attempts to form himself upon this Maxim, is as likely to become a bad Speaker, as the Moralist, to be a vain and fuperficial Philofopher..

AND we may remark by the Way, that the celebrated [i] Affertor of this Doctrine hath in no Part of his Work failed fo remarkably, as in Attempts of this Kind; this Master of refined Criticism and polite Stile, being, if I mistake not, awkward in his Mirth, and forced and infipid in his Ridicule.

IN answering Objections, which was the fecond Article mentioned, you either answer thole which have been, or anticipate thofe which you foresee fhall be made. In the former of these a fair Field is open. Such Answers, if clear and full, are ever heard with Attention and Pleasure. Because, they are Proofs of Quickness and a good Capacity in the Answerer, appearing, however they may have been before confidered, unpremeditated: And because, we behold with Pleasure Truth drawn forth to View, and Falfhood stripped of the Ornament which Sophistry had thrown round her. Add, that we all naturally delight in Comparison and Contention.

BUT in the other, in anticipating or framing to yourself imagined Objections, much Care and Circumfpection are neceffary. By multiplying Objections you fatigue the Hearer; you break his Attention, fplitting it on fo many Objects, that it loofeth Sight of the main one. Some enumerate frivolous Objections. Some revive

[Lord SHAFTESBURY.

your

revive fuch as are exploded. Some raise up others, fo very nice and fubtile, as it is likely would never otherwife have been thought of. But principally beware of their Mistake, who propofe Objections, which themselves cannot clearly answer: Even if they should, the Practice is attended with this Evil, that the Scruple remaineth when the Anfwer is forgotten. THE most prudent Way is, to confine felf to Objections which have been urged, and are known: Or, if you think fit to raise up any to yourself let them be fuch only, as fpring almost neceffarily from the Subject; such as you imagine will in all Probability occur, if not mentioned, to the Minds of the Hearers; fuch as you think they would wifh, as yourself if a Hearer would with, to have cleared up: And let your Reasoning in fuch Cafes be as clear and fhort, as the Nature of the Thing will allow.

A FARTHER Remark is, That as in Works of Fancy one is apt to run into Florid and Bombaft; fo in Reasoning you are ever in Danger of going into Nicety and Subtlety. Diftinctions may be neceffary to expose the Fallacy of a Sophifm, to clear up a Point and give a precife Notion of it: But the Ufe of many fuch confounds the Judgment, oppreffeth the Memory, and is highly unpleafing. Some who affect the Character of Reafoners are fond of refining on every Subject, and run up the plaincft into all the Mystery of Metaphyficks. Others, whatsoever be the Topick, fet out with a huge Apparatus of Lemmas and Propofitions premised,

premised, and trail behind an immense Train of Corollaries and Confectaries: We have seen Morality taught to speak the Language of Geometry; and Pleasures and Pains, Virtues and Vices, confronted in all the impofing Pomp of Algebraical Symbols [k].

ALL which prepofterous Science flows from Miftake or Oftentation. "Suit your Argu"ments to your Subjects: Seek not laboriously "to demonstrate that which is plain: Nor "drefs up in the Garb of Science Truths of common Sense:" For nothing that is unnatural can long please.

LASTLY. There are two Ways in which a Discourse of Argument may be fitly concluded. One is by a Recapitulation of the feveral Arguments employed; the Ufe of which is obvious; as it collects and fhews at one View, what was more copioufly proved before. THIS Part must be fhort; otherwife the Repetition difgufts: It should therefore mention only the principal Matters. The Art is, to touch upon fuch, as shall beft recal the others to Mind.

A

[k] This Cenfure is not defigned to include two learned and virtuous Perfons, who may be fuppofed to be here glanced at, Mr. WOLLASTON and Mr. HUTCHESON: But the Fault was very general about the Beginning of this Century, and remained long; occafioned, as I fuppofe, partly by a Paffage of LOCKE mifunderstood; partly by the high Honour approaching to Enthufiafm, into which the aftonishing Genius of NEWTON had brought Mathematical Learning.

A SECOND Way of concluding is, by turning from the Understanding to the Heart, by feeking to intereft the Paffions on the Side of Truth. But as this openeth a diftinct Source of Perfwafion, it deferves to be confidered more at large in another Lecture.

LECTURE

LECTURE the Tenth.

O'

Concerning the PASSIONS.

RDER requires that I should in the next Place confider Eloquence as addressed to the Paffions. But as there is much Obscurity and Confufion in the Notions commonly received concerning these, give me Leave to premife fome fhort Obfervations upon the Nature, Ufe, and Qualities of the Paffions; from whence the Duty of an Orator in this Point may be more clearly determined.

THE Manner, in which both Moralifts and Rhetoricians have treated of the Operations of the Mind, hath given Occasion to a great Miftake concerning them. Examine closely into the Opinions usually entertained about them, you will find that they are looked upon as feveral independent Principles, diftinct Beings, grafted as it were into the Mind, and acting by their own Force. How elfe shall a common Reader think of Confcience, when he meets with it fupporting various Characters: Now it is a Judge, then an Accufer; at one Time an Advocate, at another a Witness; it hath a Bar, a Tribunal, is armed with Lashes and Scorpions? What other Idea shall he form

of