214 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. authors. Next, ,whether if Homer, Pindar, Plato, Demos. thenes, &c. were to rise from the dead, they would be able to understand the NewTestament? And lastly, by what name the language of that book is to be called, whether Grwcanic, Hellenistic, or Grzecian ? Our author observes, that the last question is merely a dispute about words, with which he will have nothing to do. On the other two questions he gives his opinion plainly, and without reserve. When it is alleged in proof of the first, that the phrases used by the writers of the New Testament are likewise used by profane authors, he denies that this is conclusive ; "for," says he, " who that has any taste of the purity of the Latin tongue, will' allow that it is to be found in scholastic writings, notwithstanding that the words, and even the phrases in which Cicero, Sallust, Livy, Terence, &c, wrote, are here and there found in them ?" He adds further, that thosewho do not see that though the sacred writers used the same words, and even the same phrases, that are to be found in profane authors in another manner than they do, and to convey a different sense, must not only be said to See indifferently and obscurely, but that they willingly shut their eyes. He then produces many Latin words used by the sacred writers, though, written in Greek characters, or disguised with Greek terminations. He also produces Hebrew and Syriac words to the same purpose; and from hence he concludes, that though Pfochenius could really shew, which however he undertakes to prove that he has not done, that the sacred writers ,make use of a multitude of phrases to be met with in profane authors, yet this would not amount to what he has asserted, if the former have also used many words and phrases which are not to be met with m authors who are allowed to write pure,Greek. As to the second question, he tells Pfochenius, that it can be granted or denied him only in part. Notwithstanding some places might in a measure be understoodby those great men whom he mentions, if it were possible for them to come from the dead ; yet this would but go a little way towards proving what he has asserted ; because, though they might understand some parts, yet others they could not understand. He puts a parallel case in reference to the writings of Apuleius, which, says he, if Cicero were to rise from the dead, he might for the most part, understand ; but would any competent judge conclude from thence, that the Latin of Apuleius resembles that of Tully, or of the age in which Tully wrote ? But,'says Pfochenius, Paul conversed with the Greeks of his time, and was he not understoodby them? and -as
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