A Treasury of Similes, Part P · Part 82 – Part 103
Patience in afflictions, a perfect tryall of true Chriſtianitie.
1 EVen as in a Sea, moued and toſſed with great waues and mightie ſurges, the Pilots skill and wiſedome is throughly tried, and his manlineſſe and courage perfectly ſeene: So likewiſe, a man that is godly without diſſembling, and religious without hypocriſie, in the middeſt of terrible tempeſts, of great troubles, when hee is throwne vp, and hurled downe, toſſed here, and cruſhed there, in a thouſand ſtormes of dangers, thē declareth his Patience, his ſpirituall courage, and his vnmooueable conſtancie, in vertue and true holineſſe. 2. Sam. 16.5. &c.
2 Like as when a child, being corrected and puniſhed of his Father, ſuffereth it patiently, his Father hath the more pittie vponupon him, and hold his hand, and ceaſeth the ſooner; but if the child ſhewe himſelfe froward, crie any thing loude, or murmur & grudge againſt him, then is the Father the more angrie and fearce ouer him, and beateth him the more ſharply: Euen ſo the heauenly Father, puniſheth the patient man more eaſily, and healeth him the ſooner, but towards them that murmure againſt him, hee ſheweth himſelfe ſharpe and fearce.
3 Like as the Bird that is caught with the lime rod, the more ſhee ſtriueth to deliuer her ſelfe, the more doo her feathers cleaue and hang to the lime: Or as the Fiſh, that is caught in the net, the more he ſeeketh to get out, the more it windeth it ſelfe in: Or as he that is bound with chaines or fetters of yron, the more hee ſtrayeth abroad, the more harme he dooth to himſelfe: Euen ſo, ſuch as are froward and vnpatient in aduerſitie, do encreaſe their ſorrow, and hurt themſelues the more.
4 As hee that hath an heauie burthen vponupon his backe, the more he ſtrugleth and ſtriueth, ſhutleth and mooueth the ſame, the more dooth it grieue him: Euen ſo the more froward and vnpatient a man is vnderunder the croſſe, the more grieuous and painefull is it vntounto him; for a good heart in aduerſitie, taketh away the halfe of his miſery; & the feare of aduerſitie and paine, before it commeth, is worſe then the paine it ſelfe, when it commeth.
5 Like as in a Schoole of defence, he that ſheweth the moſt manly touch, and hath wonne the victorie, hath the greater commendation and higher honour: Euen ſo is it much more commendable and a greater honour, to ouercome & to ſubdue our ſpirituall enemies, and to hauehave the victorie againſt the aſſaults of the fleſh, and the diuell.
6 As he that forſaketh his bodily Maiſter, without a iuſt cauſe, is taken before the world for a man that lacketh faith, truth, and honeſtie: Euen ſo likewiſe, it is a great point of diſhoneſtie and vnfaithfulneſſe, for a Chriſtian in the time of affliction vnderunder the croſſe, to forſake Chriſt and his word, and thorow impatiencie to worke, and do againſt the ſame.
7 As when men in warfare lying in campe, will play the ſluggards, and be ſlouthfull, and not reſiſt the enemies ſtoutly and manfully; their friendes are deſtroyed, their houſes ſpoyled, their vilages ſet on fire, their deare friends and neighbours murthered and ſlaine, and their wiues and daughters defiled and rauiſhed, and all goeth to hauocke, and is full of miſerie: Euen ſo in the ſpirituall warfare, and field, if we yeeld vntounto the fleſh and the diuell, and reſiſt them not manfully & conſtantly, we caſt our ſelues into perpetuall daunger, miſerie, and vnquietneſſe; but if we fight againſt the ghoſtly enemies ſtoutly and Patiently, wee may the ſooner attaine to perpetuall reſt and quietneſſe.
8 Like as he that is ſicke, if he will not receiue the medicine, becauſe it is bitter, and ſower, it is no maruaile nor wonder, if the ſame man periſh in his ſickneſſe and diſeaſe; but if hee would ſuffer himſelfe to bee handled after the mind and counſell of the Phyſition, he might ouercome the ſmart, & hauehave good hope to bee reſtored to his health againe: Euen ſo all right and faithfull Chriſtians, that are Patient in aduerſitie, may conceiue a much more ſtedfaſt and ſure hope, that they ſhall attaine to euerlaſting reſt of bodie & ſoule; whereas contrariwiſe, they which remaine and continue in their frowardneſſe and impaciencie, againſt God the heauenly Phiſition, muſt ſmart for it euerlaſtingly, both in bodie and ſoule.
9 As Poets faine that there is a tree, which for euerie braunch which was cut from it, would preſently ſend out two, and the more men labour to kill it, the more the life of it encreaſed: So muſt men afflicted doo, and double their Patience and vertues by perſecution, and not be killed at the firſt ſtroke.
10 As a good Souldier that hath manfully and carefully done his endeuour in the battell, conceiueth a certaine and ſure hope, that his Prince (for whom hee hath fought & hazarded his life) will giuegive him thanks, recompence him, and giuegive him ſome preferment: Euen ſo when as by conſtant Patience our faith hath beene proued, and found good, then doth our hope increaſe more & more, and wee do conceiue a firme aſſurance, and ſure certitude of our ſaluation.
Proud men.
1 EVen as wild beaſts, being about to inuade, and to ſet vponupon their pray, will ſtoupe low, and bend thēſelues, that they may fall, and ruſh vponupon it with the greater force, and more violence: Euen ſo Proud & miſchieuous men, beeing ſlie and ſubtill, ſometimes will crouch, and beare themſelues very lowly, that vnderunder the colour of diſſembled vertue, they may ſupplant & deceiue the ſimple, and godly honeſt man; aduance themſelues, and worke miſchiefe to others. Pſal. 10.4, 9, 10.
2 As in a threſhing place, Chaffe is ſeene aboue the Wheate, not becauſe it is better, but becauſe it is lighter; and whereas it is the viler and of the leſſer value, yet notwithſtanding, it getteth the higher and worthier place: Euen ſo in this life, a Proud and vaine man, is exalted aboue the humble and lowly; not for any worthineſſe, iuſt deſert, or true vertue that is in him; but for his vanitie, and a falſe opinion that hee hath conceiued of himſelfe; and whereas he is of very little or no value, yet he putteth him ſelfe before others, which are beyond him in vertue, wiſedome, and nobilitie; but the lowly, though the worthier, and more excellent man, doth euer humble himſelfe, not becauſe he is of leſſe value, but becauſe hee hath in him, greater weight of wiſedome, vnderſtanding, and true nobilitie.
3 As Haukes truſting to their wings, will flie exceeding high, as though they would peace the cloudes themſelues; but for their too high flying, they are oftentimes loſt: So men depending vponupon the wings of proſperitie, beeing puffed vp and ſwelled with pride, the higher they clime, the more miſchieuous is their fal, and with the greater diſgrace, are they hurled downe headlong.
Who is ſaid to be Perfect.
1 AS Abraham, becauſe by faith hee preferred obedience toward God, before the life of his moſt deare and onelyonly Sonne, is ſaid to be Perfect; and the yong man following Chriſt, if he had preferred pouertie, and liberalitie toward the poore, before his riches, had beene Perfect according to the ſentence of Chriſt: So likewiſe euerie one, which by a true faith, preferreth obedience toward God, before all things of this world, is ſaid in Scripture to be Perfect: and on the contrarie, they which preferre worldly things, their owne affections, honour, glorie, pleaſures, and diuers other deceits, before obedience toward God, are vnperfect; yea, they do but in vaine, glorie of the name of Chriſtians. Gene. 22.2, 3, 4, 6, 9. Mat. 19.21. Iam. 1.4. Gene. 17.1. Math. 5.48.
2 As all men through Adams fall, hauehave in them by nature, the ſeedes of all ſinne, none excepted; no not the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt: So by grace of regeneration through Chriſt, all the faithfull hauehave in them likewiſe the ſeedes of all vertues, needfull to ſaluation; and hereupon they both can and doo endeuour to yeeld Perfect obedience vntounto God, according to the whole law.
God reuealeth his will vntounto vsus by Preaching.
1 AS a man if he be of credite, maketh the hid thoughts of his hart to be knowne by ſpeaking: Euen ſo God, who is the truth it ſelfe, reuealeth vntounto vsus, by the Preaching of the Goſpell, his counſell, and his will, touching our adoption and ſaluation; and confirmeth this reuelation, by the vſe of the holy Sacraments.
2 As a Ship is held faſt by the Anchor, that it might not be carried away of the wind: Euen ſo God wold that the reuealing of his counſell, by the doctrine and Preaching of the Goſpell, ſhould hold vsus faſt, and aſſure vsus againſt all doubts of our Adoption; yea and to pearce euen into the very heauens, with aſſurance whereof, our forerunner Ieſus Chriſt, hath taken poſſeſſion both for himſelfe, and for vsus.
Puritie of ſoule and body to entertaine God, offering to dwell with vsus.
1 LIke as if a man were certified, that a Prince would come to his houſe, hee would dreſſe it vp, and hauehave all things in good order as might be: Euen ſo much more wee ought to endeuour to Purifie and clenſe our ſoules and bodies from all ſinne, that they may bee fit Temples for the entertainment of the holy Ghoſt, whome Chriſt Ieſus hath ſent to bee our comforter. 1. Cor. 6.9. Iohn. 14.16. & 16.7.
2 As the Shunamite, was careful to entertaine the man of God Eliſha, for ſhee ſaid to her husband: Let vsus make him a little Chamber, I pray thee, with Walles, and let vsus ſet him there a bed and a ſtoole, a table and a candleſticke. So likewiſe, much more carefull ought we be to entertaine God himſelfe, who is content to come and dwell with vsus; and therefore wee muſt adorne our bodies and ſoules with grace, that he may lodge, and ſup, and dine with vsus, as he hath promiſed; but on the contrarie, if wee defile our bodies with ſinne, wee baniſh the holy Ghoſt out of our hearts, and ſuffer the diuell to dwell in vsus. 2. King. 4.10. Reue. 3.20.
Profeſſors that ſeeke themſelues and not God.
AS the fooliſh Virgines, went forth to meete the bridgroome, with Lampes in their hands, as well as the wiſe, but they neuer ſo much as dreamed of the horne of Oyle, till the comming of the bridgroome: So likewiſe many men liue in the Church of God, as members therof, holding vp the Lampe of glorious Profeſſion; but in the meane ſeaſon, they ſeeke onelyonly for the things of this life, neuer caſting how they may aſſure thēſelues in conſcience, touching their reconciliation with God, till the day of death come. Math. 25.1, 2. &c.
Patience in all croſſes whatſoeuer, ſo that we may liue with God afterwards.
1 AS the Prodigall and deſperate Sonne, who did ſo humble and ſubmit himſelf, that he deſired no more to be taken for a Sonne, but to be put to labour as a day labourer, and an hired ſeruant, ſo that hee might but onelyonly remaine in his Fathers houſe: Euen ſo whatſoeuer God ſendeth, we ought to take Patiently, ſo that wee may but onelyonly dwell in the houſe of God, in heauen with him euerlaſtingly. Luk. 15.18, 19.
2 As that Pilot is to bee prayſed, which can rule a Ship cunningly, not onelyonly in calme weather, but in time of tempeſts: So hee is a good gouerner of himſelfe, which can do it not onelyonly in proſperitie, but doth alſo ouercome aduerſitie with Patience.
3 As Noes Arke, the higher the water and floud was, the higher it did rife: So muſt our courage and Patience be in the deepeſt troubles.
Proſperitie moſt pleaſant after long aduerſitie.
AS the ſpring time, following & comming immediatly vppon the rough and hard winter, is the more acceptable, pleaſant, and welcome vntounto vsus: Or as a battell, the ſorer our enemies doo aſſault and fight againſt vsus, the greater is the ioy and triumph at the victorie, and ouerthrow of them: Or as hee that hath kept his bed a long time, and lyen ſicke a great ſeaſon, afterward when he is recouered, health is a more precious treaſure vntounto him, then euer it was before that hee felt what ſickneſſe was; and alſo ſuch as mourned and were ſorie for his ſickneſſe, doo receiue an infinite ioy, and an exceeding reioycing, at his reſtoring vntounto health againe: Euen ſo doth God depriue vsus, for a time of riches, wealth, proſperitie, our naturall countrie, bodily health, and ſuch other tranſitorie benefits, for this purpoſe, that when hee giueth them againe vntounto vsus, we may the more reioyce, & be gladder of them. Math. 18.12, 13. Luk. 15.22, 23, 24.
Of greateſt Paines, greatest gaines.
AS Roſes, which are the moſt pleaſant flowers, doo ſpring and wax out of thornes: Euen ſo of hard and great trauell, ſpringeth the moſt pleaſant fruit.
In Proſperitie we muſt prouide for aduerſitie.
AS a waterman or Marriner, will neuer let out his ſayle ſo farre, but that he may ſoone pull it in againe: Euen ſo euerie man, as long as all things ſtand well and vpright with him, he ought to foreſee, and prepare in time for the contrarie.
Perſeuerance in Prayer.
AS the Heathniſh woman of Canany, al hope and comfort in the remedie and counſell of man ſet apart, deſireth helpe and ſuccour of Chriſt; and although the Lord giueth her at the firſt a rough and ſharpe anſwere, yet ſhe is nothing abaſhed, nor will not be ſo anſwered: Euen ſo hold thou on likewiſe with this Cananitiſh woman; ſaying and crying ſtill; O thou Sonne of Dauid, hauehave mercy vponupon me; and ſo ſhalt thou heare at length this comfortable Goſpell and abſolution; Thy faith is great, bee it vntounto thee, as thou deſireſt. Math. 15.22. &c.
Proſperitie is ſometime hurtfull.
1 AS it happeneth to him that is quiet, and at eaſe, that he falleth ſoone a ſleepe, and hauing an Apple, or any other thing in his hand, it falleth, or is eaſily takē from him: So the eaſe of the fleſhe bringeth vsus a ſleepe in the world, and cauſeth vsus to leeſe the ſpirituall good things, and to ſuffer them to fall to the ground.
2 As the great lake in India called Aſphaltites, is neuer troubled, with any waues, ſtormes or tempeſts, but is euer quiet: Euen ſo ſuch are they, which lead their liues in tranquilitie, peace, and quietneſſe, and are neuer preſſed, nor broken with any calamities, nor toſſed and troubled, with any ſorrowes or miſeries in the world, but are euer at hearts eaſe, and liue as they liſt.
3 Euen as a ſtraunger in a farre Countrie, hauing and enioying all things, ſeruing either for neceſſitie or pleaſure, careth litle for returning home: So he which hath all things needfull for this life in aboundance, & at his hearts deſire, little careth for heauen, or heauenly things.
Counterfeit Profeſſors, are moſt enemies to the Church.
1 EVen as of all the enemies that Iuda had, the tenne Tribes of Iſarel that were their brethren, and gaue an outward profeſſion of the name of God with them, were the greateſt and moſt daungerous: So likewiſe among the enemies, that Syon Gods Church hath, the moſt vehement and bitter, are the falſe hearted and counterfeited Iſraelites, carnall Proteſtants, Papiſts, heretickes, and other prophane men.
2 As one enemie within the Citie is more daungerous, then ten without: Euen ſo careleſſe Profeſſors and prophane men, as they hauehave moſt power to hurt, ſo are they furiouſly enraged againſt the truth of the wayes of God, and being ſet on fire to remaine in their ſinne, euen ſell themſelues to worke wickedneſſe.
Perſecutors are often giuen ouer themſelues.
AS God in great merciemercy, ſtayeth the rage of our enemies, that they cannot ſo ſpoyle and make waſte of the bodies and liues of the godly minded, and ſuch as daily labour and profit in true feare of God, as is like they would: So yet they remaine themſelues, euen men vowed and giuen ouer to the wil of Sathan, hauing their harts ſet on thoſe things that are euill, and their feete ſwifteſt to commit ſinne. Prou. 1.16.
The three Perſons, coequall in eternitie.
AS fire is not before heate, and light, no more is the Father, before the Sonne and the holy Ghoſt.
Againſt Prayer for the dead.
AS they that are departed out of this life, bee paſt our Prayers, being either in ioy or miſery: Euen ſo we hauing no word of God, whereupon faith leaneth, to Pray for the dead, cannot but ſinne in doing it, and that we do it not of faith. Rom. 14.23. 2. Cor. 5.10. Ioh. 3.18.
The godly profit much by cruell Perſecutions.
AS a man much mooued with anger, and through indignation and wrath, intending to kill his brother, ſhould throw at him precious ſtones, goodly Pearles, and rich Iewels, ſhould not damnifie, nor hurt his brother, becauſe hee would gather them vp, keepe them, and inrich himſelfe with them: Euen ſo, tyrants diſpoſed to kill, and with fire and ſword to put to death, the Saints and true ſeruants of God, which doo excell in true pietie, and vnfained louelove to God and man, doo Perſecute and torment them, with diuers ſorts, and ſundrie kindes of true martyrdome, of which things the children of God are glad, and doo reioyce, and grow ſtronger and richer in Chriſt, and being throughly armed with a godly patience, they doo take and beare Perſecutions moſt quietly for Gods ſake, without murmuring or grudging, euen as their croſſe, wherwith moſt willingly they follow their Lord and Sauiour Chriſt, and doo account ſuch tortures ineſtimable riches, and themſelues happie, that they be thought worthie to ſuffer ſuch things, for the truth ſake, and in the Lords quarrell. Act. 5.41.
Peace and vnitie of the Church.
AS in a true, perfect, and certaine Clocke, the wheeles beeing tempered, and in equall and due proportion diuided, do performe their courſes, and doo keepe their ſeuerall compaſſes, without iarring, or differing one from an other, euenly and alike; ſo that one mouing, the others are mooued; and one ſtanding, the reſt are ſtill, and ſtirre not; ſo that, though they bee many in number, in forme, faſhion, and agreement, they are but one: Euen ſo in a Chriſtian Common-wealth and Church, there ought to be one, and the ſelfeſame will, and ſo great a concord, and likeneſſe of minds, reconciled and drawne together, with the infringible band of ſincere louelove in Chriſt, that though in bodies, they be infinite & innumerable, yet in vnanimitie, conſent, and good agreement in the Lord Ieſu, they ſhould be all as one man. Pſal. 133.1. Luk. 1.79. Ephe. 4.3. Rom. 14.17.
Promiſes made to particular perſons, appertaine to their ſucceſſors.
LIke as what league, truth, or Promiſes of fauour ſoeuer is made to any King, in the ſame is his kingdome contained, and his ſubiects are alſo partakers of the ſame: So the Promiſes made to Abraham, Iſaac, Iacob, and Dauid, belong not to them onelyonly, but to their children alſo, their ſucceſſors, heires, people and ſubiects. Amo. 9.
Phyſicke commendable.
1 AS pure Corral will receiue no colouring: Or as pure Ciuet will neuer leeſe his fauour: Euen ſo Phyſicke is ſo exquiſitely excellent, that it need not hauehave any counterfeit helpe; and the Phyſitions hauehave their commiſſion ſo lawfull, that they cannot bee condemned, nor iuſtly diſdained.
2 As it is to bee prooued by Gods word, damnable ſinne for a man to kill himſelfe with fire, water, ſword, or ſuch like: So likewiſe it is ſinne for a man to deſtroy himſelfe, in not ſeeking after Phyſitions and Chirurgions, when time and opportunitie is offered for recouerie.
It is our dutie to be preſent at publike Prayer.
LIke as when a whole Burgeſſes of a Citie, doo come before their Prince, and with one voice craue pardon for ſome offence, or beg ſome grace or fauour, the Prince will bee more mooued, then if they being abſent, ſome one man ſhould ſpeake for the whole: Euen ſo when the whole Church aſſemble together, dooth with heart and mind in preſence of God, accompanie the Prayers, which the Preacher, as the mouth of the congregation, powreth foorth, let them be aſſured, that thoſe Prayers doo penetrate the heauens, and that God is mooued to heare them. Matth. 18.19.20. Act. 16.13. & 21.5. Zacha. 8.21. Pſal. 65.2. Ioel 2.15.
The dutie of the Poore.
AS the prodigall childe, hauing goods, in the waſting of them, gaue himſelfe to the worlde and the fleſh, but hauing fallen into pouertie, thought vponupon his fathers houſe, and returned thereto: So ſhould the diſcommodities and wants which the Poore doo finde in their eſtates, looſen their harts from the earth, and cauſe them to aſpire to the houſe of their heauenly Father, where they ſhal enioy all ſpirituall and euerlaſting treaſures. Luk. 15.12. &c. Iam. 2.5. 1. Cor. 4.11. Hebr. 11.24, 25.