Page 17 [17]
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 inter¬
pret. the Senfe Figurative y, yet fo as the
Word Sword fhall be. taken for neither Mate¬
tial wer Spiritual, but only denote the fore¬
zelling of Perfecutton, and caution the provi¬
ding for Tribulation and. Martyrdom. Tet
Jome other Expofitors do. with more of Natu¬
ralnefs, and perhaps not. lefs of Truth, ap¬
prebend the Words Literally, and conclude,
that our Saviour hereby authorized bis Difct¬
ples ta. be furniſhed with Weapons for the
Security. againft the Affaults of private Rob¬
bers, 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 Argu¬
ment : But it ‘ought to be ſuppoſed proper
enough,