sections wliich the Greeks call Kofjufiaja, and the clauses and
CHAP. VII.] EXAMPLE FEOM THE APOSTLE PAUL. 129 concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also. Are they Hebrews ? so am I. Are they Israelites ? so am
I. Are they the seed of Abraham ? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ ? (I speak as a fool), I am more : in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received
I forty stripes save one, thrice was I beaten with rods, once was
I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren ; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things which are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak ? who is offended, and I burn not ? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities."^ The thoughtful and attentive perceive how much wisdom there is in these words. And even a man soimd asleep must notice what a stream of eloquence flows through them.
13. Further still, the educated man observes that those sections wliich the Greeks call Kofjufiaja, and the clauses and periods of which I spoke a short time ago, being intermingled in the most beautiful variety, make up the' whole form and features (so to speak) of that diction by which even the unlearned are delighted and affected. For, from the place where
I commenced to quote, the passage consists of periods : the first the smallest possible, consisting of two members ; for a period cannot have less than two members, though it may have more : " I say again, let no man think me a fool." The next has three members : " if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little." The third has four members : " That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting." The fourth has two : " Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also." And the fifth has two : " For ye suffer fools
^ 2 Cor. xi. 16-30.
Cim. DOCT. I
130 ON CHRISTIAN DOCTmNE. [BOOK IV.
gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise." The sixth again has two members : " for ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage." Then follow three sections {cccsa) : " if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself" Next three clauses (mcmhra) : " if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak." Then is subjoined a period of three members : " Howbeit, whereinsoever any is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also." After this, certain separate sections being put in the interrogatory form, separate sections are also given as answers, three to three : " Are they Hebrews ? so am I. Are they Israelites ?
so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham ? so am I." But a fourth section being put likewise in the interrogatory form, the answer is given not in another section {cccsum) but in a clause
: ^ " Are they the ministers of Christ ? (I speak as a fool.) I am more." Then the next four sections are given continuously, the interrogatory form being most elegantly suppressed : " in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft." Next is interposed a short period ; for, by a suspension of the voice, " of the Jews five times " is to be marked off as constituting one member, to which is joined the second, " received I forty stripes save one." Then he returns to sections, and three are set down
" Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, tlmce I suffered shipwreck." Next comes a clause : " a night and a day I have been in the deep." Next fourteen sections burst forth with a vehemence which is most appropriate : " In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchiufTs often, in hummer and thirst, in fastincjs often, in cold and nakedness." After tliis comes in a period of three members : " Besides those things which are without, that which cometh ii])on me daily, the care of all the churches." And to this lie adds two clauses in a tone of inquiry : " Who
' The only apparent diirercnce between meriilrum and c<Tsum is, tliat the f<Mnner is the lunger of the two. It is impossible to express the difference in
English.