t6o MET A PH 0 R S FROM A HuMAN BoDY. Book I. the Infant finds Refl and Defence, fo in Heaven, there is certain Security and a mofl: quiet Tranquillity, &c. A Bofom by a JVIetonymy fignifies a Garment, that covers it, which being loofe is con– venient to receive and carry Things, Prov. vi. 27. and xvi. 33· Therefore metaphorically it is put for the Retribution of Reward or Punifhment. Of Reward as 2 Sam. xii. 8. Luke vi. 38. Of Punijhm,nt, as Pfal. lxxix I 2. !fa. lxv. 6, 7· ]er. xxxii. r8. 'l'o Strengthen feeble Knees, fignifies to comfort fuch as are cafl: down by Anguifh or Sorrow of Mind, and confirm them by lnfl:ruCtion and Counfel, 'Job iv. 4· !fa. xxxv. 3· Heb. xii. I 2. the Metaphor being taken from outward Perils which invade upon a fud– den, in which the Knees of an affrighted and fearful Man are weakened, becaufe the Strength of the Nerves and Mufcles, by the Terror of fudden Danger leaves its Ope– ration, which for bearing the Body refides in the Knees. Hence a fudden or panic Fear is expretfed by the Weaknefs or beating together of the Knees, Pfal. cix. 24. Ezek. vii. '7· Dan.v. 6. Nahum ii. 11. 'l'he FEE'l' are metaphorically (as well as by another Trope) taken divers Ways; of which take fome of the Chief. '· With RefpeCt to Externals, ]ob fays Chap. xxix. •5· that he was Feet to the Lame, that is, he relieved th" Miferable, as Feet help Men to get out of Danger. See Gen. xxx. 30. noting the marginal Reading. 'l'he Foot of Pride, Pfal. xxxvi. 11. denotes the Violence of proud Enemies- The flipping, halting, &c. of the Feet, &c. denotes Danger and Calamity, Job xii. 5· Pfal. xxxviii. 17. cxvi. 8. and cxl. 4, 11. &c. See ]er. XXX. 16, On the contrary to deliver the Feet from falling denotes Divine ProteCtion, againfl: any malignant Enemies, PJal. lvi. 13. xviir. 36. xc. 12. and cxxi. 3, &c. 'l'o tread with the Feet, denotes to difgrace, or infult over one, as an Enemy, Pfal. vii. 5· and xci. 12, '3· Ezek. xxxiv. 18, 19. Matt. vii. 6. Luke x. 19. Heb. x. 29. LAMENESSor HAL'l'ING which is a Difeafe or accidental Hurt of the Feet de– notes Calamity, AffliCtion, and Dangers, Pfal. xxxv. 15. In mine halting (we tranOate it Adverfity) they rejoiced. Pfal. xxxviii. 18. Jer. xx. 10. Micah iv. 6, 7· Zeph. iii. 19. ln which ·two laft Places the Term ;,y):; is Feminine alluding to Sheep upon which l llyricus fays, 'I' hat it is a Speech takenfrom Sheep: For many of them iil the Summer efpe– cially thofe of hotter Countries do halt, or go lame, or elft it may relate to the People and Church, of which the Scripture fpeaks in the Feminine Gender, as before. 2. With RefpeCt to Internals and Spirituals, becaufe the Life of Man and the Ex– ercife ofGodlincfs is compared to walking or running, and fo the Feet rranOated to the Mind, fignify Dejire and a holy Endeavour, as the outward running or hafl:ening to a Place is performed by the Feet, Pfal. xvii. 5· and cxix. 59, 105. (wi1h Verfe 32.) Pro11. iv. 26, 27. Eccl. iv. 17. TheBeautifulnejsof theApojllesFeet, IJa.lii.7. Rom.x. 15. is not to be underftood of their bodily Feet, bur of the interior and divine, as well with RefpeCt to their Miffion, or being fent, as alfo the ..-«11"''" or Fervor in teaching, as a Footman in an Errand of great Concern performs his Journey fpeedily, Nahum ii. 1. Some interpret it rhus: It is not prancing Horfes, cathedral Seatr, cojlly and mag– nificent Veflments, Cardinals Hats, and other precious worldly Accoutrements that are com– mended, but fimply the Feet, which denotes the Humility of their apoj/olical Legation or Embaffj, and all their Succef!ors are exhorted to the fame Virtue, 1Cor. ii. 3, 4· Gal. iv. '3• 14, &c. Eph. vi. 15. The Feet are faid to beJhod, upon which a learned Expofitor fays, the Feet lignify the Minillry of the Gofpel, which mufl: be !hod, that is, defended with Boors or Shoes, from Thorns, Briars and Dirt, that is, that they may be able to go through all Dangers in teaching and confeffing the Gofpel. See Ezek. xvi. 10. What we tranOare (uprightly) Gal. ii. 14. is in the Greek oe~o..-oJ..., reflo pede ineederent, that is, walk wi1h a right Foor, viz. according to the Rule and Meafure of the Gofpel. See Heb. xii. 13. Hitherto we have treated of the di!Jimilary Parts of a human Body. The fimilary Parts yield but few Metaphors. ']'he
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