"_It_ is the man; I believe _it_ to be them:"--_the
said_ (man) is the man; _that_ (man) is the man: I believe _the said_
(persons) to be them; I believe _that_ persons (according to the ancient
application of _that_) to be them. "_It_ happened on a summer's day,
that many people were assembled," &c.--Many people were assembled: _it,
that_, or _the said_ (fact or circumstance) happened on a summer's day.
_It_, according to its accepted meaning in modern times, is not referred
to a noun understood after it, but is considered a substitute. "How is
_it_ with you?" that is, "How is your _state_ or _condition_?" "_It_
rains; _It_ freezes; _It_ is a hard winter;"--_The rain_ rains; _The
frost_ frosts or freezes; _The said_ (winter) is a hard winter. "_It_ is
delightful to see brothers and sisters living in uninterrupted love to
the end of their days." What is delightful? _To see brothers and sisters
living in uninterrupted love to the end of their days. It, this thing_,
is delightful. _It_, then, stands for all that part of the sentence
expressed in italics; and the sentence will admit of the following
construction; "To see brothers living in uninterrupted love to the end
of their days, is delightful.
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