must see in the first place that there is nothing wrong in our
CHAP. II.] A^IBIGUITIES OF PUNCTUATION. 8 tlie light he enjo3^s, he shall laugh at the methods I am going to point out as childish),—but yet, as I was going to say, so far as I can give instruction, let him who is in such a state of mind that he can be instructed by me know, that the ambiguity of Scripture lies e^therjin proper words or in metaphorical, classes which I have already described in the second book/
Chap. ii.—Rule for removing ambiguity hy attending to punctuation.
2. But when proper words make Scripture ambiguous, we must see in the first place that there is nothing wrong in our punctuation or pronunciation. Accordingly, if, w^hen attention is given to the passage, it shall appear to be uncertain in what way it ought to be punctuated or pronounced, let the reader consult the rule of faith which he has gathered from the plainer passages of Scripture, and from the authority of the Church, and of which I treated at sufficient length when
I was speaking in the first book about things. But if both readings, or all of them (if there are more than two), give a meaning in harmony with the faith, it remains to consult the context, both what goes before and what comes after, to see which interpretation, out of many that ojBTer themselves, it pronounces for and permits to be dovetailed into itseK.
3. Now look at some examples. The heretical pointing,^
" In principio erat xerhum, et verlum erat apud Deuiii, et Deus crat," ^ so as to make the next sentence run, " Vcrhum hoc erat in principio apud Deum" * arises out of unwillingness to confess that the "Word was God. But this must be rejected by the rule of faith, which, in reference to the equality of the
Trinity, directs us to say : " ct Dcus erat vcrhum ;'' ^ and then to add : " hoc erat in principio apud Deumr
4. But the following ambiguity of punctuation does not go against the faith in either way you take it, and therefore must be decided from the context. It is where the apostle says " What I shall choose I wot not : for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which
See Book ii. chap. x. "^Zoixw i. 1, 2.
In tlie beginning was tlie "Word, and the "Word was with God, and God was.
* This Word was in the heginning with God.
' And the "Word was God. ^ The same was in the beginning witli God.
CHR. DOCT. 'S