(5.) In order to our understanding the scriptures, we must take notice of the several figurative modes of speaking that are used therein. As, _1st_, The part is often put for the whole[43]. Thus the soul, which is one constituent part of man, is sometimes put for the whole man; as in Gen. xlvi. 26. we read of the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt; and, in Rom. xii. 1. the body is put for the whole man; _I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies_, that is, yourselves, _a living sacrifice to God_. So the blood of Christ, which is often spoken of, in scripture, as that by which we are redeemed, justified, and saved, is to be taken for the whole of his obedience and sufferings, both in life and death, to which our salvation is to be ascribed, as well as to the effusion of his blood. _2dly_, The thing containing, is put for that which is contained therein[44]; so the cup in the Lord’s supper, is put for the wine, 1 Cor. xi. 25. And the thing signified is put for the sign thereof. Thus when it is said, _This is my body_, ver. 24. the meaning is, this bread is a sign of my body, to wit, of the sufferings endured therein. _3dly_, Places are, by way of anticipation, called by those names, which in reality, were not given them, or, which they were not commonly known by, till some time after. Thus it is said, that, as soon as Israel had passed over Jordan, they _encamped in Gilgal_, Josh. iv. 19. that is, in the place which was afterwards so called; for it is said, that it was called Gilgal because there they were circumcised; and so the _reproach of Egypt_, occasioned by the neglect of that ordinance, _was rolled away_, chap. v. 9. Again, it is said, _The kings that came up against Sodom_, when Lot was taken prisoner, _had smitten all the country of the Amalekites_, Gen. xiv. 7. whereas, the country that was afterwards known by that name, could not be so called at that time; since Amalek, from whom it took its name, was not born till some ages after, he being of the posterity of Esau, chap. xxxvi. 11. _4thly_, The time past, or present, is often, especially in the prophetic writings, put for the time to come; which denotes the certain performance of the prediction, as much as though it were actually accomplished. Thus it is said, _He_, that is, our Saviour, _is despised and rejected of men; he hath born our griefs, he was wounded for our transgressions_, Isa. liii. 4, 5. And elsewhere, _The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light_, chap. ix. 2. and _unto us a child is born_, chap. v. 9. _&c._ _5thly_, One of the senses is sometimes put for another. Thus it is said, _I turned to see the voice that spake to me_, Rev. i. 12. where seeing is put for hearing, or, understanding the meaning of the voice that spake.