The latter class, in which there is a parallelism of object or sentiment, although the terms in which it is spoken of be different, are particularly valuable in the study of the Scriptures, and on their faithful and diligent comparison depends, in a great measure, all our right conclusions in regard to the real doctrines of religion. It will not be sufficient, therefore, to carry on this comparison in a partial and slovenly manner; it should be generally and continuously adopted, or its efficiency will be extremely limited. Those persons who have given this method of study a fair and judicious trial, speak of the advantages derivable from it, in the strongest commendatory terms; but they have not spoken of it more highly than the result of several years' experience warrants me in affirming to be strictly true.

I have thus cursorily glanced at the more obvious and important considerations to be borne in mind in a course of Scripture study. What has been brought before my readers may have the effect of directing their attention to the subject, and assisting them in making some little progress in the acquirement of biblical knowledge. This being effected, they will not fail to desire a larger acquisition of it, in all

its branches, and will find it necessary to refer to higher and more ample sources of information.* For the present, however, what has been treated of may suffice, the object being to allure to the study, and to avoid the too comconsequence of elaborate disquisition-the deterring of the uninitiated from the pursuit of knowledge.

*Upon each of the topics enumerated in this and the preceding chapter, the necessary amplification and illustration may be found in "Popular Lectures on Biblical Criticism and Interpretation," pp. 182-342.

CHAP. VII.

ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE PROPHECIES OF

SCRIPTURE.

"We have also the confirmed word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day-dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts."

Peter.

THE directions which have been given in the preceding chapter have no particular reference to any one part of the sacred writings; they have been, hitherto, considered as a whole, and to this view of them all the remarks and suggestions have been adapted. There is one part of the Bible, however and that, too, of very high importance—which, in consequence of its peculiar structure and design, demands the application of some peculiar canons of interpretation, as well as the exercise of extreme caution and prudence in its investigation.

The Prophetic part of the sacred writings is of this description, and hence the wild hypotheses

that have been broached, and the vagaries that have been indulged in. There can be no doubt that this interesting and valuable part of the Bible has been seriously injured and disgraced, in consequence of a class of persons having undertaken to become its interpreters and expounders, without possessing any of the necessary qualifications for the purpose.

Among the various works upon the interpretation of the Scriptures, that have been recently published, there are few better adapted to correct the popular errors upon prophetic subjects, or to induce a rational and satisfactory study of this portion of the Scriptures, than Dr. Pye Smith's admirable discourse, entitled, “On the Principles of Interpretation as applied to the Prophecies of the Holy Scriptures ;" in which the learned and judicious author has ably developed and illustrated the most necessary of those rules or practical principles which must be impartially employed, in order to the attainment of a just knowledge and faithful interpretation of the prophetic word.

Without entertaining the remotest idea of superseding the necessity of Dr. Smith's discourse, which, indeed, I most earnestly recommend to every one of my readers, I am induced to lay be

fore them the following excellent system of hermeneutics, as applicable to the prophecies of Holy Scripture. They are taken from Vitringa (in typo doctrinæ prophetica, cap. 2. de Canonibus verbi prophetici recti exponendi), who has ably illustrated them in his prefaces and commentaries on Isaiah.

1. In the interpretation of prophecy, our attention is first to be exerted in accurately discerning the subject of the prophecy. Acts viii. 34.

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2. To attain a distinct and accurate knowledge of the subject, we should most diligently attend to all the attributes and characters which are applied to the subject of the prediction. If the subject be not expressed by name, it must be discovered by its characteristics; as in Psalms ii. xxii. xlv.; Is. liii.; Zech. iii. 8. If the subject be expressed by name, we must examine whether the name be used properly or mystically, or both, as in Psalm lxxii.

3. We should never relinquish the literal sense of the subject, denoted by its proper appellation, if all, or the more eminent attributes,