Part I. M E T A p H 0 R s FROM Fll\E. lit Of Nouns, a FLAME by a Metaphor fignifies a bright and lhining Blade, or Plate of that Form, as Judg. iii. 22. 1 Sam. xvii. 7· where what we tranflate Spears•head, is in the Hebrew [Spears flame.] So Job. xxxix. 3· '!"be Flame of the opear, we rranflate it the glittering Spear.. So allo t.m? (Flame) is attributed to the Sword, which turned every Way, with wh1ch the c_herubzms, wh.1ch were the Keepers of Paradile, were armed, Gen. iii. 24. See !fa. XIII. H. Cant. v111. 6. Love IS called the Flame of the Lord, that 1s, fuch as the Lord by the Light of his Spirit kindles fo, as that it lhall laft pepetually; And for its continual Energy, becaufe it always teuds upwards, and darts its Splendor and increafes that Viay, what are the Properties of a natural Flame of Fire, agree alfo to Love, !fa. xlvii. 14. A Flame lignifies mofi heavy Punifhments infliCted by God. LAN'l"HORN, CANDLE, and LAMP, (1.) Denote Profperity, and a happy Suc– cefs of Things, Job xxix. 3· Pfa/. xviii. 28. Hence the Extintlion, or putting out of a Candle or Lamp, fignrfies approaching Adverlities, Job xxi. 1 7· Prov. xiii. 1 9· and XX. 20. (2.) Ir more efpecially denotes the Happinefs of a Kingdom or Government, 2 Sam. xxi. 17. 'fhoujhalt go no more out with us to Battle, that thou quench not the Candle, or Lamp, of Ifrael- the Senfe is, left thou be flain, and the Kingdom of Ifrael, and its Tranquility perifh. So the Confervation of Da·vid's Kingdom in his Pof\erity is called ·a Lamp or Candle, I Kings xi. 36. and xv. 4· 2 Kings viii. 19. 2 Chron. xxi. 7· Pfa!. cxxxii: 17. In which ]aft J:'lace there is RefpeCl: had to Chrifl, the heavenly King, and David's Son according to the Flefh. Some refer to this Head, Numb. xxi. 30. And their Lamp perijhed from He!bon to Dibon, fo the Hebrew, that is, their Kingdom or Sovereignty. (3.) This Word is elegantly tranflated to fignify the Word of God, Pfal. cxix. 105. Prov. vi. 23. 2 Pet. i. 19. of which we have treated before in the Chapter of an An– thropopathy. Johil the l:laptilt, that eminent Preacher of the Word of God, ane!- Fore• runner of Chrift, is called a burning and jhining Caad/e, John v. 35· For between him l who was a Candle lighted by the Divine Wifdom) and Chrift, the true Light of th~ World there is a manifeft Difference put, John i. 8, 9· To this Notion, that Palfage which our Saviour inculcates, Luke xii. 35· is very agreeable, viz. Let your Loins be girded about, andyour Candles, fo the Greek, burning, by which Phrafe the ferious Study of Watchfulnefs and Holinefs is commanded, in Purfuance to God's Prefcriptions. BURNING COALS fon:ctimes denote Calamities, and grievous Punilhments, Pfal. ex!. 10, See !fa. xlvii. 14. Sometimes they fignify L ightning, Pfal. xviii. H. An only Son is called a Coal, 2 Sam. xiv. 7· becaufe as Coals raked up in Alhes are, as it were, a Seed of F1re, fo that one Son would he a Means to propagate a Poileriry and co.ntinue a Family, fo that it thouid not be wholly exringuif11ed, Prov. xxv. 21. and Nom. xii, 20. It is faid that when we do good to an Enemy we heap Coals of Fire upon his Head, that is, it will aggravate that Guilt which will bring feverer Vengeance upon him be– caufe of his catJlelefs and ungrateful Malice to fuch as do him good. A COAL is put for the Plague or any Difeafe, that is, fiery and inflamed like burning Coals, Deut. xxxii. 24. Hab. iii. 5 For Arrows which grow hot by Motion, and pierce like Fire, Pfal.lxxvi. 3· For Lightnings which burn like Coals, Pfal. lxxviii. 48. And for Love that is very fervent, Cant. xiii. 6• ./[ FIRE·BRAND (or burning Wood taken out.of the Fire that it lhould burn no longer) fometimes denotes Contempt, becaufe of the Privation of Fire and Light, as lja. vii. 4· Let not thy Heart be tender, or faint, for the two '!"ails of thefe fino.<ing Fire·brands; as if he had faid, they are like Fire-brands, which (when extinguifhed) fmoke but cannot burn. Neither are they barely called Fire-brands, bur the 'fails of Fire-brands, as if he had faid, they are like l:lrands that are confumed even to the very Ends or Extreams, which have nothing but Smoke, the Remains of Fire, which /hall fpeedily ceafe. So it is with Tyrants who oppofe Chrift and his Gofpd, who ieem like great Fires to us that in a Moment would confume all; but to God and Faith, they are as the Tails of fmoking Fire-brands, who for all their Threatening will in a mife– rable Manner at length be deftroyed. Yet Jerome in his Comment upon this Place gtves another Reafon why the Term '!"ail, which is the extremeft Member or Part of a 8 "aft
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