A Treasury of Similes, Part C · Part 145 – Part 163
Chriſt is to be loued for ſauing of vsus.
1 LIke as if thou falleſt into a deepe ryuer, being in apparant daunger of drowning, if any man ſhould caſt the a rope, or himſelfe leape into the water to ſaue thy life, thou canſt not ſufficiently confeſſe and acknowledge thy ſelfe his debter, to doo him pleaſure and ſeruice all the daies of thy life: So likewiſe wee were not onelyonly in daunger of falling into hell, but were alreadie fallen, euen from our infancie, and dayly through our ſinnes fell deeper and deeper: Yet Chriſt caſt vsus not in a rope to pull vsus vp and ſaue vsus, but threw himſelfe into our ſea of woe, into our hell; to be ſhort, into horrible death, wherein wee were drowned, to plucke vsus foorth, and therefore with great zeale and affection we are bound to ſay: Lord wee are bound to louelove, honour, ſerue, pleaſe, and obey thee, in all that we may, with our whole hearts, all the dayes of our life.
2 Like as if thou werſt vponupon a Scaffold ready to be beheaded for thy drunkenneſſe or adulterie, and thereupon ſhouldeſt hauehave a pardon, and ſo thy life ſaued, vponupon condition, that thou ſhouldeſt fall no more thereinto; thou wouldeſt no doubt willingly and heartily promiſe, yea, with thy hand ſubſcribe, and with thy tongue ſweare, that thou wouldeſt neuer more commit adulterie or drunkenneſſe, but that thou wouldeſt abhorre all Tauernes, Alehouſes, and drunkerds, all whores and bawdes, and ſo amend thy life: Now ſeeing Ieſus Chriſt hath ſaued thee, not from an apparant daunger of death, but euen from death it ſelfe, and not from the death of the body, but from euerlaſting death; who requireth of thee to amende thy life, which thou art bound ſo to doo, yea thou oughteſt cheerefully and earneſtly promiſe and faithfully vowe, to reforme and amend, and to ſhun all occaſions that might procure thee to diſpleaſe and offend him.
Counſell.
EVen as out of an Apothecaries ſhoppe, where verie wholeſome medicines, precious oyntments, and moſt pleaſant perfumes are ſolde, ſometimes commeth moſt ranke and deadly poyſon: So very often, from men greatly experienced, and deepely learned, do come very peſtilent, pernitious, and treacherous Counſels.
The right knowledge of Christ crucified.
1 AS Elizeus when hee would reuiue the childe of the Shunamite, went vp and lay vponupon him, and put his mouth vponupon his mouth, and his hands vppon his hands, and his eyes vponupon his eyes, and ſtretched himſelfe vponupon him: Euen ſo, if thou wouldeſt bee reuiued to euerlaſting life, thou muſt by faith as it were, ſet thy ſelfe vponupon the Croſſe of Chriſt, and applie thy hands to his hands, thy feete to his feete, and thy ſinful heart to his bleeding hart; and content not thy ſelfe with Thomas to put thy finger into his ſide, but euen diue & plunge thy ſelfe wholly both body and ſoule, into the woundes and bloud of Chriſt. 2. King. 4.34.
2 As the dead Souldier tumbled into the graue of Elizeus, was made aliue at the very touching of his body: Euen ſo ſhalt thou by a ſpirituall touching of Chriſt dead & buried, be quickned to euerlaſting life. 2. King. 13.21.
Our Conformitie with Chriſt, by a certaine kind of imitation.
1. AS Chriſt in the garden, and vponupon the Croſſe, by prayer made with ſtrong cries and teares, preſented and reſigned himſelfe vp to be a ſacrifice of propitiation to the iuſtice of his Father for mans ſinne: So muſt wee alſo in prayer, preſent and reſigne our ſelues, our ſoules, our bodies, our vnderſtanding, will, memorie, affections, and all we hauehave to the ſeruice of God, in the generall calling of a Chriſtian, and in the particular callings in which he hath placed vsus. Pſal. 40.7.8.
2 As Chriſt bare his owne Croſſe to the place of execution: So muſt we as good Diſciples of Chriſt, denie our ſelues, take vp all the Croſſes and afflictions, that the hand of God ſhal lay vponupon vsus, if it be eueryevery day, and follow him. Iohn. 19.17. Math. 10.38.
3 As our Sauiour Chriſt, when hee apprehended the wrath of God, and the very pangs of hell were vponupon him, wholly ſtayed himſelfe vponupon the aide, helpe, protection, & good pleaſure of his Father, euen to the laſt: So muſt wee by a true & liuely faith, depend on Gods mercy in Chriſt, as it were with both our hāds, in peace, in trouble, in life, & in the very pang of death: and we muſt not in any wiſe let our hold go; no though we ſhould feele our ſelues diſcend to hell.
Children not to be cloathed with ouer coſtly apparel.
AS the ſoft Flax ſoone catcheth hold on the fire: So likewiſe youthfull nature, will ſoone bee inflamed with Coſtly apparell, and with new faſhions, which is a great fault in parents; as lamentable experience too much teacheth this day. Eſay. 14.12. Zeph. ….8.
Christ will take Compaſsion on vsus.
1 AS the Apple of the eye is ſo tender, that it may not be touched, but with great griefe: So likewiſe the coniunction betweene Chriſt & vsus, is ſuch, that he feeleth our afflictions, and thereof taketh great compaſſion. Zach. 2.8.
2 As Alexander the Monarch of the world, whenſoeuer he came to any Citie to beſiege it, he wold at the firſt ſhew forth & diſplay his white flag or banner, in tokē of mercy, if they would yeeld: but if they would not, then he would ſet forth and diſplay his red flags and banners, in token of wrath and bloud: So in like maner at the firſt our Sauiour Chriſt wil ſhew mercy vntounto vsus, hoping that we wil turne & repent, but if we wil not, then he wil bring dreadful iudgements vponupon vsus.
Cardes and Dice.
1 AS by lots the ſouldiers parted the garments of Ieſus Chriſt: So may we wel ſay, that theſe games of Cards and Dice, is the meanes to part betweene the world and the diuel, many of thoſe, who profeſſing reformed Religion, are addicted therunto. Mat. 27.35. Pro. 16.33. Eph. 5.16.
2 As the pleaſure of gaine, and the ſorrow for loſſe in play, are mighty paſſions to moue the harts of men: So alſo a number of braules, quarrels, and controuerſies doo ariſe, of Carding and Dicing: as ſwearing, curſing, and blaſpheming of God. &c. Exod. 20.7. Math. 12.36. 1. Cor. 10.31.
3 As they that whet their kniues vponupon a chalke ſtone, do not ſharpen them, but rather make them more dul & blūt: Euen ſo, ſuch as vſe Dicing and Carding, do not quicken their wits, but rather dull them.
Chriſt is the foode of a Christian ſoule.
AS eueryevery man is carnally fed and nouriſhed in his body by meate and drinke: Euen ſo is eueryevery good Chriſtian man, fed and nouriſhed in his ſoule, by the fleſhe and bloud of our Sauiour Chriſt.
Care of the ſaluation of others.
AS when one of our friends is ill at eaſe or ſicke in his body, we will not ſticke to ride and runne to procure any meanes whereby to reſtore his bodily health: Euen ſo, much more ought we to be more carefull of the ſaluation of the ſoules of our brethren, by how much more the the ſoule is of greater price then the body.
Christ crucified healeth vsus.
AS skilfull and cunning Phyſitions, are wont ſometimes, when a ſick man is ſore vexed with a numneſſe of his whole body, to cut a vaine of his head, that the letting of bloud may heale the body of that diſeaſe and ſickneſſe: Euen ſo Chriſt is our head, and wee are his members: A vaine of our head is cut, that our whole body may be healed: Chriſt ſuffered, that mankind might bee redeemed. Col. 1.18. Gal. 4.4.
Originall Corruption is the roote of all ſinne.
AS the cauſe of trees and plants, of their rootes, ſtockes, ſtems, and boughes, is in the ſeede: So the cauſe of our tranſgreſſions, foule ſinnes, and moſt daungerous iniquities, is our owne Corruption, wherewith wee are moued, and inclined to all euill; and the ignorance, and not knowing of our ſelues, wherewith we are greatly hindred in the knowledge of our God, and doo alſo moſt ſharpely cenſure thoſe things in others, which wee doe louelove and cheriſh in our ſelues.
Our Conuerſation is carefully to be looked vntounto.
AS it behoueth him that walketh vponupon cordes ſtrained and faſtned on high, diligently to looke to his footing that he may not totter, or decline this way, or that way: Euen ſo it ſtandeth vsus vponupon, to bee warie, and carefully to looke about vsus, and to take good heede where we ſet our feete, that is, our affections and the delights of our hearts, leaſt we fall downe headlong into the bottomleſſe gulph of Gods diſpleaſure. For if wee will fixe our affections, and bend our wils, with a deliberate conſent, to doo the thing that is euil, vniuſt, and vngodly, making no conſcience of any thing that we doo, bee it neuer ſo oppoſite and contrarie to the will of God, it cannot be, but falling from the ſtate of grace, wee ſhall fall moſt ſuddenly and ſhamefully, into the infernall pit of hell, death and damnation.
2 As a wheele although it turne about on the ground, yet the greateſt part of it is alwaies from the earth, and but little of it toucheth the ground: So although our body be on earth, yet the Conuerſation of the ſoule, which is the greater part of vsus, muſt be in heauen.
Christ is poſſeſſor of heauen for vsus.
1 AS if vponupon the confiſcation of an inheritance comming to many brethren, when the Prince afterward maketh a releaſe, the eldeſt brother taketh the poſſeſſion for aſſurance, that himſelfe and his brethren are reſtored to their goods, and the ſame is an aſſurance to the coheires with the eldeſt, that in the perſon of their eldeſt brother, themſelues are put in poſſeſſion of the inheritance common to them all: Euen ſo Ieſus Chriſt hath taken poſſeſſion of heauen, not onelyonly for himſelfe, but alſo for vsus his coheires. Rom. 8.17.
2 As the high Prieſt entring into the holy Sanctuarie, vponupon his ſhoulders and breſt, carried the twelue names of the twelue Tribes of Iſrael: So Ieſus Chriſt entered not alone into heauen, but we alſo with him. Ephe. 2.5.
Companie changeth nature.
AS the Camelion, is ſometimes blacke, and ſometimes greene, ſometimes pale, and ſometimes blew (for he euer taketh his colour, of the thing which he ſeeth to be next vntounto him, and doth ſhew and repreſent, the colour of what thing is ſet before him:) So men of all degrees, are wont very much to imitate the nature, diſpoſition, and manners of thoſe, whoſe Counſell they follow, & whoſe familiaritie they vſe. Pſal. 101.1.2. &c.
Chriſtes care of his members, though abſent.
EVen as the Eagle, hauing her yong ones ſhut vp in the neſt, although ſhee flieth exceeding high, and pearſeth the loftie ayre, yet ſhee withdraweth not her eyes from her yong ones, but ſtill beholdeth them; and they alſo, crying after their manner, with their ſtreatched our neckes, doo looke after her: Euen ſo the Lord Ieſus aſcending into heauen, did behold his Diſciples, and they alſo hungring and thirſting after him, did faſten their eyes vponupon him, and did not looſe the ſight of him, vntill he pearſed and broke open the heauens, and entred into the preſence of his Father. And although they were diuided from him in body, yet in heart and mind they followed him ſtill. Act. 1.9.10.11.
Croſſes are the badge of a Chriſtian.
EVen as it is a thing very commendable and woorthie praiſe, that a Souldier doo euer beare about him, the ſignes and badges of his Captaine, that it may appeare to whom hee belongeth: So is it no little honour to a true Chriſtian man, to paſſe through many daungers, and to be experienced in many troubles, and to endure many afflictions for his Captaine Chriſts ſake: for ſorrowes, vexations, and trbulations, are the armor and badges of Chriſt. Gal. 6.17.
Chriſt fiſheth for men.
AS the Diuel, that wicked and craftie fiſher, with his great, large, long, and broad Nets, taketh and draweth vp great multitudes, and infinite numbers of ſoules,The Diuels baite. which voluntarily giuegive themſelues vntounto him, and doo ſuffer him moſt eaſily to take them, by and with with his baites, which are, voluptuouſneſſe, the foule pleaſures, and rotten delights of the fleſh, worldly wealth at will, the vaine glorie of the world, innumerable riches of all ſorts, power, authoritie, vanitie, an inſatiable deſire to beare rule, and a thouſand ſuch others; the ſeely poore fiſhes being deceiued by theſe baites, do neuer feele the hooke, vntill it ſtick ſo faſt in their iawes, that there is no ſcaping, but the diuell maketh a full account of them, as of his owne: Euen ſo contrariwiſe, Chriſt doth fiſh for men, that hee may draw them out of the bitter waters of the daungerous ſea, and that he may giuegive vntounto them the water of grace, who ſeeketh to ſaue their ſoules, and to bring them to euerlaſting happineſſe, and celeſtiall immortalitie, (who yet flie from him, and would not come neare him) he fiſheth with a ſharpe and bitter baite,Chriſts baite. very vnpleaſant to the corrupted nature and appetite of a naturall man; to wit, with much faſting, praying often, with watchings, honeſt labours in a mans calling; contempt of the world, ſpirituall pouertie, bitter teares, deepe ſighes, and greeuous grones, for ſinnes committed againſt the Lord; with humilitie and lowlineſſe of heart; with kindneſſe, peace, patience, righteouſneſſe, and ſuch other things: all which, although to thoſe which are enclined with a right and true louelove of God, they are pleaſant and welcome, yet neuertheleſſe, to the will and deſire of a meere naturall man that is a friend of fleſh and bloud, they are hard, and doo ſeeme very bitter to his corrupted taſte.
Men which can keepe no Counſell, are very daungerous.
1 AS the Sea, called the dead Sea, which is a Lake in Iudea, called Aſphaltits, whereof Aristotle, Plinie, Iuſtine, and diuers others do make mention: wherein is neither fiſh, nor any liuing creature found in it, wherevpon it hath the name Dead: and in it nothing is couered, neither doth any thing that is in it, ſinke to the bottome thereof, but all things do ſwim, and are in ſight, and do continue in the top of the water: Euen ſo, ſuch are they that will keepe no Counſell nor ſecrets whatſoeuer, but will reueale and bewray all things that they know, whether they be good or bad.
2 Euen as Hypanis a Riuer in Scythia, which hath a maruellous ſweeteneſſe, vntill a litle bitter ſpring which Herodotus calleth Exampeus, be mingled with it, and then it is corrupted with a wonderfull bitterneſſe: Euen ſo, thoſe men which are like torne veſſels that will hold no water, and ſo full of chinkes, that they neither can nor will keepe any ſecrets or Counſell, are very bitter and intollerable men, and do much harm in eueryevery place where they come; neither can any Counſell or ſecret be committed vntounto ſuch, without great daunger to the Common-wealth wherein they dwell; and eſpecially to all thoſe that repoſe any truſt in them. Such men, ſeeme they neuer ſo wiſe, learned, and full of Counſell, are not to come neare godly Princes, neither to be made acquainted with matters of ſtate, and the affaires of the Common-wealthes, leaſt they do great hurt, both with giuing counſell themſelues, and alſo by diſcouering ſuch waightie ſecrets, as ſhall in truſt be committed vntounto them. Iob. 22.18. Pſal. 1.1.
Chriſt is leſſe beholden to the moſt part of the world, then Caeſar was to the Romanes.
AS Marcus Antonius with an Oration that he made vponupon the death of Caeſar, is ſaid to hauehave greatly delighted the people of Rome, and that hee moued very many of them, to ſhead great ſtore of bitter teares, when hee put them in remembrance of the great benefites which they had from time to time, receiued of Caeſar, and withall, did ſhew them Caeſars garments, wherein his enemies, Caſsius, and Brutus, had ſlaine him, all full of bloud: whereat they were ſo mightily mooued, that they expulſed the homicides and murtherers out of the Citie, ſo that they durſt not, if they would liue any longer, come neare it: And yet in theſe dayes of ours, though the Preacher (neuer ſo good an heauenly Orator,) come with the Oracles of God himſelfe, in his mouth, and ſhew moſt plainely, what Chriſt the Redeemer of the world, hath done for man, and prooue that man hath receiued vnſpeakeable and innumerable benefites, by and through Chriſt; and declare what bitter teares, water and bloud, did trickle downe his cheekes, and what deepe and deadly ſighes, with many fearefull and greeuous grones, did riſe from his heart, before he came to the Croſſe; and though hee rip vp his paſſion ſtitch by ſtitch, as the holy Booke, and diuine Word, ſhall direct and leade him; and though particularly he ſhewe, how and where he was wounded, that hee was beaten, ſpit vponupon, crowned with thornes, nayled hand and foote to the Croſſe, ſcorned and mocked of the Iewes: & though he ſhew moſt liuely, that the wicked and cruel Iewes embrued their hands in his blood, & gaue him vineger and gall to drinke: yea, and although the Preacher declare and proue, that beſides the death and paſſion of his body, he ſuffered in his ſoule, the heauie wrath and indignation of his Father, and the extreame tortures and torments of hell, for a time, no leſſe then the the reprobates that be there alreadie, and no leſſe then all we by iuſt deſert ſhould hauehave ſuffered for euer, if Chriſt had not done it for vsus: and yet fewe or none for all this will ſhead one teare, giuegive one grone, or ſigh once from the bottome of his heart.