Thefe fources branch out, according to Longinus, into the following divifions: "I. The first and moft excellent of thefe "is a boldness and grandeur in the thoughts. "II. The fecond is called the Pathetic, or the power of raifing the paffions to a "violent and even enthufiaftic degree; "and these two being genuine conftituents "of the Sublime, are the gifts of nature, "whereas the other forts depend in fome "measure upon art. 16 "III. The third confifts in a skilful ap plication of figures, which are twofold, "of fentiment and language. "IV. The fourth is a noble and grace"ful manner of expreffion, which is not only to choose out fignificant and elegant "words, but alfo to adorn and embellifh "the style, by the affiftance of tropes. "V. The fifth fource of the Sublime, "which completes all the preceding, is the Structure or compofition of all the periods, "in all poffible dignity and grandeur." It hath been my endeavour in this work, to try certain paffages in the SACRED WRITINGS, by the test of Longinus's principles. I fhall account myself fingularly fortunate if fuch endeavours have, in any degree, done a fervice to compofitions which are fo able to fupport the trial; but whofe beauties and fublimities, though thickly fcattered through almost every page, are fo fhamefully neglected, or misunderstood, merely, it is feared, because they are of a devotional, as well as of a poetical na ture. THE EN D. |