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understanding, and doubt whether they ever prayed in earneft, and with a fenfe of filial awe, to the Father of mankind in their lives.

It will contribute to variety and melody, if the elevation of voice be made on fyllables by the Greek rules of the acute

accent.

Lastly, It is too common a fault to exprefs the interrogation always with an elevation of voice on the laft word; whereas the question itself will often lie in the first word; as thus, "Where is Abel thy brother? How can I do this great wickedness, and fin against God?"

The elevation therefore ought to be on the word, which hath in it the force of the interrogation. These rules of pronunciation are drawn from nature; and the reader in reducing them to practice must ever keep her in view. For as finging is, or at least ought to be, a better and more melodious way of speaking; fo fhould elocution refemble polite converfation, only more fedate and graceful.

It may be supposed, that one, who had been used to pray to God in private with the humility of a child to a parent, and rejoice before him with reverence, would be able to pour out prayers and praises, with fome degree of propriety in public.

The fuppofition is not irrational; however, as the state of mind and feelings may not be exactly alike in both cafes, it is not a just and certain rule to go by.

In order then to defcribe a proper modulation of voice to be obferved, as much as poffible, in reading the public form of prayer, let us firft fee what is not the proper modulation.

It certainly ought not to be very emphatic, boiftrous and loud, nor with various inflexions, as the poetic and oratorical, except in that part of an oration, called the peroratio; neither again fhould it be familiar as the hiftoric, nor preceptorial and didactical like that, for inftance, of pronouncing the decalogue: but it should be with gentle, perfuafive emphasis and moderate inflexions, placid and calm; fomewhat even and continuous, inclining to a

monotony,

monotony, especially upon words in appofition, about the middle part of the voice; nay, a real monotony might be more folemn, expreffive and agreeable than a rambling, fenfelefs variation.

The last ornament is gesture; by which is meant the attitude of body, and the motion or action of the hands and countenance in speaking of which I fhall confine myself to the pulpit.

First then, the attitude of the body ought mostly to be erect; fometimes in a leaning posture over the pulpit, especially in addreffing yourself to the audience, and for the better throwing out of the voice; fometimes alfo inclining on each fide, to fhew as it were, an equal regard to the whole congregation.

There are likewife certain proprieties in the motion of the hands; but as our pulpits will scarcely admit of them, I pass over this action, leaving it to the Stage, the Bar and the Senate.

Secondly, As the countenance, that is, the face and eyes, are the great index of the paffions, by it the fpeaker may, on

many

many occafions, prevail more upon his audience than by language. For a look oftentimes hath in it more force than words, or even blows.

The countenance of a preacher then should in general be open and pleasant, yet grave and ferious: when and how to alter this frame the beft guide to the fpeaker will be his own fenfations of what he is delivering to the audience, and the paffion he would excite in them.

The eyes, in speaking to the audience, fhould be directed to each part of it, with a modest and decent respect; but a little elevated towards heaven, in prayer to God, and at the folemn mention of his name.

So far at least action may be admitted among us, and thought neceffary even to fhew a speaker to be alive: yet how few study to avail themselves even of this !

Some, to whom is left the office of prayer, you will hear read the finest publick form in the world, and the declarations of God in his word, without furnishing themselves with even the requifites of just speaking; and thereby lose their influence, if not fubject themselves to contempt.

1

If Demofthenes and Cicero, with only the arts of speaking, and mere worldly arguments, could rule an audience; how more abfolutely may a preacher prefide with the fame weapons in one hand, and the word of God in the other?

No nation perhaps can boast of more good writers than the English, and of fewer good speakers; which is certainly owing to the omiffion of making elocution a part of our education at school and at the university. We take great pains to give our youth a taste for compofition and writing well, not inferior to the Greeks and Romans; but none for speaking well, though it hath ever been efteemed the finishing qualification in the character of

an orator.

The author, in the preceding obfervations, prefumes not to point out every propriety and beauty of just speaking to the orator, particularly the facred; but only to bring him within fight of the profpect, as it lies between the two extremes of a whining, lifelefs praying, and fleepy preaching, or a theatrical rant.

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