion. It

puts the hearers immediately on their guard, and disposes them for criticising, much more than for being moved.

Obs. The indirect method of making an impression is likely to be more successful, when you seize the critical moment that is favourable to emotion, in whatever part of the discourse it occurs, and then, after due preparation, throw in such circumstances, and present such glowing images, as may kindle their passions before they are aware. This can often be done more happily, in a few sentences inspired by natural warmth, than in a long and studied address.

515. In the third place, it is necessary to observe, that there is a great difference between shewing the hearers that they ought to be moved, and actually moving them.

Illus. To every emotion or passion, nature has adapted a set of corresponding objects; and, without setting these before the mind, it is not in the power of any orator to raise that emotion. 1 am warmed with gratitude, I am touched with compassion, not when a speaker shews me that these are noble dispositions, and that it is my duty to feel them; or when he exclaims against me for my indifference and coldness. All this time, he is speaking only to my reason or conscience. He must describe the kindness and tenderness of my friend; he must set before me the distress suffered by the person for whom he would interest me: then, and not till then, my heart begins to be touched, my gratitude or my compassion begins to flow.

Scholium. The foundation, therefore, of all successive execution in the way of pathetic oratory is, to paint the object of that passion which we wish to raise, in the most natural and striking manner; to describe this object with such circumstances as are likely to awaken in the minds of others the passion which we wish to raise. Every passion is most strongly excited by sensation; as anger by the feeling of an injury, or the presence of the injurer. Next to the influence of sense, is that of memory; and next to memory, is the influence of the imagination. Of this power, therefore, the orator must avail himself, so as to strike the imagination of the hearers with circumstances which, in lustre and steadiness, resemble those of sensation and remembrance. In order to accomplish this,

516. In the fourth place, the only effectual method is, to be moved yourselves. There are a thousand interesting circumstances suggested by real passion, which no art can imitate, and no refinement can supply. There is obviously a contagion among the passions.

Obs. The internal emotion of the speaker adds a pathos to his words, his looks, his gestures, and his whole manner, which exerts a power almost irresistible over those who hear him. But on this point, though the most material of all, we shall not insist, as all attempts towards becoming pathetic, when we are not moved ourselves, expose us to certain ridicule.

517. In the fifth place, it is necessary to attend to the proper language of the passions. We should observe in what manner any one expresses himself who is under the

« PreviousContinue »