1. Conjunctions are, indeed, frequently made to connect different moods and tenses of verbs: but in these instances the nominative must generally, if not always, be repeated, which is not necessary, though it may be done, under the construction to which the rule refers. We may say, "He lives temperately, and he has long lived temperately;" "He may return, but he will not continue;" "She was proud, though she is now humble:" but it is obvious, that the repetition of the nominative insuch cases, is indispensable; and that, by this means, the latter members of these sentences are rendered not so strictly dependent on the preceding, as those are which come under the rule. When, in the progress of a sentence, we pass from the affirmative to the negative form, or from the negative to the affirmative, the subject or nominative is always resumed: as, "He is rich, but he is not respectable." "He is not rich, but he is respectable." There appears to be, in general, equal reason for repeating the nominative, and resuming the subject, when the course of the sentence is diverted by a change of the mood or tense. The following sentences may therefore be improved. "Anger glances into the breast of a wise man, but will rest only in the bosom of foots;" "but rests only" or, "but it will rest only." "Virtue is praised by many, and would be desired also, if her worth were really known;""and she would." "The world begins to recede, and will soon disappear;" "andit will."

RULE XIX.

Some conjunctions require the indicative, fome the fubjunctive mood, after them. It is a general rule, that when fomething contingent or doubtful is implied, the fubjunctive ought to be used: as, If I were to write, he would not regard it;' "He will not be pardoned, unless he repent." Conjunctions that are of a pofitive and absolute nature require the indicative mood. "As virtue

1

advances, so vice recedes :" "He is healthy, because he is temperate."

66

The conjunctions, if, though, unless, except, whether, &c. generally require the subjunctive mood after them: 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, except it were given from above;", 2❝ Whether it were I or they, so we preach." But even these conjunctions, when the sentence does not imply doubt, admit of the indicative: as, "Though he is poor, he is contented."

The following example may, in some measure, serve to illustrate the distinction between the subjunctive and the indicative moods. "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; they would therefore have been better expressed in the indicative mood: "Though he was divinely inspired; though he was endued with supernatural powers." The subjunctive 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."

1. Lest, and that, annexed to a command preceding, necessarily require the subjunctive mood: 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 subjunctive mood: as, "If he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke;" "If he be but discreet, he will succeed." But the indicative ought to be used, on this occasion, when future time is not signified: as, "If, in this expression, he dea but jest, no offence should be taken;""If she is bt sincere, I am happy." The same distinction applies to the following forms of expression: "If he do submit, it will be from necessity;" "Though he does submit, he is not convinced;" "If thou do not reward this service, he will be discouraged;" "If thou dost heartily forgive him, endeavour to forget the offence."

2. In the following instances, the conjunction that, expressed or understood, seems to be improperly accompanied with the subjunctive mood. "So much she' dreaded his 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."

3. The same conjunction governing both the indica--tive and the subjunctive moods, 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.

4. 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 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 rung" that is, "though he should run;""Unless he act prudently, he will not accomplish his purpose;" hat is, unless he shall act prudently," "If he succeed and obtain his end, he will not be the happier for it;" that is,

T

"If he should succeed, and should obtain his end." These remarks and examples are designed to show the original of our present conjunctive forms of expression; and to enable the student to examine the propriety of using them, by tracing the words in question to their proper origin and ancient connexions. But it is necessa ry to be more particular on this subject, and therefore we shall add a few observations respecting it.

That part of the verb which grammarians call the present tense of the subjunctive mood, has a future signification. This is effected by varying the terminations of the second and third persons singular of the indicative; 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 without those variations; “ If thou prosperest,” &c. “Unless he studies," &c.; and as there is great diversity of practice in this point, it is proper to offer the learners a few remarks, to assist them in distinguishing the right application of these different forms of expression. It may be considered as a rule, that the 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 sentences, 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. But in the instaces which follow, future time is not referred to; and therefore a different construction takes place;" If thou brvest 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;" "Though he seems to be simple and artless, he has deceived us;" "Whether virtue is better than rank or wealth, admits not of any dispute;" "If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayst," &c. Acts viii. 37.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." "I have no doubt of his principles: but if he believes the truths of religion, he does. not act according to them."

That both the circumstances of contingency and futurity are necessary, as tests of the propriety of altering the terminations, will be evident, by inspecting the following examples; which show that there are instances. in which neither of the circumstances alone implies the. other. In the three examples following, contingency is denoted, but not futurity. "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." In the following sentences, futurity is signified, but not contingency. "As soon as the sun sets, it will be cooler." "As the autumn ad

vances, these birds will gradually emigrate."

It appears, from the tenor of the examples adduced, that the rules above mentioned may be extended to assert, that in cases wherein contingency and futurity do not concur, it is not proper to turn the verb from its signification of present time, nor to vary its form or termination. The verb would then be in the indicative mood, whatever conjunctions might attend it. If these rules, which seem to form the true distinction between the subjunctive and the indicative moods in this tense, were adopted and established in practice, we should have, on this point, a principle of decision simple and precise,. and readily applicable to every case that might occur. It will, doubtless, sometimes happen, that, on this oc