The genitive absolute in the Greek, answering to the ablative absolute in the Latin, hath often a causal signification, and ought to be so understood. Gal. iii. 25. Eadrons de Tiolews, But faith (the gospel) being come, that is, because faith is come, we are no longer under the pedagogue.

24. It is of importance to observe, that, in the Greek language, nouns in the genitive case, sometimes express the object, and sometimes the agent: and therefore, in the translation of the scriptures, these uses of the genitive ought to be carefully distinguished. Of the genitive of the object, the following are examples: Matt. ix. 25. The gospel, or good news (Ths Bas) concerning the kingdom.-Matt. x. 1. Power (των πνευματων ακα Jagrov) over unclean spirits, namely, to cast them out.-Acts iv. 9. If we this day be examined (171 wegyeosa avigwas aoderous) concerning the good deed of the impotent man; that is, concerning the good deed done to the impotent man.-Rom. xvi. 15. Kapʊyμx In, The preaching concerning Jesus.-2 Cor. i. 5. For as (zadnμara Te Xpis) the sufferings for Christ.-Eph. iii. 1. (παθήματα το I Paul (o depos 78 Xp:58) the prisoner for Christ.-1 Tim. iv. 1. Διδασκαλίαις δαιμονων, Doctrines concerning demons. Rev. ii. 13. And have not retained (any misliv μs) the faith concerning me: or it may be translated as the genitive of the agent, the faith which I enjoin.

25. Of the genitive of the agent, the following are examples: Luke i. 69. Kɛpas σw]npias, A horn which worketh salvation.—John vi. 28. This is the work of God; the work which God enjoins.— Rom. iii. 22. Faith of Jesus; the faith which Jesus requires.2 Cor. iv. 10. Always carrying about in the body (vengway Tou zugi8 In78) the mortification of the Lord Jesus; the mortification which the Lord Jesus requires or practised.-Eph. iv. 18. Anλλοτριωμένοι της ζωης του Θεου, Being alienated from the life which God commands.-Col. i. 24. And fill up the remainder of the afflictions of Christ; the remainder of the afflictions which Christ hath enjoined me to suffer.-Col. ii. 11. The circumcision of Christ; the circumcision enjoined by Christ. See Rom. iii. 22.

note.

The genitive is commonly marked by the article 78. But sometimes the article is omitted; as, Heb. v. 6. Kala τny TaŽIV Meλxieden, According to the order of Melchisedeck.-Tit. ii. 13. The appearing of the glory of the great God, (xas owingos 'nuwv Inog for 18 cingos) and of our saviour Jesus Christ.

The dative of the cause, manner, and instrument, is often expressed by a preposition; but sometimes the preposition is un

derstood. Luke xxii. 49. Shall we smite (s) with the sword ?— Luke xxiii. 15. Nothing worthy of death is done (avw) by him. Supply raga. This is an easy solution of a difficulty which hath hitherto perplexed all the critics and commentators.— Ephes. ii. 15. And hath abolished (ev ry vaguı) by his flesh.Heb. xiii. 10. We have an altar, of which they have no right to eat (or ry ounin λalgevovles) who worship (supply e) in the tabernacle.

26. COMPARISON of nouns.-While treating of nouns, it may be proper to observe, that the writers of the New Testament have adopted the Hebrew manner of comparison. The following are examples of the Hebrew comparison in the second degree: Matt. xii. 7. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; I will have mercy rather than sacrifice.-Mark iii. 4.-Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil?-Is it not more lawful to do good on the sabbath days than to do evil? viz. in watching Jesus on the sabbath, that they might find matter of accusation against him. John vi. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat enduring to eternal life; labour more for the meat enduring to eternal life, than for the meat that perisheth.-John xv. 22. If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin, so much sin.-1 Cor. iii. 7. So neither the planter is any thing, nor the waterer, but God who maketh to grow: Their influence is nothing in comparison of God's.-1 Cor. i. 17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: Christ sent me to preach the gospel rather than to baptize.-Col. iii. 2. Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth: Set your affections rather on things above, than on things on the earth.

27. The following are examples of the Hebrew manner of comparing things in the third degree, by representing them as belonging to God. Gen. xxx. 6. Wrestlings of God; that is, very great wrestlings.-1 Sam. xiv. 15. Tremblings of God, very great tremblings.-Psal. xxxvi. 6. The mountains of God, and Ps. lxxx. 2. Cedars of God, are very great mountains and cedars.-Jonah iii. 3. Пonss μeyarn To O, A great city to God, is a very great city.— Mark xi. 22. Jesus answering, said unto them, (exere xioliv Osx) Have a faith of God, have a very great faith.-1 Thess. iv. 16. With the voice of an archangel, and with a trumpet of God, a great trumpet. The comparison in the third degree is sometimes made by doubling the word. Luke xxii. 15. With desire I have desired, I have greatly desired.-Acts iv. 17. Απειλη απειλησωμεθα, Let us threaten them with a threatening; let us threaten them severely. -Acts v. 28. Οι παραγγελια παραγγείλαμεν, Did we not straightly

command you* ?-Matt. vii. 21. Not every one who said to me, Lord, Lord; that is, most excellent Lord.-Matt. xxiii. 7. And to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi ; that is, most excellent Rabbi.— Mark. xiv. 45. He goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, Master; that is, most excellent master.

28. The positive is sometimes put for the superlative. Luke ix. 48. He who is least among you all shall be (μeyas, great) greatest. For the disciples disputed who should be the greatest.

29. The comparative is sometimes put for the positive. 1 Tim. iii. 14. Hoping to come to thee (taxiov) shortly, or soon.-2 Tim. i. 18. And in how many things he ministered to me in Ephesus, thou knowest (Ceλriov, better) well*.-Sometimes the comparative is put for the superlative. 1 Cor. xiii. 13. Megav de vlwv, But the (greater) greatest of these is charity*.-1 Cor. xv. 19. We are of all men (ελɛɛtvo]ɛpot, more) most miserable.

30. Idiomatical nouns, are words used by the Hebrews in a sense peculiar to themselves. Of these the following are examples.

Able, when applied to God, or to Christ, signifies able and willing, Rom. iv. 21. Fully persuaded, that what was promised, he was able and willing even to perform.-Rom. xi. 23. For God is (dvvalos) able and willing to graft them in. See also Rom. xiv. 4.; xvi. 25; Heb. ii. 18.

31. All is often used in a restricted sense, for the greatest part. 1 Cor. viii. 1. We all have knowledge, that is, the greatest part of us for it is said, ver. 17. There is not in every man that knowledge.-1 Cor. xi. 2. That ye remember me in all things, that is, most things. For they had not obeyed the apostle's precepts concerning the Lord's supper.-1 Cor. xv. 51. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; that is, many of us shall be changed.

All sometimes means the greatest degree of the quality to which it is applied. 1 Cor. xiii. 2. All knowledge, all faith, signify the greatest knowledge, and faith.-Col. ii. 9. All wisdom and spiritual understanding.-1 Tim. i. 16. Shew all longsuffering.-James i. 2. Count it all joy.

All signifies some of every kind. Matt. iv. 23.; Acts x. 12. 32. Answer was applied by the Hebrews to any kind of speech. It may therefore be translated according to the nature of the speech to which it is applied. Matt, xi. 25. At that time, Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, &c. At that time, Jesus prayed and said, &c.-Mark xii. 35. At that time Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the

scribes that Elias, &c. Jesus asked and said.-2 Cor. i. 9. We had (amonga, the answer) the sentence of death in ourselves*.

33. A blessing signifies a gift. 1 Sam. xxv. 27. This blessing (gift) which thine hand-maid hath brought.-Rom. xv. 29. Come with the fulness of the blessing of the gospel; come with the fulness of the gift of the gospel.-2 Cor. ix. 5. That they would go before unto you, and complete beforehand your before mentioned blessing; that is, gift to the saints.

34. Bowels. By this word the Hebrews expressed the tenderest affection, and the greatest vehemence of desire; because tender affection, especially love mixed with pity, occasions a commotion and noise in the bowels. Hence the expression, Isa. lxiii. 15. Sounding of the bowels.-2 Cor. vii. 15. Τα ewayxva, (his bowels) His inward affection.-Philip. ii. 1. If any bowels and mercies.—Philem. ver. 20. Αναπαύσον τα σπλαγ xva, Quiet my bowels.

35. Bread signifies the whole provision of the table. 2 Sam. ix. 7. Thou shalt eat bread continually at my table.-Matt. iv. 3. Command that this stone be made bread, or meat.-4. It is written, man shall not live by bread (meat) alone.—Matt. vi. 7. Our daily bread, food.-Mark iii. 20. They could not so much as eat bread, take food.-Mark vii. 5. Eat bread (meat) with unwashen hands. See Eat, Drink.

36. Called. To be called, often signifies to be, simply. 1 John iii. 1. that we should be called the sons af God, that we should be the sons of God. Sometimes called, means held, acknowledged, accounted.

37. Children, Sons, joined with a quality, denote an high degree of that quality. Thus, children of light, of disobedience, of wrath, sons of darkness, &c.—Children sometimes signify disciples. Thus, children of the prophets. Isai. viii. 18. Behold I and the children, &c.

38. Common. Because many of the things in common use among the heathens were, by the law of Moses, unclean to the Jews, they used the word common to denote a thing unclean. Matt. xv. 11. Koivo: Tov avtgwtov, (rendereth a man common) Polluteth a man.) -Mark vii. 2. When they saw some of his disciples eat bread (xovos, with common) with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands*. Rom. xiv. 14. There is nothing (xoivov, common) unclean of itself*-Heb. x. 29. Counted the blood of the covenant, &c. (xoivov, a common) an unclean thing, the blood of an unclean or sinful person.

39. Doctrine (didax) signifies not only the thing taught, but the action of teaching; a discourse in which things are taught. Mark iv. 2. Taught them many things by parables, and said unto them (Evry dıdax? avls) in his teaching or discourse. The same expression is used, Mark xi. 18. xii. 38.—Acts ii. 42. They constantly attended on (ry didax?) the teaching of the apostles. -Titus i. 9. Kala anv didaxnr, According as he hath been taught*, 1 Cor. xiv. 26. Each of you hath a psalm, (dida exe) hath a discourse.

40. Eat, Drink.-As the Hebrews represented knowledge and wisdom by meat and drink, they made use of the phrases eating and drinking, to denote the operation of the mind, in receiving, understanding, and applying doctrine or instruction of any kind, so as to be strongly moved thereby. Jer. xv. 16. Thy words were sound, and I did eat them.-Ezek. iii. 1.' Son of man, &c. eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel: Consider, understand, and get this roll by heart, and then go and speak it to the house of Israel, as is evident from ver. 4. Speak with my words to them.-Prov. ix. 5. Come eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6. Forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding.-John vi. 51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever.-Hence, bread signifies doctrine, also moral qualities, which are nourished by sound doctrine. 1 Cor. v. 8. The unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.-Farther, to eat and drink any quality, signifies intimately to partake thereof.-1 Cor. xii. 13. Have been all made to drink of one Spirit.-1 Cor. xi. 29. Eateth and drinketh punishment to himself.

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41. Elect, or chosen, often signifies the most excellent, the chief, the most precious among other things of the same kind, because excellence is the reason why some things are chosen preferably to others. Thus, Exod. xv. 3. Pharaoh's chief captains are called his elect captains.—2 Kings xix. 23. His (elect) choice fir-trees.-Rom. xvi. 13. Rufus chosen in the Lord; that is, an excellent Christian.-1 Tim. v. 21. Elect angels, are the chief _angels; in opposition both to those who are of an inferior order, and to the fallen angels.-1 Pet. ii. 6. Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, (exλexlov) elected, precious.-2 John, ver. 1. Elect lady, is excellent lady.-Ver. 13. Elect sister, is excellent sister. 42. Face is often used to signify anger. Psal. xxi. 9.—xxxiv. 16. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil*.