6 Style ofcomposition and ofcommentary.
Ep. to number omitted, and some few left as they were, all that had
been taken down' in my presence as I spoke, I arranged in
books with amendments. For when I was giving the last
part by dictation, I in like manner carefully considered the
style in which I had spoken the first part, so that my
business was both with regard to those parts, which I had
given orally,by going through them with a careful correction,
to bring them up to somewhat like dictation, and with regard
to what 1 had dictated, that it should not greatly differ from
the style of colloquial delivery; so that the one being drawn
out, and the other contracted, that which unlike modes
produced might be formed into a not inconsistent whole.
Though it must be added that the third portion of this work
I have so left for the most part as I gave it by word of mouth,
because the brethren, drawing me away to other things,
would not have this to be corrected with any great degree of
exactness. Pursuingmy object of obeying their instructions,
which 1 must confess were sufficiently numerous, now by
the work of exposition, now by the flights of contemplation,
and now by moral instruction, I have completed this work
» volu- extending through thirty-five books ^, and six tomes^ and
™^°^j^._hence I shall be often found therein to put rather in the
b«i8 back-ground the order of exposition, and to employ myself
at greater length upon the wide field of contemplation and
of moral instruction. But yet whosoever is speaking con-
cerning God, must be careful to search out thoroughly
whatsoever furnishes moral instruction to his hearers; and
should account that to be the right method of ordering his
discourse, if, when opportunity for edification requires it,
he turn aside for a useful purpose from what he had begun
to speak of; for he that treats of sacred writ should follow
the way of a river, for if a river, as it flows along its channel,
meets with open valleys on its side, into these it immediately
turns the course of its current, and when they are copiously
supplied, presently it pours itself back into its bed. Thus
unquestionably, thus should it be with every one that treats
of the Divive Word, that if, in discussing any subject, he
i ' Excepta sub oculis,' taken down the time; the latter would be 'die-
in the course of delivery, but not de- tated.'
ivored with a view to writing oat at