PULPIT ELOQUENCE.*

IT is one of the most trite remarks of rhetorical criticism, that the eloquence of the pulpit, generally speaking, turns very peculiar advantages to a very moderate account. If any one were, for the first time, informed what Preaching was-if, for example, one of the ancient critics had been told that the time would come when vast multitudes of persons should assemble regularly to be addressed, in the midst of their devotions, upon the most sacred truths of a religion sublime beyond all the speculations of philosophers, yet in all its most important points simple, and of the easiest apprehension; that with those truths were to be mingled discussions of the whole circle of human duties, according to a system of morality singularly pure and attractive; and that the more dignified and the more interesting parts of national affairs were not to be excluded from the discourse; that, in short, the most elevating, the most touching, and the most interesting of all topics, were to be the subject-matter of the address, directed to persons sufficiently versed in them, and assembled only from the desire they felt to hear them handled-surely the conclusion would at once have been drawn, that such occasions must train up a race of the most consummate orators, and that the effusions to which they gave birth must needs cast all other rhetorical compositions into the shade. The

* Modern Infidelity considered with respect to its influence on Society, in a Sermon preached at the Baptist Meeting, Cambridge. By Robert Hall, M.A. Tenth edition, 8vo, pp. 88. London: Hamilton. 1822.

preacher has, independent of his subject, advantages of a kind enjoyed by no other orator. He speaks with the most complete preparation; in the midst of a profound silence, without the slightest contention to ruffle him or distract his audience; he speaks too as from a lofty eminence, clothed with high authority, not soliciting, but commanding attention-not entreating or exhorting, but requiring compliance with his mandate, by virtue of the commission he bears-not discoursing as man to men, but delivering a divine message as if he were upon an embassy from above, and claimed to represent the Supreme Power, whose minister he is admitted to be. His superiority over his auditors is far more marked than that of other orators, who only excel their hearers in talents and acquirements: for he is also more pure in life and conversation; his habits are more virtuous, generally speaking, than that of the common run of men; and he is, therefore, more entitled to be respected. In very many cases he has a yet stronger claim to their regard; he is most probably their ordinary pastor, and endeared to them by having counselled them in difficulties, visited them in sickness, and comforted them in affliction. What, compared with this, is the advantage which secular declaimers prize the most, that of having a willing audience, when, as candidates for popular favour, they address their own partizans, or, as chiefs of a party, they appeal to their banded followers?

How then comes it to pass that instances are so rare of eminent eloquence in the pulpit? That there should be a great number of dull sermons preached, we can easily bring ourselves to expect-because there are a much greater number of such discourses delivered, than of all others taken together. Reckoning only 15,000 every Sunday (which is allowing above 10,000 of the clergy in England and Wales to preach but once a-week), and supposing only 5,000 by dissenters of all kinds, in both parts of the island, we have above a

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million of sermons preached regularly every year, beside many thousand occasional discourses. How small a per-centage of this large number ever sees the light through the press! How trifling a per-centage of the number published ever reaches a second edition! Yet sermons, from the great multitude which are composed, form the most numerous class of publications; and, excepting works of very abstruse science, have the fewest readers; and without any exception, of all books sink, proverbially, the most speedily into oblivion. Their prodigious number will easily account for so many bad ones being found; and this may also explain the evil name which this species of composition generally has acquired. But it will hardly account for so few fine ones appearing. The vast body of preachers always at work is, on the contrary, a reason why many great orators should start up, independent of all the peculiar advantages which pulpit eloquence enjoys. We must seek elsewhere, then, for the cause of the undeniable fact, which is so often admitted and lamented.

It is commonly said, that the advantages such as we have adverted to are more apparent than real,—that ample as they seem to be when enumerated, they shrink into a narrow space in practice, that some of them, as for instance the absence of conflict, and the uniform preparation, are rather drawbacks than benefits ;and that all the solid points of superiority over secular oratory would be most profitably abandoned, if they could only be exchanged for the lively excitement, the heartfelt glow, created by a present interest, however trifling in amount, compared with the reversionary prospects toward which sacred contemplations are directed. That such is the grovelling nature of men, may be easily admitted; that they will be disposed to feel far more strongly the appeals made to them, upon matters before their eyes, and at the present time, than any topics drawn from "the evidence of things

unseen," and which refer to the period "when time shall be more;" that the question, what shall be suddenly enacted, is much more practical, and affects the bulk of mankind more vehemently, than the question how they shall regulate their lives, and what they shall hope or dread to experience hereafter, will readily be granted; and, therefore, that the natural tendency of a preacher's auditory, is to regard his topics with indifference, as not calling for any lively attention or immediate resolution, when the same hearer would be roused to enthusiasm by the more practical discourses at the bar, the hustings, or the vestry. But after we have made every allowance of this kind, it remains unquestionable, that the preacher has advantages of subject, and of character and opportunity, which should enable him to overcome the grovelling tendency of men; to lift their ideas above the impulses of sense; and to counteract their inveterate habit of mistaking near things for great ones.

It has long been conceded by the most rigorous and orthodox divines, that their sacred office does not set them above the necessity of borrowing help from the resources of worldly rhetoric. Indeed, when the preachers who had supernatural endowments-who had the gift of tongues to fortify them, and could confirm the faith of their hearers by performing miracles before their eyes-when even they disdained not the aids of mere earthly eloquence, St. Paul himself holding a very high place among orators in his purely secular capacity, we may well admit, that their successors are not only justified, but called upon to exert themselves with all earnestness and diligence in the arts of persuasion, and to rely upon them for making their ministry effectual. They are bound, as St. Jerome expresses it, to fight the flesh with the arms of the flesh,-after the manner of David, who slew Goliath with his own sword. They are bound, moreover, to keep pace with the improvements of the

age they live in, that they may retain the influence which the success of their ministry requires, over those among whom they labour. That men of commanding genius have been able to move their auditors from the pulpit, as effectually as any secular orators ever did, is beyond all question. Not to mention the extraordinary feats performed by some of the Roman preachers,* there are numerous testimonies to the triumphs of the French pulpit. De Lingendes, Castillon, Bourdaloue, are less familiarly known to us then Flechier, Bossuet, and Massillon; but they seem to have been men cast in a grand mould. Rapin says of the first, in his Reflexions (II., 104), "Il enflammoit le cœur par tout ce qu'il y avoit de feu et d'ardeur dans les passions, dont il sçavoit l'art, par une rhetorique particuliere qu'il s'etoit faite. On commençait alors à l'ecouter avec plaisir, parcequ'il s'insinuoit dans les esprits par l'artifice de son eloquence, et l'on ne craignoit jamais tant de le voir finir, que quand il etoit prest de la faire. Car c'etoit alors qu'il entroit dans les cœurs, pour s'y rendre le Maistre, et pour y faire ce qu'il luy plaisoit. Mais rien ne parloit plus à son avantage que le profond silence de son auditorie quand il avoit achevé son sermon. On voyoit ses auditeurs se lever de leurs chaises, le visage pâle, les yeux baisséz, et sortir tout êmus et pensifs de l'Eglise, sans dire un seu mot, sur tout dans les matieres touchantes, et quand il avoit trouvé lieu de faire le terrible, ce qu'il faisoit fort souvent." There can be no more decisive character painted of great and successful eloquence, unless it be that fact of itself the most eloquent, and which every one has heard of the sudden starting up of the whole congregation, when Massillon preached, for the first time, that wonderful sermon upon the " Few who will

* It is related of Philip of Narni, that he once preached a sermon upon Non-residence before the Pope (Gregory XV), which had the effect of driving thirty bishops to their respective dioceses the day after.