He would have assisted one of his friends, if he could do it without injuring the other; but as that could not have been done, he avoided all interference.

Must it not be expected, that he would have defended an authority, which had been so long exercised without controversy ?

These enemies of Christianity were confounded, whilst they were expecting to have found an opportunity to have betrayed its author.

His sea sickness was so great, that I often feared he would have died before our arrival.

If these persons had intended to deceive, they would have taken care to have avoided, what would expose them to the objections of their opponents.

It was a great pleasure to have received his approbation of my labours; for which I cordially thanked him.

It would have afforded me still greater pleasure, to receive his approbation at an earlier period: but to receive it at all, reflected credit upon me.

To be censured by him, would soon have proved an insuperable discouragement.

Him portion'd maids, apprentic'd orphans blest,

The young who labour, and the old who rest.

The doctor, in his lecture, said, that fever always produced thirst.

SECTION XX.

RULE IV.

Some conjunctions require the indicative, some the subjunctive mood after them. When something contingent or doubtful is implied, the verb is in the subjunctive mood: as, "If he studies his lesson well to-day, he may ride tomorrow." "If he study more, he will learn faster." "He will not be pardoned, unless he repent."

Conjunctions that are of a positive and absolute nature, require the indicative mood. "As virtue advances, so vice recedes." "He is healthy, because he is temperate."

The conjunctions, if, though, unless, except, whether, &c.

generally require the second form of the subjunctive mood, present tense, and the second form of the imperfect of the neuter verb be, and passive verbs: as, "If thou be afflicted, repine not;"" Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him;" "He cannot be clean unless he wash himself;" No power,

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except it were given from above;" "Whether it were I or they, so we preach." But sometimes they require the first form: as, "If he thinks, as he speaks, he may safely be trusted." "If he is now disposed to it, I will perform the operation." "He acts uprightly, unless he deceives me. "If he was there, we shall know it to-morrow." "Whether he was deceitful or not, time will determine." But when the sentence does not imply doubt, the verbs following these con junctions, are in the indicative mood.

1. Almost all the irregularities, in the construction of any language have arisen from the ellipsis of some words, which were originally inserted in the sentence, and made it regular ; and it is probable, that this has been generally the case with respect to the conjunctive form of words, now in use; which will appear from the following examples: "We shall overtake him though he run;" that is, "though he should run;" "unless he act prudently, he will not accomplish his purpose;" that is, "unless he shall act prudently." "If he succeed and obtain his end, he will not be the happier for it ;" that is, “If he should succeed, and should obtain his end." These remarks and examples are designed to show the original of many of our present conjunctive forms of expression; and to enable you to examine the propriety of using them, by tracing the words in question to their proper origin and ancient connexions. But it is necessary to be more particular on this subject, and therefore I shall add a few observations respecting it.

That part of the verb which I call the second form of the present tense of the subjunctive mood, has a future signification. This is effected by not varying the terminations of the second and third persons singular as the indicative does; as will be evident from the following examples: "If thou prosper, thou shouldst be thankful " "Unless he study more closely, he will never be learned." Some writers however would express these sentiments with the personal variations; "If thou prosperest," &c. "Unless he studies," &c. and as there is a great diversity of practice in this point, it is proper to offer a few remarks to assist you in distinguishing the right application of these different forms of expression. It may be considered as a rule, that no changes of termination

are necessary, when these two circumstances concur: 1st, When the subject is of a dubious and contingent nature; and 2d, When the verb has a reference to future time. In the following sentence, both these circumstances will be found to unite: "If thou injure another, thou wilt hurt thyself;"" He has a hard heart; and if he continue impenitent, he must suffer " "He will maintain his principles, though he lose his estate ;" ;" "Whether he succeed or not, his intention is laudable," "If he be not prosperous, he will not repine." "If a man smite his servant, and he die," &c. Exodus xxi. 20. In all these examples, the things signified by the verbs are uncertain, and refer to future time. These verbs, therefore, are properly used in the second form of the subjunctive present.

But in the instances which follow, future time is not referred to; and therefore a different construction takes place : "If thou livest virtuously, thou art happy;" "Unless he means what he says, he is doubly faithless;" "If he allows the excellence of virtue, he does not regard her precepts ;" "If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayst," &c. Acts viii. 37. These are properly used in the first form of the subjunctive mood present tense.

As there are two forms of the subjunctive imperfect of the neuter verb be, and of passive verbs, a rule which will direct you in the proper use of each, may be found useful. The rule, which will be found generally correct, is, "When the sentence implies doubt, supposition, &c. and the neuter verb be, or the passive verb is used with a reference to present or future time, and is either followed, or preceded, by another verb in the imperfect of the potential mood, the second form of the imperfect must be used: as, If he were here, we should rejoice together;" "Were she present, she would enjoy the scene.' "He might go, if he were disposed to." But when there is no reference to present or future time, and it is neither followed nor preceded by the potential imperfect, the first form of the imperfect must be used; as, "If he was ill, he did not let his friends know it; If he was there, he did his duty :" " Whether he was absent or present, is not known.”

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There are many sentences, introduced by conjunctions, in which neither contingency nor futurity is denoted: as, "Though he excels her in knowledge, she far exceeds him in virtue;" "Though he is poor, he is contented;" and then the verbs are in the indicative mood: were therefore, in the following sentence, is erroneous. "Though he were divinely

inspired, and spoke therefore as the oracles of God, with supreme authority; though he were endued with supernatural powers, and could, therefore, have confirmed the truth of what he uttered, by miracles: yet, in compliance with the way in which human nature and reasonable creatures are usually wrought upon, he reasoned." That our Saviour was divinely inspired, and endued with supernatural powers, are positions that are here taken for granted, as not admitting the least doubt; therefore the indicative mood, "Though he was divinely inspired; though he was endued with supernatural -powers;" would have been better. The second form of the subjunctive imperfect of the neuter verb be, is used in the like improper manner, in the following example, "Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience, by the things which he suffered." But, in a similar passage, the indicative, with great propriety, is employed to the same purpose: "Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor."

2. Lest and that, annexed to a command preceding, necessarily require the following verb to be in the second form of the subjunctive present: as, "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;" "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee;" "Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob."

If with but following it, when futurity is denoted, requires the second form of the subjunctive present: as, "If he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke;" "If he be but discreet, he will succeed." But the first form ought to be used, on this occasion, when future time is not signified: as, "If, in this expression, he does but jest, no offence should be taken;" "If she is but sincere, I am happy." The same distinction applies to the following forms of expression: "If he do submit, it will be from necessity "If thou do not reward this service, he will be discouraged;" "If thou dost heartily forgive him, endeavour to forget the offence."

3. In the following instances, the conjunction that, expressed or understood, seems to be improperly accompanied 66 "So much she dreaded his with the subjunctive mood. tyranny, that the fate of her friend she dare not lament." "He reasoned so artfully that his friends would listen, and think [that] he were not wrong.'

4. The same conjunction followed both by the first and second forms of the subjunctive present, in the same sentence, and in the same circumstances, seems to be a great impropriety; as in these instances. "If there be but one body of legislators, it is no better than a tyranny; if there

are only two, there will want a casting voice.' "If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them is gone astray," &c. 5. On the form of the auxiliaries in the compound tenses of the subjunctive mood, it seems proper to make a few observations. Some writers express themselves in the perfect tense as follows: "If thou have determined, we must submit :" "Unless we have consented, the writing will be void :" but we believe that few authors of critical sagacity write in this manner. The proper form seems to be, "If thou hast determined; unless he has consented," &c. conformably to what we generally meet with in the Bible: "I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me." Isaiah xlv. 4. "What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained," &c. Job xxvii. 8. See also Acts xxviii. 4.

6. In the pluperfect and future tenses, we sometimes meet with such expressions as these: "If thou had applied thyself diligently, thou wouldst have reaped the advantage; unless thou shall speak the whole truth, we cannot determine ;” “If thou will undertake the business there is little doubt of success." This mode of expressing the auxiliaries, does not appear to be warranted by the general practice of correct writers. They should be, hadst, shalt, and wilt and we find them used in this form, in the sacred Scriptures.

"If thou hadst known," &c. Luke xix. 47. "If thou hadst been here," &c. John xi. 21. "If thou wilt thou canst make me clean." Matt, viii. 2. See slso, 2 Sam. ii. 27. Matt. xvii. 4.

7. The second person singular of the imperfect tense in the subjunctive mood, is also very frequently used without the personal termination: as, "If thou loved him truly, thou wouldst obey him ;" "Though thou did conform, thou hast gained nothing by it." This, however, appears to be improper, Our present version of the Scriptures, which are again referred to, as a good grammatical authority in points of this nature, decides against it. "If thou knewest the gift," &c. John iv. 10. "If thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory?" &c. 1 Cor. iv. 7. See also Dan. v. 22.

8. It may not be superfluous, also to observe, that the auxiliaries of the potential mood, when applied to the subjunctive, retain the termination of the second person singular. We properly say, "If thou mayst or canst go;" "Though thou mightst live;""Unless thou couldst read;"" If thou wouldst learn ;" and not, "If thou may or can go ;" &c. It is sufficient, on this point, to adduce the authorities of Johnson and Lowth: "If thou shouldst go;" Johnson. "If thou mayst, mightst, or couldst love;" Lowth. Some authors think, that