Manuductio ad ministerium. Directions for a candidate of the ministry

But while each of them, conceitedly enough, sets up for the Standard of Perfection, we are entirely at a Loss which Fire to follow. Nor can you easily find any one thing wherein they agree for their Style, except perhaps a perpetual Care to give us Jejune and Empty Pages, without such Touches of Erudition (to speak in the Style of an Ingenious Traveller) as may make the Discourses less Tedious, and more Enriching, to the Mind of him that peruses them. There is much Talk of a Florid Style, obtaining among the Pens, that are most in Vogue; but how often would it puzzle one, even with the best Glasses to find the Flowers! And if they were to be Chastised ⟨p. 46⟩for it, it would be with much what as much of Justice, as Jerome was, for being a Cic•ronian. After all, Every Man will have his own Style, which will distinguish him as much as his Gate: And if you can attain to that which I have newly described, but always writing so as to give an Easy Conveyance unto your Idea's, I would not have you by any Scourging be driven out of your Gate, but if you must confess a Fault in it, make a Confession like that of the Lad, unto his Father while he was beating him for his Versifying.

But while each of them, conceitedly enough, sets up for the Standard of Perfection, we are entirely at a Loss which Fire to follow. Nor can you easily find any one thing wherein they agree for their Style, except perhaps a perpetual Care to give us Jejune and Empty Pages, without such Touches of Erudition (to speak in the Style of an Ingenious Traveller) as may make the Discourses less Tedious, and more Enriching, to the Mind of him that peruses them. There is much Talk of a Florid Style, obtaining among the Pens, that are most in Vogue; but how often would it puzzle one, even with the best Glasses to find the Flowres! And if they were to be Chastized ⟨p. 46⟩for it, it would be with much what as much of Justice, as Jerom was, for being a Cic•ronian. After all, Every Man will have his own Style, which will distinguish him as much as his Gate: And if you can attain to that which I have newly described, but always writing so as to give an Easy Conveyance unto your Idea's, I would not have you by any Scourging be driven out of your Gate, but if you must confess a Fault in it, make a Confession like that of the Lad, unto his Father while he was beating him for his Versifying.