METAPHORS FROM SACRED PERSONS ATD THINGS. Book I. Rev. vii. 13, I4· xix. 8. and xxi. 2. The typical AElions, Gen. iii. 21. and xxiv. 5 2 • The Putting on and conflant keeping, of this fpiritual Garmtnt is, primarily by Faith in Chrifl:, Ram. xiii. q. Gal. iii. z6, 27. and confequently, by the Renovation of the Holy Spirit, and the Converfation of a Holy L ife, Rom. xiii. 12. Eph. iv. 24. Col. iii. IO, !2. I Pet. iii. 3, 4· Contrary to this, is the Garment Jpotted with the Flejh, Jude Verfe 22. The defiling of Garmwts, Rev. iii. 4· which is the old Man, Epb. iv. 22. Col. iii. 8.. See Ifa. lix. 5• 6, &c. · 2. With Refpect to outward Converfation, Sheep's Clothing is attributed to the falfe Prophets and falfe Teachers in the Church, Matt. vii. '5· which denotes any out– ward Things which are fpecious, and made ufe of craftily to acquire Authority and popular Favor, as when Men make ufe of a diiTembling, perfonated, or hypocritical Sanctity, as a Cloak to inveigle and deceive others ; When they pretend to be called of God, Jer. xxiii. 25, 30. I Kings xiii. 18. Matt. vii. 22. when they make a Flourifh about the Knowledge of 'l'ongues, univecfal Learning, great Eloquence and other ac– quired Ornaments, Ram. xvi. 18. 1Cor. xiii. I, 2. and Gift>, efpecially the 'Narking of Miracles whether truly done, or by meer lmpofture, Deut. xiii. 2. Matt. vii. 22. 2 'l'hejf. ii. 9· See 1 'l'im, iv. I, 2, 3· 2 'J'im. iii. 5, 6. Col. ii. I 8. To this Sheep's Clothing is fitly oppofed a wo!fijh Mind, denoting, (r.) The ~aiity of their Doctrine, viz. it was damning, and a Wolf is a Defl:royer of Sheep. (2.) Their bloody Principles, that would cruelly lord ir, and tyrannize over Men's 'Confcience·s, &c. Matt. xi. 8. A Man clothed iJt Joft Raimmt, that is, one given to Pleafures as ap– pears, f..t&e vii. 2 5· and withal a Court Flatterer, who either approves of, or at leaft: connives at, the Sins or Debaucheries of Grandees, and if he admonilhes, does it in fawning tl~ttering Expreffions, with all his Artince of Extenuation. Chrifl fays, that John is no fuch Perfon, but was very remote from the Pleafures of the Fleih, living by a Oendet and coarfe Diet, Matr. iii. + and xi. 18. and was no Flatterer, as appears by his Reproof of Herod for his Incefl:, Luke iii. I 9· BONDS and ROPES or CORDS, are metaphorically Symbols of Oppreffion, Cala– mity and PuniOunent, Pfal. xviii. 5, 6. and cxvi. 3· Prov. v. 22. !fa. xxviii. 22. xlix. 9· lii. 2. and lviii. o. Nahutn i. •3· it denotes alfo a C<lvetzant Obedience and Obligation prefcribed by Law, Pfal. ii. 3· ]er. ii. 20. Ezek. xx. 37· God is faid to lay Bonds upon the Prophet. Ezek. rv. 8. when he obhges hrm to a conftant Perfever– ·ance in his Prophecy. See Ezek. iii. •5· Charity is called the Bond of P.erfecrion, 'Col. iii. I4. by which is not meant that it makes us perfect in the Sioht of God, but that the Faithful are fo joined together by Love, as Members of the fame Body which 1 1 ave a perfect Harmony, Sympathy and Concord rowards each oth-er. The fame is called the Bona of Peace, Eph. iv. 3· See_Zech. ix. 12. AEls xx. ~·· Cords of htiquity or Bonds of Jniauity, lfa. v. 18. AEls vw. 23. denote the Confp1racy of the Wrcked and the fpiritual Captivity of Sin• .J111.0D denates any Caili~ation or Correction, Job' xxi. 9· !fa. ix. 4· I Cor. iv. 2 I. See Staff for the Hebrew* 'V\ ~rd properly fignifies both. See alfo Chap. vii. towards the End. C H A P. Xlii. tJj Metaphors tnke11 f rom facred PerfoRs and Things, and whatfoever relates to DiviM JVorjhip. THESE may be reduced into three Heads, (I.) Mm. (2.) Places. (3.') Cuftovzs, 'R.i'tes or'Cet"e~;ro-;Jies. ,Of which in Order•. ·Metaphors
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