plained clearly such as readily presented themselves, and have reduced them to an art easy, perfect, and consistent; depending upon principles certain and self-evident but not taking those liberties in which Bishop Hare has prolixly indulged himself, so as to make the same word sometimes Trochaic, sometimes Iambic, sometimes a Dissyllable, and sometimes a Trisyllable; I may reasonably indulge myself in the hope, that the candid reader will prefer my hypothesis to that of Bishop Hare. This at least I trust I may expect, that he will treat them upon equal terms, and allow to each the same authority, that is-none at all.

In the same manner every hypothesis, which pretends to define the laws of Hebrew metre, and to prescribe the numbers, the feet, the scanning of the lines, may, I think, be easily overset: for to that hypothesis another directly contrary, yet confirmed by arguments equally forcible, may, I am persuaded, be successfully opposed.

With regard to the opinion of those who suppose the whole art of Hebrew metre to consist in a similarity of termination to each verse; though it has acquired some popularity and authority in the learned world, I think it by far the most ill-founded of all; and I think its absurdity so obvious, that with the utmost ease it may be detected. Since the endings of the verses are defined in some of the alphabetical poems, and since it is manifest, that in these the verses do not end alike, that no art or attention has been bestowed upon that point, it follows of course that the art of Hebrew versification does not consist in making verses with similar endings..

He causeth the vapours to rise from the ends of the earth,

He maketh lightnings for the rain :

He bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

High Priest, accompanied by the Priests:

Who smote the first-born of Egypt,

Both of man of beast.

Levites :

Sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt; Congregation:

Upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

High Priest and Priests :

Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings:

Levites :

Sihon, king of the Amorites,
And Og, king of Basan,

And all the kingdoms of Canaan.
Congregation:

And he gave their land an heritage,

An heritage with Israel his people.

Priests:

Thy name, O Jehovah, endureth for ever.

Levites :

Thy memorial, O Jehovah, throughout all generations.

Priests, Levites, and Congregation in full chorus:

For Jehovah will judge his people;

And will repent him concerning his servants.

II.

High Priest, accompanied by the Priests :

The idols of the Heathen-silver and gold!
The work of mortal hands.

Levites :

They have mouths, but they speak not;
Eyes have they, but they see not.

Congregation:

They have ears, but they hear not :

Neither is there any truth in their mouths.

Priests, Levites, and Congregation in full chorus:
They that make them are like unto them;
Every one that trusteth in them.

Αντιφωνησις.

High Priest and Priests, to the Congregation :
Bless Jehovah, O house of Israel!
Congregation, to the high Priest and Priests:

Bless Jehovah, O house of Aaron!
High Priest and Priests, to the Levites:
Bless Jehovah, O house of Levi!

Levites, to high Priest and Priests:

Ye that fear Jehovah, bless Jehovah !

Priests, Levites, and Congregation, in full chorus !

Blessed be Jehovah out of Sion,

Who dwelleth in Jerusalem!

Full chorus, continuing each division to both the rest:

Praise ye Jah!

The praising the name JEHOVAH, so often mentioned in Scripture, arises from the answer to the question of Moses. EXOD. iii. 13. S. H.

ΤΟ

INDEX

ARE

THE PASSAGES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHICH
CITED, EXPLAINED OR referreD TO IN THE LECTUres.

The letter n, prefixed to the page, refers to a note.