9thly, The scripture often makes use of a figurative way of speaking, generally called an _hendyadis_, whereby one complex idea, is expressed by two words, which is very common in the Hebrew language. Thus in Jer. xxix. 11. when God promises his people, that he would _give_ them _an expected end_, intending hereby their deliverance from the Babylonish captivity; the words, if literally translated, ought to be rendered, as it is observed in the margin, _an end and expectation_; whereas, our translators were apprized that there is such a figurative way of speaking contained in them, and therefore they render them, _an expected end_: And this figure is sometimes used in the New Testament; as when our Saviour tells his disciples, in Luke xxi. 15. _I will give you a mouth and wisdom_; that is, I will give you ability to express yourselves with so much wisdom, _that all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-say_ it. And some think, that there is the same way of speaking used in John iii. 5. ‘Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God;’ that is, except a man be born of the Holy Spirit, or regenerated, which is signified by being born of water, he cannot, &c. _10thly_, Nothing is more common than for the Holy Ghost, in scripture to make use of metaphors, which are a very elegant way of representing things, by comparing them with, and illustrating them by others, and borrowing such modes of speaking from them, as may add a very considerable beauty to them. Thus repentance and godly sorrow, together with the blessed privileges which shall hereafter attend them, are compared to sowing and reaping, in Psal. cxxvi. 5, 6. ‘They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.’ And the prophet sets forth the labour and pains which Israel had taken in sin; and exhorts them, by a metaphor taken from husbandry, to be as industrious in pursuing what would turn to a better account, in Hos. x. 12, 13. where he speaks of their having _plowed wickedness, and reaped iniquity_; and advises them to _sow to themselves in righteousness, and reap in mercy_; which, as he farther adds, they should do by _seeking the Lord_; and _it is time_, says he, _to seek_ him, _till he come and rain righteousness upon you_; which is necessary to a plenteous harvest of blessings, which you may hope for in so doing. And, in chap. vii. 4. he reproves their adulteries by a metaphor, taken from _an oven heated by the baker_; and their hypocrisy by another, taken from _a cake not turned_, ver. 8. and their being weakened, and almost ruined hereby, he compares to the _gray hairs_ of those who are bowed down under the infirmities of age, ver. 9. and for their cowardice and seeking help from other nations, and not from God, he calls them _a silly dove without an heart_, ver. 11.