CHAP. III. The Explication of Combinations of Words, 952. IT is not enough that we understand the meaning of the feparate words of Scripture; it is their combination into fentences that makes them expreffive of fentiments. 953. In the combinations of words into fentences, there are difficulties of feveral kinds;-difficulties in punctuation-in fyntax-in idiom-in the meaning of phrases ;—difficulties arifing from the grammatical figures-and from the rhetorical, SECT. SECT. I. Punctuation. 954. As the present punctuation of the Scriptures was not fixed by the facred writers, it has no authority any further than it is warranted by the fenfe; it affords no argument for the connexion or disjunction of words; and it is in fome inftances wrong, and in others doubtful. 955. There is difficulty, either with regard to the nature of the points, or with regard to their place: the former affects the fenfe of a claufe or sentence taken by itself; the latter affects the connexion of one with another. 956. It depends on the nature of the point, whether a sentence fhould be read affirmatively, or interrogatively; and, according to the one or the other, the fense will be even contrary. 957. Some texts are generally read affirmatively, which ought to have a point of interrogation. Gen. iv. 13. 66 My punishment is greater than I can bear. ". "mine iniquity is greater than that it can be forgiven." marg. 70.—“ "Is mine iniquity greater than ?" &c. Wall. connexion. Gen. iv. 23, 24. "I have flain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt."-" Have I flain," &c.—I have not. Onk. Menoch. fenfe. Mark ix. 22, 23, 24. The father faid, "If thou canst do any thing," &c. Jefus faid unto him, το ει δύνασαι πιςευσαι, παντα δυνατα τω πιςευοντι.-Eng. « If thou canft believe, all things are poffible," &c.-To omitted.-To & duyaσai; ει δύνασαι; KISEUTAI, x. t. λ. "If thou canst? Believe, &c. con nexion. Knatchb. John v. 37, 38. "Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor feen his fhape; and ye have not his word abiding in you. " former claufe not true. unconnected." Have ye never at any time heard? &c. (alluding to his baptifm) yet ye have not his word," &c. Macknight, John xii. 27. "What fhall I fay? Father, deliver me from this hour." unfuitable. there fhould be a point of interroga tion. "No." "But for this caufe," &c. v. 28. Zeger. Clar. Grot, Wall, I Cor. vii, 23. "Ye are bought with a price; be not the fervants of men. unconnected." Are ye bought with a price?" redeemed from flavery? be not," &c. context, Knatchb, 958. Some texts, again, are generally read interrogatively, which ought rather to be read affirmatively. I Cor. v. 12, 13. "For what have I to do to judge them allo that are without? xxi tus eow iμes xgvere; do not ye judge them that are within?" not confiftent with itfelf, or with fcope.—εχι" της έσω ύμεις κρινετε, "Not at all. Judge ye them that are within; but those which are without, God judgeth; and put away from among yourselves that wicked. perfon." Knatchb. connexion, 959. A point wrong placed occafions difficulty, by joining a word to a claufe, or a clause to a sentence, to which it does not belong. Numb. xxi. 14. Ken. Difs. Gen. 165. John i. 3, 4. John xiii. 31. Heb. iv. 6. "Seeing then it remaineth that some must enter 2 Theff. ii. 3. "Let no man deceive you, Ti sær μn exda is αποςασία πρωτον. "lit. "that if there come not a falling away firft." defective. Eng. " for that day fhall not come, except there come, "" &c. fenfe, but not fyntax.-iri, (fup. evesaxer v. 2.) sav pen, &c. "that it is at hand, except there come, &c. Knatchb. 1 Tim. ii. 6, 7. 1 Cor. vii. 16, 17, 35. 1 Cor. xvi. 3. Grot. Locke. 1 Pet. i. 13. Knatchb. 960. It is fometimes doubtful whether one punctuation or another should be preferred, as either gives a good fenfe. John v. 27, 28. Mill. Wh. I Cor. vii. 29." This, I fay, brethren, iti i xaig 1 Cor. xi. 21. Knatchb. Mill. Eraf. Grot. &c. " the time is SECT. II. Syntax. 961. Languages being formed by accidental ufage, there are many irregularities in the fyntax of every language, which may, in particular inftances, occafion difficulty, even to those who understand it well. 962. Every language has fome peculiarities in its fyntax, which muft occafion difficulty to thofe who are more accustomed to another language. 963. In the language of fcripture, there are difficulties arifing from both thefe caufes; and, in the New Testament, there are difficulties alfo, from the introduction of Hebrew conftructions into the Greek language. 964. The removing of difficulties in fyntax, from the Scriptures, both contributes to our understanding the precise meaning of them, and vindicates their style from the imputation of folecisms. 965. The principal means of removing difficulties in fyntax, are exact knowledge of the original languages, the fenfe and connexion,-texts where the force |