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An essay on the action proper for the pulpit
An essay on the action proper for the pulpit Author:John Mason Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Pulpit alone an Enemy to Beauty of Ad- drefs, Truth of JExpreffion, and Harmony of Sound? Muft Art Nature, and the Graces have nothing to do with Sacred Eloquenc... more »e ? Or are not the ProfefTors of it to borrow all the Affiftances thofe can lend, in order to render it more perfect, and by confequente more efficacious ? Are they not to employ every Method confiftent with their Character, by which they may recommend Religion more powerfully ?. Are the Methods above-mentioned incontinent with their Character? If. the Preacher from the Throne fought to find out acceptable Words why may not his more humble SuccefTors feek to find out Acceptable JFays of expre/fing them ? It is certain, that to give Words their true value, luftre and effect, it is neceflary to accompany them with propriety of Action. Many a good Sentiment, and I may venture to add many a good Sermon is loft for want ef attending to this important Maxim. It cannot indeed be denied, that Senfe and Truth are ftill the fame, in whatever way they may be uttered. They ftill claim Regard on account of their own intrinfic Value. chapter{Section 4Arid they will meet with it on that Accbtfrif fmgly, from Minds perceptive enough to? krtow, and ingenuous enough to own therri, even in the moft homely drefs. But would they not meet with it ftill more, in at drefs more agreeable ? Are even the moft perceptive and ingenuous Minds.at all times fufficleritly attentive to good Inftruction, and fufficiently impreffed by it however it may happen to be delivered ? Do even the Beft Men never need to be excited, to have their Senfe of Divine things quickened, and their Love to them enflamed ? Or will the moft Intelligent Hearers be as much plfcafed and touched with a Difeourfe delivered coldly, or ungracefully j as with the fame Difeourfe, o...« less