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prehension will be, to practise it first in private family-duties; and when they find they can perform it there without difficulty, they will be emboldened (gradually) to do the same in public worship also. But for their further security, they may for some time (perhaps constantly, to prevent accidents), turn over the leaves of the Service as they advance, to have the passage before them which they are reciting, to which they may have recourse in case they should at any time find themselves at a loss. Every Clergyman will, upon trial, find that this change of mode will not only produce excellent effects on the congregation, but will be the source of a perpetual fund of satisfaction to himself. For as nothing can be more irksome than the drudgery and weariness arising from going over continually one and the same settled Service, in the usual cold and mechanical way; so nothing can cause greater inward satisfaction than praying from the heart; as all must have felt who pray earnestly in their private devotions. How much more pleasing must it be to a Pastor, when he not only feels himself the delight arising from a pure and rational devotion, but reflects that he is communicating sensations of the same kind to his flock; and by so doing takes the most effectual method to recover the strayed, and

conduct the rest in the right way

Every one who has adopted the plan here suggested, will have felt its great advantages, and will most heartily concur in acknowledging the truth of the writer's concluding remarks.

After having thus cautioned the student against various defects, and suggested to him various remedies, he may naturally ask, by what means he may discover the defects observable in his own mode of reading. The task of discovery is indeed difficult, but not insuperable, provided it be undertaken with a real desire of improvement. If a professed Teacher of Elocution, one of acknowledged eminence in his art, be within reach, his opinion can immediately be obtained as to the existence of gross defects, as well as his aid, if necessary, in conquering them. Nor will the Clergyman who is earnest in his attempts at improvement, allow a false and foolish pride to prevent him from seeking such aid. It has been cheerfully sought, at the commencement of their pastoral labours, by many pious and eminent Divines, who have thereby acquired a skill in the management of the voice, a distinctness, and grace, and force of delivery,

* Sheridan's Lectures, p. 282.

which have contributed to extend the usefulness of their ministry. If professional instruction cannot be obtained, still the young Clergyman may ascertain some facts for himself. He may easily discover whether his congregation consider his delivery too slow or too fast, too loud or too low; whether in every part of the Service he is audible by all; whether the aged, in particular, can hear the Lessons. But whether or not he is free from the other defects which have been enumerated, such as the pompous, theatrical, the dull, droning, or affected manner, it will not be so easy to ascertain the general opinion; as these are rather matters of taste, respecting which the judgments of his hearers will vary. Besides, few would choose to express their sentiments to the individual himself on these delicate points. Here the assistance of a judicious friend may be extremely useful. Nor will it be so difficult, as may be imagined, to find those who are competent to give a just opinion. For it is in reading as in other arts: a man may be a tolerably good judge of reading, though a very indifferent reader himself: he may be able to give a very correct opinion respecting the style of others, as well as respecting the effect likely to be produced upon the generality of hearers.

For the student's encouragement it must be added, that if he diligently strive to improve his reading, he may be assured that improvement will follow. With regard even to those natural impediments, which are sometimes pleaded in excuse for an inefficient delivery of Divine Service, (such as an indifferent voice, an inarticulate utterance, an imperfect pronunciation of certain letters, &c.), a distinguished Prelate has justly remarked, that “no one can tell how much may be done in the way of improvement, till he has tried all the various aids of advice, and practice, and careful study, with prayer for the assistance of God's Holy Spirit*." It is readily admitted, that Rules cannot make a finished reader: to produce such a character, a rare combination must concur of talent, feeling, and bodily powers. But moderate capabilities are the average lot: and these, through the wise constitution of our nature, are in early life always improvable. It may, therefore, be affirmed with truth, that to become a moderately good reader, capable of delivering the Service in a solemn, earnest, and impressive manner, is placed within the power of every young Clergyman.

Bishop Blomfield's Primary Charge, p. 19.

Before concluding these prefatory observations, it is necessary to call the student's attention to the following very important remark, derived from a writer to whose publications frequent reference is made in the course of the present work:

"In pronouncing the Liturgy with the pauses, accents (inflections), and emphases recommended, there must be nothing obtrusive in the manner of delivery, no apparent effort to produce effect, no appearance of being guided by art, nor indeed any consciousness of art while the Reader is in the actual performance of his duty: he must not then be balancing the inflections or weighing the emphases, but lose sight of the means, and trust entirely to the improved habit he has acquired for securing the end. A very slavish obedience to any prescribed mode of reading is not needful; and the truth is, that as a large proportion of sentences may be modulated with strict propriety in more ways than one, a reader is scarcely master of his art who does not sometimes vary even from himself*."

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It must be carefully remembered, that this remark is intended to be applied solely to the modulation, that is, to the arrangement of those secondary inflections which serve only to prepare for each other, and for those principal inflec

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