Majestic, equable, sedate;

Confirming, cleansing, raising, making free,

Strong to consume small troubles; to commend

Great thoughts, grave thoughts, thoughts lasting to the end."

III. The Jury (if any).—The jury require to be treated with discrimination and judgment. The power to read men, to find what is in them, and to discover what use may be made of them, is a valuable one. He who would master men by argument, or sway them by speech, must not only know well the might of thoughts and words, but must estimate their effectiveness upon the kind and class to whom he may address himself. To win men over to a given view, on whom the weight of a grave responsibility rests, requires a special adaptation of speech and argument, and many men who can affect a judge, fail in touching effectively the minds of juries.

Effective narration" is a strong point in any one engaged in conducting a case before a jury. A clear, well-told, yet seemingly inartistic story, attracts the larger number of minds, unable ordinarily to realize within themselves the piecemeal statements brought out in evidence. Give such persons a story into which they can graff, or round which they can group the details brought out in cross-examination, and the judgment proceeds in the foregone grooves which the artful orator has laid down for them.

If to this graspable narrative there be added "a popular statement of the worth of the evidence" produced, or to be produced, on either side, and the whole be brought into a unity perceptible at a glance, or nearly so, the minds of ordinary men will frequently be found to acquiesce in the opinions founded upon it, and will be prepared to hold it as true. By the addition of a few salutary phrases of illustration, appealing to the case as their own, and bearing reference to their own positions or occupations, a cogency of application" may be imparted to the view taken which will materially affect the decision of the occupants of the box.

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It often happens that opinions are actively in process of dissemination among certain classes regarding specific laws, and their ordinary operations. When these opinions can be brought relevantly to bear upon the question at issue, they have a great effect in swaying the mind towards or from a given decision. Of course,

"He that stands upon a slippery place,

Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up;"

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and this last shift is most frequently employed in the worst or least hopeful cases; yet it forms a most effectual aid in eloquence, and may even in some cases cause opinion to weigh double, as voice and echo," in the settlement of the jurors' decision. The success of such an element of address will most commonly be in proportion to the apparently casual and unimportant manner in which it is introduced and applied, though at other times the potency of it will altogether depend on its being thrown into vigorous prominence,

and dwelt upon with persistency. The "appeal to the expediency of the law," though valid as an elocutionary topic, requires much care, and is very apt to be unwarily overdone. This is to be avoided.

Juries are theoretically said to be arbiters as regards the facts of a case. They never in practice confine themselves to this mere paltry office; they continually concern themselves with the effects of their verdicts ;

"O that a man might know

The end of this day's business, ere it come!"

It is human and humane to do so; they cannot avoid the thought. But this very tendency and leaning supplies the adroit forensic orator with an occasion for a tirade of protestation, or for a tissue of popular oratory, the more successful that it is unacknowledged. Juries have no special culture. They are unskilled, as a general rule, in the arts of sophistry. They are placed in a position which makes them peculiarly alive to rhetorical artifices. Their emotions are all astir. The beat of their hearts is quickened, and the activity of their feelings is irrepressibly excited. They are prone to the movement of the passions. If the orator is skilful, and soothes their reason while he stirs their feelings, he can almost lead them as and whithersoever he would. This is a matter to be noted, however, not by forensic orators alone, but by those who, as jurymen, are subject to its influences; for they too have an interest, and ought to make it a positive duty to know the tricks and manners of forensic orators, that they may guard against their wiles, and guide themselves warily in their search for truth.

We hoped, on commencing to write this paper, to be able to include within its compass a fair though brief exposition of the whole synopsis of the elements of forensic eloquence. Matters, however, of great weight and moment, as we think, lie before us, which it would not be wise in us, for the reader's sake, to hold back. We are therefore reluctantly compelled to ask the indulgence of our readers, while we adjourn the discussion of this topic till another opportunity offers. The eloquence of the bar has had volumes devoted to it; yet we hope that these observations of ours may not be deemed superfluous. Eloquence in every phase of life possesses power. A pleasing or a spirited delivery of thought affects all, more or less-the young, the old, the thoughtful, the thoughtless, the philosopher and the man of the world, the judge and the juryman, the client and the public. To know why this is, and how its forces are got up, is an acquirement not less useful, as we believe, to the reflective and reading citizen, than to the bustling practitioner in the courts of what ought to be the guardian of the civil rights of man-the law.

S. N.

Religion.

CAN MEMBERS OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES CONSISTENTLY TAKE PART IN THE

CENTENARY MOVEMENT?

SHAKSPERE TER

AFFIRMATIVE ARTICLE.-III.

WE believe that the adoption of the negative on this question will be found to spring from a misconception of the requirements of the christian life.

Christianity, while it effects changes in the nature of man, produces no change of essence. It gives a new bent to all the faculties, a new purpose to life, a great object of love; but the Christian retains the same human qualities as before; the affections and the passions that stir the bosoms of his fellows, in him are not extinguished. He is subject still to human frailties and temptations, and his sympathy with his kind is not diminished but deepened. Christianity was never intended to make men ascetics or hermits, but to enlarge their interest in their kind, making them more active and earnest workers in their station, moving among men, and shedding a hallowing influence wherever their presence is found. They are not removed from the world, but have become the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and are to be known and felt by lives operative and powerful among their fellows.

The

This question touches every Christian, but most of all the minister of the gospel, for his decision will be the guide of hundreds. office of the christian ministry is the most solemnly responsible that man can undertake, and, for the adequate fulfilment of its duties, demands qualifications varied and extensive. A heart renewed, fired with love to Christ, and deeply concerned for the salvation of others, is a good thing to commence with; but he who is most thus impressed will feel most strongly that something further is needed. All excellence will be unavailing without the operation of the Spirit of God; but this supposed, he will be the most successful who possesses the greatest intelligence. He who would be exclusively the servant of his divine Master, and yet be all things to all men,' must have quick sensibilities; he must know much of the daily life of men, including an intimate knowledge of their trials and miseries, their joys, their ruling passions, and how most liable to be assailed and overcome by temptation; he who would be "wise as the serpent yet harmless as the dove" must be exact in observation, watchful of opportunities, and prudent in their use; he who would speak in season and out of season," and yet not be guilty of the folly of "casting his pearls before swine," must display sound judg

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ment and keen discrimination. And the foundation of all these requirements is a living, comprehensive charity, a tender, sympa thetic soul, and a thorough acquaintance with human nature. The two first Christianity itself should bestow; but how shall he arrive at the third? He may learn much by observation, but he may learn quicker and learn more by drawing from the experience of others; and in Shakspere he has an instructor of unequalled depth and skill, from whom he may derive lessons that will stand him in hourly service.

The Bible is the revelation of certain special truths-the most important for man to know,-but it is not the fountain or repository of every truth. Much of its teaching, also, is not to be believed simply because it is contained in the book, but because we find it to be in accordance with actual fact. In its teaching as regards the nature of man it appeals to our own hearts for attestation, and we assent because we feel and witness its correctness. It leaves much to be supplemented by individual experience, to be confirmed and elucidated by the occurrences of life, to be worked out by reasoning and reflection; and nowhere will many of its truths be seen thus illustrated with so much strength, minuteness, and perfection as in the portraitures of Shakspere. Never have we had such accurate delineations of character, never such an unfolding of man's inner being. His creations have almost the vividness of reality, whilst we have the advantage of beholding all the springs of conduct laid bare, and the mind thinking, feeling, working. as it were, under our own very consciousness. No man can read Shakspere without perceiving an image drawn, more or less complete, of himself. The passions that agitate us, that impel us to action, that prompt us to sin, that effect our ruin, are exhibited with a faithfulness that carries immediate conviction. The first seed of an evil design injected into the mind, its growth and expansion till it takes possession of the entire soul, overpowering all restraining motives of prudence or virtue, its final and fatal consummation, are all clear before us. He guides and guards us by revealing our danger, and the mortal consequences attending our unsubdued desires. He is not wanting in positive incitements to virtue either, or in showing us what is truly noble. He gazed through and through the soul; he saw it as it really exists, good and evil interjoined; its subtlest moods could not escape his searching scrutiny, and in words of power he has conveyed to us the impression of what he saw.

For these reasons the characters of Shakspere are an invaluable study for all,-not the less, but rather the more, for the Christian than for others. Much also may be urged, outside of the express inculcation of moral lessons, on account of the charm of his style, his felicity of expression, his masterly use of language, his enchanting imagery. All these will furnish tools to the Christian, and especially to him who is a worker, and seeks to acquire every means for gaining the ear to God's message, and carrying it with force to the heart.

It will not do to retort that the Bible will inform you of man's nature, furnish you with powerful language, an energetic and chaste style, and sublime images. Far be it from us to depreciate aught of its excellence, yet we say it is not to be made all in all in these things, even as they are not its chief intent. There are numberless subsidiary means to be employed for the furtherance of its purpose, and the Christian is not to be excused for neglecting anything that will assist him in his labour.

We have said that the Bible is the revelation of certain special truths, but not of all truth; and there is much that does not come within the scope of its design in revelation, that is yet very requisite to be known, and may be applied for the support of its facts or the enforcement of its precepts. All truth, moreover, is worthy of searching out for its own sake, and in its acquisition we must face many things that are inimical both to faith and morality. So, also, to be fitted to cope with the infidelity and sinfulness of the present day-to be able to combat all existent forms of error—to reach to all the arguments of scientific and philosophic cavillers— to address one's self to the high intelligence of our times, we must read many books that are far worse in their tendency than Shakspere, with all his faults. If we are to read nothing and study nothing but what pure morality and strict conformity to scriptural doctrines will recommend, our list of books must be very meagre, and after all we shall never be sure that we have not transgressed. This must not be strained into a plea for reading everything that may be written, for if the known object or effect of a book be to undermine our faith, to vitiate our morals, to pander to our lustful appetites, it may be an absolute sin for us to peruse it, but the works of Shakspere certainly do not come under this category. We have spoken here as if the mere reading of Shakspere would settle the question under debate, and so we think it will; for to read and take the benefit of his works, and yet refuse a public acknowledgment of the debt, would be hypocritical and unjust.

Can it be pretended that it would have been better had these writings of Shakspere never existed? Apart from their own intrinsic worth, are we not indebted to them for many of the finest thoughts of other authors, for acute criticisms and expositions, in themselves gems of price? Have we as men been debased, and has our literature been corrupted by them? Have they not given a tone to our literature, imparting much of its strength and freedom, and adorning it with countless beauties? Has not Shakspere been the educator of our thinkers, our poets, our orators, ourselves? Yes, his sentiments have kindled our emotions, his thoughts have lived in our hearts, evoking and begetting other thoughts. Would it, then, have been better had these writings never appeared? We dare not assert it; the genius was God-given, if not altogether and in the strictest sense God-devoted, and we dare not wish that it had never lived, or that its productions were for ever exterminated. But this is what our opponents practically maintain, for we repeat