The mysterie of rhetorique unveil'd wherein above 130 the tropes and figures are severally derived from the Greek into English : together with lively definitions and variety of Latin, English, scriptural, examples, pertinent to each of them apart. Conducing very much to the right understanding of the sense of the letter of the scripture, (the want whereof occasions many dangerous errors this day). Eminently delightful and profitable for young scholars, and others of all sorts, enabling them to discern and imitate the elegancy in any author they read, &c. / by John Smith.

The Author to the Reader.

Courteous Reader,

WEre it absolutely necessary for him that would write of Eloquence to be perfectly e∣loquent, I would easily con∣fesse myself too rash in this enterprise: But having seen often those treat know∣ingly of painting that never held Pencil, and Cicero remarking that Aratus, by the common consent of learned men, wrote excellently of the Heavens and Stars, though he was no noted Astronomer; I'm encourag'd to say, why then may not I too discourse of Eloquence without be∣ing an Oratour? Galen, that great Ma∣ster of Physick, who wrote so learnedly of every part of that Science, was little seen in the Practick; Nor are those that discourse best of the embattailing Ar∣mies, and differencing Military functi∣ons, alwayes the best Warriers, or the

most daring. The like may happen in this Subject, that he, who is able to set down the rules and laws which ought to be observed in speech or style, may notwithstanding find himself defective in the application; and so may be said to give that to others, which he hath not himself: But this Treatise indeed may not so properly be termed a Di∣rection to the Art of Rhetorique, as a Key to unlock and lay open those abstruse difficulties which the Tropes and Figures have hitherto, not only been masked with, but lock'd up un∣der; I mean from such at least, as are altogether unacquainted with the Greek tongue, and have not directed their studies to that subject.

Object. But it may be you will say, there were several books extant before, that much illustrate the Tropes and Fi∣gures of Rhetorique.

Answ. It is very true, that many learned Worthies have done exceeding well herein; yet to use the expression of one of them: That a child upon a Gyant shoulders can see further then the Gyant: So I, having the help of

th••ir labours, and of other Books, have by Divine assistance (without ostenta∣tion be it mentioned) used a more di∣stinct and easie method throughout the whole current of my Discourse, then any other upon this Subject yet extant; whereby matters of high and excellent sublimity are bowed down to the weak∣est capacities.

I render the English of each Trope and Figure, & likewise the English of the words, from whence they are derived, whether from the Greek or Latin, then a brief definition and lively character and representation of each Trope and Figure, then choyse Latin and * 1.1 English Ex∣amples pertinent to each of them, as also a brief and plain explanation of the terms used in Rhetorique, with an Al∣phabetical Table for the ready finding each of the Tropes and Figures.

Lastly, For that the holy Scripture is not barren of, but a∣bounds with* 1.2 tropes and figures of all sorts, as containing the most excellent and sublimest elo∣quence,

and is like a pleasant garden, bedecked with flowers, or a fruitful field, full of precious treasures, I ap∣prehended it a work worthy the under∣taking, to dig into those sacred Mine∣rals for the better finding out the Me∣taphors, Metonymies, Synecdoches, &c. which lie hid there, and have given Scriptural Examples pertinent to each of the Tropes and Figures: For the bare reading of the Scripture, without searching into its heavenly mysteries and meaning, is like the coming into a Treasury, wherein we see many costly things folded up, and some ends appear∣ing out, but when they be all unfold∣ed, then doth their glory more affect us for the present, yea, and leave in us a deep impression of their excellency: Besides, the ignorance of Rhetorique is one ground (yea, and a great one) of many dangerous Errors this day; as upon perusal of the Scriptural Examples of Synecdoche, Metonymie, &c. will manifestly appear, where you have not only bare instances, but divers Texts cleared and explained; for though the Spirit of the Lord be indeed that Golden

Key, that opens the sealed mysteries of the Book of Truth, and inspires the soul with the understanding of the hidden wisdom therein; and those men, whose understandings are not opened by him who hath the Key of David,* 1.3 be they never so learned,* 1.4 yet by reason of the blindnesse of their hearts, seeing,* 1.5 they see not, and hearing,* 1.6 they understand not the wonders in Gods law: yet,* 1.7 all Science, and particularly, Rhetorique, where it is reduced to a blessed subor∣dination and conformity to the teachings of the Spirit of Truth, is a good gift of God, proceeding from the Father of lights, and very conducent to the unfold∣ing and right understanding of the Figu∣rative and Tropical Elegancies of that blessed Book, which abounds with the most excellent and divinest eloquence:

* 1.8 And herein we must beware that we take not those things literally which are to be understood spiritually; that we go not out to a figurative accepta∣tion of any place of Scripture,* 1.9 where

we have not a sufficient reason (ground∣ed upon some word of truth) why the proper sense or signification of the words may not be adhered unto; for we must never leave off the proper sense, un∣lesse the coherence of the Text, the Analogie of faith, or some other place of Scripture require a figurative Expo∣sition. And it is very dangerous to make figures, where the Scripture makes none; or to make the scope and sense bleed with straining it too hard. Ori∣gen would sometimes take that literally, which ought to be understood mysti∣cally, and thus mistaking that place, Matth. 19.12. And there be Eunuches, which have made themselves Eunuches for the Kingdom of heavens sake: he gelt himself; And he also sometimes would allegorize plain Scriptures, that is, such as are to be taken literally, or in their proper signification: But the difference will easily appear to the wise and observant Reader; * 1.10 Mat. 26.29. I will not henceforth [drink] of this fruit of the Vine, untill that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom; where the first word [drink]

hath a proper or literal signification; but the later a Metaphorical, of their Com∣munion, or partaking of the joys of heaven. This work will also be very useful and advantageous to youth, and others, enabling them to find out the elegancy in any Author, and likewise help the invention of learners, who may beautifie a speech, and adorn a discourse with elocution, by drawing their dis∣course through the several Tropes or Fi∣gures, and taking what may best befit their purpose: So I will detain thee no longer in the Porch, but in••ite thee into the House, and such as I have, set before 〈◊〉〈◊〉, i•• there be no such varieties as were expected; yet, let it have accep∣tance with thee, seeing it is according to my ability; Thus doe, and thou wilt engage him, who is

Thy real wel∣wisher, John Smith.

From my Chamber in Mountague Close, South∣wark March 27. 1656.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The English Examples are most of them streams from Sir Phillip Sidnyes fountain.
• * 1.2

  Note that Rhetorique sets for∣ward the end of the discourse, to wit, to affect the heart with the sense of the matter in hand: as Eccl. 1.2. Va∣nity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity, where we may see that it is no vani∣ty to teach the vanity of the crea∣tures in Rhetorical elegancies.
• * 1.3

  Luke 24.45.
• * 1.4

  Isa. 29.11, 12.
• * 1.5

  Rev. 3.7.
• * 1.6

  Eph. 4.18.
• * 1.7

  Luke 8.10.
• * 1.8

  Mat. 16.26, 27. This is my body, &c. take heed you take not the sign for that whereof it is but a sign.
• * 1.9

  VVhere there is a sentence in Scripture which hath a Tropical word, we may n••t think the whole place figurative: as Matth. 26.28. this is my blood which is shed for many, &c.
• * 1.10

  The like in Joh. 1.10.4.35. & 4.13, 14