A Treasury of Similes, Title page – To the reader
A TREASVRIE OR STORE-HOVSE of Similies: Both pleaſaunt, delightfull, and profitable, for all eſtates of men in generall.
Newly collected into Heades and Common places: By Robert Cawdray.
LONDON Printed by Tho. Creede, dwelling in the Old Chaunge, at the Signe of the Eagle and Childe, neare Old Fiſh-ſtreete. 1600.
TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL, and his ſingular benefactors, Sir Iohn Harington Knight, as alſo to the VVorſhipfull Iames Harington Eſquire, his brother: R. C. wiſheth in this life, the aboundant increaſe of all ſpirituall graces, and in the world to come life euerlaſting, through Christ Ieſus our alone Sauiour.
THis Booke (Right Worſhipfulls) conteineth certain verie pleaſant, delightfull, and profitable Similies: that is, when two things or moe then two, are ſo compared, reſembled, and conferred together, that they in ſome one propertie ſeeme like: Wherein not onelyonly ſundrie, and very many, moſt horrible and foule vices, and daungerous ſinnes of all ſorts, are ſo familiarly, and ſo plainly laid open, ripped vp, and diſplayed in their kinds, and ſo pointed at with the finger of God, in his ſacred and holy Scriptures, to ſignifie his wrath and indignation belonging vntounto them, that ſuch as are Chriſtians in deed, being ſeaſoned and indued with the ſpirit of grace, and hauing God before their eyes, will bee verie feareful, euen in louelove that they beare to God, to pollute and defile, their hearts, their minds, their mouthes, or hands, with any ſuch forbidden things; as alſo many very notable vertues, with their due commendations, ſo liuely, and truly expreſſed, according to the plaine meaning of the word of God: that the godly Reader, (being of a Chriſtian inclination) will be mightily inflamed with an earneſt liking, and a louelove vntounto them. Ouer and beſides, it containeth the explayning, and plaine opening of many grounds and principles of Chriſtian Religion, ſo manifeſtly decyphered out, that euerie one (euen the very ſimpleſt and ignoranteſt Reader) may eaſily and plainely vnderſtand the true and right meaning thereof, as may bee for the increaſe of knowledge and godlineſſe, euen in all degrees of men, and for their better vnderſtanding therein. For many times that thing, which cannont bee perceiued or vnderſtood of Readers of Bookes, and hearers of Sermons, by a ſimple precept, may yet by a Similitude or plaine example; bee attained vntounto. So that if any be deſirous to compare a thing from the leſſe to the greater: Similitudes will helpe him greatly in this behalfe, &c.
And that there is a neceſſarie and profitable vſe of Similies, we may eaſily gather, for that the holy Ghoſt hath ſo often vſed them, both in the old and new Teſtament, as amongſt many, theſe few quotations doo ſhew. 2. Sam. 12.1, 2, 3, 4. & 14.6. &c. & 23.4, Iudg. 9.8. &c. Pſal. 103.12. & 123.2. Iob. 15.33. Prou. 27.8, 9, 10, 21. Eſay. 5.7, 24. & 55.10, 11. & 61.10, 11. Iere. 2.26. & 33.22. Math. 13.4. &c. & 18.23. &c. Mark. 4.29. &c. Luk. 15.4. &c. & 17.7. &c. Ioh. 3.14. & 15.1. &c. Rom. 5.12, 18, 19. & 6.4. & 7.2. &c. 1. Cor. 12.12. & 14.11, 12. & 15.40, 41, 47. 2. Cor. 11.3. Gal. 4.1. Ephe. 5.25.
So that this worke, in my ſimple opinion, for the choyſe of the Argument, rarietie of the matter, & profit of the circumſtance, deſerueth to be aduiſedly read, attentiuely conſidered, effectually ruminated, and perfectly digeſted, becauſe that it will breede and increaſe in all degrees, no ſmall skill in knowledge, wiſedome, and vertue. For I know no eſtate of men for whome this Booke is not neceſſarie; for Princes it is prettie, for Preachers profitable, for ſage Counſellours it is ſingular, meete for Magiſtrates, lawdable for Lawyers, a Iewell for Gentlemen, a ſtaffe to leane on for ſtudents, good to further godlineſſe, and therefore apt and profitable for all men.
The Prophets of God were moued (as their writings do manifeſtly prooue) to fetch from plants, hearbes, and other naturall things, many right apt and fine Similitudes, and proper compariſons, to adorne their Sermons, & garniſh their ſpeeches withall, to make the ſame by ſuch familiar meanes the eaſier to be conceiued, and the readier to be belieued.
And although in euerie other kind of learning, humaine diſcipline, and Phyloſophie, there be many ſingular ornaments, and peculiar garniſhments, effectually to delight the minde, and to draw it by example, and imitation, to vertue and honeſtie; yet for the true and perfect attaining, and fuller bringing to paſſe of theſe things, there bee none of greater, nor yet of like force and efficacie, to thoſe that are vſed by the holy Prophets in their diuine writings and propheſies: So that to him that is any whit reaſonably ſeene, either in the workes of nature, or in heauenly contemplations, it may eaſily appeare, how that their writings and propheſies are not barren, rude, ignorant, and vnartificiall; but profitable, fruitfull, learned, and eloquent. For the holy Scripture being giuen by inſpiration from God, fully and ſufficiently inſtructeth the minde, and furniſheth the conſcience and ſoule, with moſt ſweet foode, & wholſome nouriſhment. Which thing the writings both of the Prophets in the old Teſtament, and alſo of the Euangeliſts and Apoſtles in the new Teſtament, do plentifully declare.
Now for that there be very fit Similitudes, borrowed from many kindes, and ſundrie naturall things, both in the olde and new Teſtament, diligently noted and found out, as well by ordinarie practiſe and courſe of life, as alſo by obſeruing of the nature, effect, and vertue of things. I hauehave thought good at this time to take ſome paines, and to beſtow ſome labour in this Booke to ſet down the ſame, with others, vntounto the view and conſideration of the diligent and ſtudious Reader: Whereby he may ſee what a rich treaſure of knowledge and wiſedome, there is laide vp in the holy Scriptures: which affoordeth vntounto the induſtrious and painfull Chriſtian, ſtore enough of matter, both pleaſurable and profitable, delightfull, wholeſome, and comfortable. Neither is it poſſible for a man to reape any the like benefit of plentiful knowledge, and ſtore of learning, nor to taſte ſuch plentie of neceſſarie foode, both for ſoule and conſcience, out of any workes written by Phyloſophers, Oratours, or Poets, as hee may out of the plentifull ſtorehouſe, and aye laſting fountaine of Diuinitie, and out of thoſe Books, which were indighted and penned by the holy Ghoſt, and written by heauenly inſpiration. So that whoſoeuer ſhall aduiſedly conſider, and attentiuely diſcuſſe, the deepe miſteries & profound knowledge laide vp in the Scriptures, and therewithall alſo, what ſurpaſſing wiſedome lodged in their minds, which left behinde them ſuch diuine inſtructions and wholeſome documents, cannot chooſe but moſt plainely perceiue, by how many degrees, diuine learning, and ſacred ſtudies, doo incomperably ſurmount all prophane skill, and humane knowledge, and how farre things heauenly and eternall, doo excell things earthly and tranſitorie.
That the holy Prophets were not onelyonly moſt exactly ſeene in the peereleſſe skill of Diuinitie, but moſt exquiſitely alſo furniſhed with the entire knowledge of all things naturall: and not ignorant of any kind of learning or diſcipline: may by the diſcourſe in this Booke bee ſufficiently prooued, and manifeſtly gathered, for that in their writings, they vſe many Similitudes, and make ſo many compariſons of things, fetched off, and from the very ſecrets and bowels of nature: as namely, from wilde and tame beaſtes, foules, wormes, creeping and ſwimming creatures; Hearbs, Trees, the Elements, fire, water, earth, ayre, riuers, brookes, welles, Ceſternes, Seas, ſtars, pearles, ſtones, lightning, thunder, raine, deaw, heate, drowth, cold, winds, blaſts, haile, ſnow, froſt, yce, Corne, ſeede, ſalt, leuen, nets, ſnares, and likewiſe from the humours in a mans body, as bloud, milke, women in trauaile, in child birth, droſſe, Iron, Gold, Siluer, and innumerable other things, wherewith they learnedly beautifie their matter, and (as it were) brauely garniſh and decke out their termes, words, and ſentences, with tropes, and figuratiue phraſes, Metaphors, Tranſlations, Parables, Compariſons, Collations, Examples, Shemes, and other ornaments of ſpeech, giuing thereby vntounto their matter, a certaine kind of liuely geſture, and ſo conſequently, attyring it with light, perſpicuitie, eaſineſſe, eſtimation, and dignitie, ſtirring vp thereby, mens drowſie minds, and awaking ſlouthfull, negligent, careleſſe, ſluggiſh and retchleſſe people, to the conſideration and acknowledgement of the truth; and to the following and imbracing of vertue and godlineſſe.
Hereby as they doo labour to deterre and withdraw the wicked from their wicked wayes, by laying downe before them Similitudes, tending to ſuch purpoſe: So doo they no leſſe ſtirre them vp to vertue, to true happineſſe, to perfect felicitie, to ſound aſſurance, to the feare of God, and truſt in his merciemercy. Finally, they each way ſeeke to winne them to the knowledge of God, and of themſelues; and leaue no way vnattempted, to allure and bring them to the truth, and perfect bleſſedneſſe.
And as touching the godly, which feare the Lord, and frame their liues accordingly, they ceaſe not to encourage, confirme, ſtrengthen, and eſtabliſh them in their vertuous doings; by earneſt exhortations to perſiſt in their well begunne exerciſe. They doo (as the Apoſtle Saint Paule alſo willeth) Admoniſh ſuch as walke inordinately; and liue out of courſe, being vntractable, and vnruly,2. Theſ. 3.11. 1. Theſ. 5.11. to remember their dutie, & to acknowledge their fault, they gently reprooue them, and mildly ſeeke to recouer them: they comfort the weake, and cheare vp the mourneful; they ſtrengthen the feeble and broken hearted, they reuiue the ſorrowfull and heauie ſpirited, they raiſe vp them that are throwne downe: they vſe lenitie, mildneſſe, and compaſſion towardes all men in generall: they are ſlow to anger, ſlow to reuenge and violence: they heale the broken and bruſed conſciences, they preach deliuerance to the captiues, ſight to the blind, libertie to the impriſoned, comfort to the afflicted, ioy to the diſtreſſed, health to the ſicke, recouerie to the diſeaſed; and to the miſerable releaſement from the thraldome and tyrannie of the Diuel: all theſe and many other, they notably, and elegantly, ſet forth in their writings, by moſt apt Parables, forcible Compariſons, and effectuous Similitudes.
Chriſt in whome are hidden all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge,Mat. 13.3 (ſaith the Euangeliſt) ſpake all theſe things to the multitude by Parables, and without a Parable ſpake he nothing vntounto them, that it might be fulfilled which was ſpoken by the Prophet, who ſaid: I will open my mouth in Parables, &c. To the which Tertullian in his fourth Booke againſt Marcion, dooth very fitly agree, ſaying: Neither is the forme of Chriſts ſpeech new, when he obiecteth Similitudes. Alſo Origen, cap. in Math. 13. writeth, that Chriſt ſpake nothing to the companies of common people, without Parables (which are a kind of Similies) but to his Diſciples, to whom it was giuen to know the myſteries of the kingdom of heauen, he did not ſo. Therefore a Similie is moſt fit for a Preacher, becauſe it reaſoneth from things confeſſed, and very manifeſtly, and wonderfully layeth the matter euen before the eyes. So that the vſe of a Similie reacheth very farre: for it is vſed for ornament, for delight, for plainneſſe, & for grauitie. Nothing bringeth more grace, pleaſure or dignitie. Neither is it to bee couered in ſilence, that Chryſoſtome & the auncient Church men, did commonly beginne with a Similie agreeing to their argument. And the ſame in their Exordiums, yea in all parts of their ſpeeches and writings, did the Princes of wiſe eloquence, and eloquent wiſedome vſe: as Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Nazianzen, Baſil, Iohn Chryſoſtome, Hierom, Ambroſe, Auguſtin. But of the great vſe of Similituds, we may read more largely in the Homely of Io. Chryſoſtome, vponupon the 33. of Ioh. and his Homely vponupon Gene. 13. And in Origens Homely vponupon Leuit. 10. And in Auguſtine, in the very beginning of his ſecond Booke, concerning Chriſtian doctrine. And D. Gregorie in the 36. cap. of his third Booke of Morals. And to conclude, in Agrigola his firſt Booke of Logicall inuention. cap. 25.
Seeing therfore each one of the Prophets (among whom, many were Kings, & deſcended of royall bloud) hauehave diſcourſed of theſe things, and inſerted and ſpoken of the ſame in their writings: ſeeing likewiſe our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles hauehave practiſed the ſame, and ſhewed foorth the like kind of doctrine; as alſo the learned writers hauehave done: I thought my labour ſhould bee well imployed and beſtowed, if I ſhould in this Treatiſe, plainely ſhew what ſtore of excellent learning, profound wiſdome, hidden knowledge, and exact skill of nature: what zeale likewiſe of aduancing true Religion, and of baniſhing all Idolatrie and ſuperſtition there reſted in thoſe men, that by diuine inſpiration hauehave left and deliuered vntounto vsus ſuch worthie and wholeſome matters, in ſuch ſurpaſſing knowledge, by drawing into their Bookes (for the greater ornament and ſetting out of their ſpeech) the whole ſtore and furniture of nature.
Now calling to mind (Right Worſhipfulls) not onelyonly the manifold curteſies and benefites, which I found and receiued, now more then thirtie yeares agoe, (when I taught the Grammer Schoole at Okeham in Rutland, and ſundrie times ſince) of the Religious and vertuous Lady, Lucie Harington your Worſhips Mother, & my eſpecial friend in the Lord: but alſo the great kindneſſe and fauourable good will (during my long trouble, and ſince) by both your Worſhippes, towards me extended. In conſideration whereof, leaſt I ſhould ſeeme altogether vnthankfull (which compriſeth and containeth in it ſelfe all vices, both towards God, and men) I am therefore euen prouoked in ſome ſmall meaſure of dutie, to ſhew my ſelfe ſome wayes thankfull vntounto you. And whereas at this time, euerie gratefull perſon doth not onelyonly in word, but alſo in deedes, with their preſents and giftes, ſhew ſome ſigne and token of this their thankfulneſſe: Euen ſo I alſo, out of my ſimple Garden, hauehave choſen and gleaned a handfull of Flowers, as it were a Noſegay (the beſt preſent I hauehave) to Dedicate & offer vntounto you.
Thus humbly deſiring your Worſhips to accept this my ſimple preſent, moſt earneſtly beſeeching the Lord in merciemercy to bleſſe you both, and all yours, with his holy ſpirit, with increaſe of long life, and much faith in him, to his glorie, and the benefit of this our Countrie, and in the world to come, of his vnſpeakable merciemercy, to crowne you with euerlaſting glorie. I moſt humbly take my leaue.
Your Worſhips in the Lord much bounden, and in him to be commaunded. Robert Cawdray.
great benefit and comfort by this worke, if, (after his returne home from the hearing of any godly Lecture or Sermon, where he hath either heard any principle of God his Religion, handled and ſpoken off: Or elſe any vertue commended, or vice condemned) he ſhall turne to that point, and firſt ſearch it out in the Table, and ſo then to Read all ſuch Similies in the Booke, as he ſhall there find, touching the ſame point and matter.
R. C.