A Treasury of Similes, Part C · Part 74 – Part 104
Death of Chriſt.
1 AS the Bands of Matrimonie are ſet free by the death of the marryed couple: So are wee made dead to the Lawe, by the death of Chriſt; and freed from the yoake, ſeruitude, and bondage of it. Rom. 7.3, 4. & 5.12.
2 As a ſtrong Coraſiue laide to a ſore, eates out all the rotten and dead fleſh: Euen ſo Chriſts death beeing applied to the heart of a Patient ſinner by ſaith, weakens and conſumes the ſinne, that cleaues ſo faſt vntounto our natures, and dwels within vsus.
3 Like as in the common deſtruction of the firſt borne in Egypt, they whoſe doores were ſprinckled with the bloud of the Paſſeouer, were ſafe: So likewiſe, if there ſhall come a common deſtruction vponupon any land for their ſinnes, yet they that hauehave their ſoules ſprinckled with the bloud of the Lambe Chriſt Ieſus by his death, ſhall be ſaued.
4 As the life of Chriſt, is the life of life: So the Death of Chriſt, is the death of death.
5 As the Libard vſeth a ſtraunge kinde of pollicie to kill the Ape, he lieth downe vponupon the ground, as though he were ſtarke dead: which the Apes ſeeing, come all togither, and in deſpight skips vponupon him; this the Libard beareth paciently, till he thinkes they hauehave wearied themſelues with their ſporting; then ſuddenly hee likewiſe leapes vp and catches one in his mouth, and in each foote one, which immediately he killeth and deuoureth: Euen ſo, ſuch was the pollicie of Chriſt, hee was laid in the duſt for dead: the diuell then inſulted ouer him, and trampled vponupon him, but he like a liuely Lybard, ſtarting vp on Eaſter day, aſtonied the ſouldiers ſet to keepe him, which were the diuels apes, and made them lie like dead men, euen as he tolde them before by his Prophet. Math. 28.7. Oſe. 13.7.
6 As the Cameleon when he eſpies a Serpent taking ſhade vnderunder a tree, climbes vp into that tree, and lets down a threed, breathed out of his mouth as ſmall as a Spiders threed, at the end whereof, there is a litle drop as cleare as any Pearle, which falling vponupon the Serpents head, kils him: Euen ſo Chriſt climbes vp into the tree of his Croſſe, and lets downe a threed of bloud, iſſuing out of his ſide, (like Rahabs redde threed hanging out of her windowe) the leaſt drop whereof beeing ſo precious, and ſo peereleſſe, falling vponupon the Serpents head, kils him. Ioſua. 2.18.21.
7 As the wilde bull of all things cannot abide any red colour, therefore the Hunter for the nonce ſtanding before a tree, puts on a redde garment, whom when the Bull ſees, he runnes at him as hard as he can driue, but the hunter ſlipping aſide, the Bulls hornes ſticke faſt in the tree; as when Dauid ſlipped aſide, Saules ſpeare ſtucke faſt in the wall: Euen ſo ſuch a hunter is Chriſt, who ſtanding before the tree of his Croſſe, puts on a red garment, dipt and dyed in his owne blood, (as one that commeth with redde garments from Bozra) therefore the diuel and his angels like wilde bulls of Baſan runne at him, but he ſhifting for himſelfe, their hornes ſticke faſt in his Croſſe.
8 Like as when Mahomet, the ſecond of that name, beſieged Belgrade in Seruia, one of his Captains at length got vp vponupon the wall of the Citie, with banner diſplayed; another Bohemian eſpying this, ranne to the Captaine, and claſping him faſt about the middle, asked one Capiſtranus ſtanding beneath, whether it would be any daunger of damnation to his ſoule, if he ſhould caſt himſelfe downe headlong with that Dogge (ſo he tearmed the Turke) to be ſlaine with him? Capiſtranus anſwering that it was no daunger at all to his ſoule; the Bohemian foorthwith tumbled himſelfe downe, with the Turke in his armes; and ſo by his owne death, onelyonly ſaued the life of all the Citie: Euen ſuch an exployt was this of Chriſt; The Diuel like the great Turke, beſieging not onelyonly one Citie, but euen all mankinde, Chriſt alone like this noble Bohemian, encountred with him, and ſeeing the caſe was ſo, that this Dogge the Diuel, could not be killed ſtarke dead, except Chriſt dyed alſo; therefore hee made no reckening of his life, but gaue himſelfe to death for vsus, that he onelyonly dying for all the people, by his death, our deadly enemy might for euer be deſtroyed.
9 As it was booteleſſe for Golias to brandiſh his ſpeare againſt Dauid: So it little auailed the Diuell to ſhake his ſpeare likewiſe in and by the hand of the ſouldiour, againſt the heart of Chriſt, when he ſuffered death.
10 As Dauid hauing heard Golias prate and talke his pleaſure, when they came to the poynt, at the firſt ſtroke ouerthrew him: So Chriſt with that very ſelfſame ſpeare, which at his death gaue him a litle venny in compariſon, or (if it bee lawfull ſo to ſpeake) but a philip on the ſide, which was ſoone after recured, gaue the diuell a deadly wound in the forehead, which with all his pawes, he ſhall neuer be able to clawe off.
11 As Dauid onelyonly with his ſling, did vanquiſh and ouercome Golias: So Chriſt onelyonly by his death, and by the power of his croſſe, did conquer and ſubdue the diuel. 1. Sam. 17.51, 54.
12 As Penny-royal being hung vp in the larder-houſe, yet buds his yealow flower: Or as Noahs Oliue tree being drowned vnderunder the water, yet keepes his greene braunch: Or as Aarons rod being clung and drie, yet brings foorth ripe Almonds: Or as Moſes bramble-buſh being ſet on fire, yet ſhines and is not conſumed: Or as the Palme tree, though it hauehave many waights at the toppe, and many ſnakes at the roote, yet ſtill it ſayes; I am neither oppreſſed with the waights, nor diſtreſſed with the ſnakes: So Chriſt the right Penny-royall, the true Noahs Oliue Tree; the right Aarons rodde, the true Moſes bramble-buſh: and the true Palme tree, though all the Iudgements of GOD, and all the ſinnes of the world, like vnſupportable waights were laid vponupon him, yea though the curſed Iewes ſtood beneath like venemous ſnakes hiſſing and byting at him, yet hee was neither ſo oppreſſed with them, nor ſo diſtreſſed with theſe, but that euen vponupon his croſſe, he did moſt flouriſh, when he was moſt afflicted.
13 As Epaminondas being ſore wounded in fight, demaunded of his ſouldiers ſtanding by, whether his enemies were ourthrowne or no? They anſwered yea: Then whether his buckler were whole or no? They anſwered all, I. Nay then (ſaid he) all is well. This is not the end of my life, but the beginning of my glory: For now your deare Epaminondas dying thus gloriouſly, ſhall rather be borne againe then buried: So Chriſt likewiſe was ſore wounded, but his enemies death and the diuel, were ouerthrowne and ſpoyled: his buckler, which was his Godhead, was whole and vntouched: therefore there was no harme done; his death was no death, but an exaltation vntounto greater glorie. Iohn. 12.32.
14 As Gedeons fleece when it was moyſt, the earth was drie, but when it was drie, the earth was moyſt: So when Chriſts fleece was moyſt as a greene tree, then were all we drie like rotten ſticks: but when his fleece was drie, all the bloud and water being wroong out of his precious ſide, then were we moyſtned with his grace. Iudg. 6, 37, 38, 39.
15 As a Lambe is much more nimble and liuely for ſhearing: So Chriſt the Lambe of God, by this ſhearing of his death, which was a kinde of quickning to him, and onelyonly a trimming to him before he aſcended to his Father, as Ioſeph was trimmed and polde before he appeared to Pharaoh.
16 When Adam ſlept, his ſide was opened: So whe… Chriſt died, his ſide was opened.
17 As Adams ſide being opened, fleſh and bone were taken out: So likewiſe Chriſts ſide being opened, wate… and bloud were taken out.
18 As of Adams fleſh and bone the woman was built… So of Chriſts water and bloud, the Church was built; ſo that the death of Chriſt is nothing but the ſleepe of Ad…
19 As Iacob trauelling towards Haram, when hee had laid an heape of ſtones vnderunder his head, and taken a nap by the way, was much reuiued with it after his tedious iourney: So Chriſt trauelling towards Heauen, when he had ſlept a litle in that ſtony Sepulchre, which was hewen out of a Rocke, liued then moſt princely after his painfull paſſion. Gen. 28.10, &c. Math. 27.60.
20 Euen as when many birds are caught in a net, if a Pellican, or any other great bird that is among them get out, all the reſt that are litle ones follow after: So likewiſe Chriſt by his death, as a great bird hauing broken throgh the net of death, all we eſcape with him.
21 As Honey being found in a dead Lyon, the death of the Lyon was the ſuſtenance of Sampſon: So Chriſtes gall is our honey, and the bitter death of Chriſt by reaſon of his righteouſneſſe, is the ſweete life of man. Iudg. 14.8, 9.
22 As Debora reioyced when Barack put Siſera to flight: Euen ſo we hauehave great cauſe to reioyce, ſeeing Chriſt by his Death, hath put death to flight. Iudg. 5.1, &c.
23 Euen as a noble Champion, hauing alreadie had a legge and an arme ſlaſht off, when all the ſtage in admiration of his vallour and manhood, cries: Saue the man, ſaue the man: yet puts out himſelfe, and ſtanding vp on one legge, and ſtriking with one arme, fights ſtill as ſtoutly as if he had neuer bene hurt at all: So Chriſt hauing bene ſcorned & ſcourged already, when the whole Theater of heauen and earth wept for him, yea when the powers aboue the heauen came down, and the dead vnderunder the earth roſe vp to mone and pittie him, onelyonly he himſelfe would neither aske any fauour of others, nor yet ſhew any fauour to himſelfe, but was very angrie, and called him Sathan, that gaue him ſuch counſell: yea though all the Saints in heauen and earth did bleede at the very heart, in a maner as much as himſelfe did vponupon the croſſe, to ſee ſo good a man ſo ſhamefully deſpited, yet nothing could ſtay him, but ſtill he went on forward as pleaſantly and as chearefully as to any banket or feaſt, to this moſt rufull and dreadfull death.
24 As when the heart of a man hath receiued a deadly wound, he is accoūted for dead, becauſe he cannot eſcape death: So ſinne in the Death of Chriſt, hath receiued a deadly wound; ſo that by reaſon of that neare coniunction which by faith we hauehave with Chriſt, we are ſaid to be dead with him. Rom. 6.3, 4, &c.
Chriſt betrayed and ſold.
AS Ioſeph was ſold of his owne brethren into the hands of ſtraungers: Euen ſo was Chriſt our Sauiour, betrayed and ſolde of Iudas his owne Diſciple, and deliuered of his owne Nation into the hands of Pilate, and the Heathen. Math. 26.15, 16.
Chriſt dyed to deliuer vsus.
1 AS Sampſon, who dyed himſelfe to deliuer his people from the Philiſtines: So likewiſe Chriſt to deliuer vsus from the Diuels, dyed himſelfe. Iudg. 16.30.
2 Like as if a man ſhould go to priſon for debt, or any ſuch matter, and one of his friendes ſhould come in the meane ſeaſon, and pacifie the Creditor by ſatisfying and paying the debt, then wee may well ſay, that hee hath deliuered this man out of priſon, although hee came not there, but ſhould hauehave gone thither: Or as when wee ſay, ſuch a man hath deliuered his friend from the gallowes, wee meane not that hee was already hanged, for then were the deliuerance too late: but wee meane, that hee deliuered him, that hee ſhould not bee hanged: So likewiſe when the Scripture ſaith, that Chriſt dyed to deliuer vsus out of hell; becauſe hee ſaueth and deliuereth vsus that wee come not there, which elſe ſhould ſurely hauehave gone thither, and hauehave beene damned perpetually, except Chriſt by his death had deliuered and looſed vsus.
Chriſt reuiueth vsus againe that were dead.
LIke as the Pellican, which hauing brought foorth her young ones dead, or beeing ſtung or killed by Serpents, ſhee pecketh foorth her heart bloud to reuiue them: Euen ſo wee beeing conceiued and borne in ſinne, and altogether dead in our treſpaſſes and offences, ſtung of that olde and fierie Serpent the diuell, which firſt beguiled our Parents in Paradiſe, and ſo hauing the reward of ſinne, which is death; we in this caſe are reuiued, and quickned againe by the bloud of the true Pellican Ieſus Chriſt, which he from his heart hath ſhead and powred out for vsus. Col. 2.13, 14.
Chriſts perſon conſiſteth of two natures.
1 LIke as there muſt be both theſe two natures, true and ſound, the properties of either being kept in one perſon of Chriſt, to reconcile man to God, and to ſtrike this couenant: So alſo to keepe this couenant, that according to the promiſe and oath of God, it may be euerlaſting, both natures muſt remaine for euer ſound with their properties, vnleſſe we will hauehave the couenant in the piller and foundation to be ſhaken.
2 Like as when the roote of a tree is hurt, the braunches alſo doo wither, and there can be no fruite hoped for: Euen ſo the Doctrine beeing corrupt, concerning the perſon of Chriſt, and the two natures in the ſame perſon, together with their diſtinct properties, the doctrine alſo of the Prieſtly and Kingly office of Chriſt remaineth corrupt, which are as it were the fruites of the doctrine concerning his perſon.
Chriſt though amazed and confounded with ſorrowes and feares, yet remained ſtill ſinleſſe.
LIke as if you ſet two glaſſes filled, the one with muddy water, and the other with cleare Chriſtall water, and firſt let them ſtand till all the muddineſſe in one be ſetled at the bottome, then ſhake both theſe glaſſes, in the one the mudde ariſeth ſtraightway, and defileth all the water there: in the other, although you ſhake it neuer ſo much, yet the cleare water, though troubled likewiſe, remaineth ſtill all cleare as Chriſtall: Euen ſo, if any of vsus bee ſhaken and diſquieted with any trouble, our muddy affections ariſing, doo preſently defile vsus all ouer: but Chriſt (in whom was mans true nature, but not any the leaſt defilement of nature) beeing likewiſe ſhaken, he remained ſtill cleare from any the leaſt ſpot of ſinne at all.
Chriſt neuer loſt his confidence in God.
LIke as thoſe men do neuer looſe their confidence and truſt in God, who by ſome violence are ſtricken into aſtoniſhment, or naturally fall on ſleepe, their faith, patience, louelove, obedience, decreaſeth not in them for all that: Euen ſo, neither in Chriſt, his aſſurance in God could neuer decay: albeit his ſinleſſe nature, might and did feare the paine, and beeing aſtoniſhed with exceſſiue paine, might and did ſuddenly deſire eaſe. Math. 27.46. Mar. 14.33, &c.
He that Speaketh in the Church.
LIke as if the Harpe make a confuſed noyſe, and giueth no diſtinct ſound, it delighteth not, it recreateth not, becauſe no man can tell what it is that is plaide: So he that Speaketh in the Church, in a language which other men vnderſtand not, cannot edifie, becauſe men vnderſtand not what he ſpeaketh.
Confeſsing of ſecret faultes.
LIke as he is vnwiſe that openeth his diſeaſe, and committeth himſelfe vntounto an vnskilfull Phiſition, that will rather make him worſe then cure him: Euen ſo as vnwiſe is he that reuealeth his ſecret falls & ſcapes to them whoſe mouthes are readie with the Phariſies to ſay; See thou to that: or to blabbe abroad their brethrens infirmities, ſo making the matter rather worſe then better.
Chriſt after a ſort preſent with vsus in bodie.
1 AS the ſun, which thogh it remain ſtil in the firmamēt, and therefore in verie deed toucheth not the eye, yet the bodie of the Sunne is preſent to the ſight, notwithſtanding ſo great a diſtance betweene: So likewiſe the bodie of Chriſt, which by his aſcending is taken vp from vsus, and hath left the world, and is gone to his father, is indeed abſent from our ſenſes: yet our faith is conuerſant in heauen, and beholding that ſonne of righteouſneſſe, and is verily in preſence with it there preſent; like as our ſight is preſent with the body of the Sunne in the firmament, or as the Sunne is preſent with our ſight in earth. Ioh. 14.19. & 16.28. Act. 7.55. Col. 3.1. Hebr. 4.16. & 10.28.
2 As the Sunne with his light is preſent to all things: So is alſo Chriſt with his Godhead, Spirit and power, preſent to all, and filleth all. Ephe. 1.23. Col. 1.17, 18.
How Christ ſitteth at the right hand of God.
1 AS it is the vſe and cuſtome of Kings and Princes, which hauehave their deputies & ſubſtitutes, to whom they freely giuegive all authoritie to rule and gouerne, and do cauſe that man to ſit by him, and at his right hand, whom he will giuegive moſt honor, and vntounto whom he wil giuegive moſt authoritie and power: Euen ſo we vnderſtand by theſe words: (He ſitteth at the right hand of God:) that our Sauiour Chriſt is exalted aboue all creatures, and that hee hath dominion or gouernance in heauen and in earth, and that he raigneth with his Father, hauing equal power with him. 1. King. 2.19. Pſal. 45.9. & 110.1. Mat. 20.21. Phil. 2.9, 10, 11. 1. Pet. 3.22. Ephe. 1.20, 21. & 4.15.
2 As thoſe on earth that are ſet at the right hand of Kings, do execute iuſtice in courts or Aſſiſes, for the maintenance of the ſtate and peace of the Kingdome: Euen ſo Chriſt Ieſus ſitting at the right hand of his Father, that is, being made ſoueraigne Lord of all things, both in heauen and earth, is to hold a Court or Aſſiſe, in which he ſhall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead.
Chriſt confounds his enemies.
AS Ioſua dealt with the fiue Kings that were hid in the Caue, he firſt makes a ſlaughter of their armes, then he brings them foorth, and makes the people to ſet their feete on their neckes, and to hang them on fiue trees: Euen ſo Chriſt deales with his enemies: he treades them vnderunder his feete, and makes a ſlaughter not ſo much of their bodies, as of their ſoules. And this the Church of God findes to bee true by experience, as well as it findes the louelove of Chriſt towardes it ſelfe. Ioſu. 10.24. Luke. 17.27. Pſal. 2.9. & 110.1.
Corruption of truth by mans traditions.
AS ſweete Dough is made ſowre by a litle Leauen: So is the ſweetneſſe and comfort of the doctrine of truth corrupted, if it be neuer ſo litle entermedled with humane doctrine, or mans traditions. Mat. 13.33. & 16.6.
The Creature may not controll his Creator.
AS it is vnreaſonable for a peece of clay to challendge the Potter for the forme, ſhape, or vſe, that it is made for: Euen ſo it is an intollerable preſumption of man, to reaſon againſt his maker, for the end that he is made for, whether it be honour or diſhonour. Iob. 10.9. Pſal. 103.14. Rom. 9.20, 21. Eſa. 64.8.
The wonderfull Chaunge of Chriſtians.
AS it is a great miracle for a dead man to be raiſed again: So likewiſe is the chaunge that Chriſt hath made in thoſe that be his, wonderfull. 1. Pet. 4.6.
Chriſtians in great miſerie, if God forſake them.
AS women traueyling in childe-birth, and hauehave not ſtrength to bring foorth their fruite, are in great miſerie: So likewiſe are the Children of God in great diſtreſſe in the dayes of trouble and affliction, if God leaue them, and forſake them therein. Eſay. 37.3.
Contentious Spirits are daungerous.
AS we are to take heed of Dogges when they are fighting and brawling for a bone, that we be not too buſie in kicking them, leaſt we be caught by the ſhinnes: Euen ſo are we to take great heede of ſuch as be vnquiet & troubleſome ſpirits, that are readie to wrangle and diſquiet the Church, about eueryevery trifle. Phil. 3.2.
Chriſt the appointed Reconciler.
LIke as there was a certaine perſon, by whom ſinne entered into the world, and by ſinne, death, and ſo became as it were, the cauſe and foundation of falling away from God, and entering into league with the diuell: So alſo muſt there be a certaine perſon appointed of God, that might be the foundation & cauſe of Reconciliation, and of neuer breaking the ſame coniunction with God, the fountaine of all happineſſe.
Cuſtome an other nature.
AS impoſſible as it is for a Black-moore to caſt away his skinne, and to become white; and for a Leopard to put away his ſpots: So impoſſible it is for them that nooſell themſelues and accuſtome themſelues continually with euill doing, to chaunge their cuſtome, and to endeuour to do well. Iere. 13.23.
Chriſtians are to pray chiefly for ſpirituall graces.
AS Achſha begged of Caleb her Father, a bleſſing to her dowrie, and ſprings of water to her drie ſoyle: So muſt all Chriſtians intreate Almightie God, to giuegive them the grace of his holy ſpirit, with the gift of his heauenly Word, that they may pay vntounto him the tribute of honour. Ioſu. 15.19.
The benummed Conſcience, is ſenſeleſſe of ſpirituall graces.
AS the ſicke man lying vponupon his bed, is not able to go to the Phiſition to ſeeke for his health; but the Phiſition is to be intreated to come to miniſter to him: Euen ſo, ſuch people as are ignorant and ſicke of ſinne vntounto death, are not able to go to the ſpirituall Phiſition the Preacher, or hauehave any minde ſo to do, becauſe they neither vnderſtand their diſeaſe, nor the daunger they be in, nor yet feele the griefe thereof, ſo that oftentimes when the godly Preacher commeth vntounto them, and miniſtreth wholeſome medicines and conſolations, yet are they not able to receiue the ſame. Ephe. 2.12. 2. Tim. 2.25, 26.
Good Counſell, not to be refuſed of the wiſeſt.
LIke as they that are giuen to gather wealth, although they hauehave great ſtore of wealth at home: yet if Golde and Siluer be brought to them from other places, they do not refuſe it; and the richer they be, the more they deſire: So wiſe Magiſtrates (whoſe treaſure is to conſiſt rather in the wiſedome and faithfulneſſe of good men, then in the hugeſt maſſe of money that can be) though they be moſt wiſe and rich that way, yet they ought not to refuſe the wiſe aduiſe of any, but be willing & glad to heare it, whoſe ſoeuer it be.
Affectionate Admonitions vnfruitfull.
LIke as he that obſerueth the wind ſhall neuer ſowe: So likewiſe they which hauehave an eye alwayes vntounto the affections of men, and will know what entertainment their admonitions and reproofe ſhall hauehave before they wil beſtow them, can neuer profit thereby: for that in ſo doing, they ſeeke rather to pleaſe men and feede their humours, then that God ſhould hauehave his glory increaſed thereby. Prea. 11.4. Gal. 4.10.
Chriſt comforteth his.
AS the Raine maketh the new mowne graſſe freſhly to ſpring againe, and ſhowers ſo comfort the earth, that it yeeldeth the fruites therof: Euen ſo ſhall Chriſt refreſh, foſter, nouriſh, and cheriſh his people. Pſal. 72.6.
Chriſt a ſure Rocke.
AS hee that ſetteth the foundation of his houſe vponupon a firme Rocke, may be ſure that the foundation ſhall be …ble to beare the weight of that which ſhall be ſet vponupon …t, and that no raine or flood ſhall waſh it away: So hee that buildeth his faith vponupon Chriſt, as hee is ſet out and preached vntounto vsus in the Goſpell, ſhall bee ſure that hell gates, that is, al the power, force, and cunning of the diuel, ſhall neuer be able to preuaile againſt him. Math. 7.24.25. Mat. 16.18.
The compleat armour of Chriſtians.
1 AS a Souldier, if hee be not ſhod but barefooted, ſhall quickly bee ſurbatted, and vnable to trauaile: Euen ſo a Chriſtian, not hauing the Goſpel of peace, cannot endure. Ephe. 6.15.16.17.
2 As it is an abſurditie for a Souldier, to put himſelfe into the field naked, without armour and weapon, as well to ſtrike the enemie, as to defend himſelfe. So alſo is it alwaies neceſſarie for a Chriſtian to be armed at all points, eſpecially, to hauehave the ſhield of faith, the helmet of ſaluauation, the ſword of the ſpirite, which is the word of God.
Chriſtian freedome.
AS ſeruants, when they hauehave ſerued a time, chaunge their maiſters, and are maiſterleſſe, or ſerue others: Euen ſo Chriſtians are to remember, that their condition is ſo vnſtable and vncertaine in the Church of God, except they hauehave the ſpirit of freedome: namely the ſpirite of adoption of children, and ſo by Chriſt, and in Chriſt, bee truely made free. Ioh. 8.35.36.
Chriſt our graund Captaine.
AS ſouldiers are to reſort to their ſtandard: So faithfull Chriſtians are appointed to flocke to Chriſt. Eſay. 11.11.12.
Contemners of the truth.
1 AS Swine will moozell vp and downe in the mire, whatſoeuer precious thing ſhall be offered them: So wicked contemners and deſpiſers of the word, doe (as it were) treade vnderunder their feete, whatſoeuer promiſe is offered, or in iudgement threatned to them out of the word.
2 As they which are diſpleaſed with all things that profit them not: Or as a deafe man, who ſeeing the lippes of ſpeakers to moue, thinketh them too lauiſh of their tongues: Or as a blind man, which groping by the walles and windowes of a faire houſe, doth find fault with the windowes, becauſe they are not ſo ſmooth as the walles: Euen ſo ſuch are they that find fault with the Scriptures, becauſe they ſhew as well the ſpots, as the beautie; the vice, as the vertue. Math. 7.6.
Comfort from Gods ſpirit.
AS water refreſheth the thirſtie, and as floudes doo moyſten the drie land, and make it fruitfull: ſo God by his ſpirite reioyceth the people of his Church, and powreth out aboundaunce of his bleſsings vppon them. Eſay. 44.3.
The growth of grace by Chriſts death.
AS Wheate except it bee ſowen in the ground, and there die, doth not ſpring againe, and ſo multiplie: Euen ſo the knowledge of thoſe benefites which wee hauehave by Chriſt, are encreaſed, grewe, and multiplyed throughout the whole world, by his death. Iohn. 12.24.