MISCELLANEOUS. THecGIITS. 353 filled up the _rest of the hour with the mere rehearsal of the general and special heads : But he omitted all the amplification which made his performances in the country so clear and so in- telligible, so warm and affecting. In short, it was the mere joints and carcase of a long composure, and contained above forty branches in it. The hearers had no (line to consider or re- flect on the good things which were spoken, or apply them to their own consciences ; the preacher hurried their attention so fast onward to new matters, that they could make no use of any thing he said while he spoke it, nor had they a moment for re- flection, in order to fix it in their memories, and improve by it at home. The young gentleman was somewhat out of countenance when the sermon was done, for he missed all that life and spirit, that pathetic amplification which impressed his conscience whets he was but a school -boy : However he put the best face upon it, and began to commend the performance, " Was it not, said he, sir, a substantial discourse? How well connected were all the reasons ? how strong the inferences, and what a variety and num- ber of them ?" It is true, said the uncle, but yet methinks I want food here, and I find nothing but bones again. I could not have thought, nephew, you would have treated me two days together ,just alike; yesterday at home, and to -day at church, the first course was Greek; and all the rest mere skeleton. XXVI. -Words without- Spirit. EMERA was much displeased with her maid-servants for some pieces of cross ill conduct in domestic affairs. The occa- sion of her displeasure was great and just, but she had not the spirit of reproof. Criton, the partner of her life, happening then to be in his closet, she went up and macle her complaints there ; he entreated her to excuse him from the economy of the kitchen and the parlour : It was all entirely under her dominion, and if her maids were so culpable, she must reprove them sharply ; " Alas, said she, I cannot chide ; however to shew my resentment, if you will write down a chiding, I will go imme- diately and read it to them." This is no fable, but true history of an occurrence in a family: Now what better improvement can be made of it, than to make a parable like it for the service of the church. Lectorius is a pious man, and- worthy minister in a country parish ; his discourses are well formed, his sentiments on almost every subject are 'just and proper, his style is modern and not unpolite, nor does he utterly neglect the passions in the turn of his composures : Yet I cannot call hire a good preacher, for he does not only use his written notes to secure his method, and to relieve his memory, which is a very proper and useful practice,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=