Part I. METAPHORS FROM THE VrNE, &c. IJf' It is taken in an ill Senfe, Deut. xxxii. 32, 33· where Mention is made of a Vine, Grapes, Cluflers, and Wine, exprelling the cruel and abominable Wickednefs of Sinners. Expolitors are not agreed in what Senfe to take a Vme, Hof x. 1. but the moll pro– per Interpretation feems to be this Ifrae/ is mt empty Vine, that is, it plentifully brin~s forth Fruit like a luxunant Vme, as If It would at once empty ufdf of all m Fruit. Yet it produces not good but bad Fruit (it isthe Vine of Sodom and Gom_orrah, Deut, xxxii. 32, 33· plentifully bnngmg forth wtld Grapes, lfa. v. 2.) for 1t follows, he bringeth forth Fruit unto himfelf: Aaording to the Multitude ofhis Fruit he bath increafed the Altars, &c. See Metaphor of a Vine iu the fecond Book. The Phrafe to fit under his own Vine and Fig-'l'ree, is a Defcription of Security, Peace, and Tranquillity, I Kings iv. 25. 2 Kings xviii. 31. for the Jews were wont to love their Vines and Fig-trees beyond any other Trees; partly for the Sweetnefs of the Fruit, Judg. ix. 11, I3· and partly for the Conveniency of the Shade. For(as Pliny* calls them) branched or fpreading Vines, or (as Columella L ib. iii. Cap. 2. calls them) fuch as are perched upon Rails or Galleries in the Form of an Arbor, covering it on all Parts do afford a cool and delightfome Shade, for Repofe or Banqueting. As to the Fig-tree, (as Pliny t has it) its Leaf is very large, and confequently very fuadowing, which may be gathered alfo from Gen. iii. 7.-This Phrafe (to fit under his own Vine and Fig-tree) is metonymical, in as much as it is a Sign of public Peace and Tranquillity; and jjnecdochical, in as much as by thefe two Species of Trees and Plants, all Sorts of Vineyards, Gardens, Fields, &c. are underftood : But metaphorically the inward, and fpiritual Peace of the Kingdom of Chrift is exprelfed by it, Micah iv. 4· Zech. iii. 10, &c. WINE and NEWWINE fignify as well the Effects of Divine Mercy and Grace, as of Wrath and Vengeance. Examples of the former are to be read, Prov. ix. 5· Cant. ii. +· Ifa. lv. r. Joel iii. 23. Zech. ix. 17. in which Places by the Metaphor of Wine, · the Blelliogs, or Benefits of the Kingdom of Chri(t are expreffed; which are Righteouf– nefs, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit. As natural Wine is faid to chear or make glad the Heart of Man, Pfal. civ. x5. and that it chears the Heart of God and Man, Judg. ix. 13. So Jehovah is (as it were) cheared and delighted, with the Converfwn, Faith, and Piety of Men, lfa. lxii. 5· Examples of the latler are to be read, Pfal. lx. 3· and lxxv. 8. Illyricus fays that, by this Similitude he fignifies moll heavy AflliB:ions, &c. Re-v. xiv. Io. and xviii. 6. &c. lfa. i. 22. 'l'hy Wine mixt with Water, denotes the Corruption of all Orders in Ifrael, as the foregoing and following Words !hew. The Septuagint render it •• """•>-•• era p.uryarn TOll Oll'Oio' uJ'.xn, thy eraverners mix Wine withWater, from whence they fay that metaphorical Speech of Paul is deduced, 2 Cor. ii. xvii. For we are not as many, Y.et7rnA~rJo1!1t~ Toll Aoi'o" Ta 0ea, taverning the Word of God. This Word x.x?TnA!uuy (which our Bibles render corrupting the Word of God) is very etnphatical, :j: it is a Metaphor taken from Hofls, Viftuallers, Innkeepers, or rather 'l'avernkeepers, who corrupt and ad– ulterate their Wines; § by which the Apoftle elegantly inculcates two Things, (t.) Their adulterating the Word of God by the Mixture of their own Fancies. (2.) Their Covetoufnefs and Study of filthy Gain. The Verbx"""A'''w is properly underftood of Wine--fellers, and is here metaphorically tranfiated to fignify deceitful Dealing, as it is expounded, 2Cor. iv. 2. Cbryfoftom, fays, TaTo EP xa?TnAEucra.• oT.xll ,..,r 11o!1nJn -rov ou•o11, oTetY n) Y.J1lfMXTWY 1rwA'1 o1rEe J'l'"' .Ju J"'"' in Englifi1, This is, (cauponari) to tavern, whm any one adulterates Wine, when any one fells a 'l'hing of that Kind for Money, which he ougbt to give freely. The Syriac renders it, for we are not as the refl who mix (or adulterate by Mixtures) the Word of God, &c. Jer. xxiii. 28. 1 'l'im. vi. 5· 2 Pet. ii. 3· '!'he DREGS or L EES of WINE are metaphorically ufed two Ways. I. Either denoting very great Calamities, Pfal.lxxv. 8. lfa. li. I7 · upon which Illy– ricus 11: As the Cup fignifies its Part of the Crofs and Caftigation, which God in his own Time diftributes or gives out to every one: So the Dregs of that Draught do fio-. nify the moft bitter Part of the Calamity or Punilhment. See Ezek. xxiii. 32, 33, 3'4-. 2. Sometimes fignifying fecure Tranquillity, as Zeph. i. 12. I will puni)h the Men that are fettled (or concrete, curdled, thickened) on their Lees, that is, fuch as with great • Li6. xvii. Cap, 2. vitt; rompluviat.e t Lib. xvi. Cap. 29. l Aret, § Dr.Sdat. Nn USicut poru!um, & r. Securiry,
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