ness. into day; the light is short because of the darkness. 13. If I wait, the grave is my house: I have made my bed in dark14. I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister. 15. And where is now my hope? as for my hope who shall see it? 16. They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.' Awe and Horror. Stanzas of a Death Hymn.-Scott. 'That day of wrath! that dreadful day, 'When, shrivelling like a parched scroll, High Pitch.* Sympathy of Departed Spirits with Humanity.-Finlayson. 'What a delightful subject of contemplation does the thought of such sympathy open to the pious and benevolent mind! What a spring does it give to all the better energies of the heart! Your labours of love, your plans of beneficence, your swellings of satisfaction in the rising reputation of those whose virtues you have cherished, will not, we have reason to hope, be terminated by the stroke of death. No! your spirits will still linger around the objects of their former at * The 'high' pitch of sacred eloquence is, from the solemnity of association, lower in its note, than that of ordinary oratorical style. It rises but little above the middle tones of the voice. It requires, however, on this account, to be the more carefully observed, that the proper distinctions of utterance may not be lost. tachment. They will behold with rapture even the distant effects of those beneficent institutions which they once delighted to rear; they will watch, with a pious satisfaction, over the growing prosperity of the country which they loved; with a parent's fondness, and a parent's exultation, they will share in the fame of their virtuous posterity; and, by the permission of God, they may descend, at times, as guardian angels, to shield them from danger, and to conduct them to glory. "Of all the thoughts that can enter the human mind, this is one of the most animating and consolatory. It scatters flowers around the bed of death. It enables us who are left behind, to support with firmness the departure of our best beloved friends; because it teaches us that they are not lost to us for ever. They are still our friends. Though they be now gone to another apartment in our Father's house, they have carried with them the remembrance and the feeling of their former attachments. Though invisible to us, they bend from their dwelling on high to cheer us in our pilgrimage of duty, to rejoice with us in our prosperity, and, in the hour of virtuous exertion, to shed through our souls the blessedness of heaven.' Joy. Extracts from Isaiah LX. V. 1. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see all they gather themselves together, they come to thee thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.' 13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the firtree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14. The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee the city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15. Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.' Consolation. Extracts from Isaiah LXI. V. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called Trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.' Triumph. Stanzas from a Hymn on the Advent. 'Joyful all ye nations, rise, 'Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Earnest and Tender Emotion.* Hymn of Invitation.-Collyer. 'Return, O wanderer-now return! 'Return, O wanderer-now return! 'Return, O wanderer-now return! 'Return, O wanderer-now return! Thy Father calls-no longer mourn! EXERCISES IN INFLECTION.'† Impassioned Inflection. Interrogation. (Admitting of a positive or a negative Answer.) Indignation and Astonishment. [Highest ascent of Rising Inflection, or Upward Slide.]† 'Shall the work say of him that made it, He made me nót? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?' * Pathos and Tenderness are expressed by a high though softened tone. † The analysis of inflection may, at the option of individuals, be studied in practical forms, as laid down in the 'Elocutionist,' or scientifically, as in the 'Orthophony.' The exercises in the present volume, are restricted to the application of prominent principles. . Upward Concrete' of an Octave, on the system of Dr. Rush. 'Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable to himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy way perfect? Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?' 'Jesus! and shall it ever be A mortal man ashamed of thée ? Apostrophe. Indignant Appeal. [Lowest descent of Falling Inflection, or Downward Slide.* ‘Hear, O hèavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lòrd hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.-Ah! sìnful nation, a people laden with inìquity, a seed of evil dòers, children that are corrupters !' Vehement Denunciation. 'Wò unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Wò unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Wò unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink!' Remonstrance and Expostulation. [Example of boldest Upward and Downward Slides.] 'Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a búlrush, and to spread sackcloth and áshes under him? wilt thou call this * 'Downward Concrete' of an Octave,-on the system of Dr. Rush. |