Matt. viii. 11, where Jesus prefers to use this circumlocution to designate the Gentiles, iroXXol dFo dvaroXuv %ai dun/^Sjv — inasmuch as they who were present seemed unequal [as being full of Jewish prejudices] to bear this promise given to the Gentiles. Comp. Acts ii. 39, <77 roTg fig punpav. The third Index of the Gnomon quotes
a number of passages. Refer to this head also the modest , decorous language (verecundiam) of Scripture, which the Gnomon praises, upon Acts ii. 30, the note upon xapnot r^g offcpvog. Comp, the Preface of Bengel, § xv., and the Title, Ethos, above ; and Peri- phrasis, below.
EXERGASIA. — See the Title, Epexegesis.
EXTENUATIO. — See the Title, Litotes.
FIGURA. — A rhetorical Figure, is a certain kind of change of the ordinary and simple language otherwise used, attended with an accession of power. u Moreover that power is twofold. For either it makes the language sweeter , or more weighty , and on both accounts imparts Ornament to the language. Furthermore, Figures impart sweetness , either by a certain kind of sound, or by the sense, or by the copiousness thus produced : for both certain sounds naturally delight the ears and minds of hearers ; and a certain conformation of the sentences is sweeter than a different one ; in fine, copiousness of expression naturally charms us all. Moreover, Figures have the effect of producing Gravity , either by that same copiousness, if it serves to increase and accumulate the particulars of a subject, or else by moving some mental affection. In fine, Figure is itself double ; the one in the words , the other in the sentiments [termed respec- tively, Figures of diction, and Figures of sentiment]. Ernesti Init. Rhet. P. II. ch. iii. p. 166. Comp. Glassii Phil. S. L. Y. Tract, ii. p. m. 1989, etc.
GNOME. — A Gnome is a universal sentiment, which appertains to life and human actions, or is at least conjoined with human affairs in some way or other [Ernesti In. Eh. § 148] : e.g. — 2 Thess. iii. 10, u rig ou 6sX u epyufyaOui, (crib's iffd/STU. — 1 Cor. vi. 12 ; Often Paul gives utterance in the first person singular to sentiments which have tile force of a Gnome, as, cravra /uo / g^effr/v, aXX' ou rravra cv/jjtpipei. The sacred writings are so pregnantly full of the best things, that these constitute, as it were, certain continued senti- ments, either openly set forth in the form of gnomes, or else such as, though they be clothed with circumstantial particulars, and as it were applied to individual cases [ Noemata ], yet can be readily re- duced to a general dogma or sentiment [ Gnome'] . Flacius’ Clavis Script. P. ii. p. 233. Comp. Caldenbachii. Comp. Rhet. L. iii. ch. xxii.