Propofitions, three of them Prohibitions, and two of them Reasons for it, the greatest Stop appears between the Precepts and Reafons: but on a more narrow Perfpection, the two Reafons belong only to the last Precept, and the former two Propofitions are related as Text and Explication, therefore is rightly placed on Perfons. Gen. 15. 13. And be faid unto Abraham, know of a furety, that thy feed fhall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and fhall ferve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. Here our Tranflators have put no Colon at all, but the Emphatick placing of in the Original is a Comment on the Text, and a better one than many, or any Chronologer has given on it. Ifaac Voffius, among his many other Additions, to Sacred Chronology, afferts 200 Years into this Epocha, faying, There were 430 Years from Jacob's going down to Egypt, until Mofes coming up out of it, which he confirms from Exod. 12. 40. though he himself takes Alts 7. 6. where they are faid to be evil treated 400 Years, by way of Synecdoche, for a part of that time, but Matter of Fact will not fuffer it, for Gal. 3. 16. this Prediction ended with the Law, and began with the Promise; and we find 215 Years after the Promife, before Jacob went to Egypt, viz. 25 from Abraham, 75 to Ifaac's Birth, 100 Abraham, 60 from Ifaac's birth to Jacob's, Gen. 21. 5. 130 from Jacob's, to his appearing before Pharaoh,Gen. 47. 9. This Summ'd makes 215.

Secondly, We find but two Generations in Egypt, for Levi begot Cabad in Canaan, hence Amram Mofes: Reuben begot Phallu in Canaan, hence Eliab Dathan and Abiram: Fudah begot Ezrom, and he Pharez in Canaan, hence Fephunna Caleb. Now

if we examine the Original of this Prediction, is put after afflict them, whereas diftance of Matter feems to put between their Pilgrimage and Affliction, with Service and Bondage; the latter being only in their Brick-Days in Egypt, the former all their Tent-Days in Canaan, from Abraham's first coming to it. But being placed after both,and between both, and 400 Years, informs us, that the 400 Years comprehends both, or all three, viz. Days of Pilgrimage, Service, and Affliction.

Another Example you have of this Emphatical Displacement of Gen. 29. 21. And Jacob faid to Laban, give me my wife, (for my days are fulfilled) that I may go in unto her. The greateft diftinction is justly on Wife, but the Hebrew has it on fulfilled. Facob made no ftop in his Speech until he had inforced it with irrefragable Juftice, left Laban fhould have put in fome excufe or delay; and then if they had come to balancing of Reafons, the covetous Heart, and crabb'd Temper of a Laban, had cloathed it felf with the Mantle of Father-hood. It was dishonour to a Father to yield, though fome Justice appear on the Son's fide; but a Son of Honour would not bear it, to fee his grey Hair'd Father bending to him; and befides, the Son's Father, like enough, might have taken it ill, to fee the Father dunn'd after a Denial; therefore the Stile fhows his great hafte to prevent a Denial.

SECT.

SECT. III.

Shall now proceed to the reft of the Abfolute Lords, with the ufe of Atnah in Verfe. Wafmuth exprefles his principal Rule thus: Merca mahphate (who is Lord of the first of the Verfe in Meeter) if he fall on a Word, the fourth or fifth from Silluk, where alfo there is room for middle then is a little King. If there is not Rebbia gerefchate is in his place, as Vicar with Ser

vants.

2

This I do not agree with, much less his Foundation, viz. As they ftand in a difference from Silluk, but a Difputative, and Refutative Stile, is that my Genius is averfe to.

Secondly, The Perfon is one I highly efteem, he has been my firft and chief Mafter in this Do&trine.

Thirdly, In my Opinion, many have done worthily in it, but he above all. I fhall therefore take a more Didactick Method, and fhall begin with in Meeter, for the Sum of what is to be faid, confifts either in comparing in Profe or Verfe; if he be of the fame Value, and the fame Rules, Figures, or Accidents happen to him here, that is there, which I fhall affert, or in comparing

with which of the two are the greatest Lord, and if he be liable to as much Emphafis as for Segolta and Rhebia gerefchate will be foon dispatched.

ī

Canon 1. is of as great diftinguishing Power in Meeter, as and equal to what it had in Profe. The firft Argument I produce, is that in Verses of Two Propolitions, of diftinét Subjects, in N that is, Pfalms, Proverbs, Job (which are all that bear the Name Metrical, as to diftinct Points) more may as, to Rhetorical Fofition of them. There are above 1300 that have to diftinguish these two, and not above 14 or 15 Verfes that have here are not above (if ftrictly examined) one Exception to an hundred Examples. It may be Objected on Merca mahp. part, that where there are three, or more Propofitions of diftinct Subjects, where

and are both expreffed, that then has the place of greateft Oppofition, Pfal. 1. 1. 3. 6. 5. 10. 6. 3. 7, 9. There are about 200 Examples of this kind, that if they were in Profe, Atnah would be put, where Merca mahp. is, and there'fore it is to be yielded their Affertion (that Merca mabp. is the greatest Lord in Meeter) is not without Reason, fince where both show themselves, he takes both the first place, and the chief, tho' his taking the first place here, is a fign of Inferiority, not Dignity; yet this wants not fome Exceptions, viz. where and are both prefent in a Verfe of Two Propofitions, - is in the chief place, Ffal. 18. 12. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed - bail-ftones and coals of fire: Ver. 15. Then the channels of water were feen and the foundations of the world were difcovered at thy Rebuke, O Lord both of them,

A

viz. At the blast of the breath of thy noftrils, - Pfal. 37. 14. & 106. 47.

A

A Second Argument then to Balance it is, That there are above 406 Verfes, of three, or more diftinct Propofitions, that have not at all, Pfal. 3. 8. 4. 23. 5. 4, 12. 6, 57. 7. 23, 67. Pfal. 10. 11, c. And above 100 more, where three, or more Propofitions, but fo refpective, that there is place left only for one Abfolute Lord, is he always that is prefent, Pfal. 2. 8. 7, 13. 9. 20. 10, 3. 6, 15. 12, 5, &c. Here is now place for Enquiry, if be not a pure Pathetick, or Rhetorical Point, viz. Whether he takes place from him, in thefe places where he appears, or appears only in a Rhetorical manner. Number of Examples feem to approve it; but though in Profe that would carry the Victory, I dare not entirely comply with it, for the ordinary Confecution of Words is more frequently changed in fome little thing or other, than holds, Ex gr.

But indeed, the Question is here, What is meant by Ordinary, or Exception? For if we mean moft frequently, moft ufually, then is ordinarily ab fent, ufually abfent, though two, or three, or four Propofitions of distinct Subjects If we mean without Figure or Emphasis, which is the ufual Stile of the Book, then it is like the Rhetorical Figure is to be look'd after, where he is abfent, not present, which requires a second Scrutiny.

Can. 2. That is liable to the fame Rhetorical Exceptions in Meeter, that he is in Verfe; for firft,