" _Which_, in this sentence, grammatically refers to _treasures;_
and this would convert the whole period into nonsense. The sentence
should have been thus constructed, "It is folly to pretend, by heaping
up treasures, to arm ourselves against the _accidents_ of life, against
_which_ nothing can protect us but the good providence of our Heavenly
Father."
STRENGTH. By the _strength_ of a sentence is meant such an arrangement
of its several words and members, as exhibits the sense to the best
advantage, and gives every word and member its due weight and force.
1. The first rule for promoting the strength of a sentence, is, to _take
from it all redundant words and members._ Whatever can be easily
supplied in the mind, should generally be omitted; thus, "Content with
deserving a triumph, he refused the honor of it," is better than to say,
"_Being_ content with deserving a triumph." &c. "They returned back
again to the same city from whence they came forth." If we expunge from
this snort sentence _five_ which are were expletives, it will be much
more neat and forcible thus, "They returned to the city whence they
came.
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