CHAP。36。——THERULESOFELOQUENCEARETRUE，THOUGHSOMETIMESUSEDTO
PERSUADEMEN
OFWHATISFALSE。
54。Therearealsocertainrulesforamorecopiouskindofargument，whichiscalledeloquence，andtheserulesarenotthelesstruethattheycanbeusedforpersuadingmenofwhatisfalse；butastheycanbeusedtoenforcethetruthaswell，itisnotthefacultyitselfthatistobeblamed，buttheperversityofthosewhoputittoabaduse。Norisitowingtoanarrangementamongmenthattheexpressionofaffectionconciliatesthehearer，orthatanarrative，whenitisshortandclear，iseffective，andthatvarietyarrestsmen’sattentionwithoutwearyingthem。Anditisthesamewithotherdirectionsofthesamekind，which，whetherthecauseinwhichtheyareusedbetrueorfalse，arethemselvestruejustinsofarastheyareeffectiveinproducingknowledgeorbelief，orinmovingmen’smindstodesireandaversion。Andmenratherfoundoutthatthesethingsareso，thanarrangedthattheyshouldbeso。
CHAP。37。——USEOFRHETORICANDDIALECTIC。
55。Thisart，however，whenitislearnt，isnottobeusedsomuchforascertainingthemeaningasforsettingforththemeaningwhenitisascertained。Buttheartpreviouslyspokenof，whichdealswithinferences，anddefinitions，anddivisions，isofthegreatestassistanceinthediscoveryofthemeaning，providedonlythatmendonotfallintotheerrorofsupposingthatwhentheyhavelearntthesethingstheyhavelearntthetruesecretofahappylife。Still，itsometimeshappensthatmenfindlessdifficultyinattainingtheobjectforthesakeofwhichthesesciencesarelearnt，thaningoingthroughtheveryintricateandthornydisciplineofsuchrules。Itisjustasifamanwishingtogiverulesforwalkingshouldwarnyounottoliftthehinderfootbeforeyousetdownthefrontone，andthenshoulddescribeminutelythewayyououghttomovethehingesofthejointsandknees。Forwhathesaysistrue，andonecannotwalkinanyotherway；
butmenfinditeasiertowalkbyexecutingthesemovementsthantoattendtothemwhiletheyaregoingthroughthem，ortounderstandwhentheyaretoldaboutthem。Those，ontheotherhand，whocannotwalk，carestilllessaboutsuchdirections，astheycannotprovethembymakingtrialofthem。
Andinthesamewayaclevermanoftenseesthataninferenceisunsoundmorequicklythanheapprehendstherulesforit。A
dullman，ontheotherhand，doesnotseetheunsoundness，butmuchlessdoeshegrasptherules。Andinregardtoalltheselaws，wederivemorepleasurefromthemasexhibitionsoftruth，thanassistanceinarguingorformingopinions，exceptperhapsthattheyputtheintellectinbettertraining。Wemusttakecare，howeverthattheydonotatthesametimemakeitmoreinclinedtomischieforvanity，——thatistosay，thattheydonotgivethosewhohavelearntthemaninclinationtoleadpeopleastraybyplausiblespeechandcatchingquestions，ormakethemthinkthattheyhaveattainedsomegreatthingthatgivesthemanadvantageoverthegoodandinnocent。
CHAP。38。——THESCIENCEOFNUMBERSNOTCREATED，BUTONLYDISCOVERED，BYMAN。
56。Comingnowtothescienceofnumber，itiscleartothedullestapprehensionthatthiswasnotcreatedbyman，butwasdiscoveredbyinvestigation。For，thoughVirgilcouldathisownpleasuremakethefirstsyllableofItalialong，whiletheancientspronounceditshort，itisnotinanyman’spowertodetermineathispleasurethatthreetimesthreearenotnine，ordonotmakeasquare，orarenotthetripleofthree，noroneandahalftimesthenumbersix，orthatitisnottruethattheyarenotthedoubleofanynumberbecauseoddnumbers（1）havenohalf。Whether，then，numbersareconsideredinthemselves，orasappliedtothelawsoffigures，orofsounds，orofothermotions，theyhavefixedlawswhichwerenotmadebyman，butwhichtheacutenessofingeniousmenbroughttolight。
57。Theman，however，whoputssohighavalueonthesethingsastobeinclinedtoboasthimselfoneofthelearned，andwhodoesnotratherinquireafterthesourcefromwhichthosethingswhichheperceivestobetruederivetheirtruth，andfromwhichthoseotherswhichheperceivestobeunchangeablealsoderivetheirtruthandunchangeableness，andwho，mountingupfrombodilyappearancestothemindofman，andfindingthatittooischangeable（foritissometimesinstructed，atothertimesuninstructed），althoughitholdsamiddleplacebetweentheunchangeabletruthaboveitandthechangeablethingsbeneathit，doesnotstrivetomakeallthingsredoundtothepraiseandloveoftheoneGodfromwhomheknowsthatallthingshavetheirbeing；-theman，Isay，whoactsinthiswaymayseemtobelearned，butwisehecannotinanysensebedeemed。
CHAP。39。——TOWHICHOFTHEABOVE-MENTIONEDSTUDIESATTENTIONSHOULD
BEGIVEN，AND
INWHATSPIRIT。
58。Accordingly，Ithinkthatitiswelltowarnstudiousandableyoungmen，whofearGodandareseekingforhappinessoflife，nottoventureheedlesslyuponthepursuitofthebranchesoflearningthatareinvoguebeyondthepaleoftheChurchofChrist，asifthesecouldsecureforthemthehappinesstheyseek；
butsoberlyandcarefullytodiscriminateamongthem。Andiftheyfindanyofthosewhichhavebeeninstitutedbymenvaryingbyreasonofthevaryingpleasureoftheirfounders，andunknownbyreasonoferroneousconjectures，especiallyiftheyinvolveenteringintofellowshipwithdevilsbymeansofleaguesandcovenantsaboutsigns，letthesebeutterlyrejectedandheldindetestation。Lettheyoungmenalsowithdrawtheirattentionfromsuchinstitutionsofmenasareunnecessaryandluxurious。Butforthesakeofthenecessitiesofthislifewemustnotneglectthearrangementsofmenthatenableustocarryonintercoursewiththosearoundus。Ithink，however，thereisnothingusefulintheotherbranchesoflearningthatarefoundamongtheheathen，exceptinformationaboutobjects，eitherpastorpresent，thatrelatetothebodilysenses，inwhichareincludedalsotheexperimentsandconclusionsoftheusefulmechanicalarts，exceptalsothesciencesofreasoningandofnumber。Andinregardtoallthesewemustholdbythemaxim，"Nottoomuchofanything；"especiallyinthecaseofthosewhich，pertainingastheydotothesenses，aresubjecttotherelationsofspaceandtime。（259。What，then，somemenhavedoneinregardtoallwordsandnamesfoundinScripture，intheHebrew，andSyriac，andEgyptian，andothertongues，takingupandinterpretingseparatelysuchaswereleftinScripturewithoutinterpretation；andwhatEusebiushasdoneinregardtothehistoryofthepastwithaviewtothequestionsarisinginScripturethatrequireaknowledgeofhistoryfortheirsolution；——what，Isay，thesemenhavedoneinregardtomattersofthiskind，makingitunnecessaryfortheChristiantospendhisstrengthonmanysubjectsforthesakeofafewitemsofknowledge，thesame，Ithink，mightbedoneinregardtoothermatters，ifanycompetentmanwerewillinginaspiritofbenevolencetoundertakethelaborfortheadvantageofhisbrethren。Inthiswayhemightarrangeintheirseveralclasses，andgiveanaccountoftheunknownplaces，andanimals，andplants，andtrees，andstones，andmetals，andotherspeciesofthingsthatarementionedinScripture，takinguptheseonly，andcommittinghisaccounttowriting。Thismightalsobedoneinrelationtonumbers，sothatthetheoryofthosenumbers，andthoseonly，whicharementionedinHolyScripture，mightbeexplainedandwrittendown。Anditmayhappenthatsomeorallofthesethingshavebeendonealready（asIhavefoundthatmanythingsI
hadnonotionofhavebeenworkedoutandcommittedtowritingbygoodandlearnedChristians），butareeitherlostamidthecrowdsofthecareless，orarekeptoutofsightbytheenvious。AndIamnotsurewhetherthesamethingcanbedoneinregardtothetheoryofreasoning；butitseemstomeitcannot，becausethisrunslikeasystemofnervesthroughthewholestructureofScripture，andonthataccountisofmoreservicetothereaderindisentanglingandexplainingambiguouspassages，ofwhichIshallspeakhereafter，thaninascertainingthemeaningofunknownsigns，thetopicIamnowdiscussing。
CHAP。40。——WHATEVERHASBEENRIGHTLYSAIDBYTHEHEATHEN，WEMUSTAPPROPRIATE
TO
OURUSES。
60。Moreover，ifthosewhoarecalledphilosophers，andespeciallythePlatonists，havesaidaughtthatistrueandinharmonywithourfaith，wearenotonlynottoshrinkfromit，buttoclaimitforourownusefromthosewhohaveunlawfulpossessionofit。For，astheEgyptianshadnotonlytheidolsandheavyburdenswhichthepeopleofIsraelhatedandfledfrom，butalsovesselsandornamentsofgoldandsilver，andgarments，whichthesamepeoplewhengoingoutofEgyptappropriatedtothemselves，designingthemforabetteruse，notdoingthisontheirownauthority，butbythecommandofGod，theEgyptiansthemselves，intheirignorance，providingthemwiththingswhichtheythemselveswerenotmakingagooduseof；（1）inthesamewayallbranchesofheathenlearninghavenotonlyfalseandsuperstitiousfanciesandheavyburdensofunnecessarytoil，whicheveryoneofus，whengoingoutundertheleadershipofChristfromthefellowshipoftheheathen，oughttoabhorandavoid；
buttheycontainalsoliberalinstructionwhichisbetteradaptedtotheuseofthetruth，andsomemostexcellentpreceptsofmorality；andsometruthsinregardeventotheworshipoftheOneGodarefoundamongthem。Nowtheseare，sotospeak，theirgoldandsilver，whichtheydidnotcreatethemselves，butdugoutoftheminesofGod’sprovidencewhichareeverywherescatteredabroad，andareperverselyandunlawfullyprostitutingtotheworshipofdevils。These，therefore，theChristian，whenheseparateshimselfinspiritfromthemiserablefellowshipofthesemen，oughttotakeawayfromthem，andtodevotetotheirproperuseinpreachingthegospel。Theirgarments，also，——thatis，humaninstitutionssuchasareadaptedtothatintercoursewithmenwhichisindispensableinthislife，——wemusttakeandturntoaChristianuse。
61。Andwhatelsehavemanygoodandfaithfulmenamongourbrethrendone？DowenotseewithwhataquantityofgoldandsilverandgarmentsCyprian，thatmostpersuasiveteacherandmostblessedmartyr，wasloadedwhenhecameoutofEgypt？
HowmuchLactantiusbroughtwithhim？AndVictorinus，andOptatus，andHilary，nottospeakoflivingmen！HowmuchGreeksoutofnumberhaveborrowed！Andpriortoallthese，thatmostfaithfulservantofGod，Moses，haddonethesamething；forofhimitiswrittenthathewaslearnedinallthewisdomoftheEgyptians。（2）Andtononeofallthesewouldheathensuperstition（especiallyinthosetimeswhen，kickingagainsttheyokeofChrist，itwaspersecutingtheChristians）haveeverfurnishedbranchesofknowledgeithelduseful，ifithadsuspectedtheywereabouttoturnthemtotheuseofworshippingtheOneGod，andtherebyoverturningthevainworshipofidols。ButtheygavetheirgoldandtheirsilverandtheirgarmentstothepeopleofGodastheyweregoingoutofEgypt，notknowinghowthethingstheygavewouldbeturnedtotheserviceofChrist。
Forwhatwasdoneatthetimeoftheexoduswasnodoubtatypeprefiguringwhathappensnow。AndthisIsaywithoutprejudicetoanyotherinterpretationthatmaybeasgood，orbetter。
CHAP。41。——WHATKINDOFSPIRITISREQUIREDFORTHESTUDYOFHOLYSCRIPTURE。
62。ButwhenthestudentoftheHolyScriptures，preparedinthewayIhaveindicated，shallenteruponhisinvestigations，lethimconstantlymeditateuponthatsayingoftheapostle’s，"Knowledgepuffethup，butcharityedifieth。"（1）Forsohewillfeelthat，whatevermaybethericheshebringswithhimoutofEgypt，yetunlesshehaskeptthepassover，hecannotbesafe。NowChristisourpassoversacrificedforus，（2）andthereisnothingthesacrificeofChristmoreclearlyteachesusthanthecallwhichHehimselfaddressestothosewhomHeseestoilinginEgyptunderPharaoh：
"Comeuntome，allyethatlaborandareheavyladen，andIwillgiveyourest。Takemyyokeuponyou，andlearnofme；forIammeekandlowlyinheart：andyeshallfindrestuntoyoursouls。Formyyokeiseasy，andmyburdenislight。"（3）
Towhomisitlightbuttothemeekandlowlyinheart，whomknowledgedothnotpuffup，butcharityedifieth？Letthemremember，then，thatthosewhocelebratedthepassoveratthattimeintypeandshadow，whentheywereorderedtomarktheirdoor-postswiththebloodofthelamb，usedhyssoptomarkthemwith。（4）Nowthisisameekandlowlyherb，andyetnothingisstrongerandmorepenetratingthanitsroots；thatbeingrootedandgroundedinlove，wemaybeabletocomprehendwithallsaintswhatisthebreadth，andlength，anddepth，andheight，（5）——thatis，tocomprehendthecrossofourLord，thebreadthofwhichisindicatedbythetransversewoodonwhichthehandsarestretched，itslengthbythepartfromthegrounduptothecross-baronwhichthewholebodyfromtheheaddownwardsisfixed，itsheightbythepartfromthecrossbartothetoponwhichtheheadlies，anditsdepthbythepartwhichishidden，beingfixedintheearth。AndbythissignofthecrossallChristianactionissymbolized，viz。，todogoodworksinChrist，toclingwithconstancytoHim，t¡；hopeforheaven，andnottodesecratethesacraments。AndpurifiedbythisChristianaction，weshallbeabletoknoweven"theloveofChristwhichpassethknowledge，"whoisequaltotheFather，bywhomallthings，weremade，"thatwemaybefilledwithallthefullnessofGod。"（6）Thereisbesidesinhyssopapurgativevirtue，thatthebreastmaynotbeswollenwiththatknowledgewhichpuffethup，norboastvainlyoftherichesbroughtoutfromEgypt。"Purgemewithhyssop，"thepsalmistsays，（7）"andIshallbeclean；washme，andIshallbewhiterthansnow。Makemetohearjoyandgladness。"Thenheimmediatelyadds，toshowthatitispurifyingfrompridethatisindicatedbyhyssop，"thattheboneswhichThouhastbroken（8）mayrejoice。"
CHAP。42。——SACREDSCRIPTURECOMPAREDWITH
PROFANEAUTHORS。
63。ButjustaspoorasthestoreofgoldandsilverandgarmentswhichthepeopleofIsraelbroughtwiththemoutofEgyptwasincomparisonwiththericheswhichtheyafterwardsattainedatJerusalem，andwhichreachedtheirheightinthereignofKingSolomon，sopoorisalltheusefulknowledgewhichisgatheredfromthebooksoftheheathenwhencomparedwiththeknowledgeofHolyScripture，Forwhatevermanmayhavelearntfromothersources，ifitishurtful，itistherecondemned；ifitisuseful，itisthereincontained。Andwhileeverymanmayfindthereallthathehaslearntofusefulelsewhere，hewillfindthereinmuchgreaterabundancethingsthataretobefoundnowhereelse，butcanbelearntonlyinthewonderfulsublimityandwonderfulsimplicityoftheScriptures。
When，then，thereaderispossessedoftheinstructionherepointedout，sothatunknownsignshaveceasedtobeahindrancetohim；whenheismeekandlowlyofheart，subjecttotheeasyyokeofChrist，andloadedwithHislightburden，rootedandgroundedandbuiltupinfaith，sothatknowledgecannotpuffhimup，lethimthenapproachtheconsiderationanddiscussionofambiguoussignsinScripture。AndabouttheseIshallnow，inathirdbook，endeavortosaywhattheLordshallbepleasedtovouchsafe。
BOOKIII。
ARGUMENT。
THEAUTHOR，HAVINGDISCUSSEDINTHEPRECEDINGBOOKTHEMETHODOF
DEALINGWITHUNKNOWNSIGNS，GOESONINTHISTHIRDBOOKTOTREATOFAMBIGUOUS
SIGNS。SUCHSIGNSMAYBEEITHERDIRECTORFIGURATIVE。INTHECASEOFDIRECT
SIGNSAMBIGUITYMAYARISEFROMTHEPUNCTUATION，THEPRONUNCIATION，ORTHE
DOUBTFULSIGNIFICATIONOFTHEWORDS，ANDISTOBERESOLVEDBYATTENTION
TOTHECONTEXT，ACOMPARISONOFTRANSLATIONS，ORAREFERENCETOTHEORIGINAL
TONGUE。INTHECASEOFFIGURATIVESIGNSWENEEDTOGUARDAGAINSTTWOMISTAKES：——I。
THEINTERPRETINGLITERALEXPRESSIONSFIGURATIVELY；2。THEINTERPRETING
FIGURATIVEEXPRESSIONSLITERALLY。THEAUTHORLAYSDOWNRULESBYWHICHWE
MAYDECIDEWHETHERANEXPRESSIONISLITERALORFIGURATIVE；THEGENERAL
RULEBEING，THATWHATEVERCANBESHOWNTOBEINITSLITERALSENSEINCONSISTENT
EITHERWITHPURITYOFLIFEORCORRECTNESSOFDOCTRINEMUSTBETAKENFIGURATIVELY。
HETHENGOESONTOLAYDOWNRULESFORTHEINTERPRETATIONOFEXPRESSIONS
WHICHHAVEBEENPROVEDTOBEFIGURATIVE；THEGENERALPRINCIPLEBEING，THAT
NOINTERPRETATIONCANBETRUEWHICHDOESNOTPROMOTETHELOVEOFGODAND
THELOVEOFMAN。THEAUTHORTHENPROCEEDSTOEXPOUNDANDILLUSTRATETHE
SEVENRULESOFTICHONIUSTHEDONATIST，WHICHHECOMMENDSTOTHEATTENTION
OFTHESTUDENTOFHOLYSCRIPTURE。
CHAP。I。——SUMMARYOFTHEFOREGOINGBOOKS，ANDSCOPEOFTHATWHICHFOLLOWS。
I。ThemanwhofearsGodseeksdiligentlyinHolyScriptureforaknowledgeofHiswill。Andwhenhehasbecomemeekthroughpiety，soastohavenoloveofstrife；whenfurnishedalsowithaknowledgeoflanguages，soasnottobestoppedbyunknownwordsandformsofspeech，andwiththeknowledgeofcertainnecessaryobjects，soasnottobeignorantoftheforceandnatureofthosewhichareusedfiguratively；andassisted，besides，byaccuracyinthetexts，whichhasbeensecuredbyskillandcareinthematterofcorrection；——whenthusprepared，lethimproceedtotheexaminationandsolutionoftheambiguitiesofScripture。Andthathemaynotbeledastraybyambiguoussigns，sofarasIcangivehiminstruction（itmayhappen，however，thateitherfromthegreatnessofhisintellect，orthegreaterclearnessofthelightheenjoys，heshalllaughatthemethodsIamgoingtopointoutaschildish），——butyet，asIwasgoingtosay，sofarasIcangiveinstruction，lethimwhoisinsuchastateofmindthathecanbeinstructedbymeknow，thattheambiguityofScripturelieseitherinproperwordsorinmetaphorical，classeswhichIhavealreadydescribedinthesecondbook。（1）
CHAP。2。——RULEFORREMOVINGAMBIGUITYBY
ATTENDINGTOPUNCTUATION。
2。ButwhenproperwordsmakeScriptureambiguous，wemustseeinthefirstplacethatthereisnothingwronginourpunctuationorpronunciation。
Accordingly，if，whenattentionisgiventothepassage，itshallappeartobeuncertaininwhatwayitoughttobepunctuatedorpronounced，letthereaderconsulttheruleoffaithwhichhehasgatheredfromtheplainerpassagesofScripture，andfromtheauthorityoftheChurch，andofwhichItreatedatsufficientlengthwhenIwasspeakinginthefirstbookaboutthings。Butifbothreadings，orallofthem（iftherearemorethantwo），giveameaninginharmonywiththefaith，itremainstoconsultthecontext，bothwhatgoesbeforeandwhatcomesafter，toseewhichinterpretation，outofmanythatofferthemselves，itpronouncesforandpermitstobedovetailedintoitself。
3。Nowlookatsomeexamples。Thehereticalpointing，（1）"Inprincipioeratverbum，etverbumeratapudDeum，etDeuserat，"（2）soastomakethenextsentencerun，"VerbumhoceratinprincipioapudDeum，"（3）arisesoutofunwillingnesstoconfessthattheWordwasGod。Butthismustberejectedbytheruleoffaith，which，inreferencetotheequalityoftheTrinity，directsustosay："elDeuseratverbum；"（4）andthentoadd：
"hoceratinprincipioapudDeum。"（5）
4。Butthefollowingambiguityofpunctuationdoesnotgoagainstthefaithineitherwayyoutakeit，andthereforemustbedecidedfromthecontext。Itiswheretheapostlesays："WhatIshallchooseIwotnot：
forIaminastraitbetwixttwo，havingadesiretodepart，andtobewithChrist，whichisfarbetter：neverthelesstoabideinthefleshismoreneedfulforyou。"（6）Nowitisuncertainwhetherweshouldread，"exduobusconcupiscentiamhabens"[havingadesirefortwothings]，or"compellorautemexduobus"[Iaminastraitbetwixttwo]；andsotoadd："concupiscentiamhabeasdissolvi，etessecumChristo"[havingadesiretodepart，andtobewithChrist]。Butsincetherefollows"multoenimmagisoptimum"[foritisfarbetter]，itisevidentthathesayshehasadesireforthatwhichisbetter；sothat，whileheisinastraitbetwixttwo，yethehasadesireforoneandseesanecessityfortheother；adesire，viz。，tobewithChrist，andanecessitytoremainintheflesh。Nowthisambiguityisresolvedbyonewordthatfollows，whichistranslatedenim[for]；andthetranslatorswhohaveomittedthisparticlehavepreferredtheinterpretationwhichmakestheapostleseemnotonlyinastraitbetwixttwo，butalsotohaveadesirefortwo。（7）Wemustthereforepunctuatethesentencethus：
"etquideligamignoro：compellorautemexduobus"[whatIshallchooseIwotnot：forIaminastraitbetwixttwo]；andafterthispointfollows：
"concupiscentiamhabensdissolvi，etessecumChristo"[havingadesiretodepart，andtobewithChrist]。And，asifhewereaskedwhyhehasadesireforthisinpreferencetotheother，headds："multoenimmagisoptimum"[foritisfarbetter]。Why，then，isheinastraitbetwixtthetwo？Becausethereisaneedforhisremaining，whichheaddsintheseterms："manereincarnenecessariumproptervos"[neverthelesstoabideinthefleshismoreneedfulforyou]。
5。Where，however，theambiguitycannotbeclearedup，eitherbytheruleoffaithorbythecontext，thereisnothingtohinderustopointthesentenceaccordingtoanymethodwechooseofthosethatsuggestthemselves。
AsisthecaseinthatpassagetotheCorinthians："Havingthereforethesepromises，dearlybeloved，letuscleanseourselvesfromallfilthinessofthefleshandspirit，perfectingholinessinthefearofGod。Receiveus；wehavewrongednoman。"（8）Itisdoubtfulwhetherweshouldread，mundemusnosabomnicoinquinationecarnisetspiritus"[letuscleanseourselvesfromallfilthinessofthefleshandspirit]，inaccordancewiththepassage，"thatshemaybeholybothinbodyandinspirit，"（9）or，"mundemusnosabomnicoinquinationecarnis"[letuscleanseourselvesfromallfilthinessoftheflesh]，soastomakethenextsentence，"etspiritusperficientessanctificationemintimoreDeicapitehas"[andperfectingholinessofspiritinthefearofGod，receiveus]。Suchambiguitiesofpunctuation，therefore，arelefttothereader’sdiscretion。
CHAP。3。——HOWPRONUNCIATIONSERVESTOREMOVE
AMBIGUITYDIFFERENTKINDSOFINTERROGATION。
6。AndallthedirectionsthatIhavegivenaboutambiguouspunctuationsaretobeobservedlikewiseinthecaseofdoubtfulpronunciations。Forthesetoo，unlessthefaultliesinthecarelessnessofthereader，arecorrectedeitherbytheruleoffaith，orbyareferencetotheprecedingorsucceedingcontext；orifneitherofthesemethodsisappliedwithsuccess，theywillremaindoubtful，butsothatthereaderwillnotbeinfaultinwhateverwayhemaypronouncethem。Forexample，ifourfaiththatGodwillnotbringanychargesagainstHiselect，andthatChristwillnotcondemnHiselect，didnotstandintheway，thispassage，"WhoshalllayanythingtothechargeofGod’select？"mightbepronouncedinsuchawayastomakewhatfollowsananswertothisquestion，"Godwhojustifieth，"
andtomakeasecondquestion，"Whoishethatcondemneth？"withtheanswer，"ChristJesuswhodied。"（1）Butasitwouldbetheheightofmadnesstobelievethis，thepassagewillbepronouncedinsuchawayastomakethefirstpartaquestionofinquiry，（2）andthesecondarhetoricalinterrogative。（3）
Nowtheancientssaidthatthedifferencebetweenaninquiryandaninterrogativewasthis，thataninquiryadmitsofmanyanswers，butloaninterrogativetheanswermustbeeither"No"or"Yes。"（4）Thepassagewillbepronounced，then，insuchawaythataftertheinquiry，"WhoshalllayanythingtothechargeofGod’select？"whatfollowswillbeputasaninterrogative：
"ShallGodwhojustifieth？"——theanswer"No"beingunderstood。Andinthesamewayweshallhavetheinquiry，"Whoishethatcondemneth？"andtheanswerhereagainintheformofaninterrogative，"IsitChristwhodied？
yea，rather，whoisrisenagain？whoisevenattherighthandofGod？
whoalsomakethintercessionforus？"——theanswer"No"beingunderstoodtoeveryoneofthesequestions。Ontheotherhand，inthatpassagewheretheapostlesays，"Whatshallwesaythen？ThattheGentileswhichfollowednotafterrighteousnesshaveattainedtorighteousness；"（5）unlessaftertheinquiry，"Whatshallwesaythen？"whatfollowsweregivenastheanswertothisquestion："ThattheGentiles，whichfollowednotafterrighteousness，haveattainedtorighteousness；"itwouldnotbeinharmonywiththesucceedingcontext。ButwithwhatevertoneofvoiceonemaychoosetopronouncethatsayingofNathanael’s，"CananygoodthingcomeoutofNazareth？"（6）——whetherwiththatofamanwhogivesanaffirmativeanswer，sothat"outofNazareth"
istheonlypartthatbelongstotheinterrogation，orwiththatofamanwhoasksthewholequestionwithdoubtandhesitation，——Idonotseehowadifferencecanbemade。Butneithersenseisopposedtofaith。
7。Thereis，again，anambiguityarisingoutofthedoubtfulsoundofsyllables；andthisofcoursehasrelationtopronunciation。Forexample，inthepassage，"Mybone[osmeum]wasnothidfromThee，whichThoudidstmakeinsecret，"（7）itisnotcleartothereaderwhetherheshouldtakethewordosasshortorlong。Ifhemakeitshort，itisthesingularofossa[bones]；ifhemakeitlong，itisthesingularofora[mouths]。Nowdifficultiessuchasthisareclearedupbylookingintotheoriginaltongue，forintheGreekwefindnot[mouth]，but[bone]。
Andforthisreasonthevulgaridiomisfrequentlymoreusefulinconveyingthesensethanthepurespeechoftheeducated。ForIwouldratherhavethebarbarism，nonestabsconditumateassuremeum，（8）thanhavethepassageinbetterLatin，butthesenselessclear。Butsometimeswhenthesoundofasyllableisdoubtful，itisdecidedbyawordnearitbelongingtothesamesentence。As，forexample，thatsayingoftheapostle，"OfthewhichItellyoubefore[praedico]，asIhavealsotoldyouintimepast[praedixi]，thattheywhichdosuchthingsshallnotinheritthekingdomofGod。"（9）Nowifhehadonlysaid，"OfthewhichItellyoubefore[quaepraedicovobis]，"andhadnotadded，"asIhavealsotoldyouintimepast[sicutpraedixi]，"wecouldnotknowwithoutgoingbacktotheoriginalwhetherinthewordpraedicothemiddlesyllableshouldbepronouncedlongorshort。Butasitis，itisclearthatitshouldbepronouncedlong；
forhedoesnotsay，sicutpraedicavi，butsicutpraedixi。
CHAP。4。——HOWAMBIGUITIESMAYBESOLVED。
8。Andnotonlythese，butalsothoseambiguitiesthatdonotrelateeithertopunctuationorpronunciation，aretobeexaminedinthesameway。Forexample，thatoneintheEpistletotheThessalonians：Proptereaconsolatisumusfratresinvobis。（10）Nowitisdoubtfulwhetherfratres[brethren]isinthevocativeoraccusativecase，anditisnotcontrarytofaithtotakeiteitherway。ButintheGreeklanguagethetwocasesarenotthesameinform；andaccordingly，whenwelookintotheoriginal，thecaseisshowntobevocative。Nowifthetranslatorhadchosentosay，proptereaconsolationemhabuimusfratresinvobis，hewouldhavefollowedthewordslessliterally，buttherewouldhavebeenlessdoubtaboutthemeaning；or，indeed，ifhehadaddednostri，hardlyanyonewouldhavedoubtedthatthevocativecasewasmeantwhenheheardproptereaconsolatisumusfratresnostriinvobis。Butthisisaratherdangerouslibertytotake。Ithasbeentaken，however，inthatpassagetotheCorinthians，wheretheapostlesays，"Iprotestbyyourrejoicing[pervestramgloriam]whichIhaveinChristJesusourLord，Idiedaily。"（1）Foronetranslatorhasit，pervestramjurogloriam，theformofadjurationappearingintheGreekwithoutanyambiguity。Itisthereforeveryrareandverydifficulttofindanyambiguityinthecaseofproperwords，asfaratleastasHolyScriptureisconcerned，whichneitherthecontext，showingthedesignofthewriter，noracomparisonoftranslations，norareferencetotheoriginaltongue，willsufficetoexplain。
CHAP。5。——ITISAWRETCHEDSLAVERYWHICHTAKESTHEFIGURATIVEEXPRESSIONS
OF
SCRIPTUREINALITERALSENSE。
9。Buttheambiguitiesofmetaphoricalwords，aboutwhichIamnexttospeak，demandnoordinarycareanddiligence。Inthefirstplace，wemustbewareoftakingafigurativeexpressionliterally。
Forthesayingoftheapostleappliesinthiscasetoo："Theletterkilleth，butthespiritgivethlife。"（2）Forwhenwhatissaidfigurativelyistakenasifitweresaidliterally，itisunderstoodinacarnalmanner。Andnothingismorefittinglycalledthedeathofthesoulthanwhenthatinitwhichraisesitabovethebrutes，theintelligencenamely，isputinsubjectiontothefleshbyablindadherencetotheletter。Forhewhofollowsthelettertakesfigurativewordsasiftheywereproper，anddoesnotcarryoutwhatisindicatedbyaproperwordintoitssecondarysignification；but，ifhehearsoftheSabbath，forexample，thinksofnothingbuttheonedayoutofsevenwhichrecursinconstantsuccession；andwhenhehearsofasacrifice，doesnotcarryhisthoughtsbeyondthecustomaryofferingsofvictimsfromtheflock，andofthefruitsoftheearth。Nowitissurelyamiserableslaveryofthesoultotakesignsforthings，andtobeunabletolifttheeyeofthemindabovewhatiscorporealandcreated，thatitmaydrinkineternallight。
CHAP。6。——UTILITYOFTHEBONDAGEOFTHEJEWS。
10。Thisbondage，however，inthecaseoftheJewishpeople，differedwidelyfromwhatitwasinthecaseoftheothernations；
because，thoughtheformerwereinbondagetotemporalthings，itwasinsuchawaythatinallthesetheOneGodwasputbeforetheirminds。Andalthoughtheypaidattentiontothesignsofspiritualrealitiesinplaceoftherealitiesthemselves，notknowingtowhatthesignsreferred，stilltheyhadthisconvictionrootedintheirminds，thatinsubjectingthemselvestosuchabondagetheyweredoingthepleasureoftheoneinvisibleGodofall。
Andtheapostledescribesthisbondageasbeingliketothatofboysundertheguidanceofaschoolmaster。（3）AndthosewhoclungobstinatelytosuchsignscouldnotendureourLord’sneglectofthemwhenthetimefortheirrevelationhadcome；
andhencetheirleadersbroughtitasachargeagainstHimthatHehealedontheSabbath，andthepeople，clingingtothesesignsasiftheywererealities，couldnotbelievethatonewhorefusedtoobservetheminthewaytheJewsdidwasGod，orcamefromGod。Butthosewhodidbelieve，fromamongwhomthefirstChurchatJerusalemwasformed，showedclearlyhowgreatanadvantageithadbeentobesoguidedbytheschoolmasterthatsigns，whichhadbeenforaseasonimposedontheobedient，fixedthethoughtsofthosewhoobservedthemontheworshipoftheOneGodwhomadeheavenandearth。Thesemen，becausetheyhadbeenveryneartospiritualthings（foreveninthetemporalandcarnalofferingsandtypes，thoughtheydidnotclearlyapprehendtheirspiritualmeaning，theyhadlearnttoadoretheOneEternalGod，）werefilledwithsuchameasureoftheHolySpiritthattheysoldalltheirgoods，andlaidtheirpriceattheapostles’feettobedistributedamongtheneedy，（4）
andconsecratedthemselveswhollytoGodasanewtemple，ofwhichtheoldtempletheywereservingwasbuttheearthlytype。
11。NowitisnotrecordedthatanyoftheGentilechurchesdidthis，becausemenwhohadfortheirgodsidolsmadewithhandshadnotbeensoneartospiritualthings。
CHAP。7。——THEUSELESSBONDAGEOFTHEGENTILES。
Andifeveranyofthemendeavoredtomakeitoutthattheiridolswereonlysigns，yetstilltheyusedtheminreferencetotheworshipandadorationofthecreature。Whatdifferencedoesitmaketome，forinstance，thattheimageofNeptuneisnotitselftobeconsideredagod，butonlyasrepresentingthewideocean，andalltheotherwatersbesidesthatspringoutoffountains？
Asitisdescribedbyapoetoftheirs，（5）whosays，ifIrecollectaright，"Thou，FatherNeptune，whosehoarytemplesarewreathedwiththeresoundingsea，whosebeardisthemightyoceanflowingforthunceasingly，andwhosehairisthewindingrivers。"Thishuskshakesitsrattlingstoneswithinasweetcovering，andyetitisnotfoodformen，butforswine。HewhoknowsthegospelknowswhatImean。（1）Whatprofitisittome，then，thattheimageofNeptuneisusedwithareferencetothisexplanationofit，unlessindeedtheresultbethatIworshipneither？
Foranystatueyouliketotakeisasmuchgodtomeasthewideocean。Igrant，however，thattheywhomakegodsoftheworksofmanhavesunklowerthantheywhomakegodsoftheworksofGod。ButthecommandisthatweshouldloveandservetheOneGod，whoistheMakerofallthosethings，theimagesofwhichareworshippedbytheheatheneitherasgods，orassignsandrepresentationsofgods。If，then，totakeasignwhichhasbeenestablishedforausefulendinsteadofthethingitselfwhichitwasdesignedtosignify，isbondagetotheflesh，howmuchmoresoisittotakesignsintendedtorepresentuselessthingsforthethingsthemselves！Forevenifyougobacktotheverythingssignifiedbysuchsigns，andengageyourmindintheworshipofthese，youwillnotbeanythingthemorefreefromtheburdenandtheliveryofbondagetotheflesh。
CHAP。8。——THEJEWSLIBERATEDFROMTHEIRBONDAGEINONEWAY，THEGENTILES
IN
ANOTHER。
12。AccordinglythelibertythatcomesbyChristtookthosewhomitfoundunderbondagetousefulsigns，andwhowere（sotospeak）neartoit，and，interpretingthesignstowhichtheywereinbondage，setthemfreebyraisingthemtotherealitiesofwhichtheseweresigns。AndoutofsuchwereformedthechurchesofthesaintsofIsrael。Those，ontheotherhand，whomitfoundinbondagetouselesssigns，itnotonlyfreedfromtheirslaverytosuchsigns，butbroughttonothingandclearedoutofthewayallthesesignsthemselves，sothattheGentileswereturnedfromthecorruptionofamultitudeoffalsegods，whichScripturefrequentlyandjustlyspeaksofasfornication，totheworshipoftheOneGod：notthattheymightnowfallintobondagetosignsofausefulkind，butratherthattheymightexercisetheirmindsinthespiritualunderstandingofsuch。
CHAP。9。——WHOISINBONDAGETOSIGNS，ANDWHONOT。
13。Nowheisinbondagetoasignwhouses，orpayshomageto，anysignificantobjectwithoutknowingwhatitsignifies：he，ontheotherhand，whoeitherusesorhonorsausefulsigndivinelyappointed，whoseforceandsignificanceheunderstands，doesnothonorthesignwhichisseenandtemporal，butthattowhichallsuchsignsrefer。Nowsuchamanisspiritualandfreeevenatthetimeofhisbondage，whenitisnotyetexpedienttorevealtocarnalmindsthosesignsbysubjectiontowhichtheircarnalityistobeovercome。Tothisclassofspiritualpersonsbelongedthepatriarchsandtheprophets，andallthoseamongthepeopleofIsraelthroughwhoseinstrumentalitytheHolySpiritministereduntoustheaidsandconsolationsoftheScriptures。
Butatthepresenttime，afterthattheproofofourlibertyhasshoneforthsoclearlyintheresurrectionofourLord，wearenotoppressedwiththeheavyburdenofattendingeventothosesignswhichwenowunderstand，butourLordHimself，andapostolicpractice，havehandeddowntousafewritesinplaceofmany，andtheseatonceveryeasytoperform，mostmajesticintheirsignificance，andmostsacredintheobservance；such，forexample，asthesacramentofbaptism，andthecelebrationofthebodyandbloodoftheLord。Andassoonasanyonelooksupontheseobservancesheknowstowhattheyrefer，andsoreveresthemnotincarnalbondage，butinspiritualfreedom。Now，astofollowtheletter，andtotakesignsforthethingsthataresignifiedbythem，isamarkofweaknessandbondage；sotointerpretsignswronglyistheresultofbeingmisledbyerror。
He，however，whodoesnotunderstandwhatasignsignifies，butyetknowsthatitisasign，isnotinbondage。Anditisbettereventobeinbondagetounknownbutusefulsignsthan，byinterpretingthemwrongly，todrawtheneckfromundertheyokeofbondageonlytoinsertitinthecoilsoferror。
CHAP。10。——HOWWEARETODISCERNWHETHERAPHRASEISFIGURATIVE。
14。Butinadditiontotheforegoingrule，whichguardsusagainsttakingametaphoricalformofspeechasifitwereliteral，wemustalsopayheedtothatwhichtellsusnottotakealiteralformofspeechasifitwerefigurative。Inthefirstplace，then，wemustshowthewaytofindoutwhetheraphraseisliteralorfigurative。
Andthewayiscertainlyasfollows：WhateverthereisinthewordofGodthatcannot，whentakenliterally，bereferredeithertopurityoflifeorsoundnessofdoctrine，youmaysetdownasfigurative。PurityoflifehasreferencetotheloveofGodandone’sneighbor；soundnessofdoctrinetotheknowledgeofGodandone’sneighbor。Everyman，moreover，hashopeinhisownconscience，sofarasheperceivesthathehasattainedtotheloveandknowledgeofGodandhisneighbor。Nowallthesemattershavebeenspokenofinthefirstbook。
15。Butasmenarepronetoestimatesins，notbyreferencetotheirinherentsinfulness，butratherbyreferencetotheirowncustoms，itfrequentlyhappensthatamanwillthinknothingblameableexceptwhatthemenofhisowncountryandtimeareaccustomedtocondemn，andnothingworthyofpraiseorapprovalexceptwhatissanctionedbythecustomofhiscompanions；
andthusitcomestopass，thatifScriptureeitherenjoinswhatisopposedtothecustomsofthehearers，orcondemnswhatisnotsoopposed，andifatthesametimetheauthorityofthewordhasaholdupontheirminds，theythinkthattheexpressionisfigurative。NowScriptureenjoinsnothingexceptcharity，andcondemnsnothingexceptlust，andinthatwayfashionsthelivesofmen。Inthesameway，ifanerroneousopinionhastakenpossessionofthemind，menthinkthatwhateverScriptureassertscontrarytothismustbefigurative。NowScriptureassertsnothingbutthecatholicfaith，inregardtothingspast，future，andpresent。Itisanarrativeofthepast，aprophecyofthefuture，andadescriptionofthepresent。Butallthesetendtonourishandstrengthencharity，andtoovercomeandrootoutlust。
16。ImeanbycharitythataffectionofthemindwhichaimsattheenjoymentofGodforHisownsake，andtheenjoymentofone’sselfandone’sneighborinsubordinationtoGod；bylustImeanthataffectionofthemindwhichaimsatenjoyingone’sselfandone’sneighbor，andothercorporealthings，withoutreferencetoGod。Again，whatlust，whenunsubdued，doestowardscorrupting，one’sownsoulandbody，iscalledvice；（1）butwhatitdoestoinjureanotheriscalledcrime。（2）Andthesearethetwoclassesintowhichallsinsmaybedivided。Butthevicescomefirst；forwhenthesehaveexhaustedthesoul，andreducedittoakindofpoverty，iteasilyslidesintocrimes，inordertoremovehindrancesto，ortofindassistancein，itsvices。Inthesameway，whatcharitydoeswithaviewtoone’sownadvantageisprudence；
butwhatitdoeswithaviewtoaneighbor’sadvantageiscalledbenevolence。Andhereprudencecomesfirst；becausenoonecanconferanadvantageonanotherwhichhedoesnothimselfpossess。Nowinproportionasthedominionoflustispulleddown，inthesameproportionisthatofcharitybuiltup。
CHAP。II。——RULEFORINTERPRETINGPHRASESWHICHSEEMTOASCRIBESEVERITY
TOGODAND
THESAINTS。
17。Everyseverity，therefore，andapparentcruelty，eitherinwordordeed，thatisascribedinHolyScripturetoGodorHissaints，availstothepullingdownofthedominionoflust。Andifitsmeaningbeclear，wearenotto，giveitsomesecondaryreference，asifitwerespokenfiguratively。Take，forexample，thatsayingoftheapostle："But，afterthyhardnessandimpenitentheart，treasurestupuntothyselfwrathagainstthedayofwrathandrevelationoftherighteousjudgmentofGod；whowillrendertoeverymanaccordingtohisdeeds：tothemwho，bypatientcontinuanceinwell-doing，seekforglory，andhonor，andimmortality，eternallife；butuntothemthatarecontentious，anddonotobeythetruth，butobeyunrighteousness，indignationandwrath，tribulationandanguish，uponeverysoulofmanthatdoethevil，oftheJewfirst，andalsooftheGentile。"（3）Butthisisaddressedtothosewho，beingunwillingtosubduetheirlust，arethemselvesinvolvedinthedestructionoftheirlust。When，however，thedominionoflustisoverturnedinamanoverwhomithadheldsway，thisplainexpressionisused："TheythatareChrist’shavecrucifiedtheflesh，withtheaffectionsandlusts。"（4）
Onlythat，evenintheseinstances，somewordsareusedfiguratively，asforexample，"thewrathofGod"and"crucified。"Butthesearenotsonumerous，norplacedinsuchawayastoobscurethesense，andmakeitallegoricalorenigmatical，whichisthekindofexpressionproperlycalledfigurative。ButinthesayingaddressedtoJeremiah，"See，Ihavethisdaysettheeoverthenations，andoverthekingdoms，torootout，andtopulldown，andtodestroy，andtothrowdown，"（5）thereisnodoubtthewholeofthelanguageisfigurative，andtobereferredtotheendIhavespokenof。
CHAP。12。——RULEFORINTERPRETINGTHOSESAYINGSANDACTIONSWHICHARE
ASCRIBEDTO
GODANDTHESAINTS，ANDWHICHYETSEEMTOTHEUNSKILLFULTOBEWICKED。
18。Thosethings，again，whetheronlysayingsorwhetheractualdeeds，whichappeartotheinexperiencedtobesinful，andwhichareascribedtoGod，ortomenwhoseholinessisputbeforeusasanexample，arewhollyfigurative，andthehiddenkernelofmeaningtheycontainistobepickedoutasfoodforthenourishmentofcharity。Now，whoeverusestransitoryobjectslessfreelythanisthecustomofthoseamongwhomhelives，iseithertemperateorsuperstitious；whoever，ontheotherhand，usesthemsoastotransgresstheboundsofthecustomofthegoodmenabouthim，eitherhasafurthermeaninginwhathedoes，orissinful。Inallsuchmattersitisnottheuseoftheobjects，butthelustoftheuser，thatistoblame。Nobodyinhissobersenseswouldbelieve，forexample，thatwhenourLord’sfeetwereanointedbythewomanwithpreciousointment，（1）itwasforthesamepurposeforwhichluxuriousandprofligatemenareaccustomedtohavetheirsanointedinthosebanquetswhichweabhor。Forthesweetodormeansthegoodreportwhichisearnedbyalifeofgoodworks；andthemanwhowinsthis，whilefollowinginthefootstepsofChrist，anointsHisfeet（sotospeak）withthemostpreciousointment。Andsothatwhichinthecaseofotherpersonsisoftenasin，becomes，whenascribedtoGodoraprophet，thesignofsomegreattruth。
Keepingcompanywithaharlot，forexample，isonethingwhenitistheresultofabandonedmanners，anotherthingwhendoneinthecourseofhisprophecybytheprophetHosea。（2）Becauseitisashamefullywickedthingtostripthebodynakedatabanquetamongthedrunkenandlicentious，itdoesnotfollowthatitisasintobenakedinthebaths。
19。Wemust，therefore，considercarefullywhatissuitabletotimesandplacesandpersons，andnotrashlychargemenwithsins。Foritispossiblethatawisemanmayusethedaintiestfoodwithoutanysinofepicurismorgluttony，whileafoolwillcraveforthevilestfoodwithamostdisgustingeagernessofappetite。AndanysanemanwouldprefereatingfishafterthemannerofourLord，toeatinglentilesafterthemannerofEsau，orbarleyafterthemannerofoxen。Forthereareseveralbeaststhatfeedoncommonerkindsoffood，butitdoesnotfollowthattheyaremoretemperatethanweare。ForinallmattersofthiskinditisnotthenatureOfthethingsweuse，butourreasonforusingthem，andourmannerofseekingthem，thatmakewhatwedoeitherpraiseworthyorblameable。
20。Nowthesaintsofancienttimeswere，undertheformofanearthlykingdom，fore-shadowingandforetellingthekingdomofheaven。Andonaccountofthenecessityforanumerousoffspring，thecustomofonemanhavingseveralwiveswasatthattimeblameless：andforthesamereasonitwasnotproperforonewomantohaveseveralhusbands，becauseawomandoesnotinthatwaybecomemorefruitful，but，onthecontrary，itisbaseharlotrytoseekeithergainoroffspringbypromiscuousintercourse。Inregardtomattersofthissort，whatevertheholymenofthosetimesdidwithoutlust，Scripturepassesoverwithoutblame，althoughtheydidthingswhichcouldnotbedoneatthepresenttime，exceptthroughlust。Andeverythingofthisnaturethatistherenarratedwearetotakenotonlyinitshistoricalandliteral，butalsoinitsfigurativeandpropheticalsense，andtointerpretasbearingultimatelyupontheendoflovetowardsGodorourneighbor，orboth。ForasitwasdisgracefulamongtheancientRomanstoweartunicsreachingtotheheels，andfurnishedwithsleeves，butnowitisdisgracefulformenhonorablybornnottoweartunicsofthatdescription：sowemusttakeheedinregardtootherthingsalso，thatlustdonotmixwithouruseofthem；forlustnotonlyabusestowickedendsthecustomsofthoseamongwhomwelive，butfrequentlyalsotransgressingtheboundsofcustom，betrays，inadisgracefuloutbreak，itsownhideousness，whichwasconcealedunderthecoverofprevailingfashions。