DECORUM
DECORUM
DECORUM is all that which is exactly and neatly (concinn) appropriate to the state and province of him who acts or speaks, or of those to whom the language is directed, or to the particular time and the place. Decorum of this kind shines out especially in the words and actions of CHRIST: and this Decorum, which is so happily expressed by the Evangelists, serves as an argument that they wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit; for this could not have been the work of mere human genius, however surpassing in its excellence.-The Gnom. on Mat 3:15. In the case of acts altogether lowly, the Son of God notwithstanding takes precaution for the rights of His majesty being unimpaired. In the case of every humiliation of Christ, by a certain kind of decorous protestation, precaution has been taken for preserving His divine glory.-The Gnom. on Luk 2:9, and Mat 21:19, margin. It is an instance of this Decorum, that Jesus for the most part speaks in the second person: which is itself an intimation that He is not one of the common condition of men.-The Gnom. on Mat 5:11. Jesus way of quoting the Scriptures is altogether full of Decorum and majesty.-Gnom. on Mat 9:13. It is beautifully in accordance with the Divine decorum that we never read of any one being (i.e. continuing) dead in the presence of the Lord of life.-Gnom. on Joh 11:15. But I do not wish to bring forward here all the specimens of the DIVINE DECORUM observed upon in the Gnomon, inasmuch as they will present themselves in great number to the Reader who examines the passages of the Gnomon quoted in the Index. We mark some others. Luke speaks with Decorum in Luk 3:23. Peter beseeches and warns with Decorum, Act 2:14. Paul uses a decorous appellation, 2Co 9:12, and a decorous antithesis, Gal 5:13. Comp. Gnom.
[] is a peculiar force in the words, which indicates the authority of the speaker, and is subservient to the sweetness of ornament: as Rom 2:5, .-Ch. 11:17, – – Col 1:28, – – – – Comp. Gnom.