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To the Reader: dangerous Influence 3 but not content witb this, he proceeds, and as weil bere, as in his Paraphrafe, maintains, that the Sentence is ſuch a Sort of Metaphor, as by the Sword muft be under flood that only of the Spirit. It is true, a great many Commentators interpret. the Senfe Figurative y, yet fo as the Word Sword fhall be. taken for neither Matetial wer Spiritual, but only denote the forezelling of Perfecutton, and caution the providing for Tribulation and. Martyrdom. Tet Jome other Expofitors do. with more of Naturalnefs, and perhaps not. lefs of Truth, apprebend the Words Literally, and conclude, that our Saviour hereby authorized bis Difctples ta. be furniſhed with Weapons for the Security. againft the Affaults of private Robbers, who at that time Jofephus ohferves mere very numerous: Thefe fame Arms, which might be employed fer the preventing private Pillage, or Aflallination, were to be laid down on, all other the moft urging Provocations at the Feet of Publick Authority ;. of which, when there appeard but a bare Face, our Lord commands Peter to ſheath bis Sword, and threatens, that whoever upon any fuch Occafion did hereafter take it, fhou/d perifh by it. This may perhaps be rhoughe too ſerious, aud (as fo) . impertinent for the introducing fo Light and Comical an Argument : But it ‘ought to be ſuppoſed proper enough,
