Profound

PROFOUND, Deep. The Latin Word profundus, or profundum, is often put for the Grave, or for the Place wherein Souls are detain’d after Death. The antient Hebrews placed it below the Waters, in the most profound Abyss. It is as high as Heaven, what canst thou do? deeper than Hell, what canst thou know? And again, In profundissimum infernum descendent omnia mea. I shall go down to the Bottom of the Grave. And Isaiah; Ask a Sign of the Lord from the deepest Hell, or from the Exod. xiv. 25. xv. 5. Ps. cvi. 24.highest Heaven.

Profundum, the Deep, is often put for the Sea. The Army of Pharaoh that was drowned in the Red-Sea. Ferebantur in profundum, & descenderunt in profundum quasi lapis. And David; Those that go to Sea have seen the Lord’s Wonders in the Deep. Mirabilia ejus in profundo. The Words of a wicked Woman are as deep Water, or as a deep Pit. Prov. xxii. 14. xxiii. 27.

Profound¹

Prov. xviii. 4. Ps. xcii. 5. Isa. xxix. 15.Profound Thoughts is generally us’d in a good Sense for deep Wisdom, prudent Counsels. The Words of a wise Man are like deep Water. Aqua profunda verba ex ore viri. And again; Sicut aqua profunda sic consilium in corde viri. The Intentions of a Man are unsearchable. And the Psalmist; Thy Thoughts are very deep; no one is able to penetrate into them. Isaiah takes it in a bad Sense. Woe to those that are of a deep Heart. Væ qui profundi estis corde. That conceal their Sentiments, and think they can hide them from the Sight of God.

Ezek. iii. 5, 6. 1 Cor. ii. 10.Ezekiel; I send you not to a People of a profound Language, or of an unknown Tongue. Non enim ad populum profundi sermonis & ignotæ linguæ tu mitteris. In this Passage profound is put for difficult, Dan. ii. 22.conceal’d, unknown; as also in St. Paul; The Mind searches into all Things, even into the most profound Secrets of God. Omnia scrutatus, etiam profunda Dei. And Daniel; ‘Tis God that reveals profound and hidden Things: Revelat profunda & abscondita.

Rom. viii. 39. Ephes. iii. 18.St. Paul says; that nothing shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, neither the most exalted Height, nor the profoundest Depth: Neque altitudo, neque profundum: Nor Heaven, nor the Abyss, nor Angels, nor Devils. This is a kind of Proverb and Hyperbole. And elsewhere; That you may comprehend with all the Saints, what is the Breadth, and Length, the Height and Depth of the Mysteries of God, of his Power, of his Love, of his Counsels, &c.

Isa. xxxi. 6. Hos. ix. 9. Isa. vii. 2.To sin profoundly is read in Isaiah, and in Hosea, to denote a long Habit of Crimes, an obstinate Course of Idolatry; or else a profound and very great Iniquity, a Crime that has taken deep Root in the Soul by long and inveterate Custom. Profundè peccaverunt, ut in diebus Gabaa. They have carry’d on their Wickedness to such a Pitch, as to imitate the antient Crimes of Gibeah, says Hosea; Return to the Lord, as you have so profoundly withdrawn yourselves from him, says Isaiah. Convertimini sicut in profundum recesseratis. And elsewhere; Ask from the Lord a Token from the Depth of Hell. The Hebrew says literally; Make your Demands deep, ask something difficult, something as it were conceal’d in the Bottom of Hell.

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