A Treasury of Similes, Part E
Euill ſpeakers.
AS ſlouching and cowardly dogges doo barke at all men, whome they know not: So the rude and barbarous people, doo carpe and reproach what thing ſo euer they vnderſtand not.
Examining of a mans owne ſelfe.
LIke as no man will euer ſeeke to the Phyſition, except he know himſelfe to be diſeaſed, or acknowledge the excellencie and neceſſitie of the Phyſition, and how much he is bound vntounto him, except hee know his owne diſeaſe to bee peſtilent and deadly: Euen ſo, no man acknowledgeth Ieſus Chriſt to bee the onelyonly Phyſition of our ſoules, (who died for our ſinnes, and roſe againe for our Iuſtification,) except he firſt know his owne ſoule to be diſeaſed: Neither can hee perceiue the excellencie of Chriſt crucified, nor how much hee is bound vntounto him, except he firſt enter into the conſideration & knowledge of his owne outragious ſinnes, and the incurable infirmitie, which we hauehave receiued through the infection of our firſt parents, Adam and Eue. Rom. 4.25.
Election of God.
1 LIke as if one to ſee the better, ſhould fixe his eyes vponupon the Globe of the Sunne, by the beholding of which light, it is not to bee doubted, but his eyes would wax dimme, who if he looked vponupon that light in the ſunne beames, might hauehave vſe of it, and ſee all things offered to his ſight, and how, and what way to direct his ſteps: Euen ſo likewiſe the eternall Election of God, while it is conſidered in Chriſt, in whom wee are choſen, and we ſeeke for in ourſelues, the teſtimonie that the holy …hoſt yeeldeth vsus by our effectuall calling; then it affoordeth vsus eſpeciall comfort, and aſſureth vsus of our ſaluation; otherwiſe it bringeth trouble of mind, and vexation of conſcience. Ephe. 4.9, 13, 14.
2 Like as all men would account him a foole that ſhould take vponupon him to leade the Sea, and becauſe he is not able to doo it, ſhould ſay there is no water in it: Or if he ſhould ſay there is no world, becauſe a childe cannot meaſure it with his ſpanne: Or that there were no light in the Sun, becauſe his bleared eyes cannot abide the light of it: So when man with his ſhort wit ſhall come to the deepeneſſe of Gods wiſedome, and Election, and becauſe he cannot with his little diſh of wit take vp all, and ſhould ſay there is no Election or predeſtination at all, he were greatly deceiued. Rom. 9.12. &c.
3 Euen as if a man hauehave two debters, and he forgiueth the one, and followes the Law in exacting his owne of the other; he cannot truely be ſaid to bee vniuſt, or an acceptor of perſonnes: So it is with God, in Electing and calling ſome to ſaluation, and in damning other ſome.
4 As there is not a more euident teſtimonie, and a ſurer argument, that a man is in the ſtate of euerlaſting damnation, which hath no mind to heare the word of God, nor to leade his life according vntounto the doctrine thereof: So likewiſe is there not a more certain ſigne, that any man is Elected and predeſtinated to be ſaued, then when hee hath a mind to heare of the word of God truly preached. Iohn. 8.47.
5 As the clay lieth before the Potter to bee vſed and handled, diſpoſed off, and formed as ſhall pleaſe him: So were all men at the firſt before the Lord in his eternall counſell, to receiue an end or vſe, according to his will; to life or death, to honour or diſhonour; to ſaluation or damnation; to heauen, or hell. Rom. 8.30. & 9.22, 23.
Enemie.
1 AS Linceus the man (of whom Verro did write) could ſee through a wall: Euen ſo our Enemie ſeeth throgh our ſeruant and friend, oftentimes what we doo.
2 As the Bees, although they ſometimes ſting the handes and face of the owner and maiſter of them; yet they be profitable in prouiding for him the ſweete honie and wax: Euen ſo an Enemie, although he perſecute, iniurie, and wrong a good Chriſtian, yet is he very profitable vntounto him, in furthering him to heauen wards, if ſo bee that by patience he poſſeſſe his ſoule, and do pray for him, as our Sauiour Chriſt and Steuen did. Luk. 21.19. & 23.34. Act. 7.60.
3 Like as if one had a great Enemy, & the Queene (who yet is but a mortall woman) had promiſed to protect and defend him from the ſame his Enemy; he would not fearc him: Euen ſo much more we ought not to feare our Enemies, ſeeing that God, who onelyonly is Almightie, and of power to preſerue, doth ſay: Feare not, for I am thy protector, thy defence, and thy reward ſhall bee exceeding great. Gen. 15.1. Eſay. 41.10. Math. 10.28.
4 As there is no ſuch griefe to a Ieſter or a Iugler, as when he doth ſee that with all his ieſts & fooleries, he cannot moue mirth, nor chaunge the countenances of them that heare him, and ſee him: So there can be no greater torment to a wicked and malicious enemie, then to ſee thee no whit grieued, nor mooued at his malice againſt thee, but that thou do ſo beare his iniuries, as if they were none at all; for thy aduerſaries purpoſe is to anger thee, and to driue thee into thy dumpes, which if hee cannot bring to paſſe, then is he chaffed and vexed tenne times more then he was before. Rom. 12.22.
Enuie.
1 ALthough there be ſome countrie (as Candie) which wanteth poyſon: Yet is there no Common-weale, Countrie, nor Court, which is voide of Enuie. Act. 7.9. & 17.5.
2 There are (as ſome dreame) that will bewitch a man with their lookes: So an Enuious man ſeeketh by all meanes to deſtroy the proſperous eſtate of his neighbour. Neither is the eye of a mightie man much for the profite, if thou hauehave any thing that excelleth in faireneſſe, or that he thirſteth after. As Ahab did for Naboth his vineyarde. Gen. 31.1. 1. King. 21.1. &c.
3 As thoſe that be runners be nothing grieued or vexed with the victorie of the Wraſtlers, but be very glad of their owne: So ought we not to Enuie the proſperous eſtate of others, but reioyce at our owne.
4 Like as a Gun that is alwaies charged, and wayteth when it may beſt ſhoote off: Euen ſo the Enuious man is ſtuffed full of malicious poyſon, and ſeeketh opportunitie and conuenient time to put the ſame in practiſe. Gene. 4, 5, 6.
5 As the Snake, the Adder, and the Toade, hauehave deadly poyſon in them, wherewith they hurt others, and yet hurt not themſelues: But Enuie is ſo poyſonfull a thing, that it killeth him that hath it firſt, and hurteth not other, for he fretteth with himſelfe, hee fumes, he pines away to ſee others doo well: He eateth not, nor ſleepeth quietly, nor can be merrie, vntill he ſee ſome miſchiefe fall on the good man.
6 As the canker eateth and conſumeth hard yron and braſſe: Euen ſo malicious Enuie, with fretting, conſumeth out enuious ſtomackes.
7 As the Viper doth kill her damne by gnawing out her guts, and afterward doth ſting and poyſon others: Euen ſo Enuie doth conſume him in whom it is bred, and afterward hurteth others.
8 As malice drinketh the moſt part of her owne poyſon: Euen ſo Enuie hurteth more the enuious it ſelfe, then the thing it Enuieth. Rom. 1.29. 1. Cor. 13.4. Gal. 5.21. Tit. 3.3. 1. Pet. 2.1.
9 As of neceſſitie, a ſhaddow doth accompanie thoſe that walke in the Sunne: So is Enuie a continuall companion to thoſe, that in good and honeſt things doo excell others, and are aduanced and renowmed with the beſt.
10 As there is no ſhaddow, where there is no Sunne: So where there is no proſperitie, there is no Enuie.
11 As they that are tender ſighted, do find themſelues grieued with eueryevery light and bright obiect: So is it with the enuious, in eueryevery the proſperitie of others.
12 As Cantharides, a certaine greene and venemous worme, or flie, vſually feedeth vponupon wheate when it waxeth ripe, and on Roſes in their pride: So likewiſe doth the enuious man, hee taketh againſt thoſe that be honeſt, and grieueth at the encreaſe of other mens vertue: So that it is more eaſie for a poore man to ſhunne contempt, then for a rich man to auoide Enuie. Gen. 4.5. & 30.1. & 37.4.
13 Euen as the Sun beating directly vponupon the crowne of the head, yeeldeth but a ſmall ſhaddow: So they that are in eminencie and authoritie farre aboue vsus, doo purchaſe ſmall Enuie againſt them. 1. Sam. 18.8.
14 As ſmoake, which ſo long as the fire is but ſmal maketh a great ſhewe; but ſo ſoone as it flameth, vaniſheth away, or at the leaſt appeareth nothing ſo plainly as at the firſt: Euen ſo Enuie is many times extinguiſhed by the greatneſſe and excellencie of other mens proſperitie.
15 Like as ſelfe-louelove is ſuch a plague, as that all the children of Adam are therewith poyſoned: So the Enuie that groweth thereof, is but ouer-common, and too deepely rooted, euen in thoſe that profeſſe themſelues to bee the children of God.
16 As ruſt conſumeth the yron: So doth Enuie waſte the man that is poſſeſſed therewith: for it is a moath to the ſoule, a canker to the thought, and a ruſt to the ſoule.
17 Euen as a Viper by deuouring the wombe of her damme, maketh her paſſage foorth: So Enuie eateth and conſumeth the ſoule of that man, that in his hart hath conceiued her. Iob. 5.2.
18 As the ioyes of the happie do encreaſe: So doo the ſorrowes of the Enuious multiplie.
19 As the poyſon of Serpents hurteth other, but not themſelues: So contrariwiſe, the poyſon of the Enuious hurteth themſelues, but not others: for the Enuious man conuerteth the good of another to his owne hurt, and ſo tormenteth himſelfe at the felicitie of others. Math. 20.15.
20 Like as the Dorre, who naturally lurking in dung, taketh her foode thereof: So doth the enuious man grow fat in other mens calamities: becauſe hatred and Enuie are directly oppoſite to louelove, which reioyceth in other mens felicitie. 1. Iohn. 3.15. Iam. 3.14, 16. Math. 27.18. Gal. 5.21.
21 Euen as ſmoke preaſeth and flieth vp on high, as though it would couer and darken the skie: So Enuie and calamitie, doo ayme at thoſe eſpecially, which are aduaunced and placed in high degree; ſo that many times, they are caſt down headlong from their dignitie, very ſuddenly with much ignominie & diſgrace; eſpecially when their honours hauehave chaunged and corrupted their manners.
22 Euen as a moth, or woorme, doth not breed in the Cedar, being a goodly and odoriferus tree, alwaies freſh and flouriſhing, the wood whereof doth not rot: So Enuy is not bred in the heart of a wiſe and vertuous man, but in the minde of a man that is wicked and vngodly; and is grieued and tormented at the happineſſe and welfare of other men, and repining and enuying thoſe eſpecially, that in any gift or qualitie tare before him.
23 As a ſhip which is toſſed with continual waues is in daunger: So an Enuious man, who is alwaies in trouble of mind, pining & repining at the good ſucceſſe of others.
24 As we ſee among beaſtes, ſome feede vponupon venim, and other ſome vponupon carrion: So likewiſe doth the Enuious man, fat himſelfe in the loſſe, pouertie, miſerie, death, and deſtruction of his brother.
25 As Flies leaue the ſound parts of the body, and light vponupon the corrupted and putrified parts thereof, and take ſuch delight in the matter and filth, that it is hard to keepe them from it: So likewiſe an Enuious man taketh no pleaſure in all other parts of a mans life, but only in that which is diſeaſed and corrupted.
26 As the enmitie which is betweene Egles and Dragons, or that betweene the Crowes and the Owles, the Cocke, and the Lyon, the Boare and the Elephant, betweene whom (it is reported) there is ſuch diſcord & hatred, that euen when they are dead, their bloud will in no wiſe be mingled together: So likewiſe Enuie and vertue can in no wiſe agree: for he that will be in fauour with the Enuious man, muſt needes be vicious.
27 As the Moth in the garment, the worme in the tree, the ruſt on the yron, which firſt conſume thoſe things that hauehave engendred it: So likewiſe Enuie conſumeth it ſelfe; For Enuious men (as the old ſaying is) are not onelyonly like vntounto Vipers, in that they be alwaies full of poyſon, but alſo for that neither the one nor the other, can bring forth their yong ones without killing themſelues: And they differ in nothing but in this, that when as the yong Vipers are hatched, the old preſently die; whereas malicious men conſume by little and little, as men pined in priſon, or waſted with long ſickneſſe.
28 As darnel ſpringeth vp among good wheat, & netles among roſes: Euen ſo Enuie groweth vp among vertues.
Enterludes or games.
1 AS Socrates did will men to beware of thoſe meates, which might entiſe them without hunger to eate; or of thoſe drinkes, which ſhould allure them without thirſt to drinke: So are thoſe Enterludes, games and talke, to be auoided, which might moue the beholders or hearers to any diſhoneſtie or vice.
2 Like as if it be not lawfull to name vices, vnleſſe it be in the way of diſlike. Eph. 5.3. So much leſſe is it warrantable in Enterludes or plaies, to geſture, or repreſent vice, in the way of recreation and delight.
Eyes and Eares.
LIke as Hunters in no wiſe will ſuffer their Hounds to bite of eueryevery beaſt, but will keepe them freſh for the wild beaſts: So ought we not to ſuffer our Eyes and Eares to be buſied about euerie triflle, but rather reſerue them for things neceſſary. Pſal. 119.37. Iob. 31.1.
Elected or predeſtinated to life euerlaſting, are Elected to all the meanes of attaining vntounto it.
LIke as a man appointed to go to a place, muſt go the direct way vntounto it: Euen ſo muſt men appointed to ſaluation, goe in the way to it; that is, to be called, iuſtified, ſanctified, and glorified. Rom. 8.29, 30. Tit. 1.1. 1. Pet. 1.2. Ephe. 2.10.
Example.
1 AS they which doo decke themſelues, hauehave then the looking Glaſſe before their eyes: So they which go about any worthie thing, muſt hauehave of worthie men the Example in minde, and do it in that manner, that others may not ſcorn to make them their Example in ſuch a matter.
2 Euen as the Lambes, with the which the ſheepe were conceiued, as they beh…ld Iacobs Rod, were of the ſame colour that the Rod was of: So as ſuch religion, & actions, of Princes, Peeres of Realmes, and Countries, Miniſters, Parents, and Gouernours be, ſuch for the moſt part, is the religion; and ſuch be the actions of ſubiects and inferiour perſons.
3 As Examples are very daungerous in euill things, ſo be they of great force and vertue in good and holy things: For Princes would hauehave, godly, vertuous, loyall and obedient ſubiects; they muſt deale with them, as Iacob did with his ſheepe, they muſt lay before them, the rod of true Religion, Iuſtice, holineſſe, righteouſneſſe, and integritie of life and manners; and then no doubt, they will conceiue in their hearts, thoughts that be pure, righteous, chaſt, ſound, and holy, and bring forth great plentie of fruits of the ſame colour that the rod is off: To wit, not words onelyonly, but workes alſo of faith and obedience to God and man. Parents with their naturall children; Miniſters of the word, with their ſpirituall children; and maiſters with their ſeruaunts, muſt doo the like. 2. Sam. 3.35, 36. Ezech. 16.44.
4 As when many Birdes flicker and flocke together, they fall vponupon the net without any feare, but one or two alone will be afraid: Euen ſo the Example of many, and many ſinne companions, doo imbolden men to runne through the ſnares of Sathan, without any miſtruſt. Exod. 23.2.
5 As the cloud did guide the Iſraelites through the wilderneſſe to the land of Canaan: So the faithful now are to be guided to the heauenly Canaan, by the Examples of good men that hauehave belieued in God before vsus, and hauehave walked the ſtraight way to life euerlaſting. Heb. 12.1.
Good Entents.
AS if a man who had borrowed a peece of money of a creditor, ſhould come to him at the day appointed to repay it againe, and ſhould ſay to his Creditor, that hee had dreamed that hee had paide him: This Creditor by this ſaying, would not thinke himſelfe fully ſatisfied and paid: Or as if a maiſter, who had giuen forth in writing his will and mind, to one of his ſeruants, and had giuen him in charge and commaundement, neither to adde, not to diminiſh it, would be content with ſuch a ſeruant, that would not vouchſafe either to reade, or learne his remembrance, but truſting to his owne wit, would doo all things after his owne will and mind: Euen ſo wee may not thinke, that our maiſter and heauenly Father, who hath left vsus in writing his will and mind, to the end that we ſhould keepe, and fulfill the ſame, will allow, and take for payment our well meanings and good intents, without either knowing, or learning the ſame his will and mind. 1. Sam. 13.9. &c. &. 15.8. &c. 2. Sam. 6.6. 1. Chro. 13.9, 10. Ioh. 16.2. Act. 6.12. &c.
Edifying of others.
LIke as they that carrie Muske or other ſweete Odours about them, cannot be hid, but muſt needes bee made knowne to all, and that others muſt needes ſmell them: Euen ſo godly and faithfull men, that carrie in their harts the Goſpell of Chriſt, muſt needes make others partakers of the ſame.
Epicuriſme the fountaine of ſinne.
AS the moyſt and wateriſh grounds bring foorth nothing but Frogs and Toades: So the belly and wa…rie ſtomacke that is ſtuffed like a tunne, bringeth foorth nothing but a drouſie mind, foggie thoughts, filthie ſpeeches, and corrupt affections.
Equalitie in marriage.
1 AS two Palfreyes, or two Oxen of vnequall ſtature, cannot bee coupled vnderunder one yoke: So a Noble woman matching with a man of baſe eſtate, or contrarily, a Gentleman with a begger, cannot bee conſorted, or coupled vnderunder the bands of wedlocke.
2 As the Lord commaunded that an Oxe and an Aſſe ſhould not bee yoked together, becauſe the match is vnequall: Euen ſo it is an vnlawfull thing for the faithfull to marrie with Infidels, or elſe to hauehave any thing to doo with them. Deut. 22.10. 2. Chor. 6.14.
A great Errour for a man to thinke he ſhall be ſaued when he is dying, if he ſay, Lord hauehave mercy vponupon me.
1 LIke as if an arrand Theefe ſhould thus reaſon with himſelfe and ſay, I will ſpend my dayes in robbing and ſtealing, I feare neither arraignment, nor execution; for at the very time when I am to be turned off from the Ladder, if I do but call vponupon the Iudge, I know I ſhal hauehave my pardon; behold a moſt dangerous and deſperate courſe: Euen ſo the very ſame is the practiſe of careleſſe men in the matter of their ſaluation; for a man may die with Lord hauehave mercy in his mouth; and periſh eternally, except in this world he enter into the firſt degree of eternall life. Math. 7.21. Ioh. 5.24.
2 As eueryevery wound killeth not the man: So eueryevery Errour depriueth not man of ſaluation.
3 As the naturall partes beeing wounded or infected, bringeth death: So thoſe Errours that deſtroy the fundamentall heads of the trueth, bring euerlaſting deſtruction, vnleſſe the Lord preuent them with repentance.
Ouermuch Eaſe, and pampering of the belly, is a great prouocation to ſinne.
AS with a pyle or ſtacke of ſmall and dry wood, the fire is quickly kindled, and cauſed mightily to flame out: Euen ſo, the outragiouſneſſe of carnall and fleſhly luſt, is greatly prouoked, moued and ſtirred vp, through ryoting, daunſing, banquetting, quaffing, gulling, ſwilling, and continuall feeding and pampering of the belly; and by taking the body from good, lawfull, and honeſt exerciſes, and giuing it to Idleneſſe, ſlothfulneſſe, and ouermuch Eaſe, and reſt from labours.
The fearefull Eſtate of many people.
1 AS the Smythes Stithie, the more it is beaten, the harder it is made: Euen ſo, commonly the hearts of men, the more they are beatē with the hammer of gods word, the more dull, ſecure, and ſenceleſſe they are.
2 Like as when a Malefactor on the day of Aſſiſe is brought forth of the Iayle, with great boltes and fetters, to come before the Iudge, as he is going, all men pittie him, and ſpeake comfortably vntounto him: But why ſo? becauſe he is now to be arraigned at the barre of an earthly Iudge: Euen ſo ſuch is the Eſtate & caſe of all impenitent ſinners, which is farre more miſerable then the caſe of this man: for they be fettered in bondage vnderunder ſinne and Sathan, and this ſhort life is the way in which they are going eueryevery houre to the barre of Gods iuſtice, who is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lordes, there to be arraigned, and to hauehave ſentence of condemnation giuen againſt them.
We muſt giuegive diligence to make our Election ſure.
AS men are carefull in the world, and painfull ynough to make aſſurance of landes and goods to themſelues, and their poſteritie: Euen ſo we ought to be more careful and diligent to make our ſelues the Electiō of God, which is more worth then all the world beſide. 2. Pet. 1.10.
The Elect are ordained to leade a godly life.
AS the Sunne was ordained to ſhine in the day, and the Moone in the night, and that order they keepe, yea eueryevery creature in his kinde, obſerueth the courſe appointed vntounto it by creation, as the graſſe to growe, and trees to …ring forth fruite: So likewiſe the Elect were ordained to this ende, to leade a godly life: and therefore if we would …ither perſuade our ſelues or the world, that we are indeed …hoſen to ſaluatiō, we muſt be plentiful in all good works, and make conſcience of eueryevery euil way. Ephe. 1.4. & 2.10. 2. Theſ. 2.13. 2. Timo. 2.21.
Gods louelove to his Elect.
AS Ioſeph loued all his brethren, but Beniamin he loued with a more ſpeciall louelove, and therfore he gaue meſſes of meate to them all, but Beniamins meſſe was fiue times as much as the reſt: So God giueth libertie to all his creatures as a good & a louing God, in ſo much that the earth is full of his mercies, but his louelove to his Elect children by Chriſt, is a thouſand times more then the reſt, for them he vpholdeth in their integritie, and doth ſet them before his face for euer. Gen. 43.34. Pſal. 104.24. & 41.12.
The Elect cannot finally periſh.
AS an Elme, or an Oke, caſts their leaues in the winter, yet abideth their ſappe ſtill in them: Eſay 6.13. Euen ſo ſhall the holie ſeede continue in their ſubſtance, ſo that though there appeare no fruites outwardly to our groſſe ſences: yet the ſure ground and ſubſtance, which he hath there planted, remaineth; and though it hauehave no outward ſeale in our ſight, yet hath it a ſure ſeale in Gods ſight, for the Lord knoweth it to be there, which is ſufficient.
Election to ſaluation, doth not aboliſh, but eſtabliſh the ſecond cauſes.
1 AS God hath limited to euerie man the tearme of his life, but withall, he hath ordained and appointed, that for the preſeruing thereof, he ſhall both eate and drinke: Euen ſo God hath ordained neceſſarily, that the Elect muſt be ſaued, yet by ſuch meanes as he hath appointed in his wiſedome, for the bringing of them to it: to wit, by hearing the Goſpell preached, by beleeuing in Chriſt, by amending their liues, by praying to God, &c.
2 As he that ſhould abſtaine from foode, and ſay that he need it not to liue by, ſhould directly fight and ſtriue againſt the will and pleaſure of God, and ſo tempt him: So likewiſe they that ſay, that being Elect, they need not beleeue the Goſpell, nor amend their liues, for the attaining to the kingdom of heauen; do tempt God, reuerſe his prouidence, ſtriue againſt his will, and ſo farre as in them lyeth, aboliſh the meanes and way to life and ſaluation, and doo drawe on to death and damnation: and therfore they that be Elected to life eternall, are alſo Elected to hauehave Faith; and conſequently to amende theyr liues. Rom. 8.1. &c. Ephe. 1.4. & 2.16. Colloſſ. 3.12. 1. Pet. 2.9, 10.
3 Like as a poore mayden, who hearing that ſome King had among all other, choſen her to be his ſonnes wife, and withall, ordained, that to that ende ſhe forſaking her parents and kinsfolkes, ſhould come to him on foote in the midſt of winter; no doubt ſhe would willingly and readily leaue all, and euen in winter and on foote, come to the King to finiſh this great marriage: as the like we reade of Dauid. 1. Sam. 18.17. &c. Euen ſo we vnderſtanding, and hauing witneſſe that God hath choſen vsus to be the ſpouſe of his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt, and coheires of his kingdome: and alſo that it is his will, that forſaking the world and the fleſh, we ſhould walke through the path of good workes, in amendment of life, to come to heauen; there to accompliſh this happie mariage; we ought feruently to renounce the world, the fleſh, and eueryevery thing that contrarieth his will, that we may the more ſpeedily and chearfully proceede in amendment of life, and ſo performe this bleſſed marriage.
4 Like as if the Sunne in his force ſhining vponupon a ſtone, can ſo heate the ſame ſtone, that a man ſhall not be able to touch it with his hands: Euen ſo much more ſhall we, if we meditate vponupon the louelove of God towards vsus, in our Election, albeit, we were as cold as Marble, be warmed and kindled to louelove him with al our harts, with al our ſtrength, and with all our minds. 1. Iohn. 4.19. Luk. 14.15.
Expectation of reward.
AS two that ſhould paſſe together towards their countrie, the one to receiue honour, for his good ſeruice done abroad, the other as priſoner, to be arraigned of treaſons committed in former Dominions, againſt his Soueraigne, could not bee like merrie in their Inne vponupon the way, (as it ſeemeth to me:) and though hee that ſtood in daunger, ſhould ſing, or make ſhew of courage and innocencie, and ſet a good face vponupon the matter: Yet the other might well thinke, that his heart had many a colde pull within him; as no doubt, but all wicked men hauehave, when they thinke with themſelues of the life to come: or as if Ioſeph and Pharaos Baker, had knowne both their diſtinct lottes in priſon; to wit, that on ſuch a day the one ſhould be called foorth to be made Lord of Egypt; and the other to bee hanged on a paire of Gallowes, they could hardly hauehave beene equally merrie, whilſt they liued together in time of their Impriſonment: Euen ſo the like may be ſaid, and much more truely, of vertuous and wicked men in this world: For when the one doth but thinke vponupon the day of death (which is to bee the day of their deliuerance from their priſon) their harts cannot but leape for very ioy, conſidering what is to enſue vntounto them after: But the other are afflicted, and fall into melancholy, as often as mention or remembrance of death is offered; for they are ſure that it bringeth with it their bane. Gene. 40, 41, 43. chap. Gene. 30.1. & 37.4. 1. Sam. 18.8.
Eloquence in Sermons forbidden.
EVen as thoſe ſheepe, which in the preſence of their ſhepheards, doo vomit and caſt out againe, the graſſe which they hauehave eaten, doo not profitably ſhewe how much and how wel they hauehave fed: but thoſe rather, which doo inwardly digeſt and concoct their meate, and doo giuegive abundance of milke, & doo beare the ſoftieſt, weightieſt, and fineſt Wooll, and doo ſhewe themſelues to be fat, faire, and well liking: For by theſe things they ſhew, and plainely proue, that their paſture is exceeding good: Euen ſo, not thoſe Paſtors, Miniſters and Preachers of the word, which doo deliuer words, and ſtuffe their Sermons with Eloquence and braue phraſes, doo fruitfully and throughly declare vntounto the people, that Vertues paſture is excellent good, and wholeſome, & to be deſired of all; but they rather, which doo inwardly concoct vertue, and do obſerue it, and bending themſelues to the actions and performance thereof, doo flowe with the ſweete milke of merciemercy, and doo cloath themſelues and others, with the fine fleeces of Chriſtian louelove and charitie; doo euidently declare, how much they hauehave profited in the doctrine of Chriſt, and how much alſo others ought to profit in the ſame; and doo ſtirre vp the hearts and minds of their hearers, to vertue and godlineſſe, both with their doctrine, and liuing. 2. Tim. 4.1, 2, 5. Tit. 2.7. Math. 5.19.
Our Elders and aunceſtors in time of ignorance, had yet good conſciences in Ciuill cauſes.
AS the men of Niniuie repented at the preaching of Ionas, and not the Iewes at the preaching of Chriſt, who was greater then Ionas: Euen ſo the good and faithfull dealing which our Elders and anceſtors had in times paſt in Ciuill cauſes, doth reprooue our iniquities, and ſhewe what they would hauehave beene if they had had the preaching of the Goſpell ſo plainely as wee hauehave. And therefore well ſaith a godly Father; Men had better conſciences then, & leſſe knowledge: Now hauehave they more knowledge, and worſe conſciences. Math. 12.41. Beza Epiſ. 1.
Exceſſe taketh away pleaſures.
AS too bright a light dazeteth our ſight, and too great a noyſe hindreth our hearing: So likewiſe too great curioſitie in deuiſing our pleaſures, taketh away a great part of the fruition of our delightes; neither is there any thing that maketh our meate more ſauerie, then hunger and health.
Enemies of the Goſpell.
AS Archers doo ayme their arrowes vntounto a certaine marke: So the Enemies of the Goſpell, bend and beſtow all their endeuours vntounto the ſubuerſion of the true doctrine, and of the true Church of God. Pſal. 2.2, 3.