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.

Scriptural Examples.

There are in Scripture nine kinds of questi∣ons (inter alia).

1. Sometimes a question is asked with de∣sire only to receive an answer: as, The Mari∣ners of Jonas.

Jonas 1.8. Tell us (say they) for whose cause is this evill come upon us? what is thine occu∣pation? and whence comest thou? Such a que∣stion you may finde the wise men made touching Christ, in Matth. 2.2.

2. Interrogations in Scripture are sometimes emphatical and strong affirmations: as,

Gen. 4.7. If thou doe well, shalt thou not be accepted? (i. e.) thou a••d thy Sacrifice shall both certainly be accepted, &c.

Josh. 1.9. Have not I commanded thee? &c. I have without all question assuredly com∣manded thee, &c.

See more examples in Gen. 13.9.37.13. 2 Sam. 13.28. 2 King. 6.32. Joh. 4.35. Mar. 12.24. Jer. 23.23, 24, &c. 2 King. 12.19.

3. Interrogations also are sometimes strong and vehement negations: as,

Psal. 19.12. Who can understand his errors? (i. e.) no man can understand the depth of them.

Gen. 18.14. Is any thing too hard for God?

Job 8.3, 11. Doth God prevert judgement? or doth the Almighty pervert justice? Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water? &c.

See Matth. 12.26. Rom. 3.3, 10, 14, 15. & 8.35.

4. Interrogations sometimes diminish and abate the sense: as,

Zech. 4.7. Who art thou, O great Mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt be a plain, &c. (i. e) Thou lookest very big and great, but who art thou? I will tell thee, oh proud oppressor of my people, though in thy own conceit thou art a Mountain immoveable, yet in my peoples eyes thou art but a Mole-hill, and shall shortly be made a nothing, even as a plain before them.

Thus in 2 Sam. 7.18. David when he would abase himself, cryes out; Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto?

5. Interrogations sometimes raise and heigh∣ten the sense by way of admiration: as,

Psal. 8.9. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the world?

Exod. 15.11. Who is a God like unto thee? &c. (i. e.) Let all the world (if they can) shew such a God as thou art.

See Mark 7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? &c. The question here puts the brightest glory upon God in pardoning sin; There is no sin-par∣doning God, but our God only.

6. Interrogations are sometimes expostulato∣ry and complain: as,

Job 3.11, 12. Why dyed I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

Psal. 22.1. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? &c.

Jer. 12.1. Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? so in Isa. 1.21. &c.

7. You find in the Scripture doubting que∣stions: as,

Psal. 77.7, 8. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mer∣cy clean gone for ever? &c.

8. You may also finde teaching questions: as,

Isa. 60.8. Who are these that flie as a clowd, and as the Doves to their windows? This tea∣ches us the multitude of those that shall (when the Angels shall be sent out of the Temple to preach the everlasting Gospel) flock in unto Christ.

9. You may also finde learning questions: as,

Acts 2.37. Men and Brethren, what shall we doe to be saved? &c.