diseases, may for the most part be translated hither, and said of thefe. And it is the principal argument that induceth me to believe that we are in the right in our interpretation of thefe two symptoms, because of the likeness of the parts we are fpeaking of, and alfo of the terms to express them. It is well known to all those that take delight to fearch 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; fo also are these two expreffions, the keepers of the house, and the strong men. The diseases also of thefe parts in age are much the fame, and fo alfo are the words that here express them. For although we tranflate the latter word, Shall bow themselves; yet the vulgar Latin translate it, nutabunt, fhall nod or shake; and doubtless, the original words are of very near fignifica tion, so that the Syriac tranflation, 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 thefe members differ from thofe 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 longest; and is called in Latin, femur, à ferendo, because as a strong man it doth fuftain and bear the whole

whole weight of the body. It hath in the head of it three eminent proceffes. The firft 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 strongly 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 inferted 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 whatfoever 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 fubjected parts. Its form also is moft 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 laxum 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 fhield, the form, and name of which, this bone doth continually bear. And it is fo 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 ftrongly bind it in its place; wherein it exceedingly conduceth to the defending of the joint, over which it is placed. For that articulation being loose in itself (as was before faid) would be very apt to luxation in fudden and great flexures of the knee, or in going down steep places; were it not by this fhield bone abundantly ftrengthned, and fufficiently defended from all those inconveniences.

Moreover, the conjunction of the fibula, being otherwise 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) per 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 ftand as it were an underprop to that, whereby they may jointly with greater strength fupport the whole body, and be the more juftly called, the ftrong men.. There is yet one obfervation 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 shoulder 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 house: 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 ftanding, and therefore thefe are the strong men.

We

We might yet further and principally confirm this thing, by the several forms and uses of the mufcles of thefe parts; for it is not fo much great bones, nor great veins, nor a great deal of blood or fat, that makes a man ftrong; but great, and strong, and eminent mufcles, they. are the true indicators of strength. Now thefe parts of the body have bigger, ftronger, 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 defift, forasmuch as a good anatomist can furnish himself with enough; and he that is none at all, can scarce understand thefe, when he is told.

And because the great strength of a man lieth in thefe parts, therefore in his infirm and weak conition 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 ufe of thefe 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 fhall live to that time. Now, forafmuch as what was faid before of the infirmities of the

hands,