employing them for such a purpose; and persons might be found sufficiently laborious to adopt this complex affair. But when, by the application of them to grammar, they new-model the language, increase its declensions and conjugations, and, without any cause, deface the original letters, and expel in pronunciation essential parts of the word, so that a hearer cannot determine betwixt the real letter and the fictitious sign, the matter becomes more serious, and requires a deeper investigation by all who wish to see Scripture criticism established on solid and rational principles; for example:

The verbs B-ra and G-le are pointed by the Masorites with a kametz below each of the two first letters; the last letters in both are unpointed in their original state, and of course are quiescent. These words must, therefore, be read bara, gala. Any person who hears these sounds would naturally conclude that both words ended in a, whereas one ends in a and the other in e, both of which letters are radically and essentially necessary to determine the signification of the different words; yet by this scheme they are rendered useless and insignificant.

B-ra is commonly translated "to create," "to make," and G-le "to reveal." But with the last letter in each word, expelled and confounded, as they are respectively by the points; Br is "a son," and gl "to roll." What a massacre of language is this, and especially as applied to the Word of God! The points are a medley of little dots, of no great antiquity, placed under Hebrew letters to give the same word quite different sounds, and by virtue of them different significations, by which the whole language is rendered vague and uncertain. It is agreed by all, that the ancient copies of the Hebrew books were written without being divided by pauses, or sentences; nor is there any need for such distinctions: the words themselves easily divide, and point out the parts of speech to which they belong. The principal thing that learners must attend to is the root, and in the Lexicon, the root is pointed out; let him be careful first to learn the meaning of words, as Mr. Hamilton teaches; and when that is acquired to some extent, the mastery of the Grammar becomes indeed easy.

Even though we may admit that the original design of pointing might have been simply to preserve the traditionary pronunciation of ancient times, we have no certainty that it is the true symbol of this ancient pronunciation. How, for instance, do we know tzere (two horizontal points) was sounded as e long? or that segol (three dots set in a triangle) was e short; when we do not know the exact sound of any letter in the alphabet, and are taught by these very persons that a is a consonant: or the spiritus lenis, of the Greeks, i.e., nothing at all? It is not much more credible, that the Alexandrian Jews, who translated the Old Testament into Greek; the authors of the Chaldee Paraphrases; the Jewish Rabbies, and the Masorites, were all equally ignorant of the true pronunciation of the Hebrew, which had ceased to be a living language many centuries before their time.

The points are no certain indications to us, or to themselves, of the ancient orthoepy of the Hebrew as it was spoken when it was the living language of the nations upon earth. These sounds have vanished, like the breath of those who uttered them. We are at liberty to invent familiar

sounds for ourselves, and no objection can lie against this expedient, if we employ them only for purposes of pronunciation; but not to alter the radical parts of words, nor to determine their signification, nor to confound the original principles of grammar, as the inventors of the points have done.

It is asserted that, without the points, a number of words would be left in an uncertain state. But a very little reflection will show the weakness of this argument. It is the unavoidable fate of all languages to be liable to ambiguities, and the Hebrew is not more so than any other. Ambiguities must be resolved, by an investigation of the sense of the period-by considering the disposition and connection of the concomitant words; and not by points, or marks, which particular persons may impose. When, for instance, the word terra appears in any Latin sentence, it is capable of various interpretations, according as it is considered to be in the nominative, the vocative, or the ablative case. Some writers have invented a mark to determine the ablative case, by a circumflex accent on the last letter; but surely the right meaning of a word must be determined by circumstances altogether independent of this sign? And so the pointing of the Masorets is in every respect equally deficient, and can be of no use in resolving ambiguities of words.

The word D-rk, may be either the noun, "a way," or the verb, "to tread underfoot." To mark these different significations, two Segols show it to mean "a way," and a Kametz and a Patach, "to tread on ;" but what possible advantage can there be in this? for if the concomitant words, or the general tenor of the sentence does not determine the meaning, the ambiguity still remains, despite the points. And it may often be discovered that the points affix to a verb the meaning of a noun, and to a noun, the action of a verb. The two conjugations of Pihel and Pihal are unnecessary encumbrances, and the absurdity of them so obvious, and the intention of them so groundless, as to stand in no need of confutation.

The confusion and contradiction involved in the Masoretic plan cannot be questioned. For example, the Kametz-chatuph (their short o) and the Kametz (their longest a) have both the same mark exactly. When the former stands for short o, it is sometimes marked with a Shera, to distinguish it from Kametz, the longest a; but then, unhappily, the invention makes it the same as Chateph-Kametz, the very short o!!!

The first and fundamental error in the contrivance of pointing is, that all the letters are reckoned consonants; but while this conceit is persisted in, the points possess the magical virtue that they can transform a vowel into a consonant, and a consonant into a vowel; and compel the same letter, moreover, to be both a vowel and a consonant at the same time! This is, indeed, miraculous. Nor is this all the points accomplish. Dagesh-forte makes one letter two!! and u and s are forced perpetually to change their phases!!!

Such complicated and frivolous rules and distinctions have discouraged many, and inspired thousands with disgust at the language and contempt for the inventors. To remove impediments in the way of Bible knowledge in its Divine original, and to light up and smooth the path leading to that end, are objects that have been steadily aimed at throughout in the compilation of this work. The employment of the English character as

the vehicle of Hebrew thought and mode of expression is not novel. This letter, which is plain, recognised at a glance, read and written with ease and dispatch, recommends itself, where confounding the letters and mistaking one for another, as in Hebrew, is simply impossible, and constitutes a gain and an encouragement to its study of great advantage. Our excellent missionaries have adopted this mode in their translations of the Bible into heathen languages. The "Bible Society" also sanctions it, and prints and circulates many thousands of such copies every year; therefore, in no sense can this mode of representing Hebrew be regarded as an unwarrantable innovation on established rule! The chief object here contemplated is to promote and enlarge an acquaintance with Bible truth in its Divine original among our pious youths in the middle and lower walks of life, such as "Lay-preachers," "Sabbath School Teachers," "Clerks," "Apprentices," "Members of Bible Classes," and especially the members of those recently formed and very hopeful assemblies called "Young Men's Christian Associations ;" and trust that it will meet with their approval and acceptance.

"The Primer" is elementary, and, by means of the instruction it contains, students may commence reading Hebrew prose and poetry, and translating short and easy passages. even where no instructer is at hand.

"The Grammar" is short, simple, and very plain, but copious.

"The Lexicon" contains-1. Scripture proper names, with translations. 2. Every different common word found in the English Bible, with the corresponding word in Hebrew from which each is translated. 3. Upwards of 5,000 words more than are found in Wood, Brown, or Calmet, the best Bible Dictionaries we have. 4. Numerous corrected translations are given; also, illustrative notes; with more than 6,000 Bible references; and the root of all principal words.

This work is the result of the labours of many years; and the compiler trusts it may be favourably received, and prove very useful.

Many difficulties are here removed, and great inducements held out to acquire the knowledge of a language that alone contains Divine revelation. In comprehensiveness, this work considerably exceeds any Bible Dictionary hitherto published. Although every possible care has been bestowed on its compilation; and while passing through the press, errors and omissions may be discovered, but it is hoped they are not numerous nor material; the compiler, therefore, respectfully solicits for the work the favourable consideration of those Bible students into whose hands it may fall.

250 Blackfriars Road, London.

JAMES ORANGE.

CONTENTS.

PRIMER-BOOK I.

77