diseases, may for the most part be translated hither, and said of these. And it is the principal argument that induceth me to believe that we are in the right in our interpretation of these two symptoms, because of the likeness of the parts we are fpeaking of, and also of the terms to exprefs them. It is well known to all those that take delight to search into the wonders of God in the frame of man's body, that the fhoulders, arms, and hands; and the thighs, legs, and feet are very much alike; so also are these two expreffions, the keepers of the houfe, and the strong men. The diseases also of these parts in age are much the fame, and fo alfo are the words that here exprefs them. For although we tranflate the latter word, Shall bow themfelves; yet the vulgar Latin tranflate it, nutabunt, fhall nod or shake; and doubtless, the original words are of very near fignification, fo that the Syriac translation, and the Chaldee paraphrafe upon these words differ very little or nothing at all, but tranflate them both to trembling or fhaking. However give me leave to take notice briefly of one or two things wherein these members differ from those before poken of, and wherein their strength and use is principallly made appear.

The bone of the thigh, is of all other bones of the body the biggest and the longeft; and is called in Latin, femur, à ferendo, because as a ftrong man it doth fuftain and bear the whole

whole weight of the body. It hath in the head of it three eminent proceffes. The first is the great and the round head, which is inferted into the large cavity of the hip, per enarthrofin, which admits of all manner of motion, and there is detained by a double ligament; the first is common, broad, thick, membranous, that doth ftrongly compass the joint about, and the other is a round, and cartilaginous ligament, which proceedeth out of the very head of the femur, and being inserted strictly into the cavity of the os ifchii, doth firmly hold this bone in its place, that it cannot be moved. The other two proceffes are called, the trochanters, the leffer, and the greater; whereby the tendons of the muscles moving the thigh are more conveniently feated, that they may the better wheel about that limb to whatsoever pofition they please: It hath moreover at the upper end a more flender part, which is called the neck of the femur, which is fo framed for the more convenient lodging of the muscles, and paffing of the veffels, (viz. the arteries, veins, nerves,) for the use and benefit of the subjected parts. Its form also is most remarkable, in that it is on the external or forepart, gibbous, or bunching outward; on the internal or hind part, fimous, or bending inwards, which frame doth wonderfully conduce to the conveniency of fitting, to the firmness of standing, and to the dexterity of walking.

Laftly,

Laftly, It is articulated to the Tibia, per lazum ginglymum, which adds very much to the expedition in motion, and is of fuch a frame, that on the back part it leaves a moft convenient hollow place, which we call Poples, the ham, for the paffing down of the veffels; and on the fore part it is wonderfully defended by the Patella, or knee-pan, as by a shield, the form, and name of which, this bone doth continually bear. And it is so much the more to be observed, in that no fuch bone is in the fuperior Artus, nor in the whole body befides; for it is articulated to no bone at all, but is kept in its place by a. double ligament, the one inward, which is that round, bloody ligament, which firmly annexeth it to the thigh; the other outward, which is the conjunction of the tendons of the four muscles which extend the tibia, which together make a broad ligament that doth encompass the whole knee, and strongly bind it in its place; wherein it exceedingly conduceth to the defending of the joint, over which it is placed. For that articulation being loofe in itself (as was before said) would be very apt to luxation in fudden and great flexures of the knee, or in going down fteep places; were it not by this shield bone abundantly strengthned, and fufficiently defended from all those inconveniences.

Moreover, the conjunction of the fibula, being otherwife than that of the radius, which anfwereth it in the arm; is well worth our obfer

vation to our present purpose; the radius of the arm is articulated (as you have heard before) par arthrodiam to the humerus, which renders it more expeditious as to several motions, and therefore more properly a keeper of the houfe; but the fibula is not at all articulated to the femur, but is affixed to the external part of the tibia, and doth stand as it were an underprop to that, whereby they may jointly with greater strength support the whole body, and be the more justly called, the strong men. There is yet one observation more from the anatomy of these parts, that doth with great delight and content demonftrate, that those are the keepers of the house, and these the strong men, and that is from the variety of their flexures; the hand in all its feveral joints, is bended one and the fame way; the fhoulder is bended inward, or forward, and extended outward, or backward; fo alfo is the arm, the hand, the fingers, and this is for the better apprehending and comprehending any thing, and using any defence; and therefore they are the keepers of the houfe: The foot is bended in its feveral joints, feveral ways; one, one way; and another, another; the thigh is bended forward, the leg is bended backward; and again, the foot is bended forward, and the toes are bended backward; and this is for the greater conveniency of going, and for the firmer standing, and therefore these are the strong men.

We

We might yet further and principally confirm this thing, by the several forms and uses of the muscles of these parts; for it is not so much great bones, nor great veins, nor a great deal of blood or fat, that makes a man strong; but great, and strong, and eminent mufcles, they are the true indicators of strength. Now thefe parts of the body have bigger, stronger, and more raised muscles than any befide; and by how much the higher the tendons of the mufeles are raised, with fo much the greater ftrength must they needs perform their offices, and fo much the more declare the strength of a man'; and therefore we have an ordinary observation, and a probable one, to judge of a man's strength, or weakness, by the elevation or depreffion of the calves of his legs. I might also add many more obfervations of the like kind; but I défift, forafmuch as a good anatomist can furnish himself with enough; and he that is none at all, can scarce understand these, when he is told.

And because the great strength of a man lieth in thefe parts, therefore in his infirm and weak condition these parts must be more eminently feeble.

A child before ftrength comes on, and an old man after his strength is departed, must have but little use of these members. As it was faid of Afa, In the time of his age, he was diseased in his feet, 1 Kings, xv. 23; fo may it be faid of all who shall live to that time. Now, forafmuch as what was faid before of the infirmities of the

hands,