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