The Students' Cabinet Library of Useful Tracts (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836. Excerpt: ... THE ELEMENTS or BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION, CONTAINING A POPULAR EXPOSITION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES OF THIS SCIENCE. BY REV. L. A. SAWYER, A. M. PASTOR OF THE TRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MARTINSBURO, N. Y. EDINBURGH: THOMAS CLARK, 38, GEORGE STREET. MDCCCXXXVI. James Burnet, Printer, 5, Shakspcare Square. PREFACE. It has been very pertinently remarked by a distinguished scholar and theologian, that every man who attaches a meaning to a text of Scripture, so far acts as an interpreter of Scripture. And in an age when almost all can read, and when, it may be hoped, that many more than at any former period are seriously occupied with the study of the Word of God, it cannot be considered as a useless undertaking to endeavour to fix some principles of Biblical Interpretation. And when the character of the times is such that every sober Christian must daily come in contact with schemes of doctrine which to him are perfectly new, and hear them supported by texts of Scripture which he has been accustomed to understand in a very different sense, --under such circumstances he must be desirous of obtaining some rules, whereby he may account not merely to an opponent, but still more to his own conscience, for believing that the texts mean one thing rather than another. Few, it is believed, will refuse their assent to this view of the subject; and, considering its paramount importance, we cannot hesitate to say, that every effort, however humble, which contributes to promote an enlightened acquaintance with the sacred Scripture, must be acceptable to every well-constituted mind; for an enlightened study of the Bible is the only true foundation of all Christian Theology. Some may indeed imagine that their ignorance of the original languages of the Scripture wil...