THE NATURE AND DEFINITION OF A PARABLE. Book J. p A R A B L E S, WhereiJZ ./hall be given, ( I.) the Definition of the Word, and Thing. (2.) Its Divi. fwn . (3 .) Canons refpeflir.g it. I. A Parable is called fo, vctpx Tw "'"I"'~«AAm, which, beode<other Significations, which this SllbjtCt is unconcc::rned in, (for it fignifies objiccrc, conjicere, detorquere, com– mittere, appropinquare, tranfmit:ere, &c.) denotes conferring, comparing, or the Col~ · location of ditferent Things. Jerome * calls it a Similitude, becaufe, as a previous Shadow of Truth, it reprefents it. 'f'o)Janus fays, That it denotes the Comparifon of heavenly Things with earthly; it anlwers to tf1e Hebrew Word '1v1~, Majhal: Pro– perly and Jhictly it fignifies an artificial Narrative of a Thing done, to fignify ano– ther ] hing. So Gla.lfius fays. 2 . As to the different Significations of the Word, it is ( t .) ufed to denote ar.y Simi– litude or Comparifon whatfoever, l'v1att. xxiv. 32. Mark iii. 23. where the Vlord "'"P"f3'A"' a Parable, is ufed. (2.) It is ufed to fignify any Thing obfcurely and fi§,U– ratively expounded, as Matt. xv. 15, where Peter calls the Words of Chri£1: a Pa. rable, "'"P'f3'A"'' Ver. 11. which is expounded, Ver. I7, &c. (3·) It is ufed to denote a Proverb or Adage, as Luke iv. 23. where that vulgar and over-woven Saying of the common Proverb, Medice cura teipfum, Phyfician heal thyfelf, is called a Parable. (4.) For a Type of the Old TeO:am"nt, p refiguring a Thing in the New, Heb. ix. 9• and xi. I9· where the Word, which we tranOate Figure, is in the Greek "'"P"f3'A"' Pa– rable. (5.) For fpecial DoCtrine, which yet is to be underftood more univerfally, and extended more largely, fo Luke xiv. 7· (6.) It is taken properly and O:riCl:ly for an artificial Narration of a Thing, as it were, tranf:1Ct:ed, to fign ify another Thing, as Matt. xiii. 3, tO, I 3, &c. xxi. 33, 45· and xxii. 1. with feveral other J:'laces, of which you may read more in the former Part of this Work. 3· As to its :!:v"'"l''"' the Appellations of a Parable are Hebrew and Greek. The ufual ·word in the HebreroJJ is '1vD, Majhal (according to the S)'riac and Chaldee )l',/17~, the Letter 1!/ being changed into 11, as }.1att. xiii. t S, 2-f, &c. xv. 15. xxi. 33, 45· and xxii. I. Mark iii. 23.) from the Root '11!/D, which fignifies to rule or likw (or aflimilate) that fo the original Signification of ~IOU might be xupu:<. 'Y~WJf-'1, a ruling Sentence, viz. an eminent and authentic Saying, or a SimiliruCe and Comparifon. This Hebrew Word denotes t ( 1.) The comparing of one Thing with another, as Ezek. xxiv. 3· (2.) A famous or received Saying, as 1 Sam. x. 12. Ezek. xviii. 2. (3.) An obfcure Sayincr that needs Expofttion, Ezek. xx. 49· See xxi. 5· (4.) A Thing gravely fpoken, and c~mprehending great Matters in a few Words, Job xxvii. t. Numb. xxiii. 7, 18. and xxiv. 3, t 5. fo Pjal. xlix. 5· and lxxviii. 2. (5.) That which is fad and com– plai ning, or grievous Mourning and Lamentation, Micah ii. 4· (6.) That which is ironical and infulting, as Ija. xiv. 4· Jer. xxiv. 9· Deut. xxviii. 37· 1 Kings ix. 7· Jlab. ii. 6. Prov. i. 1. with Ver. 6. See )er. xxiv. 9· Deut. xxviii. 37· 1 Kings ix. 7· !lab. ii. 6. The Sentences of Solomo;J are called ''1it!D, Parables or Proverbs, Prov. i. 1. &c. As for New TeO:ament lnO:ances, perufe Matt. xx. 1, &c. Johll x. 6. &c. II. The Nature and Definition of a Parable. z. SOME fay that aParable is a continued Metaphor, or an Allegory of Words (A•~••<) which is a Con1inuation ofTropes, efpecially Metaphors; of this Mind is Azorius, Gillius, Morton; but this is not right, for feveral Reafons fhewed by the learned Gla.!fius, p. 440. to which we refer. A Parable, according to Jcrome, is a Comparijon made of Things differing in JVature under a certahJ Similttude. Varimts de!Cribes ir, wcepet{3o>.. 11 1ro:,pet~mn~ E)"HI OtJ.OlWIJ-o-.TJXiJEm (i'o:,~n~uo:, rw~ v7roxHp.£vwv: i. e. A Pafab!e is a Comparijon, jignifjing a Similitude in order to explain, or make the 'Ihings treated of perfpicuous. • Tom. 3· Epirl. 151· ad Algafium, q..6. P· 359· t In thefe Texts the Hebrew WoJ~ figmfies Parable. We
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