A Treasury of Similes, Part C · Part 10 – Part 20
Education of Children.
1 LIke as fruitfull fieldes for lacke of tillage waxe barren: Or as trees being neglected either bring forth no fruite, or elſe the ſame vnſauorie, without the diligence of graffing and pruning: Or as dogges be vnmeet to hunt the horſe, and Oxen vnapt to the plough, except mans diligence be put thereto: Euen ſo Children would become wilde and vnprofitable, except by diligence and in due time, they ſhould be faſhioned and brought in order by good bringing vp.
2 Like as planting and carefulneſſe hath great power in all growing things: Euen ſo hath Education greater vertue and ſtrength; yea and better fruite in the diligent bringing vp of Children.
3 Like as Noblemen and Gentlemen are deſirous to hauehave a good and skilfull horſekeeper, that can keepe their horſes well, and they ſpare not to giuegive great ſtipends to ſuch: Euen ſo how much more ought Chriſtian Parents be deſirous to hauehave and maintaine a good Schoolemaiſter that might godlily bring vp their children in vertue and wiſedome.
4 Like as if a horſe be not well broken, or hauehave any euill qualitie, the owner will be carefull to ſee it remedied, and that he may be made gentle: So likewiſe godly Parents, ſeeing their naturall childe euill brought vp, ought to be much more carefull that he may be brought to ſome good order.
5 As there be ſome men, who can eaſily ſee and ſpie a ſpauine, a ſprent, a ringbone, or ſuch other diſeaſe in a horſe: Euen ſo much more ought a good Father be as readie to looke that there be no faults in his Children, or in the teacher vntounto whome hee committeth the charge to bring them vp in learning and good manners.
6 As a veſſell will long retaine and keepe the ſauour of that wherewith it is firſt ſeaſoned: Euen ſo if Children be taught good things whileſt they be young and tender, they will abide and ſticke the longer with them. Pro. 22.6. Deut. 4.9.14. & 32.46.
7 Euen as a Plant will ſooner take nouriſhment, and thriue better in the ſoyle where it firſt grewe and ſproong vp, then in any other ground, becauſe it liketh his owne ſoile beſt: So likewiſe children will ſooner take inſtruction and good nurture from their Parents, whom they beſt like, and from whom they had their firſt being, then from any other.
8 Like as our firſt Parent Adam, and ſo all other after him, hauehave beene a meane of falling to all their poſteritie, in begetting Children in their owne image, which according to the lawe of creation ſhould hauehave bene borne in Gods image: So now in lieu of this, all Parents ſhould lend their hands to their children to lift them vp againe by good Education, and neuer ceaſe vntill they ſee in ſome meaſure the beautie of the firſt image, and the vertue of the ſecond Adam. Pro. 22.6. Deut. 4.9. & 11.18, 19.
9 As life and death is in the power of the tongue: So alſo we may well ſay, life and death is in the Education of our children: for if they be well brought vp, it ſhal be life vntounto them; but if it be otherwiſe, they are trained vp to euerlaſting death. Pro. 18.21.
10 Euen as a weede if it growe in a rancke ſoyle will waxe out of meaſure noyſome: So children comming of honourable Parents, brought vp in eaſe, and pampered with the delights of gentrie, they wax immeaſurably vitious, whom neither Lawes, nor Magiſtrates, nor any other good meane, can hardly keepe vnderunder.
11 As the brute Oxe and Aſſe would neuer endure their hard labor, except they were held in by their yoake, but would ſtray euerie way: So vnbridled man, if hee be not in his youth held in by the yoake of painful labor, and vertuous education, he wil neuer abide it when he is old, but wil run out into euerie path of deſtruction. Lament. of Iere. 3.26.
12 As Alexander the Great attained to hauehave ſuch a puiſſant Armie, whereby he conquered the world, by hauing children borne and brought vp in his Campe, wherby they became ſo wel acquainted and exerciſed with weapons from their ſwadling cloathes, that they looked for no other wealth or Countrey but to fight: Euen ſo if thou wouldeſt hauehave thy children either to do great matters, or to liue honeſtly by their owne vertuous endeuours, & not to gape vniuſtly for other mens goods, but to be content with the bleſſing of God vponupon their labours, thou muſt acquaint them with paines taking in their youth, and ſo to bring them vp in the nourture and information of the Lord.
Eccle. 25.27.13 As thoſe which hauehave experience in keeping and repairing of the Sea bankes, can eaſily tell vsus, that if the raging waues ſhould be ſuffered to breake ouer but one tide, they ſhould hardly in many dayes recouer it againe: Euen ſo if Parents ſuffer their Childrens affections (throgh want of good Education) to hauehave the full ſwing and courſe, yea but a ſmall ſeaſon, they ſhall hardly or neuer againe win this breach. Pro. 11.20. & 29.15.
14 Euen as the fatteſt ſoyle bringeth forth the ranckeſt weedes: So pampered Children brought vp without due gouernment and diſcipline, thruſt foorth the greateſt and moſt ouergrowen vices.
15 As young Plants being ſtraightned while they be tender, and trimmed with pruning and other parts of huſbandrie, will grow very goodly to behold in their greatneſſe, which being neglected, are many times very crooked, and vnfit for diuers vſes: So likewiſe do young men and women for the moſt part proue, as they are nurtured in their youth.
Chriſtes ſecond comming to iudgement.
1 SO quickly as the lightning in the Eaſt is ſeene vntounto the Weſt: Euen ſo ſuddenly ſhall Chriſt appeare vntounto the whole world, at his ſecond comming.
Mat. 24.43 44.2 As a Theefe (ſo neare as he can) commeth cloſely to rob an houſe, then when men thinke leaſt of him: So likewiſe vponupon a like ſudden, when men leaſt thinke of it, ſhall Chriſt come againe to iudgement. 1. Theſſ. 5.4. 2. Pet. 3.10.
3 Like as when the Sunne is vp, which is the moſt excellent light, although the Moone and the Starres doo remaine ſtill in the element, yet are they not ſeene, but are euen as though they were all fallen downe from heauen: Euen ſo the comming of Chriſt to iudgement, ſhall be ſo glorious and ſo bright, that in compariſon of it, the light of the Sunne then, the Moone, and the Starres, ſhall be as though they were not at all. Math. 24.29. Eſa. 13.10. Ezech. 32.7. Ioel. 2.31. & 3.15.16.
4 Like as men waxe cunning to foreſee what weather will ſhortly happen by the ſtanding of the winde, by the gathering of the cloudes, and by other tokens: which as it did condemne the careleſneſſe of them which liued in the time of Chriſt, becauſe they were not carefull and diligent to marke the tokens whereby they ſhould hauehave knowne the comming of Chriſt: So alſo it will condemne vsus, if we marke not, neither obſerue the tokens of the ſecond comming of Chriſt.
5 As a guiltie man, whoſe conſcience doth accuſe him, would neuer ſee the Iudge: and a traytor would neuer willingly be eſpied of his Prince, nor a diſloyall perſon of one that knoweth him: and on the other ſide, a true and faithfull ſubiect, that hath done dutifull ſeruice, deſireth the preſence of the Prince in hope to be well rewarded: So the wicked and vngodly ones of the world, are grieued to heare of Chriſts comming to iudge the quick and the dead: but they that hauehave liued with good conſciences, do grone for his comming.
Chriſt the onelyonly obiect of faith which iuſtifieth.
LIke as when the children of Iſrael were bidden of Moſes, to looke vp to the brazen Serpent, neither could the Serpent hauehave helped them, except they had looked vp, nor yet their looking vpward hauehave profited them, vnleſſe they had directed their eyes vponupon the ſaid Serpent, as the onelyonly obiect ſet vp to the ſame purpoſe, for them to behold: So our faith in like caſe directed to the body of Ieſus Chriſt our Sauiour, is onelyonly the meanes whereby Chriſtes merits are applied vntounto vsus, and we now iuſtified before God. Rom. 10.9.
Chriſt our Mediator.
1 LIke as Chriſt Ieſus is our looking glaſſe, in which we behold the inuiſible and glorious God, to be our louing and mercifull father, more readie to heare, then wee to pray: So the ſame our Sauiour Chriſt is alſo our feete, by which we go to the father, our mouth by which wee ſpeake to the Father, and our hand by which we offer our prayers, and all our ſeruice, yea our ſoules and bodies, as a liuely, reaſonable, and acceptable ſacrifice to his Maieſtie.
2 As no man is able to behold the bright Sunne vnleſſe it be couered with a cloude: Euen ſo no man can abide the Maieſtie of God, but through the Lord Ieſus Chriſt.
Communion with Chriſt.
1 AS the head giueth ſence and motiō to the members, and the members feele themſelues to hauehave ſenſe, and to moue by the meanes of the head: Euen ſo doth Chriſt Ieſus receiue and quicken euerie true member, and by his heauenly power maketh him to doo the good which he doth.
2 Like as from the ſtock, ſap is deriued to the graft, that it may liue and grow, and bring forth fruite in his kinde: So likewiſe do all the faithfull that are grafted into Chriſt the true vine. Rom. 6.4, 5. Iohn. 15.1, 2. Ephe. 13.16.
3 And as the graft looſeth his wilde nature, and is changed into the nature of the ſtocke, and bringeth forth good fruite: Euen ſo in like manner it is with them that are in Chriſt, who by litle and litle are wholly renued from euill to good. Act. 15.9.
Conſcience touched.
1 LIke as they which hauehave diſeaſed bodies, are contented with no one Phiſition, but do cōmit themſelues to euerie man that will promiſe them helpe: So alſo it fareth oftentimes with them that hauehave their conſciences ou…preſſed with the burden of their ſinnes, that they can be content to yeelde themſelues to euerie hereticke that will promiſe them libertie.
2 As after great ſtormes the ayre is cleare: ſo after the flouds of repentant teares, the Conſcience is at quiet.
3 As a ſicke man that is pained diuerſly, complaineth of diuers places: euen ſo a man troubled in Conſcience, vſeth many phraſes according to the diuerſitie of afflictiōs. Pſal. 51.8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
Conſideration and earneſt meditation of our eſtate, needfull.
1 LIke as a man that hath a iournie to make but from England to Conſtantinople, although he had made the ſame once or twiſe before, yet would he not paſſe it ouer without great and often Conſideration; eſpecially whether he were right and in the way or no; what pace he held, how neare he were to his wayes end, and the like: Euen ſo eueryevery Chriſtian hath far more need of due Conſideration; who muſt paſſe frō earth to heauen, being ſubiect to by pathes, and manifold dangers, as euerie pleaſure of this world, euerie luſt, eueryevery diſſolute thought, eueryevery alluring ſight, & tempting ſound, eueryevery diuell vpō the earth, or inſtrument of his, which are infinite, beeing a theefe, and lying in waite to ſpoile him vponupon this way towards heauen.
2 As theeues ſeeme mad vntounto wiſe men, that ſeeing ſo many hanged daily for theft before their eyes, will yet notwithſtanding ſteale againe, and all for want of due conſideration: Euen ſo the very ſame cauſe maketh the wiſeſt men of the world to ſeeme very fooles, and worſe then franticks vntounto God and good men, that knowing the vanities of the world, and the daunger of ſinfull life, doo follow ſo much the one, and fear ſo litle the other. Math. 7. Luk. 12. Rom. 2. 1. Cor. 1.2, 3. Gal. 3.
3 Like as if a Lawe were made by the authoritie of man, that whoſoeuer ſhould aduenture to drinke wine, ſhould without delay hold his hand but halfe an houre in the fire, or in boiling leade for a puniſhment, many no doubt would forbeare wine, albeit naturally they loued the ſame: and yet a Lawe being made by the eternall Maieſtie of God, that whoſoeuer committeth ſinne, ſhall boile in the fire of hell without eaſe or end, many for lacke of conſideration commit ſinne vponupon ſinne, with as little feare as they do eate or drinke.
4 As he may be thought to be but a fooliſh Marchant, that for quietnes ſake would neuer looke to his owne accounts booke, whether he were behinde hand or before: Or as a ſhipmaiſter were greatly to be laughed at, that for auoyding of care, would ſit downe and make good cheare and let the ſhip go whither ſhe would: Euen ſo much more in the buſineſſe of our ſoule, it is madneſſe and folly to fly conſideration for eſchewing of trouble, ſeeing in the end, this negligence muſt needs turne vponupon vsus more trouble, and irremediable calamitie.
The Condition of mans creation.
AS a Marchant Factor when he is arriued in a ſtraunge Countrey, or as a Captaine ſent by his Prince to ſome great exployt, is accuſtomed when hee commeth to the place appointed: then aduiſedly conſidereth wherefore he was ſent, to what end, what to attempt, what to proſecute, what to performe, what ſhall be expected and rerequired at his hands, vponupon his returne, by him that ſent him thither: theſe cogitations (no doubt) ſhall ſtirre him vp to attend to that which he came for, and not to imploy himſelfe in impertinent affaires. So likewiſe euerie Chriſtian deſirous of ſaluation, ought to aske of himſelfe, why and to what end he was created of God, and ſent into this world, what to do, wherein to beſtowe his dayes, thus doing, he ſhall finde that it was for no other cauſe, but onelyonly to ſerue God in a right maner in this life. Deut. 6.13. Luk. 1.74.75.
Whoſoeuer breaketh one Commaundement, is guiltie of the breach of all.
LIke as if a Father ſhould ſay vntounto his ſon: do ſuch and ſuch things, and I wil take thee for an obedient childe, and giuegive thee all my poſſeſſions: now the ſonne breaketh ſomewhat of that which his father charged him withall, and is therefore accounted diſobedient, and deſerueth to looſe whatſoeuer was promiſed: Or as if one man beſtow vponupon an other, houſe or land, or ſome ſuch like thing, and in conſideration thereof, bindeth him to fulfill many conditions, whereof if he breake but the leaſt, the gift is voide, and it is all one as if he had neuer giuen any thing: Euen ſo likewiſe we may not maruell, when we heare that by the breaking of one point of one Commaundement, wee faile of perfect righteouſneſſe, and are made the heires of euerlaſting damnation, if God ſhould meaſure out vntounto vsus the due reward of his damnation. Deut. 27.26. & 28.58, 59. Iam. 2.10.
2. Euen as if a Rule be broken in ſome part, or the linke of a round chaine, yet we may rightly and truly ſay, that they are not wholely and altogither broken: So likewiſe, if but one Commaundement be broken, yet all are broken in the ſight of God, for the iuſtice of God is indiuiſible.
The Couenant of God.
1 AS it is the chiefe and principall part in the lawe of Wedlocke, and before all required of the wife, that ſhee kept this faith to her husband, that ſhee admit no other man in his ſight, vnleſſe ſhee will bee refuſed as an adultreſſe: So likewiſe this is the chiefe point in the Couenant of GOD, that wee ſticke vntounto him onelyonly, and alone, or elſe to be put out from the Couenant.
Creature.
1 EVen as a brittle glaſſe being filled with ſome extreame ſtrong liquor, cannot but burſt in ſunder, not becauſe of any antipathie which is betwixt them, but becauſe the glaſſe is not of ſufficient ſtrength to containe the liquor: So it is with the Creature when God doth appeare in perfect glory; in regard wherof, the Angels themſelues are ſaid to couer their faces, leaſt they ſhould behold it: how much more then hath man, who is but duſt and aſhes, and whoſe life is in his noſethrils, iuſt cauſe of feare. Eſa. 6.2. Pſal. 29.3, &c.
2 As the Aduouterous Woman hath no more to doo with her husband, nor with any thing of his, for becauſe of the tranſgreſſion of this principall law and Couenant, and the breach of the faith of Wedlocke: Euen ſo they hauehave no more to do in the Couenant of God, which by worſhip of other …ods, hauehave broken the chiefe point thereof, and looſed the faith due vntounto one God alone. Deut. 5.6, 7.
3 Like as if a man would take to his wife a common woman out of the open ſtewes, and would firſt of all preſcribe vntounto her in this ſort: If thou wilt abide in this fellowſhip of our Wedlocke, firſt it is neceſſarie, that thou abſtaine from all other men, and keepe the faith and Couenant of marriage whole and vnbroken onelyonly to mee, elſe thou canſt not bee my wife, nor I thy husband, if thou doo with mee take others, and returne vntounto thy accuſtomed filthineſſe of whoredome: So likewiſe the Lord dealt with the Iſraelites, who were vſed before in Egypt to the worſhipping of other Gods: who charged them firſt to caſt away the gods which their fathers ſerued in Meſopotamia, and in Egypt, and to ſerue and worſhip him onelyonly; otherwiſe he would be no God to them, nor they a people for him. Ioſua. 24.14. And ſo the caſe is now betwixt God and vsus.