500 and above refers the reader to the notes at the foot of the page.

A Dotted Line (thus) under the printing marks the Arrangement or Government as Irregular. See the Rules.

A line (thus) under the printing marks an Ellipsis. See the Rules.

Italics mark an addition to, or a substitution I would propose for the Translation in the Text which appears to me to make the Sense clearer.

The Stops are expressed as specified in the Rules.

To those who have not followed me through all my examinations, the style of my Notes may present a Dogmatic appearance; but the Reader equally with myself derives advantage in brevity from the Form I have adopted, viz., "Literally-Whereas &c." All that I intend by the first of these expressions is, That in every similar Government and Arrangement with a like Context, it will be found, without any exception, That the same character of Sense is intended to be expressed; and that such Sense is, in every case, the Literal Sense of the passage. By the second of these expressions I mean, That in all similar passages it will be found, without any exception, That the Sense intended to be conveyed, is other than the Literal Sense; which Sense the Context determines to be that which I have specified. In either case, I do not refer to opinion, but to invariable usage, and so to that which admits of proof or disproof.

Still further to save the Reader's time I abbreviate, "Hence the Disarrangement. See Rule 321, or, 322,1" Hence &c., 321, or, 322,1.

No opinion respecting the sense of a passage is entitled to demand regard. Opinion cannot be other than it is, human; and consequently, may be erroneous; and so, and so, necessarily requires confirmation for its verification. This I desire to enforce, to preclude any undue value being attached to my unsupported observations; even should they be as worthy of regard as many that are highly esteemed. In this desire I have not been influenced by the number of my Emendations in each New Edition of my Publications. These Emendations, numerous as they are, have not generally originated from the correction of the errors of previous statements, but from inability at the time of making the statements to explain the object of certain Peculiarities in the Greek Language, which further study has enabled me to trace out. Opinion on this subject is justly disregarded as an absolute authority; but the invariable Usage of Language, however minute its peculiarities may be, can never be so disregarded; it is that, and that alone, by which the sense of every passage can be determined.

The Reader of the following pages is not to expect that the statements they record are transcribed in language that is consistent with the rules of English Composition. The object sought, is to express in English words the Sense recorded in Greek, in the Peculiar

Forms and Arrangements of expression that are proper to the Greek Language not to the English. This is what I consider to be the distinction between a Literal Translation and a Version. In a version, the Sense of the Greek Original is expressed in English words, in the Peculiar Forms and Arrangements of expression that are proper to the English Language. The disregard of this distinction has been the cause of numerous errors. If in any passage a Variation of Form of Expression has not effected the Sense, it has hitherto been esteemed a sufficient justification for considering, that such Form of Expression need never have any effect upon the Sense; and yet Observation proves that such an estimate is undoubtedly false, and has been productive of the greatest errors; all of which are to be avoided by obtaining in the first place a Literal Translation, and then expressing the Sense of that Translation in a Version, as by this means, the Context which authorized a Particular Form of Greek being understood to convey a Peculiar Sense, will give no sanction for such Form being so Translated in any other place, unless a corresponding context has existence there. In Translating immediately into a Version, this consideration of the effect of the context is practically always neglected.

In the present Edition I have made very great alterations, but very few of them have been caused by the discovery of Error in my previous statements, but in a belief that the plan I first pursued of making numerous Notes &c. &c., was so occupied with minute details that did not materially effect the Sense, as to become not only very tedious, but even by their number to lead to the important Distinctions and Notes being passed over unnoticed. To obviate this, I have Omitted all the Notes at the foot of the page, except such as appear to demand particular attention; and have endeavoured to supply the information the cancelled Notes conveyed by numerous examples introduced into my Rules, with a design of pointing out the character of the effect upon the Sense produced by the Peculiar Forms of Greek which these Notes were designed to explain.

17, Fenchurch Street,

1st January, 1863.

HERMAN HEINFETTER.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

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