of Speaking, in order to display his vanity in the dexterous ufe of deceit. On the other hand, the Chriftian Philofopher cultivates the art of Speaking, for the fole purpose of diffeminating the Truth, in his office of Preacher of the Gofpel. That fpecies of eloquence, therefore, which is only fitted for his ufe, is beft described by an eminent Writer, who indeed makes it the genus of the Art: "True Eloquence," fays he, "I find to be none but the ferious and "hearty LOVE OF TRUTH and that "whose mind foever is fully poffeffed with "à fervent defire to know good things, "and with the DEAREST CHARITY to in"fufe the knowledge of them to others, "when fuch a man would fpeak, his "words, like fo many nimble and airy fer"vitors, trip about him at command, and "in well-ordered files, as he could with, "fall aptly into their own places *."

This is the true Chriftian Eloquence; to which I would have our Student eagerly afpire; whatever route his talents lead him

* Milton.

to

to take, in discharge of this part of his Ministry whether his Discourse be employed in illuftrating the facred text-or in explaining and enforcing the capital duties. of Morality or laftly, in preffing, upon the confcience, the practical obligations both of natural and revealed Religion, by a pathetic addrefs to the Paffions and Affections of his hearers: For under one or other of these three heads, I fuppofe, may be comprised all the rational service of the Pulpit.

1. If his difpofition incline him to the illuftration of the facred Text, which, in ftrict truth, is performing what by his office he has engaged himself to undertake, that is to say, to preach the word of God, the best model I can think of are the Sermons of Dr. Samuel Clarke, of St. James's, who is always plain, clear, accurate, and full.

2. If he rather chufes to expatiate on the great Duties of Morality, Dr. Barrow should be his principal. Guide: whofe comprehenfive mind penetrates into the very darkeft receffes of our nature, at the fame Gg 2

time

time that the radiations of his genius gild the moft folemn and gloomy profpects. In a word, his is that true Eloquence which Milton fo happily defcribes, and which this Preacher fo eminently poffeffes.

But yet we fhould not fufpect, that Clarke is defective in what Barrow fo eminently abounds; or that Barrow, on fit occafions, neglects to cultivate that facred foil from which Clarke reaped fuch abundant harvests.

3. A pathetic address to the paffions and affections of penitent hearers, perhaps the moft operative of all thefe various fpecies of inftruction, is that in which the English Pulpit, notwithstanding all its other supe. rior advantages, is moft defective. Here, the perfuafive is apt to be barren of reafoning; and the pathetic to degenerate into cant. A perfect model of this kind we must feek for abroad. Nor need we be long to feek, though we be forced to take up with a Papist, and, what is worfe, a Jefuitthe celebrated Bourdaloue, who, to the most perfect fublime and pathetic, has occafionally added all the force of reason in

the

the fimpleft and most beautiful method, in which will be found many excellent ftrokes of fcriptural criticism and moral divinity, which fo much ennoble the works of the two English Preachers above recommended for the execution of their feveral methods. Nor will there be any danger that our Student, now fo well armed at all points, by the truths collected in his Course, should be betrayed or entangled in the errors and corruptions, which have fo miferably de

formed the mother church of this famous Preacher.

In conclufion, I confide in the young Divine, who refolves in good earnest to go through the course here recommended, that he will confider it as only the foundation of the learning of his profeffion; as only the out-lines on which he is to work through life, in order to deferve the Character (at which we will fuppofe he aims) of an accomplished Divine.

On this account, I have been exceeding fparing, in this first part, to recommend fuch Writers as are to aid him in his Course; omitting all but thofe of capital note, who,

as he goes along, are of neceffity to be well

digefted.

*

The SECOND PART therefore will be employed in an account, under each head, of thofe additional Writers, that may enable the Student to make himself a perfect Master of the several Subjects marked out in this; which though it may give him a juft, yet, without further affiftance, may remain a too general idea of his Business.

* The Second part has not been found among the Bishop's papers, and probably was never written. R. W.

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