A Treasury of Similes, Part P · Part 122 – Part 123
We muſt labour to come to Perfection.
1 AS they which leape, the further they goe backward to fetch their race and runne, the further they leape forward, when they hauehave runne: So we may looke backe a little, and remember, both that wee hauehave done ill, to amend it; and alſo that we hauehave done well, to continue in it. Otherwiſe the remembrance either of vices or vertues, is ſo farre from putting vsus any whit forward, that it caſteth vsus quite backward. Phil. 3.14. 1. Timo. 1.13. Reue. 22.11. 1. Sam. 17.36.
2 As they which die cloth, do not immediatly change one contrarie into an other, but firſt turne a white into an Azure, and then make a Puke of it: So wee can neuer hold colour, as a good Puke, except firſt our White bee turned into an Azure; that is, except firſt wee doo well, to forget, that which wee did ill to get; except firſt wee happily vnlearne, that which we did vnhappily learne.
3 Like as they which worke in Waxe, cannot frame any new impreſsion in it, till the olde be defaced: So the Image of Caeſar the Prince of this world, the Diuel, muſt firſt bee defaced, before the Image of Chriſt can bee formed in vsus, that ſo wee may endeuour to come to Perfection.
4 As the Iſraelites were commaunded, not once in a weeke, or once in a monethmonth, but euerie day, to gather Manna, except onelyonly the Sabboth day: So we muſt neuer ſtand ſtil, but euerie day be doing ſomewhat, till we come to the Sabboth of our euerlaſting reſt in heauen. Exod. 16.26. Eſay. 28.10. Gene. 17.1.
5 Euen as they which runne in a race, bend forward their breaſtes; and ſtretch out their aimes, to ſhewe that they hauehave a deſire to runne faſter then poſſibly their feete can follow them: So in like manner, we which runne in this courſe of Chriſtianitie, muſt caſt away euerie thing that preſſeth downe, and ſinne which cleaueth ſo faſt, that we may endeuour and ſtretch our ſelues, to thoſe things which are before. Hebr. 12.1.
6 Like as Aeolus left all other winds, which might hauehave beene a…couble to him, with his friend Vliſſes, to be packt vp in a Male, and kept onelyonly the Weſterne wind for his owne vſe, to bring him home to his Countrie: So wee muſt reiect all other things, which may bee as contrarie winds, to driue vsus from the ſhoare of ſaluation, & retaine onelyonly the Weſterne wind of the ſpirit of God, whereby we may labour and endeuour our ſelues to that which is before, and ſtretch out our ſailes, and ſo come ſafely to the hauen of heauen.
7 As the ſilke worme keepes her bodie ſpare and emptie, and vſes to faſt two or three dayes togither, that ſhe may ſtretch out her ſelfe the better, and ſpin her thrid the finer: So likewiſe we muſt endeuour to bring vnderunder our bodies, and diet them for the nonce, that we may not any longer weaue the ſpiders webbe, but with the ſilk-worme ſpinne a new thread. 1. Cor. 9.27. Eſay 59.5.
8 Like as the Viper perceiuing her olde skin to be ſo ſtiffe that ſhe cannot eaſily ſtretch out her ſelfe in it, ſtrips it quite off: Euen ſo, after the ſame ſort, we which are by nature a generation of Vipers, muſt ſtrip off our old skin, and perceiuing we cannot wel do our endeuour, and ſtir our ſelues in the armour of Saul, we muſt with Dauid put it off, and put on the armor of light; that ſo we may come to Perfection. Colloſſ. 3.9.
9 Euen as when long warre had bene between the two houſes of Saul & Dauid, at length the houſe of Saul waxed weaker and weaker, and the houſe of Dauid waxed ſtronger and ſtronger: In like manner the ſpirit muſt alwayes endeuour it ſelfe to that which is before, and neuer leaue fighting with the fleſh, till the houſe of Saul, who was a limbe of the diuel, that is the fleſh, waxe weaker and weaker; and the houſe of Dauid, who was a figure of Chriſt, that is the ſpirit, waxe ſtronger and ſtronger. 2. Sam. 3.1.
10 As Abraham did runne from the doore of his Tent, to meete the Angels: So muſt we endeuour to runne forward, not onelyonly looking for, but alſo haſtning vntounto the comming of the day of God, that we may (if it be poſſible) meete the Lord in the aire, with all his holy Angels. Gene. 18.2. 2. Pet. 3.12.
11 As the Cherubins ſpread out their wings on high, and couer the merciemercy ſeate: So muſt wee ſpread out our wings, ſtretch out and endeuour our ſelues, and bee alwayes preſt and readie to flie, as it were to doo the will of God, if wee would hauehave his will done in the earth, as it is in heauen. Exod. 37.9.
12 As hee that hath the thumbes of his hands cut off, may perhaps doo ſomething, but he is ſo long about a little, that he were better ſit ſtill and doo nothing, then be ſo long pidling about nothing: Or as hee that hath the thumbes of his feete cut off, may peraduenture goe forward, but is ſuch a Snayles pace which he goes, that he were better ſtand ſtill and not goe at all forward, then go ſo ſlowly forward: So we likewiſe muſt not goe ſo ſlowly forward, as though the thumbes of our hands and feete were cut off, but rather we muſt ſtriue to come to Perfection, and to runne as faſt as it is to bee ſuppoſed, that that mightie man could, which had vponupon euerie hand ſix fingers, and vponupon euerie foote ſix toes. 2. Sam. 21.21.
13 Euen as thoſe beaſtes in Ezechiel did runne, and returne as lightnings: So muſt euerie one, who is enlightned with the ſpirit of God, follow as ſwiftly as lightning, which dooth no ſooner flaſh downe from heauen to the earth, then he muſt in affection, mount vp from the earth to heauen. Ezech. 1.14.
14 As the Iſraelits were commanded to eate the Paſſeouer in haſte: So in like manner, all we which are true Iſraelites, muſt gird vp the loynes of our minds, and follow hard, and runne a pace towards Perfection, and redeeme the time, that both the wrath of God may paſſe ouer vsus; and alſo the merciemercy of God may abide with vsus. Exo. 12.11.
15 As the Oſtridge neuer flies with his wings, but only lifts vp his body with them when he runnes; and in the pinion of each wing hee hath a ſharpe ſpurre, wherewith he pricketh his owne ſelfe, that ſo hee may run the faſter: So we ought by all good meanes, to quicken our dull diſpoſitions, that we may follow hard, euen as wee ſee the Oſtridge eggeth his own ſelfe forward, with the flapping of his wings. Eſay. 40.31.
16 As Pindarus writeth, that King Therons courſers were ſuch as wold neuer be wearie of going: So we muſt follow, and ſtill endeuour to come to Perfection, and neuer be wearie of well doing.
17 As Atalanta ranging out on the right hand, to gather vp thoſe golden Apples, which Hippomenes for the nonce threw forth before her, did looſe the wager ſhee ran for: So likewiſe they which are not thankfull to God for the glorious peace and proſperitie of his Church, but runne after euerie fond and ſtraunge deuiſed doctrine, and take vp all pretie nouelties, as golden Apples, which euerie man lets fall, ſhall miſſe the marke; and looſe the garland of glorie, and ſo neuer attaine to Perfection.
18 As Paul left Cyprus on his left hand, when he ſayled toward Syria: So wee muſt (if we will runne towards the marke of Perfection) leaue all Atheiſme, all Gentiliſme, al Poperie, al prophanneſſe, al lewdneſſe, on the left hand; and alſo wee muſt forſake all thoſe worldly affections, which may draw vsus any way from the marke of true godlineſſe. Act. 21.3.
19 As Gunners winke with the leftreye, that they may leuell more truely: So likewiſe, we muſt not be…old any vngodlineſſe, or ſiniſter dealing, with our eyes, but wee muſt ayme directly toward Chriſt; and either if it be poſſible, hit the mark of Perfection, or at leaſt wiſe, with thoſe left handed Beniamities, come within a haires breadth of it. Iudg. 20.16.
20 Like as when Diogenes ſawe a bungling Archer ſ…oote, he ranne as faſt as he could to the marke; the lookers on demaunded what he meant in ſo doing? Hee anſwered, to make ſure that he might not be hit; for this fellow (ſayes hee) meanes neuer to come neare the marke: So likewiſe when wee ſee prophane ſtraglers, ſtarting aſide like a broken bow, and roauing a great way wide on the left hand, we muſt rather labour to attaine to Perfection, that ſo wee may not onelyonly keepe our ſelues ſafe from the danger of their il example, but alſo we may giuegive ayme (as it were) to others, by our good enſample; and direct them, that they be neither wide nor ſhort to draw to the marke of Perfection.
21 As Ioſephs brethren ſtood ſo long dallying and delaying, and trifling out the time, that hauing a iourney to buy Corne, they might hauehave returned twiſe, before they would goe once: Or as Eliſeus, when Elias called him, went about the buſh (as wee ſay) and would needes goe bid his Father and his Mother farwell, before hee would follow the Prophet: So when wee are called of God to profeſſe his Religion, we may not ſtand temporiſing and circling, and conſulting with fleſh and bloud, before we follow toward the marke of Perfection; neither muſt we fetch a compaſſe, but rather endeuor with a ſtraight courſe to come to Chriſt. Gene. 43.10. 1. King. 19.20.
22 As the Bee, beeing to flie home to her Hiue, and fearing leaſt if ſhee ſhould bee taken by the way with the wind, ſhee might ſo perhaps bee blowne about in the ayre, counterpeizes her ſelfe with a little ſtone, and ſo flies ſtraight home: So likewiſe we muſt not bee wauering, and carried about with euerie blaſt of doctrine, like a Reed ſhaken in the winde; but muſt be built vppon the chiefe corner ſtone, and grounded vponupon a rocke, and eſtabliſhed with grace; that howſoeuer the raine fall, or the flouds ariſe, or the wind blow, or what times ſo euer come yet we may ſtand faſt, and alwayes follow Chriſt directly, till we come to Perfection. Ephe. 4.14, 15. Luk. 6.24. Hebr. 13.9. Math. 7.25.
23 As Theſeus being guided by Ariadnes threed, which ſhee tied at the entrance into Dedalus Labyrinth, eſcaped all the daunger and errour of it: Euen ſo wee muſt make Chriſt the doore, by which we muſt enter into the Labyrinth of all out affaires, and tie Rahabs threed at this entrance, and follow it all the way, that ſo we may bee ſafe, and goe in and out, and find paſture, and come to Perfection. Ioſu. 2.14. Ioh. 10.9.
24 Like as a luſtie Hound of a good kind, ordereth his going ſo well, that though he hauehave run ouer many fields, and through a thouſand thickets already, yet he neuer remembreth any labour which is behind, but forgetteth it, and if he chance to lap water in ſome brooke by the way, yet euen while he lappeth, hee lifteth vp his head, and ſtill goeth on, & plieth him forwards to his game: So muſt we doo in this purſute of Perfection; ſeeing Chriſt hath now ſprinkled all the way, betweene heauen and earth, with his bloud, and ſo hath made it a freſhe and a liuing way, therefore wee which hauehave noſes like the Tower of Lebanon, muſt as Bloud-hounds, trace him by the foote, and runne after him in the ſmell of his oyntments, and hunt hotly vponupon his freſh and liuing way, with a freſh and liuely faith; and though we hauehave gone very farre, and done a thouſand good deedes alreadie, yet we muſt alwayes forget that which is behind, till wee hauehave gotten, if not the childrens bread, yet at the leaſt wiſe, ſome little crum of merciemercy, that falles from our maiſters table; ſome litle drop of blood, that falls from our Lords ſide; which will be ſufficient to make vsus perfect men in Chriſt. Hebr. 1….20. Cant. 1.4.
25 Euen as that altar of perfume was placed, not in any common roome, or in any odde corner of the Tabernacle, but in the Sanctuary it ſelfe; ſomewhat beyond the vaile, cloſe to the golden Cenſer, verie neare the mercy feate: So a Chriſtian heart, which is a ſpiritual altar of perfume, and of a ſweet ſauour to God, muſt daily endeuour it ſelfe to that which is before; and ſtil more & more aſpire to heauenly things; and alwayes nearer and nearer approach vntounto Perfection, and vntounto the throne of grace; and continually higher and higher aduaunce itſelfe; to him that is the higheſt, and holieſt of all. Exod. 36.6. Heb. 9.4. 2. Cor. 2.15.
26 As the Iſraelites, ſo ſoone as they had pitched in Mithkah, which ſignifies ſweetneſſe; by and by remoued their Tents from Chaſhmonah, which ſignifies ſwiftneſſe: So we muſt ioyne ſweetneſſe, and ſwiftneſſe, both together; and aſſoone as we hauehave taſted and ſeene how ſweete the Lord is, preſently we muſt remooue our Tents from thence, and follow hard, and runne, not only ſweetly, but alſo ſwiftly in the way of peace, which leadeth vntounto Perfection and life. Num. 33.26.
27 As a Pomegranate hath many graines within him in his caſe, and a little rounde circle or a crowne without him, vponupon his head: now theſe graines being ſweete in taſte, and red in colour, are orderly ſet one by another, and point vp, or as it were looke vp altogether to the crowne: So in like manner, we which are plantes of the Church, as an O…cha…d… of Promegrana…es, muſt growe and goe on ſtill to Perfection; not onelyonly when we enioy the ſweete taſte of pleaſant proſperitie, but alſo when we beare the redde colour of bloudie perſecution, and conſenting in a kinde of conformitie and perfect peace and vnitie, one with another, we muſt point vp altogether with the finger of faith to Chriſt, and looke vp continually, with the eye of lone to our head, who by being firſt croſſed, is now come to be crowned with honour and glorie.
28 As Iacob wraſtled all the night long, and neuer gaue o…er, till about the breaking of the day that he was called Iſrael: So likewiſe we muſt wraſtle all the night long of this life, and neuer giuegive ouer, till the day breake, and the ſhadowes flie away, and we come to the maruellous light and ſight of God, by Perfection. Gene. 32.24. Mar. 13.35. Cant. 4.6.
29 As Ioſeph ſignifieth encreaſing, and Aramathia, ſignifieth getting the reward: So we muſt alwaies encreaſe and goe on ſtill to attaine Perfection, till we get the reward.
30 Like as they which runne their Horſes for a wager, ſpurre them hardeſt at the races ende: So ſeeing our ſaluation is nearer now then euer it was, therefore we muſt runne faſter then euer we did: eſpecially becauſe the very Horſe and Mule, and diuers other bruite beaſts which hauehave no vnderſtanding, though they hauehave bene neuer ſo much wearied & tyred before, yet when they come neare home, they will mend their pace. And therefore the more to blame ſhould we be, if hauing trauelled thus far alreadie in the way to Perfection, and being come by this time almoſt to our iournies end, we ſhould now go no further, when indeed we ought if it be poſſible, to runne much faſter to our euerlaſting home in heauen.
31 As the holy Angels bluſh and holde downe their heads, when they ſee vsus ſtumble, or trippe neuer ſo litle: So on the other ſide, they ſhoute and clappe their hands, when they ſee vsus runne chearfully in a good courſe, and come away a pace to Perfection.
32 Euen as a royall King, when one of his Nobles returnes home, which hath in a forraine Countrey by chiualrie, or feates of armes, or other like excellent parts, atchieued and gotten great renowme to his Realme, preſently ſendeth for him to his Court, and in open audience giueth him words of grace, and aduaunceth him to hie preferments and honour: So Chriſt our moſt magnificent King, immediately vponupon our arriuall and entrance into heauen, but of the forraine Countrey of this world, will reach forth vntounto vsus his holie hand, conducting vsus to the eternall Tabernacles of reſt: and as for all the prayers that we hauehave made, all the teares that we hauehave ſhead, all the almes that we hauehave giuen, all the other exerciſes of Chriſtian life, that we hauehave performed, though neuer ſo ſecretly in this purſuite of Perfection, he will openly reward them, and moſt gloriouſly crowne them, when all the hoſt of Angels ſhall triumph for our corronation, and the bleſſed Saints ſhall thinke themſelues more perfect for our Perfection, and all the Court of heauen, ſhall applaude our prayſes, and God himſelfe ſhall ſay Amen, to our felicities.
33 As they which (by the counſell of Hefiodus) doe often adde ſmall things to ſmall, and ſo at laſt become rich: So he which groweth in vertue more and more, at laſt becommeth perfect.
Priuate men and women, may greatly further the Chuch.
1 AS women did worke diuers things for the Tabernacle, in the dayes of Moſes: Or as the Temple was not built but by men of all ſorts, in the time of Salomon: and the walles of Ieruſalem vnderunder the guiding of Nehemiah: So may Priuate men very much further the building of the ſpirituall Temple, which is the congregation of Chriſt. Exod. 35.25. 1. King. 5. Nehem. 3. Ioſh. 24.15. Act. 10.2, 7. Gene. 14.14. & 18.19. Rom. 16. toto. Iere. 35.1. &c.
2 As out of Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacobs houſe, ſprang forth the Churches of the Iewes: So the glorious congregations of the Gentiles in like manner, beganne in the families of Priuate men: For as ſeruants well nurtured, may adorne the doctrine of God our Sauior in all things, Tit. 2.10. and husbands obeying not the word, may without the word be wonne, by the cōuerſation of the wiues: 1. Pet. 3.1. Euen ſo, much more may the maiſter of the family do vntounto God and his Church, honourable ſeruice: not only by ſanctifying his houſe by the word of faith, but alſo by hauing alwayes in a readineſſe, verie notable matter, to further the building of Gods dwelling place. 2. Timo. 1.5. & 3.15. Act. 16.1.
3 As the diſorder of one Priuate family, namely, of one Micha of Ephraim, was an occaſion that Idolatry did ſpread thorow the whole Tribe of Dan, and ſo continued many yeares: Iudg. 17, & 18. Chap. Euen ſo, contrarily, Gideon being ſtirred vp by the goodneſſe of God, to the reformation of one meane family in Manaſſeh, was the cauſe of a very great deliuerance to the whole natiō, from moſt mightie and cruell enemies, and moſt abhominable Idolatrie, for the ſpace of fortie yeares. Iudg. 6, 7. & 8. chap.
Curious Queſtions to be auoyded.
1 AS it is ſufficient for one that would bee heated or warmed by the fire, that hee ſtand neare it, for if hee put his hand into it, he ſhall ſurely bee burned: So they that preſume to diſpute and Queſtion about God, about hell, &c. further then the word reuealeth, falleth into blaſphemie, and ſo into hell fire.
2 As a boyſterous noyſe, or hidious ſound, grieueth the hearing; ouer aboundance of meate, noyeth the ſtomacke; grieuous burthens bee weariſome to the bearer; continuall raine hurteth the earth; and ouermuch of any thing, is noyſome and hurthfull: So doo difficult Queſtions, quickly ouercharge weake and meane wits.