A Treasury of Similes, Part K
Knowledge of God, how it is attained vntounto.
1 AS our naturall eyes hauehave power to diſcerne the things of this world by the Sunne, that we dayly ſee: Euen ſo the Knowledge of God, that wee hope to hauehave of him, muſt come by grace, through the light of him, that can lighten our vnderſtandings, and open the eyes of our minds; otherwiſe wee ſhall reſt in continuall darkneſſe, if our inward eyes receiue not light by that ſupernall Sunne.
2 As there is great difference betwixt the viewing of a man in a darke or dimme Glaſſe, and the ſight of him face to face, in a bright day: Euen ſo is there much more difference betwixt our preſent Knowledge of God, in this life, & that which ſhall be in the life to come. 1. Cor. 13.12.
3 Like as when a man goeth to buy or borrowe ſome Candles, and bringing them home, being within night, yet keepeth them vnlighted, receiueth no comfort nor benefite by them: Euen ſo, if a man hauehave Knowledge in the word of God, and yet his heart and mind is not enflamed, and kindled with the louelove of the truth, his Knowledge will not profit him to ſaluation.
Knowledge of God.
1 AS he that diggeth for treaſure, caſteth the earth from him, and maketh a deepe pit, vntill hee finde that which he ſeeketh: Euen ſo he that ſeeketh the Knowledge of God, muſt caſtaway all earthly affections, and wholly prie into heauenly affaires. Prou. 1.4, 5.
2 As great and rich Treaſure is many times hid in an homely earthen veſſell: So it pleaſeth God to put the precious Knowledge of himſelfe, and his truth, into poore, weake, and fraile men. 2. Cor. 4.7.
Knowledge may be increaſed alwayes in the beſt.
LIke as he that vſeth the hand and helpe of many Phyſitions, though he be alwayes vnderunder the cure of ſome, can neuer come to perfect health: Euen ſo, ſuch as doo alwayes ſeeke, and euer learne, yet for all that, they neuer come to the Knowledge of the truth. 2. Timo. 3.6, 7.
Knowledge and beleefe in groſſe.
1 AS a man may carrie fire about him in a flint ſtone without heate; and perfumes in a Pomander without ſmell, except the one be beaten, and the other chafed: Euen ſo ſuch men as Know and beleeue in groſſe, the miſteries of our faith, that there is a God, which rewardeth good and euill; that he is terrible in his counſels vponupon the ſonnes of men; that there is a hell for ſinners, a heauen for good lyuers, a moſt dreadfull day of iudgement to come, a ſtrait account to bee demaunded, and the like. All this they Know and beleeue in generall, as marchandiſe wrapped vp together in a bundell; but for …hat they vnfold not theſe things, nor reſt vponupon them in particular, for that they let them not downe into their hearts, nor doo ruminate on them with leyſure & attention; for that they chew them not well in mind by deepe conſideration, nor doo digeſt them in heart, by the heate of meditation, they remaine with them, as a ſword in his ſcabard; and do helpe them as little to reformation of life (for which they were reuealed) as a preſeruatiue in their pocket neuer applied, can helpe their health. And thus they beare the general… Knowledge of theſe myſteries locked vp in their breaſts, as ſealed bagges of treaſure, that bee neuer told nor opened; and conſequently, they hauehave neither feeling, ſence, nor motion thereby.
2 Like as it may bee that one man may know an other man by ſight, whom yet in deed he knoweth not thorowly, becauſe he vnderſtandeth not what affection hee beareth towards him: So men Know naturally, that there is a God, but what his will is, or what is not his will, they doo not know. Rom. 3.11. Iohn. 1.18.
A godly King.
1 AS breath is neceſſarie for the body of man: So alſo is a godly King to the people whome hee gouerneth Lam. 4.20.
2 As the roaring of a Lyon is fearefull: So the wrath of a King is terrible. Prou. 19.12.
3 As a theefe taken in ſtealing with the deed dooing, is brought to open ſhame: Euen ſo Kings and Princes, and nations, putting confidence in Idols, and yet deceiued in finding no helpe in them, in time of their diſtreſſe, are put to manifeſt ſhame and confuſion. Iere. 2.26.27.
Meanes of Knowledge.
AS light endureth not alwayes, but darkeneſſe ſucceedeth: So the times and meanes to get Knowledge, endureth not alwayes; but wee are to vſe them, whilſt God doth giuegive them. Iohn. 12.35.
The Kingdome of heauen.
1 LIke as Marchants can be well content when they ſee Pearles of great price, to beſtow all their ſubſtance and wealth on them, hoping to be great gayners thereby: Euen ſo, much more godly Chriſtians ought not to ſpare any earthly treaſure, or to forbeare any coſt, for the attainment of that moſt precious pearle the Kingdome of heauen. Math. 13.45, 46.
2 As hee that findeth a Treaſure in an other mans ground, cannot iuſtly enioy the ſame, except at his great charge, he firſt ſtraine himſelfe to purchaſe the ſoyle: Euen ſo the Kingdome of heauen, the heauenly riches, cannot be had but of them, which (if neede ſo require) can bee content to forgoe all their worldly wealth for it. Math. 13.44.
3 As wee doo naturally louelove the body more then the ſoule, and the goods and commodities of this temproall life, more then the treaſures of ſpirituall riches: So wee ſeeke firſt the things that concerne this preſent life, and as for thoſe that belong to the Kingdome of heauen, wee ſeeke after them but ſeldome, ſleightly, and as it were for a faſhion. Math. 6.36.
4 As all they that are poſſeſſed with righteouſneſſe, peace and ioy of the holy Ghoſt, which Saint Paul calleth the Kingdome of God, are certaine to enter into heauen: So it is in vaine to pretend to enter into the Kingdome of God, which is in heauen, vnl…ſſe the Kingdome of heauen, which is the gate, bee firſt in vsus; that is to ſay, if wee hauehave not the true knowledge of God, and of his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, a liu…ly faith, a feruent charitie, vnleſſe we increaſe in ſanctification of body, of ſoule, and of mind; vnleſſe in our ſelues we doo feele a good conſcience conioyned with peace and ioy in the holy Ghoſt, and vnleſſe we bee regenerate in newneſſe of life. Rom. 14.17. Iohn. 3.3. 1. Cor. 6.9.
5 As where there bee two gates to a Towne, it is not enough that we enter the firſt, vnleſſe we alſo paſſe throgh the ſ…cond: So is it not enough that we being members of the Church, vſing the holy miniſterie, which is as the firſt gate to the Kingdome of heauen, vnleſſe we thence proceed to the ſecond, in liuing as true and liuely members of the Church, declaring the effects of the holy Miniſterie by the teſtimonies of our faith, mortification of the old man, newneſſe of life; in briefe, by dayly amendment of life.
6 As when winter is ouer, the nearer that the Sunne draweth vntounto vsus, the more doth the earth being warmed by the heate therof, fructifie; and the longer that the daies are, the more worke may we doo: Euen ſo the nearer that the kingdome of heauen doth draw vntounto vsus, by the comming of Ieſus Chriſt, eſpecially by his aſcention into heauen, the more ſhould we be heate in the louelove of God, and charity to our neighbours, to bring forth the more fruit of holineſſe, and be the more addicted to all good workes.
7 Like as it is commonly ſaid; that the Cat would fiſh eate, but ſhe would not her feete weate: Or as Balaam wiſhed, that hee might die the death of the righteous, and that his end might be like theirs; but yet he would not obey the will of God: Numb. 23.10.19. &c. So in like manner, many do wiſh and be deſirous to enter into the Kingdome of heauen, but yet they will not doo the will of God; neither labour, nor take any paines, for the meanes; that is, the preaching of the word of God, whereby they may come by it. Mat. 7.21. & 19.16. &c. Luk. 13.24. Math. 11.12. Luk. 16.16. Ioh. 6.27.
Knowledge.
1 AS that man that hath receiued abundance of wealth at his maiſter hands, dooth notwithſtanding ſteale from him, and robbe him of that which is his owne, is more worthie of death, then hee that had no meanes to helpe himſelfe: Euen ſo is it with him, on whome the Lord hath beſtowed Knowledge, and yet according to the ſame, will not ioyne obedience; for obedience is the Lords, and hee that faileth herein, robbeth God of his honour.
2 As he which hath Knowledge, ſhal (if with the ſame he ioyne not obedience) hauehave greater puniſhments, then he which hath leſſe Knowledge: So alſo he that hath leſſe Knowledge or none at all, and will not labour for vnderſtanding and ſpirituall wiſedome, ſhall ſurely feele thoſe torments, wherewith the other was afflicted, on whome the Lord beſtowed more Knowledge. Luk. 12.47, 48. Mat. 7.21. Rom. 12.2. Ephe. 5.17.
3 As Wine without the mixture of water, doth trouble the braine, &c. So Knowledge without louelove, doth make a man proud.
Knowledge and ſight of our ſelues.
1 AS ſalt is made of Sea water, but ſo long as it is in the Sea, it is not ſalt, it muſt be taken out of the Sea, and placed vponupon the drie land, that being in ſalt pits, where the Sunne may ſhine, the ayre blow vponupon it, the water may be thickned, and ſo conuerted into ſalt: Euen ſo this world is a Sea, ſo long as wee liue in the world, toſſed with the ebbings and flowings of the worldes inconſtancie, and ouerwhelmed in the bitter waters of the ſinnes, and wicked practiſes of the ſame, we are as yet no ſalt; we muſt go out of the world, & enter into the land, to wit, into our ſelues; and take a iuſt viewe of our owne imbicilitie, and hauehave a due conſideration of our owne miſerable and wretched eſtate, that the Sonne of righteouſneſſe may thruſt out his beames, and the wind of heauenly grace, may blow vponupon vsus, and ſo we may be turned into an admirable & wonderful ſalt; that being ſeaſoned our ſelues, we may be meanes, and the Lords inſtruments, to ſeaſon others.
2 As our eyes which do behold heauen and earth, and other innumerable creatures of God, doo not ſee themſelues, but looking in a Glaſſe, by that meane, they perfectly ſee themſelues: So we doo not ſee and conſider our owne frailtie & brickle eſtate, but if we will ſet before our eyes, the glaſſe of the remembrance of death, and the true Knowledge of our ſelues, beholding diligently this cleare Glaſſe, we cannot chooſe but very plainely ſee our ſelues, and what we be. Iam. 1.22, 23, 25.
Kings.
AS in a ſuddaine caſualtie of fire, or in a Citie ſurpriſed, there is great feare: So prophane and ſuperſticious Kings and their Counſellors, when the voice or doctrine of the Goſpel is heard, doo tremble for feare, and do mortally hate the ſame, as the firebrand of ſedition in a common-wealth, and as the looſeneſſe of diſcipline. Pſal. 2.2.