Classification of the Parts of Scripture.

The Bible, regarded for the moment, as a volume which may be used for the purposes of audible reading, may be classified, in rhetorical arrangement, as follows:

1. Narrative passages, varying in style, with their subjects, from the familiar to the sublime, as in the historical books of the Old Testament, and the Gospels, in the New.

as in the Epistles,

2. Didactic and doctrinal passages, which, being addressed to the understanding and the reason, require modifications of voice in the forms, chiefly, of inflection, emphasis, and pause, the intellectual instruments of effect in elocution.

3. Prophetic and Descriptive passages, marked by the language of strong epic and dramatic emotion, and requiring a bold, vivid, and expressive style of voice.

4. Lyric passages, - requiring intense expression, in strains of joy, pathos, triumph, grief, adoration, supplication.

NARRATIVE PASSAGES.

The ancient rhetorical arrangement of "low," or familiar, "middle," and "sublime," or elevated styles, may be practically serviceable in arranging the narrative portions of Scripture, for the purposes of elocution. The first division, ("the low,") would comprise all simple and familiar narrations; the last, ("the sublime,") narrative passages of great elevation of style; the second, ("the middle,") would include whatever forms of narrative were neither so familiar as the first, nor so elevated as the third.

Passages which exemplify the style of familiar narration, demand attention to the due observance of two opposite principles of expression in elocution,-grandeur and simplicity; the former being inseparable from sacred

subjects, the latter, from the peculiar style of language, in the Scriptures. The former mode of expression in elocution, unmodified by the latter, would assume the form of deep "pectoral," and full “orotund" utterance, — a grave, round, ample, and swelling effect of voice. The latter mode of expression, on the contrary, would incline to "oral" quality, a higher, thinner, and softer utterance, approaching to that of colloquial style. The mild effect of this style of utterance, blending with that of "orotund" grandeur, softens and chastens it to a gentle expression, but does not impair its dignity. The effect on the ear is similar to that produced on the eye and the mind, by a noble deportment softened by condescension.

-

The common faults in the style of reading the familiar narrative passages of Scripture, are dry monotony, undue vivacity, pompous solemnity, rhetorical and forced variation. The analysis of the appropriate tone for such passages, would suggest that the familiar narratives of the books of Scripture, should be read with a deeper, softer, and slower voice, than similar compositions in other works; the whole style vivid, earnest, but subdued,-indicating, at the same time, the interest awakened by the events which are related, and the chastening effect of the reverence due to the sacred volume.

EXAMPLES IN FAMILIAR STYLE.

Abraham offering up Isaac.-- Gen. xxii. 1—13.

V. 1. "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, 'Abraham:' And he said, 'Behold, here I am.' 2. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.'

3. "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him,

and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

4. "Then, on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5. And Abraham said unto his young men, 'Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.' 6. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7. "And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father:' and he said, 'Here am I, my son.' And he said, 'Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?' 8. And Abraham said, 'My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burntoffering' so they went both of them together.

11.

9. "And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order; and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here am I.' 12. And he said, 'Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.'

13. "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son."

Additional examples of familiar narrative may be found as follows: the Betrothing of Rebekah, Gen. xxiv.; Judah's Appeal to Joseph, Gen. xliv.; Samuel's Report to Eli, 1 Sam. iii. 1—18; the Blind Man restored to Sight, John ix.; the Prodigal Son, Luke xv.

11-32.

EXAMPLES IN "MIDDLE" STYLE.

Narrative passages which, according to rhetorical arrangement, may be classed under the head of "middle" style, require, in reading, a tone of voice which is deeper, firmer, and more uniformly sustained, than that of simple and familiar narration, as exemplified in the preceding

extracts.

A homely, anecdotic turn of voice, is decidedly objectionable, even in the reading of ordinary historical incidents, as utterly incompatible with the appropriate dignity and elevation of the subject; and the objection to such tones becomes insuperable, when the themes are those of sacred history. The effect of fireside, colloquial intonation, applied to the pages of the Bible, is similar, in its effect, to that of parody on elevated composition. It suggests degrading and ridiculous associations.

A formal and mechanical solemnity of tone, however, can never comport with the reading of a book so remarkable for perfect simplicity of style and natural turns of expression, as the sacred volume. Nor is it claiming too much for the appropriate reading of the Scriptures, to say that it demands the deepest sensibility of soul to revealed truth, united to the quickest and keenest perception of the varying effects of language.

The Death of Abel.— Gen. iv. 3—14.

V. 3. "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering: 5. but unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. very wroth, and his countenance fell. said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7. If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at

And Cain was 6. And the Lord

เ

the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.' 8. And Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9." And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?' And he said, 'I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?' 10. And he said, 'What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11. and now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. 12. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength: A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.' 13. And Cain said unto the Lord, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.""

Additional Examples. — Jephthah's Vow, Judges xi. 2—40; the Curse of Jotham, Judges ix.; the Death of Eli, 1 Sam. iv. 1—18; the Rejection of Saul, 1 Sam. xv.; David's Encounter with Goliah, 1 'Sam. xvii. 1-54; the Reign of Josiah, 2 Kings, xxiii. 1—30; the Raising of Lazarus, Gospel of John, xi. 1-44.

EXAMPLES IN ELEVATED STYLE.

Narration, when characterized by sublimity, or by marked elevation, requires a deeper, fuller, slower, more forcible and impressive manner, than that which is exemplified in the preceding passages.

The common fault in the reading of such parts of Scripture, consists in the absence of an impressive and commanding effect of voice, correspondent to the peculiar character of the subject. The mode of utterance, in such passages as the following, should not only be deep-toned and energetic, but warm and glowing. Fervor is a prom