A Treasury of Similes, Part C · Part 43 – Part 45
The laſt Commaundement explaned.
1 AS the Lord by the former Commaundements of the ſecond Table, doth vtterly condemne and forbid all wicked deedes, words, and counſelles, that be hurtfull to our neighbour, and which go with deliberation and conſent, with all full purpoſes and concluſions to euill: Euen ſo in the laſt Commaundement, to the end that he might touch vsus the nearer, whereby wee might the better perceiue our owne imperfections and weakeneſſe, hee moſt ſtraightly chargeth that our hearts ſhould be ſo pure and cleane, that no euill thoughts, motions, deſires, concupiſcences, luſts, delights, inclinations, or naturall infections of originall ſinne, ſhould once creepe into our hearts. Gene. 6.5. Math. 5.28. Rom. 6.12. & 7.7. Iam. 1.14.
2 Like as if a woman were by vnlawfull act defiled, it were not ſimple fornication, but adultrie, though the defiler knew not that ſhe was married: So we muſt iudge alſo of luſt and concupiſcence, when one is coueted, not as though ſhe were married, but as one vnmarried, and free in reſpect of a married woman; whoſoeuer coueteth her, coueteth his neighbours wife, whether he do it wittingly, or ignorantly: as Pharaoh and Abimelech did. Gene. 12.15. &c. & 20.2, 3. &c.
3 Like as that man is deſperate of his ſaluation, and prouoketh the anger of God towards him, that ſaith: If I ſhall bee culpable in the ſight of God for the concupiſcence of my heart, as well as though I do commit the fact, therefore I will adde vntounto my luſt and concupiſcence, the fact which it deſireth, that I may carrie away ſome pleaſure of my ſinne, and not be damned for nothing: So likewiſe it is the part of a faithfull Chriſtian man, to acknowledge and bewaile the ſinne and vncleanneſſe of his heart, to lament for it, and to flie vntounto the merciemercy of God, by faith in Chriſt our Sauiour; and to withſtand with all his power, the naughtie deſires and motions of the heart, that ſo hee may (for Chriſt his ſake) be made partaker of the grace of God, and true health and ſaluation.
4 As in this Commaundement is forbidden all euill deſires: So alſo by the ſame, is commaunded all good deſires, good affections, good inclinations to godly things, and the perfect obedience of our hearts, vntounto Gods will, and to wiſh and deſire that our neighbour may quietly poſſeſſe and enioy all that which God hath ſent him, be it more or leſſe.
5 As the Lord by the former Commaundements, doth commaund that the rule of Charitie ſhould gouerne our willes, ſtudies, and workes: So hee now commaundeth the conceptions of our minde, to be directed to the ſame rule, that there be none of them crooked, and writhen, that may prouoke our minde an other way.
6 As he hath forbidden our minde to be bowed, and ledde into wrath, hatred, fornication, robberie, and lying: ſo he doth now forbid vsus to be moued therevnto, by any luſt or deſire.
7 Like as a man purpoſing to deſtroy a tree, yet dooth no more then loppe and ſhred off certaine boughes and twigges, leauing the ſtumpe and roote behinde, deceiueth himſelfe: Euen ſo likewiſe, ſo long as luſt and concupiſcence doth liue in men, they may well ſeeme in the eyes of men, to be very great conuerts, if of ignorant idiots they are become ſuch as hauehave gotten ſome skil and knowledge: or as if of dunkards, ruffians, adulterers, and ſuch like, they become ſober and modeſt, and of good behauiour; as this may be done before men, and yet the heart nothing altered before God: for there be many cauſes which may mooue men to ſeeme outwardly to be godly, when the heart within is fraught and laden with loathſome luſts, & full of rotten corruptions, which make them ſtill altogether abhominable before God, and thus they hauehave hereby gained nothing.
8 As the Lord our God requireth account of euerie idle word: Math. 12.36: So likewiſe requireth hee tribute and account of wicked luſts and thoughts, arrayneth them, maketh them hold vp their hand at the barre, keepeth a court for them, and ſetteth fines and amerciments vponupon the heads of them.
Pope no Chriſtian.
1 LIke as Iudas bare the name of a Deſciple and Apoſtle, and called Chriſt maiſter, when, and at ſuch time, as he endeuoured altogither to ſpoile Chriſt, both of his authoritie and life: Euen ſo the Pope and all his confederates, although they boaſt themſelues to be Chriſtians, pretending the name of Chriſt, yet they both robbe Chriſt of his authoritie, and alſo men of their ſaluation.
Math. 26.49.2 As the Lords who made the laſt rebellion in the North, charged the inferiour ſort in the Queenes Maieſties name, to put on Armor, and to come into the field, as though it had bene in defence of her Maieſtie, whereas their purpoſe was the deſtruction of her royall eſtate, and the ſubuerſion of her Kingdome, that they themſelues might hauehave reigned: Euen ſo in like maner dealeth the Pope & his affinitie, concerning Chriſt & his Kingdome.
Corrupters of Princes are moſt ſeuerely to be puniſhed.
1 LIke as they do moſt greeuouſly offend, which do infect with poyſon a common well or conduite, where all men doo draw water: So likewiſe they deſerue worſt of a Common-wealth, which corrupt the minde of a Prince with pernitious and wicked counſels.
2 As he ought to ſuffer the greater puniſhment, which throweth poyſon, not into one Cuppe, but into the whole veſſell, whereof euerie one ſhould drinke: So offend they the moſt, and are therfore with all extremitie to be tormented, which do corrupt the nature and diſpoſition of Princes.