Part I. METAPHORS FROM THINGs GROWING ouT OF THE EARTH. 13 t by ametaphorical Tranfiation applied fometim~s to the Apojlles, and other <reachers_ of the Word of God, Matt. v. '3· whofe Office tt ts to take care that by found OoClnne; and a blamelefs Example of Life, their Auditors be preferved from any Corruption as well in the Fundamentals of Religion, as alfo (as far as may be) from any Blemilb in ex– ternal Life and Converf.1tion. For a3 Salt applied to Meat confumes the depraved or corrupt Humors, and fo preferves from PutrefaClion; fo the Mini!l:ers of the Gofpel by found OoClrines, and by a prudent Application of legal Reprehenlion preferve Men from being putrefied in Sin, and are Jn(trumencs to make them favory, that is, that they may pleafe God, and fo obtain (through his Mercy in Chri!l:) eternal Bldfednefs. 'J"heophilaB * on Mark ix. so. lays, that as Salt hinders the Generation of Worms in Meat; fo the Preaching of the Gofpel, if quick and home, feafons carnal Men fo, that the Worm of Re!l:lelfnefs !ball not generate in them. Sometimes it fignifies Wifdom and Prudence, Mark ix. 50. Col. iv. 6. Upon which Illyricus, Wifdom keeps the /JBions, Lives and Manners of Men from any Fault, as Salt does Flejh and other Things: And makes L ife, Manners, and Speech grateful and acceptable to all, as Salt gives a grateful Relijh to Meat. To this Speech feafoned with Salt corrupt Communication is oppofed, Eph. iv. 29. that is, obfcene, foolilb, or impious Talk, which tor the Wane of tins fpiritual Salt, as ic were !l:inks, and is unfavory to God and holy Men. What we tranOate Job i. 2. In all this Job finned not, nor charged God foolifhly, is (Word for Word) in the Hebrew thus, [In all thefe Job finned not, nor gave Unfavorinefst agnin.ft God,] viz. finful \Yards, as the Chaldee renders it. Impiety is noted by the fame Word, Job xxiv. I 2. We have Mention of a Co-venant of Salt, Numb. xviii. I9· 2 Chron. xii. 5· which fignifies that which is la!l:ing and perpetual, the Realon of the Speech is, becaufe Things falted la!l: very long and do not putrefy. See Luth. Marginal. Schol. in Numb. xviii. I9· SULPHUR or BRIMStONE joined with Fire, denotes moll: heavy Punilbmenrs, Deut. xxix. 23. Job xviii. 15. Pfal. xi. 6. !fa. xxxiv. 9· Ezek. xxxviii. 22. hence it is put in the Defcription of He!/, !fa. xxx. 33· Rev. xiv. 10. xx. 10. and xxi. 8. All which Places (fame fay) allude to the Oefl:ruEtion of Sodom and Gomorrah by Fire and Brim!l:one, Gen. xix. 24. Metaphors taken from Things growing out of the Earth. THINGS growing out of the Earth are to be confidered di!l:inEtly, with RefpeEt to their Parts, as alfo with RefpeCl: to their Kinds and Species. The Parts are thefe, I. SEED, of which a Plant grows, metaphorically lignifies the Word of God, by Power and Virtue of which a Man is new-born, and becomes an acceptable Tree or Plant to God, (lfa.lxi. 3.) I Pet. i. 23. Being born again, not of corruptible Seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth, and abidethfor ever. I John iii. 9· Who– foever is born ofGod, doth not commit Sin; for his Seed remaineth in him: And he cannot fin becaufe he is born of God; which is expounded, Pfal. cxix. 11. Thy Word have I hid in my Heart, that I may not fin again.ft thee; and Luke viii. 15. but that fawn in the good Ground, are they, which in an honefl: and good Heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth Fruit with Patience. To this may be compared the 5th and lrth Verfes of this Chapter, where it is expounded, that the Seed is theWord of God. By the fame Metaphor, it is called Jwy~ '1'-~v/~, Jermo infititius, the engrafted Word, Jam. i. 2 t. (Mention being made of Regeneration, Verfe 18.) that is, which God by the Power of his Spirit, does, as it were, fow and plant in the Hearts of Men, chat it may take Root there, and bring forth Fruit acceptable to God. ( 1.) Seed as to outward Appearance is but a mean Thing, neither is its Virtue appa– rent or vilible: So the Word of God, is much defpifed and contemned in che World, 1 Cor. i. 21. • f<!emadmodumfal tarnts tohibet, f.:tt. t i1~!ln info!Jittu, Unfavorinefs. (2.) Good
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