1116. There is difficulty in afcertaining and explaining the several ways in which the prophetical inspiration was communicated, as by dreams, vifions, &c.

1111. In prophecy, the figures and images are more complex than in other poetry; and, therefore, there is greater difficulty in analyzing them.

1112. There is great difficulty in explaining, applying, and vindicating the figns or emblematical actions, by which the prophets foretell future events.

Ezekiel. Horfley's Hosea.

1113. When future events are predicted in parabolical difcourfes, this generally occafions fome degree of obfcurity.

Ezek. xvii. f. &c. xix. 1. &ë.

1114. There is, fometimes, difficulty in determining whether a prediction has a single or a double meaning.

1115. When a prediction clearly refers only to one event, or, when there is no mark of its being intended to fignify more, it ought to be explained only of that one; and they err, who, in every prophecy of the Meffiah, fearch for a reference alfo to fome other

event.

Grot. Cler.

1116. In prophecies which have a double fenfe, it is fometimes difficult to perceive what parts of them relate

relate to each of the two events, what parts to both, and in what manner.

Ifa. vii. viii. ix. ch. x. xi. ch. xxxiv. xxxv. Lowth on Ifa. viii. Ifa. xl. Lowth.

The book of Job is an inftance of almoft all the difficulties in this chapter. Some reckon it very ancient, in the time of Mofes, or before it. Chappel. Michael. Schult. Lowth.Others, very modern, during or after the Kings. Heath. Warburt.-Some, written by Job or Elihu, or fome contemporary. Dupin. Hift. of Can. B. 1. c. 3. f. 10. Lowth præl. 32. Schult. præf. Lightfoot.-Some tranflated by Moses. Patrick, pref. Grey, pref.-Some, written by Mofes. Huet, dem. evan. pr. 4. Lowth. Michael.-or, by Solomon, or fome prophet about that time. Dup. ib. Spanheim, hift. Job. c. 16. Chapp.-or, by Isaiah, Codurc.— during the Babylonian captivity, Heath, Effay.-by Ezra after the captivity, Warburt. B. 6. f. 2.-Whether a dramatic poem or not? Whether a real hiftory, (Lowth. Schult. Chappel.) or an allegorical poem? Michael. Warburt. Heath. Scope-an example of patience, Schult. Grey.-whether one so much afflicted could be really pious, Lowth.-to fhew God's fupreme power over the whole creation, Chappel.to oppofe the Manichean doctrine, Sherlock.or, the tranfmigration of fouls.-to comfort the Ifraelites in Egypt, Michael.-or, to comfort them during the captivity, Heath.-on ceafing of an equal providence after the captivity. Warburt.

CHAP. V.

Of Reconciling Scripture to Itself.

1117. WHEN Scripture is compared with itself, one paffage has, fometimes, the appearance of contradicting another.

1118, There are feeming contradictions, in quotations,-in hiftorical paffages,-between predictions and their accomplishment, and in points of doctrine.

SECT. I.

Seeming Contradictions in Quotations.

1119. Some paffages of Scripture are quoted in other paffages; particularly, paffages of the Old Teftament are quoted in the New: and, in thefe, there is often an appearance of difference, or inconfiftence, between the original and the quotation.

1120. The appearance of inconfiftence regards, either the words in which the quotation is made,—or, the purpose to which it is applied.

121. 1. The former occurs, when the words in which the quotation is made, differ from thofe of the original, that is, the Hebrew text.

: 1122. Several quotations of the Old Testament, by the writers of the New, are made according to the 70 verfion, and that, when it seems to differ from the fenfe of the Hebrew.

1123. To vindicate fuch quotations, it must be fhown, either that the 70 verfion does really express

the

the true fenfe of the Hebrew, as it now stands,-or, that there is a corruption in the one or the other.

1124. The 70 version, copied in the quotations of the New Testament, often expreffes the true sense of the present Hebrew, deducible from the kindred languages, or, even from the ftyle of Scripture, or the connexion of the paffage; though not the fense put upon it by modern tranflators and commentators: and, the appearance of contradiction is removed by a juft interpretation of the Hebrew.

Pfal. civ. 4. "Who maketh the winds his meffengers, and the flaming fire his ministers."-but, Heb. i. 7. from 70. "his angels fpirits-minifters a flame of fire." equally agreeable to the words, and more to the connexion.

Ifa. xxviii. 16. "He that believeth fhall not make hafte,"

Vulg. Eng. modern verfions. But Rom. ix. 33. x. 11. and 1 Pet. ii. 6. "be ashamed. —no corruption in the Hebrew, Capel. Grot. -a real sense of w in Arab. 70. Arab. Chald. Syr..

Jer. xxxi. 31, 32, 33, 34. with Heb. viii. 8-12. "Which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them." Eng." delighted myself in them," Chald.—" ruled over them," Vulg.-but Heb. viii. 9. from 70. " and I regarded them not. -no corruption, a real fenfe of a in Arab. Syr. Arab. connexion.

1125. In other inftances, the feeming contradition. arifes from a corruption in the prefent Hebrew, which may be proved with a greater or lefs degree of evidence, and, the contradiction will be removed, by reftoring the true reading.