A Treasury of Similes, Part C · Part 47 – Part 57
Couetouſneſſe.
1 AS the ſubtil fawning Spaniel, oftentimes fetcheth his Maiſters gloue, in hope to chaunge it for a better morſell: Euen ſo many men ſhew great kindneſſe and giuegive rewards, to the end to reape them double againe.
2 Like as the infected member of a man vexed with an itch, is alwayes clawing and rubbing: Euen ſo the couetous minde, is reſtleſſe in ſeeking and gathering together.
3 As fire is neuer ſufficed with wood, nor the earth with water: Euen ſo the couetous man is neuer ſatisfied with money.
4 As the graue is open to receiue dead Carkaſſes: or as hell is neuer full: Euen ſo the coffer of the couetous cormorant, is neuer contented.
5 As the ſtiller the water runneth, the deeper is the Riuer; and the more deepe, the more daungerous: Euen ſo, the longer Almightie God ſuffereth the Couetous man to ſinne vncontrolled, the greater is his ſinne, and the more greeuous is the puniſhment that attendeth thereon in the day of account. Haba. 2.9.
6 As Couetouſneſſe is euill, yea the euill of all euils: So likewiſe it maketh thoſe men as bad as it is, which are infected with the ſame; and as hatefull in Gods ſight, as that ſinne it ſelfe; for that the effect is like the cauſe. 1. Timo. 6.10. Pſal. 10.3. Exod. 18.21. Luk. 12.15. Mar. 10.22.
7 As Cattell do keepe the Paſtours bare, with continuall grazing vponupon them; ſo doth the couetous ouer awe the poore by endleſſe oppreſſion, and mercileſſe dealing. Iere. 6.13.15. Amo. 8.4. &c.
8 Like as if a ſicke man be laid in a bedde of Iuerie or gold, or of wood, his diſeaſe forſaketh him neuer the ſooner: Euen ſo, whether you entreat the Couetous by theſe ſweete promiſes made by Almightie God in his holy Goſpell, or threaten them by his dreadfull Iudgements pronounced in his fearful Law, they make neuer the more haſte to repentance. Ezech. 18.1. tote.
9 As the Waxe is plyable to eueryevery print: Euen ſo the Couetous mans hand, is readie to receiue euerie bribe.
10 As the Aſſe, that notwithſtanding hee carrieth the meate for his maiſters belly, and the cloathes for his backe, yet himſelfe doth feede vponupon graſſe, and contenteth himſelfe with one haires skinne: Euen ſo the Couetous man, whoſe Cheſts are ſtuffed with money, and his wardrope with apparrel, ſuch miſerie hath aſſaulted his ſoule, that he can hardly affoord his belly a good meales meat, or couer his backe with a good coate.
11 As the Bee bringeth ſweet honey in his mouth, and a ſharpe ſting in his tayle: Euen ſo Couetouſneſſe hath pleaſure in this life, and paine in the life to come.
12 Like as they that will tame wilde bulles, muſt weare no redde garments: So likewiſe they that will no euill doo through Couetouſneſſe, muſt doo nothing that belongeth thereto.
13 As God puniſhed both Ely the Prieſt and his two ſoones: the father for not correcting them, and the ſonnes for ſinning ſo groſely: So likewiſe will he plague both the Couetous man, for the euill getting of his money, and his children for poſſeſſing that which is none of their owne. 1. Sam. 2.12. &c. & 3.11. &c. & 4.14, 15. &c.
14 As the glutton that ouerchargeth his ſtomacke with meate, is compelled to ſpew, and caſt it vp againe: So the greedie couetous Cormorant, that gathereth great riches, and deuoureth and ſwalloweth vp great ſubſtance, ſhall looſe it againe; for God ſhall euen drawe it out of his belly. Pſal. 37.16. & 39.6.
15 As a Riuer whoſe ſpring is ſmall, yet by receiuing other brookes and ſtreames, groweth ſtrong and violent: Or as they that are ſicke of the Dropſie, who by drinking are neuer ſatisfied, but ſtil increaſe in thirſt: Or as a flame, which is neuer abated with quantitie of wood, how much ſo euer a man layeth on, well may it for a while be ſuppreſſed, and yeeld forth nothing but ſmoke, but breaking out, it waxeth greater, according to the aboundance of wood: So likewiſe the heart of a Couetous man, neuer regardeth that it hath to bee therewith content; but what it hath not, to couet thereafter. Eſa. 56.11. Ier. 6.13. & 8.10. 2. Tim. 3.2. 2. Pet. 2.3.
16 As the Fiſh ſwallowing the hooke, togither with the baite, is taken and killed: So in like maner, Couetous men doo pierce themſelues thorow, with a thouſand ſorrowes, which do entangle them in death euerlaſting.
2. King. 5.27. 1. Sam. 8.3. Ioh. 12.6. Act. 16.16, 19. & 19.24. &c. Ier. 22.17.
17 As the Indian Ants or Emets, who gather the golde and keepe it, yet neither can vſe it, neither wil ſuffer men to hauehave it, ſo farre forth as they may: Euen ſo Couetouſneſſe, which with care and labour ſlayeth the man that is ſubiect therto, it draweth him through fields and woods, ſea and land, in the cold of winter, and in the heat of ſommer; night and day, in raine, winde, and danger, admitting no reſt, and all to ſeeke and hunt after goods: yet doth it graunt him onelyonly the ſight, but not the vſe of them. Prea. 4 …. & 6.1, 2. Ephe. 5.3. Mat. 13, 22.
18 As the good corne of Gods word is a ſanctified ſeed of ſaluation and life: So the falſhood and deceit of Coue…ouſneſſe and riches, doo in ſuch ſort draw men to aboun…ance, and withall, to the peruerſe vſe of the ſame, that hereby this ſeede of ſaluation, and life euerlaſting, is choked vp. Luk. 16.9.
19 As charitie is the gift of God proceeding from his fauour and grace: So contrariwiſe, Couetouſneſſe is a vengeance which he powreth vponupon thoſe, whom for their ſins he hath giuen ouer into a reprobate ſence. Ro. 1.28.29. 1. Cor. 5.11. & 6.10. Iam. 5.1.
20 As Aeſops Dogge, who ſwimming with a peece of fleſh in his mouth, and ſeeing the ſhadow thereof, taking that to be an other peece of fleſh, opening his mouth to catch that alſo, loſt the ſame which hee before had: So likewiſe the Couetous man being vnſatiable, and euerie way ſeeking to encreaſe that he hath, dooth many times looſe that which is in his hand. Pro. 15.27. & 28.16.
21 As Gold of it ſelfe can neither feed, nor cloath vsus: So that which the Couetous man buyeth with gold or ſiluer, proceedeth not out of the gold or ſiluer, but from Gods prouidence; neither can it miniſter any helpe without Gods grace & bleſſing. Heb. 13, 5. Col. 3.5. Mat. 6.26.
22 As the remedie to quench his thirſt that is vexed with a hotte feauer, commeth not of giuing him drinke, but of taking away his feauer, which cauſeth his thirſt: Euen ſo the way to grow rich, is not by heaping of riches, but by diminiſhing the Couetouſneſſe and vnlawfull deſire of the ſame. Iam. 5.3. Luk. 12.15.
23 As when the Spleen encreaſeth, the other members, ioynts, and parts of the body, do conſume and pine away: So Couetouſneſſe, and the great treaſures and riches of couetous tyrants increaſing, the wealth of ſubiects and inferior perſons, is weakened and diminiſhed, whiles they pill and poll away their ſubſtance and goods, to enrich themſelues withall.
24 As the Spleen encreaſing, the other members do decreaſe: So likewiſe Couetouſnes growing greater & greater, all vertues do vtterly decay, and vaniſh away: bountifulnes, liberalitie, charitie, truth, righteouſnes, and all ſuch excellent qualities, are no more found, in thoſe mē which are ſtrangled and poyſoned with a great and greedie deſire of worldly riches.
25 As Floods, which ſend their waters into the ſea, and leaue the drie land, which is very thirſtie, vnwatered: Euen ſo, ſome Couetous men doo now and then beſtow great coſt and much of their riches, vponupon thoſe that need them not; not drawne therevnto with either louelove or merciemercy, but carried with vaine-glory, and with vanitie it ſelfe, ſo to do. Mat. 5.7. Eſa. 58.7.
26 Like as the Sea is ſeldome or neuer ſeene without tempeſtuous waues: So alſo we can neuer ſee a couetous mans minde free from carefulneſſe, feare, trouble, & vexations.
27 As a Pot hath a wide open mouth: So Couetouſneſſe gapeth euermore after worldly goods, riches, and honor.
28 As the Owles & night Crowes, ſee better by night then by day: So the eyes of couetous men, be blind to ſee how to come to heauen; but to get worldly goods and riches, they can ſee well inough.
29 As we ſee ſome men, which naturally are ſo enclined to miſchiefe, ſo ſeditious, ſo contrary to peace & tranquilitie, that they are no ſooner entred into a houſe or Common-wealth, but preſently they ſowe diſcord & diſſention, troubling the common-quietneſſe, and peaceable eſtate, which was before: So alſo the curſed deſire of Couetouſneſſe, is no ſooner entred into our heart, but that foorthwith we perceiue a great confuſion of tumultuous …nd diſſentious appetites, to boyle and riſe vp within vsus, which do ſtraightwayes entangle vsus in the nets and ſnares of the diuell, and at the length bringeth vsus to miſerable …eath and deſtruction.
30 As the Couetous man would not like of thoſe ſeruants and hirelings, who by their negligence and careleſleſſe hauehave ſuffered his houſes to fall to ruine, and hauehave left his lands & vineyards vntilled, neither would he be pleaſed with that man or maid-ſeruant in his houſe, which ſerueth him to no purpoſe: So likewiſe if he himſelfe make no vſe of his riches and treaſures, but keepe them altogether vnprofitably, he may not thinke that he is the ſeruant of God, holding of him whatſoeuer hee hath, with commandement to make vſe of them, and that he is countable for the dammages and loſſe which hapneth by his want of trafficke; that is to ſay, for that he hath not vſed them as the Lord hath commaunded.
31 Euen as the fire is extinguiſhed and quenched, not only by throwing on of water, but alſo by taking away of the wood, and other matter whereby it is fed and nouriſhed: So alſo a Couetous man deſtroyeth & taketh away the life of a man, not only by offering him violence, but alſo in refuſing to giuegive or lende that vntounto him, which is neceſſary for his preſeruation.
32 As a flood, which at the beginning being but a little Riuer, by little and little (as it runneth) encreaſeth in ſuch ſort, that in the end it beareth with it whatſoeuer reſiſteth: Euen ſo, if a Couetous man hauehave once gotten one hundreth poundes, he ſtraightwayes deſireth two hundreth; from two hundreth, he commeth to a thouſand; from a thouſand to a million; and from millions, to an infinite ſumme.
33 As one that climeth vp a Ladder, vſeth the firſt ſtep as a means to come to the ſecond; and the ſecond, to come to the third; continually climing vntil he come to the top: So likewiſe there is no difference betweene the Couetou… man, and him that climeth vp the Ladder, but that the o… findeth an end of his ladder, the other findeth none at all, neither of his care nor ſorrowes which neceſſarily follow riches; neither yet of his earneſt deſires in the attaining and keeping of them.
34 As the Aſſe that carrieth meate for the belly, and cloth for the backe, yet hee himſelfe feedeth vponupon graſſe, and contenteth himſelfe with an hairie skinne: So the Couetous, whoſe Cheſts are ſtuffed with gold and ſiluer, yet cannot affoord their belly a good meales meate, nor couer their backe with a good coate.
35 As the Bee bringeth ſweete honey in her mouth, but a ſharpe ſting in her tayle: So Couetouſneſſe hath pleaſure in this life, and paine in the life to come.
36 As the Ape that is tied to the clogge, thinketh that hee keepeth the clogge, and not the clogge him; is greatly deceiued: So likewiſe is the couetous man, which thinketh that hee keepeth his riches, when indeed his riches keepes him.
37 As Dinah while ſhe wandred to ſee faſhions, and thought to feede her fancie vponupon the daughters of a ſtraunge Countrey, ſhee loſt her Virginitie amongſt the ſonnes of the Countrey: So ſome men while they ſeeke to feede and fill their greedie worme of Couetouſneſſe and ambition, with diuers pleaſures and profits of the world, they looſe their ſinceritie amongſt them, and ſo make ſhipwrack of faith and a good conſcience.
38 Euen as Tamar went out of her brother Amons chamber, with her maidens garmēt of diuers colours rent, becauſe ſhe was enforced to leaue her maidēhead behind her: So ſome Couetous worldlings, which ſometimes with Demas followed Paul, but now with Demas embrace his preſent world; are enforced to go away with their gar…ent of diuers colours, rent and torne: for while they will venture through the buſhes and thornes of worldly cares, to get worldly promotions, it is no maruell if they come out with their zeale quenched, their courage abated, their faith blaſted, their louelove cooled, their knowledge withered, their humilitie defaced, their ſinceritie decreaſed, and the whole garment of pietie and Religion ſcratched, torne, and rent in peeces.
Continuance in Sinne.
1 LIke as if a mans foote, legge, or arme be broken, with how great paine the ſame is reſtored to his former eſtate, all men know. But if any member of our body ſhould be broken twiſe or thriſe, or more often, in one and the ſelfeſame place; eueryevery man can then iudge, how hard a thing it were for that part to recouer her perfect ſtrength and health againe: Euen ſo fareth it in the ruptures and wounds of our ſoule. If a man doo commit ſinne once or twiſe, and do vnfainedly without diſſimulation make his refuge to the medicine of repentance, hee dooth out of hand obtaine health againe, and that ſometimes without any skarre or blemiſh of the diſeaſe paſt; but if he begin to adde ſinnes vponupon ſinnes, in ſuch ſort, that the wounds of the ſoule do rather putrifie within him, by couering and defending them, then heale by repentance and confeſſion; it is to be feared, that ſuch a one ſhall not finde repentance at commaundement when he wiſheth for it. Rom. 2.3, 4.
Carnall men.
1 AS a childe borne and brought vp in a dungeon, will not beleeue (if his mother tell him of the light of the Sunne, and ſuch other pleaſant commodities) that there are ſuch things, or very hardly: Euen ſo no more will Carnall men beleeue either the immortalitie of the ſoule, or the merciemercy and iudgement of the Lord, &c.
2 Like as in other matters it commeth daily to paſſe, that mē being in proceſſe of tim… brought by experience, to ſee their owne errors wherein they hauehave done amiſſe, are diſpleaſed with themſelues for ſo dooing, wiſh they had done otherwiſe, and ſo are ſaid to repent, of this or that action: So Carnall men hauing all their liues liued in vaine and ſinfull pleaſures, altogether careleſſe of the ſeruice of God, and of their owne ſaluation, at length ſee the vanitie of their liues paſt, are greeued for it, and wiſh (although too late) that they had taken an other courſe.
3 As Adam by comming out of the ſtate of holineſſe into the ſtate of ſinne, had his eyes opened to ſee the filthineſse of ſinne, and his owne nakedneſse, wherevpon he beeing aſhamed, deſired to hide and couer himſelfe: So in like manner, Carnall men comming out of the ſtate of ſenſeleſſe ſecuritie, wherein they neither knew, nor conſidered what ſinne is, into the ſtate of repentance, wherein they conceiue of ſinne as it is indeed, and iudge themſelues in regard of it, the moſt abiect men of all other, vnworthie of their company, or to come in their ſight: and therefore they decline and ſhun it, wherin this ſhame doth conſiſt.
Couetouſneſſe in old men.
1 AS wayfairing men, the leſſe way they hauehave to go, the leſſe carefull neede they to be, either of ſpending their money or victualls: Euen ſo for olde men, who hauehave as it were one foote in the graue, to be couetous, is a verie abſurd thing.
Chriſt our Prophet.
1 AS the print of a Seale is more plainely perceiued in the ſoft waxe, then in the Seale it ſelfe: So likewiſe the knowledge of God is more manifeſt to vsus in Chriſt, who is the liuely image, and engrauen forme of his Father.
2 As the Moone dooth naturally receiue her light of the Sunne: So all the light, all the true wiſedome and vnderſtanding, or heauenly knowledge that the Church hath, it hath it of our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt.
Christ was in our perſon iuſtly curſed of God, and executed for vsus.
1 AS the Suretie is by the iuſt ſentence of the Lawe, condemned to pay his debt, for whom hee hath willingly and aduiſedly vndertaken: Euen ſo it is meere and true iuſtice, and no wrong, that Chriſt by the iuſt ſentence of the Lawe was hanged on a tree, and ſo hee bare indeed the true curſe of the Lawe.
2 As the Suretie although hee be vtterly cleare obnoxious and guiltie to none, yet by his ſuretiſhip, is a debter and obnoxious to the Creditor, and the Law: So likewiſe Chriſt tooke our perſon on him, and preſented himſelfe therein before his Father, and ſo hee became by our ſinnes, ſinfull, defiled, hatefull, and accurſed.
3 Like as if a tender Ladies only child, ſhould by ſome caſualtie be all tumbled in bloud, or mire, & moſt ſtinking filth: the child ſo berayed & loathſome, would breed great abhorring & loathing in the eyes of the delicate Lady: yet the childes own perſon ſhuld be neuertheleſſe beloued of the mother, but rather the more if it may be: So ſuch two perſons or conditions are found in Chriſt; according to one, he was alwayes beloued; according to the other which he tooke vponupon him (whilſt he had not finiſhed that office) he was iuſtly accurſed.
Chriſts Merits.
1 AS the Iebuſites Gods enemies, could not fully be cō quered vntil Dauid came: Euen ſo, no more could the Kingdome of Sathan bee cleane ouerthrowne, vntill Chriſt Ieſus the King of glory, was borne of the ſeede of Dauid, who conquered ſinne, hell, and the diuel, and poſſeſsed the holy hill Sion, and made his people Citizens of the heauenly Ieruſalem. 2. Sam. 5.6, 7, 8, 9. Ioſu. 23.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
2 Euen as the Oyntment that was powred vppon the head of Aaron, reſted not there, but went downe alſo vponupon his beard, yea to the skirts of his cloathing: So likewiſe the righteouſnes of Chriſt and his Merite, is giuen and attributed to eueryevery one that be his members. Pſal. 133.2.
3 As Chriſts righteouſnes is made ours really, by imputation, to make vsus righteous: Euen ſo we by the Merite of his righteouſnes imputed to vsus, do merite and deſerue life euerlaſting.
Chriſt a King.
1 AS King Dauid when hee had raigned 33. yeares in Ieruſalem, died with great victorie: Euen ſo Chriſt …eſus our Lord and graund Captaine, after hee had preached the Kingdome of his Father, gat this noble victorie …gainſt death, and all his enemies, in the 33. yeare of his …ge, by ſuffring death, and tryumphantly aſcending into heauen, where he raigneth a glorious King for euer.
Chriſtian, a generall name for all that are baptized.
LIke as eueryevery man and woman hath a ſeueral & proper name, whereby hee is diſcerned and knowne …rom another: Euen ſo there is one name, that is general…y apperteining vntounto all men, namely Chriſtian; which is …eriued vntounto vsus from Chriſt our Sauiour, as the Authour … whom we beleeue, in whom we are baptized, whoſe word we eſteeme, whoſe redemption and righteouſneſſe we doo reuerence, by whoſe ſpirit wee beeing annoynted with holy oyle, by him are made ioyfull and glad. Act. 11.26. & 26.28. 1. Pet. 4.16.
Gods Children.
1 LIke as natural Children are like their naturall fathers, in fauor, in ſpeech, in laughter, or in ſome lineaments of their bodies: Euen ſo the ſpirituall Children of God, are like vntounto him their Father, in righteouſneſſe and holineſſe of life.
2 AS we louelove them which louelove our Children, and our hearts and hands too, ariſe againſt them which miſvſe thē: Euen ſo the Lord our God, who exceedeth all fathers in louelove, much more loueth thoſe which louelove his Children; and his heart and hand too, ariſe in his heauie wrath and diſpleaſure againſt ſuch as harme, and miſvſe them. 1. Iohn. 5.1. Pſal. 15.4. Mat. 10.40, 41. Luk. 10.16. Zach. 2.8.
3 As a woman in trauaile, in the middle of her ſorrow, crieth in her paines: Euen ſo ſuch is the eſtate of God his Children, in the midſt of perſecution. Eſa. 26.17.
The excellencie of Gods Children.
1 LIke as Dauid ſaid when hee ſhould hauehave married Saules daughter: Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a Kings ſonne, ſeeing that I am a poore man, and of ſmall reputation? So ſeemeth it to any, a light thing to bee ſonnes and daughters of GOD, the King of all Kings, ſeeing wee are ſinfull men, and of no reputation, but hauehave deſerued rather eternall confuſion.
2 As the ſonnes of Princes are in great account with men in this world: Euen ſo the Children of God, are in greater account with God, and all godly men, both in this world, and in the world to come.
3 As the Children of Kings are attended vponupon by Noble men, and guarded with ſtrong men, yet both but men, whoſe breath is in their noſthrils, and their hands cannot accompliſh the deuice of their heart: Euen ſo the Children of God are attended vponupon by God himſelfe, whoſe eye is alwayes ouer the righteous, & they are guarded by the Angels of God, who for their ſwiftnes, are ſaid to hauehave wings; for their readineſſe, they are ſaid to ſtand in the preſence of God; and for their ſtrength incomperable. 2. Kin. 19.35. Pſal. 34.15.
4 As the pleaſures of the ſonnes of men are ſuch as the world doth affoord, carnall ſecuritie, worldly proſperitie, fleſhy delights, beaſtly ſenſualitie, with pride, and eaſe, wealth, fulneſſe of bread, and ſuch like: Euen ſo the pleaſures of the Children of God, are ſuch as the world can neither giuegive nor take; as the louelove of righteouſneſſe, delight in the law of God, patience in affliction, louelove of the Saints which excell in vertue, and ſuch like. Pſal. 1.2. & 16.3. 1. Cor. 2.9.
5 Like as the riches and treaſures of the ſonnes of men, are gold and ſiluer, houſes, and lands, Lorſhips and manners, rents and reuenues, and ſuch like: which theeues may ſteale, or moathes may eate, or ruſt may freate, or fire may conſume, or water may ouerflowe, or time may weare, or death may end: So likewiſe the riches and treaſures of Gods Children, are, the word of GOD, Gods fauour, forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, freedome from hell and the diuell: libertie with the Saints, the ſpirit of contentation, peace of conſcience, continuall ioy in the holy Ghoſt, and a Kingdome of glorie in heauen, with ſuch like; which no theefe can ſteale, no ruſt can freat, no fire can burne, or conſume, no water can drowne, no plague can infect, no time can weare, nor death can end. 2. Cor. 3, 17. Gal. 5.22. Eſa. 11.2.
6 As thoſe are in moſt honour with Princes, which are ſaid to ſtand in their preſence, and attend vponupon them in their Courts, as Daniel did: So Gods Children ſhall ſtand in the Courts of God, and hauehave the full fruition of his comfortable preſence: and therefore on the contrarie ſide, the vngodly are herein accurſed, in that they are ſhut from the preſence of God; to wit, his gracious preſence: for otherwiſe all things whatſoeuer are in his preſence.