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Mr BAXTER gives us an example of the fame Figure in the following passage, which is won derfully weighty and powerful, and contains more rhetorical beauties than the Ecphonefis, though this Figure has evidently a place among them. "A wretch that is condemned to die "to-morrow cannot forget it: and yet poor "sinners, that continually are uncertain to live ❝ an hour, and certain speedily to fee; the Ma

jesty of the LORD to their inconceivable joy "or terror, as fure as they now live on earth, "can forget these things for which they have "their memory; and which, one would think, « fhould drown the matters of this world, as "the report of a cannon does a whisper, or as "the fun obfcures the pooreft gloworm. O "wonderful stupidity of an unrenewed foul! O "wonderful folly and distractedness of the un"godly! that ever men can forget, I say again, "that they can forget eternal joy, eternal wo, "and the eternal GOD, and the place of their "eternal, unchangeable abodes, when they stand "even at the door; and there is but the thin "veil of flesh between them and that amazing

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sight, that eternal gulph, and they are daily "dying and stepping in *."

§ 3. After these examples of the Ecpbonefis from other Authors, we may take the following from the facred Writings.

K 2

Sermon before the House of Commons, 1660.

An

An Ecphonefis occurs in Scripture in the way of admiration. Pfalm lxxxiv. 1. " How amia"ble are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!" So Rom. xi. 33. "O the depth of the riches both of "the wisdom and knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding out!

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An Ecphonefis is used in holy Writ to exprefs our desire or intreaty. Pfalm lv. 6. "O that I had wings like a dove! for then would "I fly away, and be at reft."

Sorrows and lamentations are fometimes vented in the facred Writings by an Ecphonefis. Ifaiah vi. 5." Then I said, Wo is me, for I am " undone." So Pfalm cxx. 5. " Wo is me that "I fojourn in Mefech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!" And

Compassion and pity are fometimes exprefsed in Scripture by an Ecphonefts. Lam. i. 1. "How does the city sit folitary that was full of " people? how is fhe become a widow?"

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$4. We may add by way of remark and direction as to the Ecphonefis, that, while other Figures are confined to fome this seems to extend to all,

particular pafsion, and is the voice of

nature under any kind of emotion and concern; that the Ecphonefis is of admirable service, as it gives a pleasing and ftriking variety to our dif courses, and is not unlike fome fudden, cafcade, or unexpected fall of a river, after the ftream has long glided on in a smooth and ferene course.

But

But the advice that was given, that we ought to be sparing in the use of Figures in general, may be especially necefsary in the Ecphonefis. Never let this Figure become cheap and common. If we are upon every trite occasion making exclamations, our hearers may be in danger of naufeating the excefs, or they will be apt to think we mimic, rather than feel a commotion; or we may defeat our design of awakening their passions by a redundancy in this kind of Figure, for The that always accuftoms himself to fuperlatives in Rhetoric can go no higher; and thus when he has a strong demand from the nature, or from the powerful fenfation of his fubject, for fuperlatives, he will stand fair to be neglected, as he that fhowers upon all men the highest praise without any diftinction, abfolutely puts it out of his power to exalt a character that merits the highest commendations. In short, let us always bear in mind this rule, never to break out in an exclamation but when our fubject will warrant it, or our own ardor produces it, left we fall under the rebuke of HORACE,

Such vain exclaimers are the mark of fcorn:
A mountain labours, and a mouse is born

Quid dignum tanto feret hic promiffor hiatu
Parturiunt montes; nafcetur ridiculus mus.

HORAT, Art. Puetic. 1.138.

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CHAPTER III.

The APORIA confidered.

51. The definition of the Aporia. § 2. Inftances of it from TERENCE, CICERO, VIRGIL, and LIVY. § 3. Examples of it from Scripture. $4 The ufe of the Aporia.

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PORIA, or doubting †, is a Figure

whereby we exprefs an hesitation where to begin our difcourfe, or a difficulty what to do in fome arduous affair, or what to refolve upon in fome critical emergency.

2. TERENCE furnishes us with an inftance of this kind:

Wretch that I am, what course shall I pursue?
Or what fhall I attempt? I fee th' old man
Returning from the country. Shall I fpeak,
Or fhall I hold my peace *?

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CICERO makes ufe of this Figure, when he fays, "As to what concerns me, I know not which way to turn me. Should I deny the

infamy of a corrupt judgment? of that the "matter has been agitated in our afsemblies? "or that it has been debated at our tribunals? "or that it has been heard in the fenate? Or “shall I offer to eradicate an opinion of fuch weight, fo deeply rooted, and of fuch anti

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quity, from the minds of men +?" We have an inftance of this Figure preferved by CICERO from a fpeech of GRACCHUS: "Miferable man that I am! whither shall I turn myself? "where can I go? To the capitol? but it swims "with my brother's blood. To my home? "what to fee a mother wretched, bewailing herfelf, and overwhelmed with sorrow !"

DIDO's fpeech, in VIRGIL, may be added, as a very lively and copious example of this Figure:

Thus the proceeds; and thus her lab'ring foul
Vents to herfelf the fad fufpenfe fhe feels.

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+ Equidem quod ad me attinet, quò me vertam nefcio. Negem fuiffe infamiam judicis corrupti? Negam illam rem agitatam in concionibus? Jactatam in judiciis? Commemoratam in fenatû? Evellam ex animis hominum tantam opinionem tam penitùs infitam? tam vetuftam? CICER. pro

CLUENTIO, 10. n. 1.

Quò me mifer conferam? Quò vertam? In capitoliumne? At fratris fanguine redundat. An domum ? matremne ut miferam, lamentantemque videam, & abjectam ? CICER. de Orat. lib. iii. § 56.

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