Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-06-24


that there was much water there in the sense
that the Baptsts attach TO the words, and also
that common speech julstifies the use of the
phrase abounding in water to signify plenty Of
water without reference To any large and deep
collection of it, as when we say that a section
of country abounds in water we mean that il
has plentiful supply of springs or streams.
That the words may sometimes mean
large collection of water, such as the sea, do
not deny; but do deny that they have such
meaning in the passage in dispute. prove,
on the other hand, that they mean number
ofsprings or streams; and DO this, first, by
making Mr.. Hall grant that there was no sea
or river in Enon. lie cannot with any face say
that there was. Hence he is forced to admit
that the words have there limited meaning.
The extent Of their meaning then must be
learned from various considerations. remark
then again, that the Greek djective,--trans.
lated much, but which would be better trans
lated many, it being in the plural number, and
the substantive also in the plural number,-is
used in its primary sense asopposi,e to few, and
not to much as expressive of quantity in extern
sion or depth. remark, further, that there is
no large water in that region but the river Jor.
dan, and it was not that. In further support
of my position, that it means springs or small
streams, | remark that John had been pre-.
viously baptizing at Jordan; why, therefore,
would he remove from place where there
was more water to Enon where there was
evidently less, If it were for the mere pur-
pose Of conveniently immersing. What ne
cessity for it This fact shows that his re.
sorting TO Enon was Tor the purpose for which
we contend, namely, 10 accommodate the great
multitude of persons and animals, the water be-
ing more fit to drink than that of the Jordan,
and more accessible, for the banks Of the Jor.
dan were steep. Another evidence in favor
of our Interpretation is, that travellers speak
ofthat locality as abounding in rivulets. The
very name Enon, as is said by some the foun-
tain of On, corroborates our statement, as it
might give rise to many small streams. Mr..
! Hall ridicules the idea of Johns resorting to
! Enon to accommodate the multitude Of people
and animals with sweet and convenient water.
longer ridicule the idea-his own experience
in travelling on camel, or an ass if he should
prefer it, or staying few days in place, would
teach him the humanity of Johns conduct. And
certainly, much more humane was John than
the Baptists who even break the ice TO dip sub
jects, thus making the gospel, in that respect
a yoke Of bondage, rather than matter o.
comfort. But Mr. Hall insists, that the Holy
Ghost says, that he sent John there to baptize
and for no other purpose. The Holy Ghos
says no such thing.
The last argument Of Mr.. Hall turns upoI
the Greek propositions; and, such a bunglin:
fist as he has made of them, is enough to caus
one to weep who loves that beautiful languag,
so honored in its classical associations and 81
precious as the vehicle of sacred truth. III
shows too plainly here his utter ignorance O
its character. AS to the proposition en- he al
but confines its meaning TO in, and intimate
that it signifies at or near but once or twice
10 reply say, that il means at, with, in, &c.
and that it is rendered a. more than one hun
drcd times. lie then assumes his false prcmis,
that it means only in and ridicules l.. d. l.
by quoting various phrases where its use is alb
surd, as, when person is in the grave he is a
il, &c. lie starts n false issue, and then make
a special plea in favor of it. Surely he cal
prove thus any thing he pleascs TO his owl
satisfaction, il he is willing TO incur the con
tempt ofall honorable minds. Who does M
know that in the grave is not at il But VIII
does not know that at it is at il, except Mr. Hall
lie then tries his skill at apo, and, with
! great deal OF complacency, as if he were a pei
feet Grecian, says tha. it is properly translate
"out Of" Now | will stake my reputation
, oh tor a knowledge of Greek, in asserting thu
the proper meaning of apo is from. lndee,
, this every child in Greek knows. lie the
either ignorantly or otherwise directs his En-.
2 lish readers to acts 3, 30 in confirmation of hi
meaning of apo, because the words out OF ar
I there found, when 10 and behold, the origin'
n proposition there is not apo but ek And the
s he refers to Matthew, to the baptism of Chris
n where apo is translated out Of but which vii
e directly, with all ease, he proved to be moi
= correctly translated from than ont OF. The.
:. are all his learned remarks on the proposition
n He makes but feeble fight lie then quot
r, some Professor Moore on en- and apo. Bat {
n what purpose no sensible person can see.