have buried the axe under its roots; we will henceforth repofe under its fhade; and we will join to brighten the chain which binds our nations together." Such figurative expreffions as thefe, which in an unimproved ftate of language arise from neceffity, were, in procefs of time, ufed in more polifhed focieties, for the fake of decoration, like garments originally ufed for protection againft inclement weather, were afterwards worn for the fake of ornament. The imagination and the paffions have an extenfive influence over every language; the thoughts and emotions they fuggeft are expreffed by words taken from fenfible objects, and the names of thefe objects were the words firft introduced into all languages, and by degrees applied to other thoughts more more abstract and obfcure, to which it was difficult to affign diftinct and proper words.

The ornaments of compofition are divided into tropes and figures. A trope, in Latin tropus, from Tp, verto, is an expreffion transferred or turned from its proper fubject to another, for the fake of ornament. A figure, figura, or as the Greeks call it, xnua, is a position of words different from their common arrangement, to exprefs more ftrongly fome emotion of the mind. The principal tropes are Metaphor, Simile, Allegory, Hyperbole, Irony, Synecdoche, and Metonymia. The principal figures are Interrogation, Profopopoeia, Apoftrophe, Antithefis, and Climax *.

See Quintilian de Figuris, Lib. ix. c. 1. &c. for a com. plete account and exemplification of all tropes and figures.

Of

Of these tropes and figures, examples will be drawn from the Bible; and for this reafon. It is too commonly regarded as a book which contains only leffons of morality and plain ftatements of facts; an opinion too degrading, as it is replete with beautiful images, and every ornament of style.

TROPES.

The most common and the most beautiful of tropes is the Metaphor. It combines one idea with another, which refembles it in fome particular, for the fake of making a more lively and forcible impreffion upon the mind. Thus the Pfalmift fays, God is my rock and my fhield. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Metaphors are fo common, that in converfation we often use them, without being fenfible of their occurrence. We say that a man has a four or a fweet temper, a cold or a warm heart; that he is enflamed with love, worn out with fatigue, or weighed down by care. We fay the air is keen or Soft, and we cannot eafily find words more expreffive to convey these ideas.

A Simile differs from a metaphor, in this refpect the latter is joined with the fubject it is introduced to illuftrate; the former is feparately expreffed with fome term to prepare us for the comparison of the two ideas; as when Job fays, My days are paffed away as the fwift fhips, as the eagle that hafteth to her prey.

An

An Allegory confifts in a fucceffion of metaphors, and is introduced to enliven a fubject with allufive images, as for example. The Lord is my shepherd, therefore can I lack nothing; he shall feed me in a green pasture, and lead me forth befide the waters of comfort: yea, though I walk through the valley of the fhadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

Fables and Parables come under the head of Allegories. In fables, words and actions are attributed to beafts, and even inanimate objects, for the fake of conveying inftruction. The moft antient is the fable of the Bramble and the Trees, related by Jotham to the inhabitants of Shechem, and recorded in the book of Judges. Parables are fhort narratives, intended to convey, by a striking defcription, fome moral leffons. The moft beautiful are the parables fpoken by our Saviour, of the Sower, the Prodigal Son, and the good Samaritan.

An Hyperbole is a trope carried to a greater degree of excefs than a metaphor, and is defigned to convey an exaggerated idea of an object. It is applied to fubjects the nature of which exceeds common bounds. As for example:-Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided; they were fwifter than eagles, they were ftronger than lions.

The Irony conveys a meaning oppofite to the expreffion, and is fhown either in the manner of the speaker, or the nature of the fubject. The far

cafm differs from the irony in being more fevere, and keen in its application. Cry aloud, faid the Prophet Elijah to the falfe Prophets of Baal, when they were invoking that idol to fend fire from heaven to confume the facrifice; cry aloud for hẹ is a God, either he is talking, or he is purfuing, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

The Synecdoche varies a common expreffion by putting a part for the whole, the fingular number for the plural, a fpecies for a genus, or the reverse of any of these. In common converfation we fay, fo many head of cattle; twenty fail of the line; he lives at the next door. The Prophet Ifaiah fays, then fhall the Affyrian fall by the fword.

The Metonymia puts the cause for the effect, the author for his work, the fign for the thing fignified, the thing containing for that which it contains. As in these examples: They have Mofes and the Prophets, let them hear them. The fceptre fhall not depart from Judah. The whole city came out to meet us.

FIGURES.

The Interrogation fometimes propofes queftions, not fo much for the fake of information as to give greater fpirit to ideas: for example, our Saviour faid to the multitudes concerning John the Baptift, What went ye out into the wilderness to fee? a reed fhaken with the wind? But what went ye

out

out to fee? A man clothed with foft raiment ? Behold they that wear foft clothing are in king's houfes: But what went ye out to fee? a prophet? yea, I fay unto you, and more than a prophet. Thefe fine ideas would lofe all their effect, if they were expreffed only by a plain affertion.

The Profopopoeia gives life, paffion, and action to inanimate beings, as for inftance, The waters faw thee, O God, the waters faw thee and were afraid. What aileth thee, O thou fea, that thou fleddeft, and thou Jordan that thou was driven back? Ye mountains that ye kipped like rams, and ye little hills like young sheep?

The Apostrophe turns off from the regular track of the fubject, to addrefs fome perfon or thing, as Death is fwallowed up in victory. O death! where is thy fting? O grave! where is thy victory? Here is likewise an example of the Interrogation.

The Antithefis illustrates a subject by the oppofition of contrary qualities. It may be compared to the light and fhade of a picture, which add to the effect of each other, and make the whole compofition more impreffive. For example: by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold we live, as forrowful yet alway rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet poffeffing all things."

The