A Treasury of Similes, Part C · Part 8 – Part 9
A briefe Compariſon of the ſinnes that raigned in the people in the time of the Prophet Zephania, with the like ſinnes in the people of our time.
1 AS in the time of the Prophet, there were many and foule finnes and vices then raigning and ouerflowing amongſt the people: Euen ſo likewiſe are there now many greeuous ſins and offences amongſt vsus.
2 As the people then preſumed vponupon their blinde and dead faith, and counterfeit repentance, and hypocriticall, and faigned prayers: So alſo the common people now preſume vppon theyr idle faith, thinking themſelues as good Chriſtians as the beſt, if ſo bee that they can ſay by heart the Articles of theyr Beleefe, the Lords Prayer, and the tenne Commaundements: and thinke that they repent verie well, if they come to the Church on the Sabboth dayes and other holy dayes, and ſay the Confeſſion after their Miniſter, although they bee neuer touched with any remorſe or feeling of any one ſinne; yet they ſuppoſe they hauehave repented ſufficiently: and ſo likewiſe of Prayer.
3 Like as in the Prophets time, when the people were thus ouerwhelmed with their blinde faith, counterfeit repentance, and hypocriticall Prayers, then the Lord in merciemercy ſent his Prophets vehemently and ſharply to reproue them, and to denounce the iudgement of God againſt them: Euen ſo the Lord of his vnſpeakable goodneſſe, hath raiſed vp many famous and zealous Preachers in our dayes, to exclaime and crie out againſt the manifold wickedneſſe now raigning amongſt vsus, and to threaten vsus with the vengeance of God for the ſame.
4 As there were alwayes ſome good Prophets that would reprooue ſinne and iniquitie in all eſtates, without reſpect of perſons: ſo there was alſo ſome falſe and fawning Prophets and Preachers, that would ſoothe vp the people with ſweete and flattering words, and dawbe them vp with vntempered morter, telling them that there was peace, and all was well, and that they were in a very good caſe, when indeede deſtruction was euen at hand: Euen ſo in like manner, as wee hauehave many faithfull Preachers that will boldly reprooue ſinne in all eſtates: ſo alſo wee hauehave many ſuch clawbackes and flattering Miniſters, who doo ſoothe vp their Pariſhioners, making them beleeue that they are as good Chriſtians as the beſt, and that they may be partakers of the Lords Supper, if ſo be that they can ſay the Lordes prayer, the Articles of their Beleefe, and the tenne Commaundements; yea and though they vnderſtand not what the Sacraments meane; neither wherefore, nor yet to what end they were ordained, nor what profit they ſhould hauehave by worthily receiuing the ſame; and if ſo be that they come to the Church at times appointed, and heare the Seruice read, although they returne home againe as wiſe as they came, and hauehave profited no more in knowledge, then the ſeates that they ſat on: yet theſe are good people (ſay they) and obedient and dutifull ſubiects.
5 Euen as in the Prophets time, the people then excuſed themſelues for not comming to heare their Sermons, becauſe there were ſome Prieſts and falſe Prophets that did bend and ſet themſelues with all their force to contrarie and gainſay that doctrine which the true Prophets did deliuer vntounto the people, wherevpon the people ſaid, that they could not agree amongſt themſelues, & therfore they would not heare them: So likewiſe a number of people do now ſay after the like ſort, go about to excuſe themſelues, ſaying, we wil not heare them, becauſe they cannot agree among themſelues: for one (ſay they) Preacheth of this thing to day, & an other againſt it the next day: ſome allow of one thing to day; otherſome diſallow of the ſame: ſo that (ſay they) we cannot tell which to follow, or whom to beleeue: but ſuch as would be accounted good Chriſtians, ought to be growen to ſuch knowledge and iudgement in the word of God, that they be able to diſcerne and iudge who preacheth ſound Doctrine, and who teacheth corrupt; and ſo to trie the ſpirits, &c. 1. Iohn. 4.1.
Chriſt Communicated to vsus by a ſpirituall maner.
1 AS we verily take and eate the bread and wine by a naturall maner, the which incontinent after by digeſtion, turneth into our ſubſtance and nouriſhment of our corporall life: So likewiſe as verily (although by a ſpirituall and celeſtiall maner, and not with mouth and teeth) is Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe, which is now in heauen, on the right hand of his Father, communicated vntounto vsus, 1. Cor. 10.16. that we may be fleſh of his fleſh: (Eph. 5.30) that is to ſay, beeing knit and incorporated with him by faith. Iohn. 17.21, 22, 23. our ſoules and our bodies doo attaine to eternall life, Col. 2.12: yea euen whileſt wee be in this world, his ſpirit doth ſanctifie and gouerne our bodies and ſoules, to dedicate and ſacrifice all our life to his ſeruice, and to the louelove of our neighbours, for the louelove of him.
2 As no man will denie a mans wife to be with her husband one body and fleſh, although hee be at London and ſhe at Yorke: So likewiſe it cannot truly be denied, that the coupling of Chriſtes body and bloud to the Sacrament, is a ſpirituall thing, and therefore there needes not any ſuch carnall preſence as the Papiſts doo imagine.