Troposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K

The Life of Man compared to a swift Ship.

Job 9.26. They are passed away as the swift Ships, (or, as the Ships of Ebeth.)

SOme understand by Ebeth, the Name of a River in the Eastern Part of the World, about Arabia, near the Place where Job lived, that runs very swiftly, which adds to the swift Motion of a Ship that sails in it. A Ship in a dead Water, having the Wind blowing rightly and briskly, runs apace; but if it hath a swift Stream besides, it runs the faster.

2. Others take the Word, not as a proper Name, but as signifying Desire, from Abab,* 1.1 to desire with Earnestness: And then the Sence is thus rendred, My Days are passed away as a Ship of Desire.

That is, A Ship, which being laden with rich Commodities, the Master and Pilot desire earnestly to bring her speedily to her Port, that so they may put off their Commodities, and make Sale of such rich Lading.

3. The Caldee, and others, give a further Note upon it, deriving the Word Abab from Ebib, which signifies a Stalk growing up early from the Earth, and bringing forth the first ripe Fruit of any kind; and so it is put for any early ripe Summer-Fruit, as Plums, Apples, Cherries, &c. and then the Sence is, My Days are like a Ship, which carrieth early Fruit: So the Vulgar, like a Ship carrying Apples.

4. There is another Sence given by those who derive the Word from a Root, which sig∣nifies to hate and oppose, or to be an Adversary; and then it is thus rendred, My Days pass away as a Pirate's Ship, or as a Ship that goes to take a Prey, or as a Ship that goes out to take Prizes upon the Sea. Now such Ships are the swiftest of all others, being prepared on purpose to make way, and overtake other Ships; their Lading is not Burthen, but Ballast, that they may be swift of Sail: So saith Job, My Days pass away like a Ship; not like some great Merchant-Ship, deeply laden, which can make no great speed in the Sea; but as a Ship of Piracy, that hath nothing in her, but Weapons, Artillery, and Ammunition, to oppose those they meet with, which sail with every Wind; such as are your nimble Fri∣gats, Fly-Boats, and Ketches, which sail with every Wind; or Gallies, which pass with∣out Wind, carried with the Strength of Arms and Oars; all being Vessels used to run in upon, and surprize a Booty. This also is a good Interpretation; and so Mr. Broughton translates it, My Days do flie away as the Pirat's Ship, &c. All shew, the Life of Man swiftly passeth away.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Caryl.