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.

* 1.1PROECTHESIS, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, expositio quae prae∣mittitur; an exposition which is sent afore: derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, [porectithemi] priori loco expono, to expound in the former place.

It is as it were a prae-exposition or a praepositi∣on of a speech, wherein that which comes into controversie, or debate, is presented unto the eye.

A figure usual in Scripture, when the speaker doth by his answer (containing a reason of what he, or some other hath said or done) defend him∣self or the other person, as unblameable in such speech or action.

Thus Job being accused and rebuked of his friends, of impatiency, sin, folly, &c.

Replyes thus:

Job 6.2, &c. O that my grief were through∣ly weighed, and my calamities laid together in the ballance, for the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit, &c. Doth the wild Asse br••y when he hath grasse? or loweth the Oxe over his sod∣der?

In this form of speech our Saviour many times defends his doings against the accusation of his adversaries: as, for healing the man with the wi∣thered hand on the Sabbath day.

Mark 3.4. And he saith unto them, Is it law∣ful to do good on the Sabbath dayes, or to do evill? to save life, or to kill? but they held their peace.

The like in Matth. 12.11. What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better then a sheep? Where∣fore it is lawful to doe well on the Sabbath dayes.

In like manner in Luke 6.1, 2, &c. Mark. 2.23 He defends his Disciples being accused for pulling the ears of corn on the Sabbath day, by alledging the example of David eating the Shew-bread in his great hunger. Secondly, By shewing his authority, as Lord of the Sabbath. And then by citing a saying of Hos. 6.6. I will have mercy and not sacrifice.

And in Matth. 9.12, 13. He being accused for eating and drinking with publicans and sinners, answers; They that are whole need not a Phy∣sitian, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Notes

• * 1.1

  This Ex∣ornation is of kin to Aetio∣logia.