from the only source of knowledge in this case, the audible voice, to improve or to amend their system, or to supply a more genuine system in its place, which may answer our purpose better, and lay open to us the laws of Hebrew versification? The pursuit is vain; the object of it lies beyond our reach; it is not within the compass of human reason or invention. The question concerning Hebrew metre is now pretty much upon the same footing with that concerning the Greek accents. That there were certain laws of ancient Hebrew metre is very probable; and that the living Greek language was modulated by certain rules of accent is beyond dispute: but a man born deaf may as reasonably pretend to acquire an idea of sound, as the critic of these days to attain to the true modulation of Greek by accent, and of Hebrew by metre."

b

Thus much then, I think, we may be allowed to infer from the alphabetical poems; namely, that the Hebrew poems are written in verse, properly so called; that the harmony of the verses does not arise from rhyme, that is, from similar corresponding sounds terminating the verses; but from some sort of rhythm, probably some sort of metre, the laws of which are now altogether unknown, and wholly undiscoverable: yet that there are evident marks of a certain correspondence of the verses

See a larger Confutation of Bishop Hare's Hebrew metre, London, 1766; where I have fully treated of this subject.

with one another, and of a certain relation between the composition of the verses and the composition of the sentences; the formation of the former depending in some degree upon the distribution of the latter; so that generally periods coincide with stanzas, members with verses, and pauses of the one with pauses of the other; which peculiar form of composition is so observable, as plainly to discriminate in general the parts of the Hebrew Scriptures, which are written in verse, from those which are written in prose. This will require a larger and more minute explication; not only as a matter necessary to our present purpose; that is, to ascertain the character of the prophetical style in general, and of that of the prophet Isaiah in particular; but as a principle of considerable use, and of no small importance, in the interpretation of the poetical parts of the Old Testament.

The correspondence of one verse, or line, with another, I call parallelism. When a proposition is delivered, and a second is subjoined to it, or drawn under it, equivalent, or contrasted with it, in sense; or similar to it in the form of grammatical construction; these I call parallel lines; and the words or phrases, answering one to another in the corresponding lines, parallel terms.

Parallel lines may be reduced to three sorts; parallels synonymous, parallels antithetic, and paral

lels synthetic. Of each of these I shall give a variety of examples, in order to show the various forms, under which they appear: first, from the books universally acknowledged to be poetical; then, correspondent examples from the prophet Isaiah; and sometimes also from the other prophets; to show, that the form and character of the composition is in all the same.

As some of the examples, which follow, are of many lines, the reader may perhaps note a single line or two intermixed, which do not properly belong to that class, under which they are ranged. These are retained, to preserve the connection and harmony of the whole passage: and it is to be observed, that the several sorts of parallels are perpetually mixed with one another; and this mixture gives a variety and beauty to the composition.

First of parallel lines synonymous: that is, which correspond one to another by expressing the same sense in different, but equivalent terms; when a proposition is delivered, and is immediately repeated, in the whole or in part, the expression being varied, but the sense entirely, or nearly the same. As in the following examples :

"O-Jehovah, in-thy-strength the-king shall-rejoice;
And-in-thy-salvation how greatly shall-he-exult!
The-desire of-his-heart thou-hast-granted unto-him;
And-the-request of-his-lips thou-hast-not denied."

Psal. xxi. 1, 2.

"Because I-called, and-ye-refused;
I-stretched-out my-hand, and-no-one regarded:
But-ye-have-defeated all my-counsel;
And-would-not incline to-my-reproof:
I also will-laugh at-your-calamity ;
I-will-mock, when-what-you-feared cometh ;
When-what-you-feared cometh like-a-devastation ;
And-your-calamity advanceth like-a-tempest;
When-distress and-anguish come upon-you;
Then shall-they-call-upon-me, but-I-will-not answer;
They-shall-seek-me-early, but-they-shall-not find-me :
Because they-hated knowledge;
And-did-not choose the-fear of-Jehovah;
Did-not incline to-my-counsel;
Contemptuously-rejected all my-reproof:
Therefore-shall-they-eat of-the-fruit of-their-ways;
And-shall-be-satisfied with-their-own-devices.
For the-defection of-the-simple shall-slay-them ;
And-the-security of-fools shall-destroy them."

Prov. i. 24-32.

"Seek-ye Jehovah, while-he-may-be-found; Call-ye-upon-him, while-he-is near :

Let-the-wicked forsake his-way;

And-the-unrighteous man his-thoughts:

And-let-him-return to Jehovah, and-he-will-compassionate-him;

And-unto our-God, for he-aboundeth in-forgiveness."

Isa. lv. 6, 7.

"Fear not, for thou-shalt-not be-ashamed;

And-blush not, for thou-shalt-not be-brought-to-reproach:

For thou-shalt-forget the-shame of-thy-youth; And-the-reproach of-thy-widowhood thou-shalt-remember no more."

Isa. liv. 4.

"Hearken unto-me, ye-that-know righteousness;
The-people in-whose-heart is-my-law:

Fear not the-reproach of-wretched-man;
Neither be-ye-borne-down by-their-revilings;
For the-moth shall-consume-them like-a-garment;
And-the-worm shall-eat-them like wool:
But-my-righteousness shall-endure for-ever;
And-my-salvation to-the-age of-ages."

"Like-mighty-men shall-they-rush-on;
Like-warriors shall-they-mount the-wall:
And-every-one in-his-way shall-they-march;

Isa. li. 7, 8.

And-they-shall-not turn-aside from-their paths."

Joel ii. 7.

"Blessed-is the-man, that-feareth Jehovah; That-greatly delighteth in-his-commandments."

Psal. cxii. 1.

"Hearken unto-me, O-house of-Jacob; And-all the-remnant of-the-house of-Israel."

"Honour Jehovah with-thy-riches;

Isa. xlvi. 3.

And-with-the-first-fruits of-all thine-increase."

"Incline your-ear, and-come unto-me; Hearken, and-your-soul shall-live."

Prov. iii. 9.

Isa. lv. 3.