already mentioned, which do not preserve that division. Where the divisions given in the tables are rather large, subdivisions (but not too many in number), are supplied in the notes. The tables at once utterly confute the ignorance, in some cases impious, of those who maintain that the Apostles gave im mediate utterance to whatever chanced to occur to them, with out any plan or design. In the Works of GOD, even to the smallest plant, there is the most entire symmetry : in the Words of GOD there is the most systematic perfection, even to a letter.
It is the especial office of every interpretation, to exhibit adequately the force and signification of the words which the text contains, so as to express every thing which the author in tended, and to introduce nothing which he did not intend to express. The two chief excellences of a good style are depth, and ease (facilitas). They are seldom combined in the case of human authors : and, as each man writes himself, so do others seem to him to write also. He, who himself weighs every word, is in danger (when studying the work of another) of fancying here and there, that he discovers a meaning which the author did not design ; he, who writes with less precision himself, in terprets the words of others too vaguely. In the Divine Scrip tures, however, the greatest depth is combined with the greatest ease (facilitas} ; we should take care, therefore, in interpreting them, not to force their meaning to our own standard; nor, because the sacred writers are devoid of anxious solicitude, to treat their words as if employed without due consideration. The Divine language far, very far, surpasses all human elegances of courtly style.
God, not as man, but as God, utters words worthy of Himself. Deep and lofty are His thoughts : His words, which flow from them, are of inexhaustible efficacy. In the case also of His in spired interpreters, although they may not have received human instruction, their language is most exact. The expression of their words corresponds exactly with the impression of the things in their minds ; and it is so far from being beneath the compre-