“That kind Being who is a father to the fatherless, will recompense thee for this.”
Here a species is referred to, distinguished by benevolence. Of this species one individual is emphatically particularized: “That kind being.” Who? his distinctive character follows, “is a father to the fatherless.” The concluding word this, points to something previously described.
“—— ’T was idly done
To tell him of another world; for wits
Knew better; and the only good on earth
Was pleasure; not to follow that was sin.”
Here the word that refers with emphasis to a thing previously specified, namely, pleasure.
“It is no uncommon thing to find a man who laughs at everything sacred, yet is a slave to superstitious fears. I would not be that man, were a crown to tempt me.” Here one indefinitely of a species is mentioned, a man. The subject is afterwards limited by description to one of a certain character, “who laughs at things sacred, and is a slave to superstitious fears.” The word that selects and demonstrates the person thus described. The word the has nearly the same import; but is less emphatical. It seems to bear the same analogy to that, which a does to one. Hence in many cases they may be used indifferently.
“Happy the man whose cautious feet shun the broad way that sinners go.”
Here, “happy that man” would express the same idea. The Latins accordingly employed the demonstrative word ille; beatus ille, “happy the man.”