Keach - Houston-Packer Collection BS537 .K4 1779

6o AN ANTHROPOPATHY. Book I. He is faid to engrave the Graving of one Stone, &c. Zecb. iii. 9· which betokens the Wounds, Languor and Paflion of Chrift, who is figured by that Stone. He is faid to put a11 Hedge round about Me, when he preferves him from the Ma– lignity of malicious Spirits, Job i. 1 o. and to remove the Hedge, fignifies, that he will leave them naked, expoli:d, and defmcelefs, lfa. v. 5· Pfal. viii. 12, I;j. and lxxxix. 40, 41. When he is faid to i11claje Man's Way with hewn Stones, it denotes , being environeu with j\ffliEtions and Calamities,. as Lam. iii: 9: 'l"o hedge up the Way with 'l"bonJS, as llof \I. 6. figmfies that God will by Afflu~~10ns, and other Means, hinder and divert Men from an intended Sin and Iniquity. · · God is faid to feat up the Hand of every j\.fan, Job xxxvii. 7. When he prohibits or hinders their Actions-It is faid that God the Father foaled Chrift, John vi. 27. that is, fent him forth, with Divine Authority for. the Good of Men. See Cant. iv. I 2. and viii. 6. Hag. ii. 24. Where by Seal is betokened that he confirms and preferves Believers in Truth and Piety, 2 Cor. i. 22. Eph. i. I3· and iv. 30. As Men fix their Seal to that which they would ratify and confirm, The Father is faid to draw Men to Cbrift, John vi. 44, 45, 65. When he illuminates the Mind with his Word, and beftows the true Knowledge of Salvation. So Cant. i. 4• Jer. xxxi. 2. Hofta xi. 4 . John xii. 32. 2 'I"bdf. iii 5· This is no violent Compu!fion, but a benevolent Flexi011, bendmg, or Difpo~tion of a Mind averfe to Goodnefs, and that by Means, as the Word revealed and preached, &c. It is faid, Jer. xv. 7· !will fan them with a Fan, &c. that is, in my Anger I will difperle and dtihoy them. The Word is properly taken, !fa xxx. 24. lt is faid of Chrift, Mattb. iii. I z. Luke iii, 1 7· '!"hat !Jis Fan is in his Hand, and be will thoroughly purge his Hoor, and gather his Wheat into his Garner, but be will burn up the Chaff with ur.quenchable Ftre, that is, by the Word of his Power and by AtlliEtions and Tribula– tiom, he will fegregate or fcparate the Godly from the Vi'icked, as by a Fan or Win– nowing, the pure Grain is divided from the Chaff. God is f,rid to fweep with the Befom of Dejfruflion, !fa. xiv. 23. which intimates an utter DefolatJOn, and Spo:l of Inhabitants to the Land. It is faid, Pfal. lxxvi. 12. He jhall cut off the Spirit of Princes; the Word tranOated cut o.fl is emphatical, and fignifics the lopping off the Branclles of a Vine, leaving it naked and defolate, and fo It notes a D<privation of Strength, 'courage or Life itfelf. God is faid to anoint when he comforts, lifts up, or makes glad his People, Pfal. xxiii. 4, 5· 2 Cor. i. 2 i. but moft large, extenfive, and copious is the Unflion of Chrift our Blelfed Savior, wherewith he is by the Father anointed for the Salvation of poor Sinners, Pfal. xlv. 7, 8. Ifa.lxi. I. Luke iv. I8. Heb. i. 9· John iii. 34· .dfls x. 38, &c. A third Kind of .dflions, which properly belong to the FEE't are afcribed to God, as Gm. iii. xv. .d breaking the Serpent's Head-where by the Serpent is meant the Devil, who feduced Eve in that Form; and by the Serpent's Head, his Power,. and diabolical Fiercenefs. So the breaking of his Head, is to be performed by the Me./Jias* God-man, and lignifies the DeftnK'tion of the Power and Kingdom of the Devil, and Man's Re– demption, from its Tyranny and Valfalage. Our Savior is figured here as a magn!– ficent Hero, who with his Feet tramples upon the Serpent or Dragon, and breaks his Head. But it is faid that the Serpent lhall bruife his Heel, by which Phrafe the Paflion and Death of Chrift is meant. To this Palfage, the Apoftle Paul alludes, Rom. xvi. 20. And the God of Peace jhall bruife Satan under your Feet Jbortly, &c. Such a treading under Foot as is ufed in a Wine Prefs is afcribed to God, Lam. i. 5· By which the extreme Oppreffion and AffliCtion of Men is noted. To this may be re– ferred that emphatical Phrafe, !fa. lxiii..3. I have trodden lhe Wine Prefs alone, &c. which is fpoken of Chri.ft, who by his Merit and Satisfaction freed us from our Enemies whom he cn1fhcd under his Feet. Hitherto of AEtions which concern the rational Soul, and fuch as concern the animal Faculty follow, which are threefold, as it refpeEts the prefent Purpofe. 1. The Actions of the external Sanfts, which are five. 2. The

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