Wonder is expressed in Scripture by Interrogations: Gen. xxvii. 20. " And ISAAC faid unto his fon, How is it that thou haft found it fo quickly, my fon?"

7.

Interrogations may be fometimes employed in the facred Writings to convey knowledge and conviction: Matt.xi. " And as they departed, JESUS began to fay unto the multitudes conscerning JOHN, What went ye out into the wlss derness to fee? a reed fhaken with the wind' ss But what went ye out to fee? a man clothed ss in foft raiment? Behold, they that wear foft "clothing are in kings houses. But what went ye out to fee? a Prophet? Yea, I fay unto you, and more than a Prophet.

SS

SS

Interrogations fometimes in the holy Writings may be expressive of doubt or anxiety: Judges v. 28. The mother of SISERA looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot fo long in coming? why tarry ss the wheels of his chariots?ss And Rom. x. 6, 7. Say not in thine heart, Who fhall afcend into heaven? that is, to bring CHRIST down from "above. Or who fhall defcend into the deep? that is, to bring up CHRIST again from the s dead."

Interrogations fometimes are used in Scripture for amplification: Pfalm cxxxix. 17. SS How pre"cious alfo are thy thoughts to me, O GOD? " how great is the fum of them?"

Interrogations are on the other hand used in facred Writ for extenuation: Pfalm viii. 4. SS What

ss is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the sfon of man, that thou visiteft him?"

Scriptural Interrogations are fometimes sharp remonftrances or rebukes: Gen. xii. 18. " And SS PHARAOH called ABRAM, and faid, What is his that thou hast done unto me? Why didst S thou not tell me that he was thy wife? why faidft thou, fhe is my sifter?"

Interrogations in Scripture convey a keen refentment: Matt. xvii. 17. " Then JESUS anfwered and faid, O faithlefs and perverse generation! how long fhall I be with you? how Ss long fhall I fuffer you?"

55

Scriptural Interrogations are fometimes bitter Ironies and Sarcafms: 2 Sam. vi. 20. How glorious was the King of Ifrael to-day, who Suncovered himself as one of the vain fellows? and Jer. xxii. 23. SSO inhabitant of Lebanon,

that makest thy neft in the cedars, how grascious fhalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail ?

Interrogations in Scripture fometimes give vent to forrow and distress: Lam. ii. 13. " What thing " fhall I take to witnefs for thee? What thing ss fhall I liken unto thee, O daughter of Jerufaslem? What fhall I equal to thee, that I may scomfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for "thy breach is great, like the fea, who can heal 25 thee? S

The pouring out our afflictions before God, or holy pleading with him, may be observed in the Interrogations of Scripture, Pfalm xxii. 1. "My " God,

$5

GOD, my GOD, why haft thou forfaken me? Why art thou fo far from helping me, and ss from the words of my roaring?" So Pfalm lxxvii. 7. " Will the LORD caft off for ever? " and will he be favourable no more? Is his

$$ mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger fhut up his tenss der mercies ?"

A pleasing hope may be expressed in the Interrogations of Scripture. Judges v. 30. " Have they not fped? have they not divided the prey, to every man a damfel or two? To SI

35

SERA a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers " colours of needle-work, of divers colours of needle-work on both sides, meet for the necks " of them that take the spoil."

Vehement desires are fometimes uttered by fcriptural Interrogations. Romans vii. 24. 55 O wretched man that I am, who fhall deliver me Ss from the body of this death? ss

Sacred praise and exultation are fometimes expressed by Interrogations in the facred Writings. Exod. xv. 11. "Who is like unto thee, O SS LORD, among the Gods? Who is like thee,

glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing 55 wonders?ss And Pfalm lxxxix. 6. " Who in the heavens can be compared unto the LORD? " who among the fons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD ? and ver. 8. " O LORD "GOD of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unN 4

38

to

" to thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee ? SS

Though I may not have mentioned all the va-" rious forms in which an Interrogation occurs in Scripture, yet I fhall only add, that both affirmations and negations are exprefsed by this Figure in the facred Writings. As to affirmations, we may take the following inftances. Gen. xiii. 9. ss Is not the whole land before thee ?ss I Sam. ii. 27. And there came a man of God unto ELI, and faid unto him, Thus faid the LORD, "Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in PHARAOH'S house? 35 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of ss Ifrael to be my Prieft, to offer upon my altar, ss to burn incenfe, to wear an ephod before me? ss And did I give unto the house of thy father "all the offerings made by fire of the children s of Ifrael? Wherefore kick ye at my facrifice, " and my offering?" And 1 Cor. ix. 1. " Am I s not an Apostle? Am I not free? Have I not

feen JESUS CHRIST our LORD? Are not you S$ my work in the LORD?" Thefe Interrogations are evidently affirmatives, and declare what was actually and in fact the cafe.

On the other hand, fcriptural Interrogations are sometimes as ftrong denials. Pfalm lxxvii. 13. Who is fo great a GoD as our GOD?" So Pfalm cvi. 2. Who can utter the mighty acts ss of the LORD? Who can fhew forth all his praife? And Heb. i. 5. For unto which of

the Angels faid he at any time, Thou art my

" Son,

35

35

Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he fhall be to me a Son?" And verfe 13. But to s which of the Angels faid he at any time, Sit on my right hand, till I make thine enemies "thy footftool?ss

§4. I might cite many more examples of the Interrogation (as indeed fcarce any Figure may be more common) but I fhall rather produce the very juft and fuitable obfervations of fome eminent Writers upon this Figure. “It is a "simple Interrogation, fays QUINTILIAN, when

it is afked, But whence are you? or, from "what coaft arrived? But Interrogation be"comes a Figure when it is employed, not "merely for inquiry, but for urging our point. "For what did your fword do, TUBERO, when "it was drawn in the battle of Pharfalia? And

how long will you abuse our patience, CATI"LINE? and don't you fee that your whole plot ❝is laid open? And, in a word, that whole

passage of CICERO'S. What vehemence is there "in fuch Figures, beyond what there would "have been if it was only faid, You abuse our patience a long time; and your plot is laid "open? We also use these Interrogations to exprefs our displeasure, as MEDEA in SENECA " fays,

Say to what countries do you bid me fly?

"or our distress, as SINON in VIRGIL,

"Alas! what earth, what feas will shelter me?