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.

PARECBASIS, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Digressio, Di∣gression, excursion, or a going from a mat∣ter in hand to speak of another thing: derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, [parecbaino] digredior, to digress or goe from the purpose.

Digression is as it were a wandering from the purpose or intended matter.

It is the handling of some matter going out from order, but yet upon sufficient ground, and for the advantage and illustration of the cause or matter we have in hand.

Digression is a figure when something is added beside or beyond the purpose or intended mat∣ter, and goes out from the appointed dis∣cou••se.

Note that digression ought in some respect to be agreeable, and pertinent to those matters which we have in hand, and not to be strange or remote from the purpose: and that by the abu∣ses

of this Exornation, namely, by going forth abruptly, by tarrying too long abroad, and re∣turning in unto the matter overthwartly, we shall in stead of adorning and garnishing our cause or speech, darken our main cause or principal mat∣ter, and deform the Oration.

This Exornation is frequent in Scripture: as,

Rom. 1. from 1. to 8. The Apostle Paul here digresses from his name, to the description of his calling in the first verse; then unto the de∣finition of the Gospel in the 2. verse, by and by to the description of Christ in the 3. & 4. ver∣ses; then he again as it were slides unto his cal∣ling in the 5. verse; at length he prayes for grace and peace for the Romans, unto whom his Epi∣stle is directed, and so he doth, as it were, finish his course or compasse: and these are occasioned by the words in the sentences or things spo∣ken of.

Col 1.3, 4. We give thanks to God [even the f••ther of our Lord Jesus Christ, alwayes pray∣ing for you]: since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of your love toward all Saints.

Where you see the Digression noted, then you have the apt return into the matter: Since we heard of, &c.

Gen. 2.8. to 15. verse. And the Lord God planted a garden Eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had made: [for out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree pleasant to the sight, &c. the Digression here, begins at the 9. and ends with the 14 verse] then in the 15. verse you have the return unto

the matter in hand; in these words; Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden, &c.

See 1 Cor. 1.13. Ephes. 3.1. Gen. 38. the whole chapter.