CHAPTER II. ' 179 metaphor in it, to lead mankind into clear and distinct ideas of things : the business of poesy is to strike the soul with aglaring tight, and to urge the passions into a flame by splendid shews, by strong images and a pathetic vehemenceof style; but it is ano- ther sort of speech, that is best suited to lead the calm enquirer into just conceptions of things. IV. There is a mean vulgar style borrowed from the lower tanks of mankind, the basest characters and meanest affairs of life: this is also to be avoided ; for it should be supposed, that persons of liberal education, have not been bred up within the hearing of such language, and consequently they cannot under- stand it : besides, that it would create very offensive ideas, should we borrow even similesfor illustration from the scullery, thedung- hill, and the jakes. V. An obscure and mysterious manner of expression and cloudy language is to be avoided. Some persons have been led by education, or by some foolish prejudices into a dark and un- intelligible way of thinking and speaking, and this continues with them all their lives, and clouds and confounds their ideas. Per- haps some of these may have been blessed with a great and com- prehensive genius, with sublimenatural parts, and a torrent of ideas flowing in upon them : yet for want of clearness, in the manner of their conception and language, they sometimes drown their own subject of discourse, and overwhelm their argument in darkness and perplexity. Such preachers as have read much of themystical divinity of the papists, and imitated their manner of expression, have many times buried a fine understanding under the obscurityof such a style. VI. A long and tedious style is very improper for a teacher, for this also lessens the perspicuity of it. Some learned writers are never satisfied, unless they fill up every sentencewith a great number of ideas and sentiments ; they swell their propositions to an enormous size by explications, exceptions and precautions, lest they should be mistaken, and crowd them all into the same period ; they involve and darken their discourse by many a parenthesis, and prolong their sentences to a tiresome extent, be- yond the reach of a common comprehension : such sort of writers or speakers may be rich in knowledge, but they are seldom fit to communicate it. He that would gain a happy talent for the instruction of others, must know how to disentangle and divide his thoughts, if too many of them are ready to crowd into one paragraph ; and let him rather speak three sentences distinctly and perspicuously, which the hearer receives at once with his ears and his soul, than crowd all the thoughts into one sentence, which the hearer has forgotten before he can understand it. But this leads me to the next thingI proposed, which was to mention some methods, whereby such a perspicuity of style may be obtained as is proper for instruction. at 2
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