PARKHURST (John):

A Greek and English Lexicon to the New Testament: in which The Words and Phrases occurring in those Sacred Books Are Distinctly Explained And the Meaning assigned to each Authorized by References to Passages of Scripture. And frequently illustrated and confirmed By Citations from the Old Testament, And from the Greek Writers. To this Work is prefixed A Plain and Easy Greek Grammar, Adapted to the Use of Learners, And Of those who understand no other Language than English.

London: Printed for W. Faden...; B Law...; E. and C. Dilly...; J. Robson...; And F. Newbery..., 1769. FIRST EDITION. 4to, 283 x 212 mms., pp. [iv] v - viii, [ii] iii - v [vi adverts, vii - x Contents, Errata, ligatures], 94 [95 Errata, 96 Abbreviations], 680, contemporary calf, rebacked and re-cornered in lighter calf, red morocco label; some wear to edges, but a good copy with the contemporary autograph "W Stackhouse/Trin. Coll. Oxon." on the top margin of the title-page and that of Jeffrey B. Barrow, dated 1945 on recto of the front free end-paper, along with some other inscriptions. Parkhurst (1628 - 1797) was a careful and meticulous scholar, but not a disinterested one, as he makes clear in the third paragraph of the Preface: "As a sincere friend to sound Protestantism, I mean, from the abominable errors and superstitions of Popery on the one hand, and from the unscriptural, absurd, and wicked reveries of the enthusiastic, self-illuminated Sects on the other, I could wish it might be seriously weighted on the present occasion, whether the extraordinary respect sill shown by Protestant nations to the Roman, in preference to the sacred Hebrew and Greek Tongues, be not in truth a noxious relick of Popery." Parkhurst's daughter, Millicent Thomas, herself a gifted scholar, published a revised edition of the work in 1798, which elicited this tribute from the The British Critic, and Quarterly Theological Review in that year: "To sum up our opinion of this laborious and important work in a few words, it appears that the author has endeavoured not only to make it entertaining to his readers, but that in explaining the original language of the New Testament, he has studiously endeavoured to preserve his high character for accuracy, perspicuity, and impartiality. Such has been his useful and laudable attempt; and we have the utmost satisfaction in pronouncing our opinion that he has completely succeeded."

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Book number: 9090

Catalogue: Lexicon

Keywords: lexicon dictionary prose