D

THE

SACRED CLASSICS

DEFENDED and ILLUSTRATED:

OR,

An ESSAY

Humbly offer'd towards proving the

Purity, Propriety, and true Eloquence

Of the WRITERS of the

NEW TESTAMENT.

In TWO PARTS.

In the FIRST of which

Thofe DIVINE WRITERS are vindicated against the Charge
of barbarous LANGUAGE, falfe GREEK, and SOLECISMS.

In the SECOND is fhewn,

That all the Excellencies of STYLE, and fublime Beauties of
LANGUAGE and genuine ELOQUENCE do abound in
the Sacred WRITERS of the NEW TESTAMENT.

WITH

An Account of their STYLE and CHARACTER, and a Repre-
fentation of their Superiority, in feveral Instances, to the best
CLASSICS of GREECE and ROME.

To which are fubjoin'd proper INDEXES.

By A. BLACKWALL, M. A.

LONDON: Printed by J. Bettenham,

For C. RIVINGTON, at the Bible and Crown in St. Paul's
Churchyard, and W. CANTRELL Bookfeller in Derby.
M,DCC, XXV.

I

N refpect to the subject it felf which I treat of, I cannot pretend to prefent my reader with a difcourfe entirely new: but if the copioufnefs and choice of my materials, with the manner and method of my managing and difpofing of them be confider'd, it may appear that there is fomething new in this Effay.

I have read the best and most authentic Greek writers, with a view of comparing them with the divine writers of the new Teftament; by which I have been enabled to prove the purity

rity and elegance of numerous paffages, which for several ages have by eminent scholars been condemned for folecifms.

Many learned and good men, whofe fentiments may not entirely agree with mine in the First Part, will, I believe, allow me to be right in the Second; and in general acknowledge the fublime eloquence and noble beauties of the infpir'd writers; only charge me, which I humbly acknowledge, with a very imperfect representation of them. I have done. my poor endeavours; and have perhaps, by opening the way, done fervice to the publick, by giving the hint to fome greater and more able genius, who is qualify'd to do more juftice to this glorious fubject.

With modest scholars and Christians the honesty of my intention and the diligence of my labours will plead for

favourable abatements. If If any fuch worthy perfon fhall think it proper to correct any of my mistakes in public, it will not be by way of haughtiness and infult, but charitable advertisement and inftruction; and tho' I may have oppofers I fhall have no enemies; nor fhall I exprefs any refentment, but return my grateful acknowledgments. Thro' my whole Effay, I hope none can charge me with ill manners, or want of fidelity in my quotations and representation of things. Thofe doctrines of heavenly charity and eternal truth condemn all spight, envy, and ill manners, and the effects of fuch vile qualities, fcurrilous language and railing, and difdain; and are infinitely above all equivocation and forry fleights of worldly cunning; and what fome foften with the term of pious, but, in plain terms, are impious frauds.

On