COLLEGHEIBRARY

SACRED CLASSICS

Defended and Illuftrated ::::

OR,

An ESSAY

Humbly offer'd towards proving the

Purity, Propriety, and True Eloquence

Of the WRITERS of the

NEW TESTAMENT.

In TWO PARTS.

In the FIRST of which

Thofe DIVINE WRITERS are vindicated against
the Charge of barbarous LANGUAGE, falfe GREEK, and SOLECISMS.
In the SECOND is fhewn,

That all the Excellencies of STYLE, and fublime
Beauties of LANGUAGE and genuine ELOQUENCE do abound
in the Sacred WRITERS of the NEW TESTAMENT.

With an Account of their STYLE and CHARACTER,
and a Representation of their Superiority, in feveral Inftances,
to the best CLASSICS of GREECE and ROME,

To which are fubjoin'd proper INDEXES.
By A. BLACKWALL, M. A.

The SECOND EDITION, Corrected.

LONDON:

Printed for C. RIVINGTON, at the Bible and Crown in
St. Paul's Churchyard, and W. CANTRELL Bookfeller in Derby.

MDCCXXVII.

THE

PREFACE

I

N refpect to the fubject itself which I treat of, I cannot pretend to prefent my reader with a discourse entirely new: but if the copiousness and choice of my materials, with the manner and method of my managing and difpofing of them, be confider'd, it may appear that there is something new in this Effay.

I have read the best and most authentic Greek writers, with a view of comparing them with the divine writers of the New Teftament; by which I have been enabled to prove the purity ANNEX A

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and

and elegance of numerous paffages, which for feveral ages have by eminent fcholars been condemned for folecisms.

Many learned and good men, whose fentiments may not entirely agree with mine in the First Part, will, I believe allow me to be right in the Second and in general acknowledge the fublime eloquence and noble beauties of the inspired writers; only charge me, which I humbly acknowledge, with a very imperfect representation of them. I have done my poor Endeavours; and have, perhaps, by opening the way, done service to the publick, by giving the hint to fome greater and more able genius, who is qualified to do more justice to this glorious fubject.

With modeft scholars and Chriftians the honefty of my intention and the diligence of my labours will plead for favourable abatements. If any fuch worthy person shall think it proper to correct any of my mistakes in public, it will not be by way of haughtiness

and