Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 1
Men compared to Earth.
Jer. 22.9. Hear, O Earth, Earth, Earth.
Pſal. 33.5. Let all the Earth fear the Lord.
Let all the Earth keep Silence.
Rev. 12. But the Earth helped the Woman.
BY Earth in theſe Scriptures, we are to underſtand Men dwelling upon the Earth.
| Earth. | Parallel. |
| THe Earth is far from Heaven; there is a vaſt Difference between them. | ALl Men, whilſt they remain unconverted, or abide in a State of Nature, are ſaid to be far from God; tho not in reſpect of Place, yet in reſpect of Condition, Men being by reaſon of Sin in a State of Enmity:Eph. 2.13. Ye that ſometimes were afar off, are now made nigh by the Blood of Chriſt. |
| II. The Earth is a heavy, lumpiſh, and groſs Body. | II. So Man naturally is Earth-like, a heavy and lumpiſh Piece, being taken out of the Earth, and the Off-ſpring of red Earth: As is the earthy, 1 Cor. 15.48. ſuch are they that are earthy. |
| III. The Earth hath its great Dependency upon the Heavens; did not the Rain from above water it, and the Sun ſhine upon it, how hard and barren would it ſoon be? | II. So Man hath all his Dependency upon God; neither the ſpiritual Man, nor the natural Man can ſubſiſt, unleſs the Heavens ſend down Bleſſings upon them. All humane, as well as divine Growth and Fruitfulneſs, comes from above. |
| IV. Earth turns and cleaves to Earth, as its proper Center. Tho a Piece of it may by force be lifted up, or thrown upward, yet by an innate Propenſity to deſcend, it naturally falls down again. | IV. So Man naturally cleaves to, and takes delight in earthly Things: He that is after the Fleſh, Rom. 8.5. minds the Things of the Fleſh. He that is not born anew, born of the Spirit, but is wholly an earthly Man, the Earth is his proper Center; tho ſometimes his Heart may (in an artificial way as it were) be lifted upwards, yet down he falls again to his own Center. |
| V. What a dark Dungeon would the Earthly Globe be, did not the Heavens ſhine upon it! | V. So what a dark Dungeon is Man's Heart, and in what Egyptian Darkneſs would all Men and Women be involved, were it not for the Light of the God of Heaven, his Word, and bleſſed Spirit! |
| VI. Thoſe Things that are fed and nouriſhed by the Earth, are Earth, and (we ſee) go or return to Earth again. | VI. So the Body of Man, which is fed from the Earth, which was taken out of the Earth, (we daily ſee) goeth to the Earth again; and therefore Man may be called Earth, Earth, Earth; Jer. 22.29. that was his Original; Earth he was, and Earth he is, and to Earth he ſhall return again. |
| VII. The Sun every Spring by its powerful Influences, cauſeth all earthly Plants and Flowers to come forth, that ſeemed dead in Winter. | VII. So the Lord Jeſus will cauſe all theſe earthly Bodies of Men to riſe up from the Dead at the laſt Day.Joh. 5.28. All that are in the Graves ſhall hear his Voice, &c. |
Inferences.
THis may inform Mankind of their Original, and may tend to keep them humble. Why ſhould any Mortals have ſuch high towring Thoughts of themſelves, and vaunt in Pride, and Haughtineſs of Heart, ſpotting, trimming, and decking themſelves, when, alas! their Bodies are nothing but Earth, Lumps of Earth: They dwell in Houſes of Clay,Job 4.19. and it is but a little while ere the Worms will feed upon them. Tho now they ſeem like curious Veſſels, or refined Earth, yet in a ſhort ſpace they will be part of the groſſeſt and loathſomeſt Earth that Eyes can behold, nothing but Filth, and ſtinking Putrefaction.
Caryl on Job 7.5. p. 596, 597O then be not proud of your Bodies, nor of your Beauty: They who are now the faireſt and goodlieſt to look upon, may quickly have a broken and loathſom Skin. A Diſeaſe, or one Fit of Sickneſs may ſpoil all thy Beauty, deface and blemiſh thy excellent Feature; and if a Diſeaſe doth it not, old Age will: Time will draw Furrows in thy Face, and make Wrinkles in thy Brow. Strength and Beauty are no Matches for Time. All Things were made in Time, and Time will marr all Things: So long as Generation continueth, Corruption muſt.
The two Externals which Man is moſt ſubject to be proud of, are Beauty and Apparel. Cloaths are a Flag of Vanity, and Pride ſits upon the Skirts. But remember, how fine ſoever your Cloathing is this day, God can put you on another Suit before tomorrow: He can put you on ſuch Cloathing, as you ſhall have little cauſe to be proud of; He can make you wear Worms, and Clods of Duſt.
And if we (ſaith he) conſider it, we have little reaſon to be proud of Cloaths, for if we follow the beſt of them to their Original, they will be found to be but a Cloathing of Worms, and Clods of Duſt.
What are Silks, Sattens, and Velvets, but the Iſſue of Worms? And what is your Gold and Silver, what your Pearls and precious Stones? Are they any thing, (if you will reſolve them into their Principle) but Clods of Earth? They are indeed better concocted by the Heat of the Sun, refined and poliſhed by the Art of Man; but if you ſearch their Pedigree, they are but Clods of Duſt, &c. And if you be proud of ſuch Cloathing, God can cloath you with Worms, not only of unrefined and unpoliſhed, but of putrified and filthy Duſt.