was to teach them what they were ignorant of, or to persuade
164 ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. [BOOK IV.
54. The quiet style, too, has made a change in many ; but it was to teach them what they were ignorant of, or to persuade them of wliat they thought incredible, not to make them do what they knew they ought to do but were unwilling to do. To break down hardness of this sort, speech needs to be vehement. Praise and censure, too, when they are eloquently expressed, even in the temperate style, produce such an eftect on some, that they are not only pleased with the eloquence of the encomiums and censures, but are led to live so as themselves to deserve praise, and to avoid living so as to incur blame. But no one would say that all who are thus delighted change their habits in consequence, whereas all who are moved by the majestic style act accordingly, and all who are taught by the quiet style know or believe a truth which tliey were previously ignorant of.
Chap. xxv.—ITorc the temperate style is to he used.
55. From all this we may conclude, that the end arrived at by the two styles last mentioned is the one which it is most essential for those who aspire to speak with wisdom and eloquence to secure. On the other hand, what the temperate style properly aims at, viz. to please by beauty of expression, is not in itself an adequate end ; but when what we have to say is good and useful, and when the hearers are both acquainted with it and favourably disposed towards it, so that it is not necessary either to instruct or persuade them, beauty of style may have its influence in securing their jn-ompter compliance, or in making them adhere to it more tenaciously. For as the function of all eloquence, whichever of these three forms it may assume, is to speak persuasively, and its object is to persuade, an eloquent man will speak persuasively, whatever style he may adopt ; but unless he succeeds in persuading, his eloquence has not secured its object. Now in the subdued style, he persuades his hearers that what he says is true ; iii the majestic style, he persuades them to do what they are aware they ought to do, but do not ; in the temperate style, he persuades them that his speech is elegant and ornate. But Mhat use is there in attaining such an object as this last ? They may desire it who are vain of their eloquence and make a