Its Prevalence in the Bible-Examples from both Testa- ments-Used in Prose as in Poetry-Parallelisms em- Beauties and Graces of Composition in the Bible-An Ana- Importance of Emphasis, with Examples-How Indicated— The uses of the Greek Article as a means of Emphasis, with Examples-Emphasis produced by the Construction of Sentences - The English Version sometimes faulty in Rendering the Original-Conclusion 101 The Reader will find that each volume after the first has a double paging, the top series of figures being limited to the individual volume, the bottom one running on through each four volumes, which will thus ultimately form one, with a continuous paging, and new title-pages and contents. Thus each subject is completed in a single volume, but the whole of the twelve volumes will be so arranged as to form an unbroken work, in three thick volumes -AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE. Vol. IV., MODERN INFIDELITY AND BIBLIOPHOBIA; and the Objects and Influences of the Bible, will be published on the 1st of February, and the succeeding volumes, one on the 1st of each month, till completed. V. BIBLICAL NATURAL HISTORY: ASTRONOMY AND GEOLOGY. VI. BIBLICAL NATURAL HISTORY: BOTANY AND GEOGRAPHY. VII. THE SOURCES AND CHARACTER OF SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES, REAL AND IMAGINARY. VIII. AN EXAMINATION OF SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES:THE PENTATEUCH. IX. AN EXAMINATION OF SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES:THE POST MOSAIC HISTORIES. X. AN EXAMINATION OF SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES:THE POETIC AND PROPHETIC BOOKS. XI. AN EXAMINATION OF SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES:THE GOSPELS. XII. AN EXAMINATION OF SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES: LITERARY BEAUTIES AND PECULIARITIES OF THE BIBLE. PART I. OF POETRY. In the review which has been taken of the figurative language of the Bible, we have pointed out many of the beauties that are so profusely scattered throughout the sacred volume, especially in the writings of the prophets, and in the Book of Psalms. There is, in many minds, a disposition to deprecate any attempt that is made or suggested to peruse the Bible for any other purpose than that of finding out the way of salvation, and of discovering more and more of the breadth and length, and depth and height of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, in the devout contemplation of which the Christian becomes filled with all the fulness of God (Eph. iii. 19). Such a disposition rests upon a false assumption or upon an imperfect knowledge. That there has been a good deal of irreverence exhibited in some of the literary investigations and criticisms of the Biblical text, must be admitted and deplored; but that furnishes no good reason against investigation and criticism. As a revelation conveyed in human language, the Bible necessarily has certain things in common with all other written books. This has been largely shown in treating of its symbolic and figurative language, and, in other respects, besides those there noticed, the critical apparatus that is applicable to all ancient books, is also applicable to the Bible. It is not for a moment to be lost sight of, that the Bible, in some and most important respects, stands apart from all other written compositions. It is the word of God, and it makes known much which could not otherwise have been known, and which, therefore, we cannot compare with any thing known, for the purpose of testing or trying its character. It comprises mysteries which have been hidden from the foundation of the world-things not to be tried by the lights of human reason, but to be accepted and believed as revelations from God. It is important to bear all this in mind, and to treat the Bible accordingly. There are, nevertheless, as we have said, certain things in this-the oldest, as it is the most important, of all literary compositions, which partake of the character and qualities of all written compositions, and which should be looked into and studied by the aid of the same lights that we employ in the reading and study of other books, and in which, thus studying, we may look for something besides the mere revelation of truth. Every enunciation of truth, takes a certain formis cast, so to speak, in a certain mould-and no one, as already observed, can read the Bible without seeing and feeling that it partakes, to a large extent, of those graces and beauties of imagination and composition that gratify and delight the cultivated mind and taste when they are found in other productions. Surely there can be no harm in looking |