A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 3 · Part 4 · Subpart 4 – Subpart 7
The Word of God compared to Gold.
Psal. 19.10.
More to be desired are they than Gold, yea, than much fine Gold.
Psal. 119.72.
The Law of thy Mouth is better to me than Thousands of Gold and Silver.
THo these Scriptures do not directly compare the Word of God to Gold, but rather set out the great Excellency of it above Gold, and shew the great disproportion there is between Gold and it; yet we shall (as some Divines have done) run a Parallel between Gold and the Word, and then in our usual Method shew the Disparities.
Simile.
GOld is a precious sort of Metal, and is esteemed the chiefest of all Minerals.Plin. lib. 13. p. 465. See Pliny.
II. Gold contains much in little; a small quantity of Gold is worth much Brass,Greenhil. &c.
III. Gold is a weighty and a firm sort of Metal.
IV. Gold hath much Beauty and Splendor in it; the Colour shines, and is glorious.
V. Gold is made use of to deck and adorn with. The Father of the Prodigal called for a Ring to put upon his Finger. Nay, more than this, the Crowns of Kings and Princes are usually made of Gold.
VI. Gold is used to make Vessels. We read, that God appointed under the Law many Vessels to be made of pure Gold; divers such were in Solomon's Temple, all which were figurative.
VII. Gold is durable: It abides the Fire, it will not lose or waste by being put into the Furnace, as other Metals will.
VIII. Gold enriches him that finds much of it: It is esteemed as a precious and principal Treasure; and as such,See Pliny, lib. 33. p. 455 both in former and latter Times, hath it been hid and laid up:Job 22.25. Then shalt thou heap up Gold as the Dust, &c. Tyrus heaped up Silver as the Dust, Zech. 9.3.and fine Gold as the Mire of the Street.
IX. Men take much Pains to get Gold, they dig through Hills and Mountains for it, and endure much Labour and Pain before they can obtain it.
X. Gold is a sort of Metal that is often tried, to see if it be what it is taken to be, whether it be so good, pure, &c.
XI. Men that get much Gold, are oftentimes set upon by Thieves, and are in great danger of being robbed; and from hence take care to secure it and themselves as well as they can.
XII. Gold is known to be a rich and Sovereign Cordial, and excellent good to cure several Diseases of the Body, particularly the Kings-Evil.
Parallel.
THe Word of God is very precious, and so esteemed by all true Christians: Thy Word is very pure, Psal. 119. Job 23.12.therefore thy Servant loveth it. I esteem the Words of thy Mouth above my necessary Food.
II. The Word contains much in little. Fear God, O how much is contained in that! God manifest in the Flesh; Christ, 1 Tim. 3.16. Col. 1.the Image of the invisible God: It pleased the Father, that in him should all Fulness dwell. Very much is contained in one of these short Sentences.
III. The Word of God is ponderous, and very weighty. The Words of Men oft-times are airy and empty, and, when weighed in the Ballance, as light as Vanity, and not to be regarded; but what God speaks, is firm. And such as find it not heavy and weighty now, so as to let it sink into their Hearts, shall find it will one day sink them down to Hell:Jo…. 12.50. The Words that I speak shall judg you at the last Day.
IV. So is the Word of God. The Gospel is said to be glorious, 'tis indeed transcendently excellent;2 Cor. 4.4. its Glory shines forth, and may be demonstrated many ways. See Metaphor Light.
V. The Word of God most gloriously decks and adorns every true Christian, that hath store of it in his Heart, in whom it dwells richly. The Church is said to be cloathed with wrought Gold; the Word of God, and the Graces thereof, are doubtless intended thereby. The Gospel is the Saints Crown, and Royal Diadem; should God suffer it to be taken away, they may cry out with Israel of old, The Crown is fallen from our Head, Lam 5.16.wo to us that we have sinned. The Law of God is said to be an Ornament unto the Head, and Chains about the Neck, called, Cant. 1.10. Chains of Gold.
VI. The Word of God is made use of by Jesus Christ, to make many Golden Vessels, Golden Saints, Golden Churches, called by the Spirit Golden Candlesticks. Rev. 1.20. See Candle stick and Vessel.No People in the World are so glorious, precious, and amiable, as God's People.
VII. The Word of God is durable. All the Endeavours of wicked Men from time to time, have been to destroy the Word; it hath been in many Fires, (as I may say) and yet it remains and abides the same. Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my Word shall not pass away. Mat. 5.18. 1 Pet. 1.24, 25.All Flesh is Grass, and all the Glory of Man as the Flower of the Field: The Grass withereth, and the Flower thereof fadeth away. But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever: and this is the Word which by the Gospel is preached to you.
VIII. The Word of God is of a Soul-enriching Nature; it enriches the Mind with the Wisdom and glorious Knowledg of Jesus Christ, and blessed Experience of his rich Love and Grace: Let the Word of God dwell in you richly, Col. 3.16.in all Wisdom. No Treasure is like to the Treasure of God's Word:2 Cor. 4.7. We have this Treasure in earthen Vessels. (See Metaphor Treasure.) David hid it;Psal. 119.11. and Mary, as a precious Treasure, laid it up in her Heart.
IX. So those that would be enriched with the Word of God, have much of it in their Heads and Hearts, must take Pains; they must dig in these Golden Mines (as it were) for it.Joh. 5.39. Search the Scriptures, saith Christ. It is a Word taken from Miners, such as seek for Gold; they must do it carefully, vigorously, and resolvedly. If they would find the Power, Virtue, and Excellency of the Word, so as to make it their own, they must seek for it as for hidden Treasure.Prov. 2.4.
X. The Word of God is called a tried Word; it has been tried by many thousand Christians, and found to be what it is taken to be, viz. pure Gold, sacred Truth; yea,Psal. 119.203. Psal. 19.10 & 12.6. and sweeter than the Honey, or the Honey-Comb. It never failed them that trusted to it. As for God, his Way is perfect. The Words of the Lord are pure Words, as Silver is tried in a Furnace of Earth, purified seven times.
XI. Those People, or particular Souls, that do possess and enjoy much of the glorious Word of God, are in danger of being set upon by spiritual Thieves and Robbers; Satan, and many other his Emissaries, will be sure to assault such. What experience hath England had of this for many Years, but more especially of late? How is it beset by bold, impudent, and bloody Romish Thieves? What is the reason? Why, England is rich, it hath got much Gold in it, much of the Word of God: Here are a rich People, many rich Churches, rich Souls; and therefore this grand Thief hath consulted with many of his Company, to set upon us, and rob us of all our Treasure. And hence it is we take, or ought to take such Care, to secure the Word of God, and our selves from being undone by losing it.
XII. So the Word of God is by all true Christians known, and by common Experience found, to be a most Sovereign Cordial for the Soul, to revive and comfort a desponding and drooping Spirit, excellent good to cure inward Distempers.
METAPHOR.
GOld, and earthly Treasures, are (by the permission of God) at the Will and Command of Men. Daniel tells us, that the vile Person shall have Power over the Treasures of Gold and Silver, &c. They may take away, and dispossess us of the best of earthly things.
II. Gold may canker and corrupt: Your Gold and Silver is canker'd, Jam. 5.2.and the Rust of them shall be a Witness against you.
III. Tho Gold will do many things for the Body, yet it cannot profit the Soul; it will beautify and enrich the outward Man, but it cannot beautify, purge, or enrich the inward Man.
IV. Gold and Silver will not satisfy or fill the craving Desires of Man: Neither is his Eye satisfied with Riches. Eccles. 4.8 & 5.10.He that loveth Silver, shall not be satisfied therewith.
Disparity.
THe Word of God received into the Heart, viz. into the Affection and Understanding, &c. no Man can take it from us; it is not in their Power to rob and dispossess us of this sacred Gold. They may take away our Bibles out of our hands, but cannot take the Word of God out of our Hearts, as it is engraven upon the fleshly Tables thereof.
II. The Word of God is incorruptible, so pure, that it can never canker, neither lose any of its excellent Glory, Beauty, and Virtue, it admits not of any Rust or Pollution: Being born again, 1 Pet. 1.23not of corruptible Seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
III. The Word of God enriches, beautifies, and purges the Soul: Now are you clean, Joh. 15.3.through the Word that I have spoken unto you. He is spiritually the richest Man, that hath most of the Word of God abiding in him, who hath store of precious Promises laid up against a Time of Need.
IV. The Word of God received in Truth, is of a Soul-satisfying Nature: The Fear of the Lord tendeth to Life, Prov. 19.23and he that hath it shall abide satisfied, &c. This is that Water of Life, that whosoever drinketh thereof shall thirst no more, have no more an inordinate and unsatiable desire after worldly things. See Water.
Inferences.
1. FRom hence you may see who are the richest Men in the VVorld.
2. It reproves them that desire Gold above the VVord, and that labour for it above the Blessings of the Word, and grieve more for the Loss of it, and of other earthly Treasure, than for the Loss of the Word, and other spiritual good things.
3. It may also stir up all to hold fast the Word, and every part and parcel of it. Let the Saints of God in England consider of the Worth of the Word, and that it is more precious than Gold. How will Men expose themselves, before they will be robbed of Thousands of Gold and Silver?
4. Esteem of the Precepts and Promises, and of every Jot and Tittle of God's Word, above Gold. Be not careless of it, nor throw it by, but lay it up as carefully as you lay up Gold, hide it in your Hearts.
The Word of God called Milk.
1 Pet. 2.2.
As new-born Babes, desire the sincere Milk, of the Word, that they may grow thereby.
Heb. 5.13.
For every one that useth Milk, is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness, for he is a Babe.
BY Milk here, we must understand the Doctrine of the Gospel, which is easily taught unto the Capacities of such as are Children in Understanding.
METAPHOR.
MIlk is good to nourish the Body; and Physicians tell us, Where it is well digested, it maketh good Blood.
II. Milk is proper Food for Children, and new-born Babes; it nourisheth them exceedingly; they grow and thrive thereby, tho they have nothing else to feed upon.
III. New-born Babes greatly desire and long after the Milk of the Breast.
Schola Saler…, cap. 43.IV. Milk is a Restorative, excellent good in Consumptions, or for them that be lean.
V. Milk was one of those choice Blessings that Canaan did abound withal: 'Tis called a Land flowing with Milk and Honey; as much as to say, 'tis a Land of rare and choice good things.
Parallel.
THe Word of God is good Food for the Soul: Man liveth not by Bread alone, Mat. 4.4.but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God. Where the Word of God is received, and well digested in the Understanding, it tends to make a sound Christian.
II. The Word of God is proper Food for those that are born again by the Spirit, or are truly regenerated. Such, like new-born Babes, grow and thrive by feeding spiritually upon the VVord, Precepts, and Promises of God; and many have lived upon it, and have been satisfied thereby, when they have had nothing else to feed upon.
III. So upright and faithful Christians greatly thirst after and desire the VVord of God: As new-born Babes, 1 Pet. 2.2.desire the sincere Milk of the Word.
IV. The spiritual Milk of the VVord is an excellent Restorative for a consumptive, wasted, and decayed Christian: They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their Strength.Isa. 40.31▪
V. The holy VVord of God is one of the choicest Blessings God hath bestowed upon his Church and People. Those that would see the Excellency of the VVord and Gospel of Christ, may read the Metaphor Light.
Application.
YOu may know by this, whether you are born again or no. Do you cry for, and greatly desire after the pure VVord of God, the sincere Milk of the VVord, without humane Mixtures and Ceremonies? The VVord of God feeds best, when 'tis without any Composition of human Invention.
The Word of God compared to Strong-Meat.
Heb. 5.14.
But strong Meat belongeth to them that are of Age, &c.
AS the Word of God is called Milk, so it is also called Strong Meat. By strong Meat, is meant the more profound, perfect, and mysterious Doctrine of the Gospel, which is to feed strong Christians.
METAPHOR.
STrong Meat is not meet or convenient Food for Babes; if they could eat it, yet they want strength to digest it.
II. If Children, after they are grown up, and arrived to Years of Maturity, refuse strong Meat, and cannot feed upon any thing but Milk, there may be cause to fear they are some way defective or diseased.
III. Strong Meat yieldeth strong and perfect Nourishment; such as can feed upon, and well digest it, are more able and capable for Business, than those that only feed or live upon Milk.
Parallel.
THere is something contained in the Word of God, that young Christians, who are like new-born Babes, cannot receive it so as to understand it; it is not proper for them.Heb. 5.12, 13. The Milk of the Word, (such things as are easily taken in) is for them; strong Meat belongs to strong Christians, Men of Experience.
II. So if Christians, who have been a great while converted, and in the Profession of the Gospel, and yet cannot take in, nor feed upon any thing but the Milk of the Word, strong Meat, being offensive to them, it argues some great defect in their Understanding, or that they are spiritually distempered.
III. So those Christians that can feed upon the strong Meat of the Word, who in their Understandings can in some measure relish and digest the Mysteries of the Gospel, or those deep things of God,1 Cor. 2.10 get most spiritual Strength, and are more fit for Business, than the Weak, who only live upon Milk.
The Word of God compared to Honey.
Psal. 19.10.
Sweeter than Honey, and the Honey-Comb, to my Taste.
Psal. 119.130.
How sweet are thy Words unto my Taste! yea, sweeter than Honey unto my Mouth!
Rev. 10.9.
But it shall be in thy Mouth as sweet as Honey.
SWeeter than Honey, or the Honey-Comb; not only the most fine and delicate Honey, but all things which be delightful and pleasant to the Taste, by a Synechdoche. Because nothing is generally so precious and pleasant as Gold and Honey, thence Comparisons are taken from these rather than other things, to express the very great Worth and Sweetness of God's Word. Wilson.
Simile.
HOney is exceeding sweet to the Taste:Jud. 14.18. What is sweeter than Honey?
II. Honey, if it be added or put into other things that are bitter, it will take away (in a great measure) the bitterness thereof, and so cause a Man to receive it down with less difficulty.
III. But notwithstanding Honey is so sweet and pleasant, yet there are some Men that do not care for it: The full Soul loatheth the Honey-Comb.
IV. Naturalists affirm, that Honey is good to dissolve and dissipate Tumors and Swellings, and to mollify Hardness; and that it is of an healing nature, and serveth for an infinite number of Uses.
V. Honey is also of a purging Quality.
Parallel.
SO the Word of God is very sweet and pleasant to the Taste of gracious Souls. What is more desirable to a sincere Believer, than the sacred Precepts and Promises of the Gospel?
II. So if the Soul be under Affliction, Temptation, Persecution for Christ's sake, (which are bitter things in themselves) yet if God be pleased to add or put into this Bitter, but some of the sweet Promises of the Word, how wonderfully is the Bitterness abated, and with what ease can a Christian bear up under them!
III. Tho the Word of God is so precious and desirable, yet there are many wicked and ungodly Ones, that cannot endure it. A vile Papist, in the Massacre of Ireland, took up a Bible, and cursed it, saying, That had done all the Mischief. Sinners are so glutted with the filthy Trash of this World, that they loath this sacred Honey-Comb.
IV. The Word of God is of most Sovereign Virtue to dissolve and dissipate all spiritual Tumors of the Soul, and to mollify and break in pieces the Hardness of the Heart. How did it mollify the Hearts of the three thousand Peter preached unto. See Hammer.Acts 2.36, 37.
V. The Word and Spirit of God, when they operate together in the Soul, are the best spiritual Purgation in the World:Psal. 119.9. John 15.3. Now are ye clean, through the Word that I have spoken unto you.
Simile.
THere are several hurtful Qualities in Honey, which may be prevented by taking the Advice of the Learned Physician.
II. There is much Dross in Honey.
Disparity.
THere are no hurtful Qualities in the Word of God; that needs no humane Skill to correct or clarify it.
II. There is none in the Word of God: Thy Word is very pure, Psal. 119.140.therefore thy Servant loveth it.
Inferences.
HEnce let us learn, with the industrious Bee, to gather some Honey out of every Flower of God's Word. How doth that little Creature labour in the Summer, to store her self with Food against Winter? Let every Christian learn of them, but more especially the Ministers of God's Word, that their Lips may drop like the Honey-Comb. And let us examine, whether we ever as yet experienced the VVord sweet as Honey to our Taste?