T. GATAKER, Jux. 211 was from these motives, therefore, that he Ventured to pub- lish a workwhich would scarcely have been noticed from any other hand, but which, from its own merit, and the respect due to its author's skill, especially in Greek literature, was very well received, and highly commended, by able and candid judges. This learned and critical work is entitled, " De Diphthongis sive Bivocalibus Dissertatio Philologica, in qua Literaium quarundam SOI1US germanus natura genuina figura nova et scriptura vetus veraque investigator," 1646. This is also printed amongst his " Opera Critics." The point which he endeavours to establish is, that there are in reality no diphthongs, and that it is impossible two vowels should be so blended together as to enter into one syllable. This, as we have observed, was one of our author's singularities. We shall not enter into this controversy, nor attempt to decide whether he was right or wrong in his views of orthography.. Notwithstanding Mr. Gataker's assiduous application to these deep and critical studies, he paid the most exact attend- ance to his pastoral duties, and to the assembly' of divines. In obedience to their appointment, he wrote the annotations upon Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Lamentat'i'ons, published in the Assembly's Annotations on the Bible.t Though he was a divine most distinguished for moderation, lie disapproved. of many things in the national church, but would have been satisfied with moderate episcopacy. He was of opinion, that bishops and presbyters, according to the New 'Testament, were the same. He was always opposed to the great power and splendour of the prelates ; and concluded, that they ought to be divested or their pompous titles and their seats in parliament.t. He differed more than once with the very learned Dr. Lightfoot, in their meetings at the assembly; and though they sometimes debated warmly, they never lost their tempers, or indulged any rancour on account of these disputes. As our divine advanced inyears, his incessant labours, both of body and mind, brought upon him those infirmities which slackened his speed, but did not wholly stop the progress of his studies. For even under these infirmities, and when con- fined to his chamber by the direction of his physicians, he was continually employed in his beloved contemplations. Biog. Briton. vol. iv. p. 2165. .1. This useful work is improperly ascribed to the assembly of divines, but was undertaken by certain divines appointed by the parliament, part of whom were members of the assembly. Each person had his portion of scripture appointed him by those who set him on work. Several of them were celebrated puritans, as the reader w ill find noticed in this work. Clark's Lives, p.256, 257.
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