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Book II

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v.v247 words

Book II.

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Argument—Having completed his exposition of things, the author now proceeds to discuss the subject of signs. He first defines what a sign is, and shows that there are two classes of signs, the natural and the conventional. Of conventional signs (which are the only class here noticed), words are the most numerous and important, and are those with which the interpreter of Scripture is chiefly concerned. The difficulties and obscurities of Scripture spring chiefly from two sources, unknown and ambiguous signs. The present book deals only with unknown signs, the ambiguities of language being reserved for treatment in the next book. The difficulty arising from ignorance of signs is to be removed by learning the Greek and Hebrew languages, in which Scripture is written, by comparing the various translations, and by attending to the context. In the interpretation of figurative expressions, knowledge of things is as necessary as knowledge of words; and the various sciences and arts of the heathen, so far as they are true and useful, may be turned to account in removing our ignorance of signs, whether these be direct or figurative. Whilst exposing the folly and futility of many heathen superstitions and practices, the author points out how all that is sound and useful in their science and philosophy may be turned to a Christian use. And in conclusion, he shows the spirit in which it behoves us to address ourselves to the study and interpretation of the sacred books.

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Signs, Their Nature and Variety.

v.v.i

Of the Kind of Signs We are Now Concerned with.

v.v.ii

Among Signs, Words Hold the Chief Place.

v.v.iii

Origin of Writing.

v.v.iv

Scripture Translated into Various Languages.

v.v.v

Use of the Obscurities in Scripture Which Arise from Its Figurative Language.

v.v.vi

Steps to Wisdom: First, Fear; Second, Piety; Third, Knowledge; Fourth, Resolution; Fifth, Counsel; Sixth, Purification of Heart; Seventh, Stop or Termination, Wisdom.

v.v.vii

The Canonical Books.

v.v.viii

How We Should Proceed in Studying Scripture.

v.v.ix

Unknown or Ambiguous Signs Prevent Scripture from Being Understood.

v.v.x

Knowledge of Languages, Especially of Greek and Hebrew, Necessary to Remove Ignorance or Signs.

v.v.xi

A Diversity of Interpretations is Useful. Errors Arising from Ambiguous Words.

v.v.xii

How Faulty Interpretations Can Be Emended.

v.v.xiii

How the Meaning of Unknown Words and Idioms is to Be Discovered.

v.v.xiv

Among Versions a Preference is Given to the Septuagint and the Itala.

v.v.xv

The Knowledge Both of Language and Things is Helpful for the Understanding of Figurative Expressions.

v.v.xvi

Origin of the Legend of the Nine Muses.

v.v.xvii

No Help is to Be Despised, Even Though It Come from a Profane Source.

v.v.xviii

Two Kinds Of Heathen Knowledge.

v.v.xix

The Superstitious Nature of Human Institutions.

v.v.xx

Superstition of Astrologers.

v.v.xxi

The Folly of Observing the Stars in Order to Predict the Events of a Life.

v.v.xxii

Why We Repudiate Arts of Divination.

v.v.xxiii

The Intercourse and Agreement with Demons Which Superstitious Observances Maintain.

v.v.xxiv

In Human Institutions Which are Not Superstitious, There are Some Things Superfluous and Some Convenient and Necessary.

v.v.xxv

What Human Contrivances We are to Adopt, and What We are to Avoid.

v.v.xxvi

Some Departments of Knowledge, Not of Mere Human Invention, Aid Us in Interpreting Scripture.

v.v.xxvii

To What Extent History is an Aid.

v.v.xxviii

To What Extent Natural Science is an Exegetical Aid.

v.v.xxix

What the Mechanical Arts Contribute to Exegetics.

v.v.xxx

Use of Dialectics. Of Fallacies.

v.v.xxxi

Valid Logical Sequence is Not Devised But Only Observed by Man.

v.v.xxxii

False Inferences May Be Drawn from Valid Reasonings, and Vice Versa.

v.v.xxxiii

It is One Thing to Know the Laws of Inference, Another to Know the Truth of Opinions.

v.v.xxxiv

The Science of Definition is Not False, Though It May Be Applied to Falsities.

v.v.xxxv

The Rules of Eloquence are True, Though Sometimes Used to Persuade Men of What is False.

v.v.xxxvi

Use of Rhetoric and Dialectic.

v.v.xxxvii

The Science of Numbers Not Created, But Only Discovered, by Man.

v.v.xxxviii

To Which of the Above-Mentioned Studies Attention Should Be Given, and in What Spirit.

v.v.xxxix

Whatever Has Been Rightly Said by the Heathen, We Must Appropriate to Our Uses.

v.v.xl

What Kind of Spirit is Required for the Study of Holy Scripture.

v.v.xli

Sacred Scripture Compared with Profane Authors.

v.v.xlii