A CENTURIE OF SIMILES. BY THOMAS SHELTON. PSAL. 78. 2. I will open my mouth in a parable. decorative border LONDON. Printed by john Dawson, 1640. To the Reader. creatures inanimate, though they have motion, and operation, yet they are deprived of the knowledge of what they do, The sea ebbs, and flows, the sun shines, heats and moves continually: The wind goeth his circuits, the fire burns, the trees and plants grow, yet none of them have intelligence that they do so, but are all carried by a secret impression of the first mover, Creatures that are brutish, all the knowledge they have is bounded in the satisfying of sensual appetite. Man, being endued with a reasonable soul, with an indefatigable motion, reacheth after knowledge of things, humane and divine, and is then best paid, when his knowledge is at once divers ways enriched, when several things concur to add to his stock. Beauty is delightful being a mixture of different colours; proportion is comely being a fit composure of different members: Music is pleasant being a harmony of different sounds. Now that man might at once both understand things that are divine, (and therefore in their own knowledge above his reach) and might also reap both profit and delight God hath delivered truths in the old testament under types, and figures; in the new by similitudes & comparisons. There is nothing excellent in nature either in heaven or earth, but God hath made use of it to set forth the excellency of Christ, and the good things we have by him. Christ himself is compared to the sun, to water, to bread, to a vine, etc. Grace by Christ, to garments, a feast, gold, eyesalve. Glory, to Throns', Crowns, Kingdoms, &c▪ that together upon the sight, or thought of these things, we might be raised up to contemplate the excellencies, in and by him. And as the best so also the worst things are this way conveyed to our apprehension. Sin is compated to filthiness, vomit, rags, etc. Sinners to Lions, tigers, bears, serpents etc. The punishment of sin to chains, prison, etc. that by these sensible evils we might the better conceive of those which are unutterable, And for this purpose I have adventured these few similes to public view, that the reader at once might have profit with pleasure. I intended a far greater number; but considering how untowardly the lefthanded world reacheth things, I thought fit to pauze a while and for the present only send a few for a taste, & as I see them relished, I shall (God willing) either increase their number, or wish them in my closet again. I thought it not very needful to observe a method in placing them under several heads, being so few in number that they all require no long time to peruse; yet those that will not be at that pains may ease themselves by a small table annexed. I have also to each simile set down a text of scripture agreeable to the scope of it, by all which that thou mayst be benefited, shall be the desire of THOMAS SHELTON. A CENTURIE OF SIMILES. 1. Danger of secret sins, THE ruin of a house is not usually by the Fire. fire on the hearth, where the greatest ●ire is, but by some small spark ●hat lies hid in some corner. So ●he soul of man is not so much Psal. 19 ●ndangered by sins that are known, and so may be repent of: but by those that are hidden and no notice taken of them. 2. Sin brings judgement at the last. A Piece of Match set to a train of Gunpowder it Gunpowder. burneth dim a great while but blows up all at the last. So a sinner may go one securely for a time, but at length a dart will strike through his liver. Prov. 7. 23. 3. Death of wicked men. AS a madman after sleep Sleep of madmen. is more outrageous when the malignant humour is concocted. So after death a wicked Mat. 25. 46 man awakes with eternal horror. 4. Sin will be felt hereafter. A Man that receives a wound Wound. in his heat, feels it not, but when he comes to be cold ●t pains him. So the sins whereby Pro 13. 25. Satan wounds us, we are ●nsensible of them in the heat of our passion, but when we ●re laid in the cold earth, we ●hall feel the hurt of them. 5. Why men are not offended with others sins. A Company of prisoners that live together in a Prison. Goal, they smell no ill savour, being accustomed to it. So wicked men living in the same sins, they see no evil in Psal. 50. 18 the sins of other men. 6. God merciful by nature. A Flint yields not fire bu● by force, but a spring sendeth Spring. forth water naturally. So God showeth not forth wrath but as provoked by sin: but he Mi. 7. 18. is merciful from his own nature. 7. Mercy of God supreme. AS in a City or Corporation, Magistrates. men otherwise equal are chosen to bear rule for a time. So though all God's attributes be equal: yet mercy is Psal. 145. 9 that which chiefly reigneth in Christ. 8. How to instruct the weak. A Bottle or vessel with a Bottle. narrow mouth, liquor must be poured into it softly, or else more is spilt then filled. So Jsa. 28. 10. those of weaker capacities must be taught by degrees, and not surcharged. 9 The use of promises. When Surgeons cut off a leg or an arm, they use to give the Patiented strong water aforehand to Strong water. comfort him. So when a judgement is approaching we should fortify ourselves with God's Pro. 31. 6. promises. 10. 'Cause of life's shortness. A Vessel of wine kept for a man's own use or hi● Wine. friends may last a good whil● being moderately drank of, bu● if those come that are strong to drink strong drink, that may be spent in a day, which would have lasted a month. So man's life which otherwise with Psal. 90. 9 temperance, and care might be spun out to 30. 40. 50. or 60. years, if God let in great drinkers, as burning fever, plague, etc. it is spent on a sudden. 11. Curse of covetous men. AS a woman's breast overcharged with milk, if it Milk. be not drawn forth, not only pains the woman, but putrifies and becomes unwholesome. So a man to whom God hath given jam. 5. 2. ability, that improves it not for the good of others, it turns to his own hurt and ruin. 12. How to use outward blessings. A Man that walks by a river, if he follow the River River. against the stream it will at length lead him to the spring from whence it issueth, but if he go along with the stream it will bring him to the salt Ocean. So he that well improoveth outward blessings, they will lead him to God the sweet Job. 29. 6. fountain of them: but otherwise the abuse of them will bring him to the Mare mortuum of perdition. 13. Argument of man's weakness. IF a man come by a house that is shored up and underpropped House. on every side, he will conclude certainly that house is weak of itself that needeth such stays. So when God hath underpropped, and supported us with so many helps, his Psal. 119. 116. word, sacraments, promises, and oath etc. it is an argument of weakness that we cannot stand without them. 14. Defect of reason. THe Sun by his light Sun. shows us all things that are beneath himself, but hideth those that are above. So the light of natural reason shows 2 Cor. 2. 14. us those things that are beneath, that are sensible, but hinders from those above that are supernatural. 15. Death of wicked men untimely. AN apple though it hang Apple. long on the tree, yet if it be gathered before it be ripe it is plucked untimely. So a wicked man though he live a long time, yet his death is untimely, because Isay 66 2●. he is taken away before he is fitted for death. 16. Contentment of the humble. THe sheep can live upon Sheep. the bare mountains where the fat Ox would be starved. Ezek. 34. 13. So a humble heart is content with a mean condition, which a proud spirit would murmur at. 17. Abundance of outward things a hindrance A Man that is to travel, a great burden or pack at his Pack. back hinders his journey. So worldly men hinder their progress Hab. 2. 6. to heaven by loading themselves with thick clay. 18. Another. ONe staff in a man's hand Staff. may help him in his journey, but a bundle of staffs would be troublesome. So a competency may help in the way to heaven; whereas abundance Mat. 10. 10 may be hurtful. 19 Another. Prosperity, and abundance Long Garments. are like long garments to a man that walks, they will trip up his heels if he take not heed. 2 Kin. 4. 29. (20) Another. AS a weak brain cannot Strong drink. bear strong waters but is intoxicated with it. So by reason of our weakness prosperity becomes Hab. 2. 5. a snare to us. 21. Wicked men enjoy plenty. AN host may give better entertainment Host. to a stranger that comes to his house for a night, then to his own child: but Psal. 17. 14 yet he keeps his inheritance for his child. So in this world God may give more abundance of outward things to his enemies but he keeps the inheritance of 1 Pet. 1. 4. heaven for his children. 22 Why good men's lives are prolonged. THe Rivers of themselves would run the straitest and River. directest way to the sea, but God hath set mountains, and hills in the way, that by winding and going further about, they might the more enrich the earth. So a Christian having once tasted of God's love desires to be dissolved Phil., 1. 13 24 and to be with Christ; but God prolongs his life to do good to others. 23. Rewards and punishments. When the hands of Moses were feeble Aaron & Hur. Aaron and Hur supported them, that they might not fall. Rewards and punishments are the Luke 23. 41. two hands that support good laws that otherwise would fall to the ground. 24. A Christians carriage in all conditions, AS men that are carried in a boat, they set themselves Boate. some on one side, and some on the other to poise the boat even. So a christian when he is ready to be overturned with prosperity should meditate on that which may humble him, and when he is ready to sink jam. 1. 9 in affliction to think on that which may raise him up, that his carriage may be equal. 25 Deformity of sin. A Looking glass when it is whole, it representeth, but Broken looking glass. one face to him that looks in it, but being broken, there appears as many faces as there are pieces. So sin being looked on in general, there is some deformity in it, being a body of death; but being broken in pieces by serious consideration, there is the Image of the Devil in every paricular sin. 26 Wicked men fear only punishment▪ A Dog though he have an Dog. appetite to a dish of meat, dares not meddle with it so long as one stands over him 1 Sam. 1●. 24. with a staff. So a wicked man sometimes abstaines from sin, but it is only for fear of God's judgements. 27. Infirmities in the Saints. AS the best Gold goes currant Gold. with the grains of allowance: So the Saints are accepted Psal. 103. 14. with God notwithstanding their infirmities. 28. The nature of sin. Sin is like to Missletoe Missletoe. which commonly groweth in fruit trees, yet hath no root of its own. So sin hath no being of itself: yet is found only jude 5. 6. in the most excellent creatures, men and Angels. 29. God our strength. A Nurse sometimes lets her child have a fall to let it Nurse. know that it cannot stand by any strength of its own. So God lets his children fall into sin that they may know, they Gen. 20. 6. are no longer safe than they stand by his strength, and clapse about him. 30. Falls of God's Children. GOd sometimes suffers his Fall. children to fall that they may grow in the root of graces, humility. As the virtue of a plant is sometimes in the fruit, as in Summer: sometimes in 2 Kin. 22. 19 the budas in the Spring: sometimes in the root, as in winter, & commonly the sharpest winter makes the fruitfullest spring. 31. Growth after falls. AS after a fit of sickness the Sickness. body usually shoots up more: so a Christian after the sight of some sin he hath fallen 2 Sam, 24. 10. into, grows stronger in grace. 32 Strength from Christ. AS the air is dark when the Sun is set though the Air. stars shine: so though a Christian have a disposition to good, john 15. 5. if Christ shine not on him, in the doing of every particular act, he is unable to do it. 33. Uncertainty of riches. A Man seeing a flock of birds Birds. sitting on his ground, can make himself no promise of taking them: so though a man Eccles. 4. 8. be possessed of riches, he may so one be deprived of them: for riches have wings, etc. 34. Unprofitable knowledge. THe knowledge of every man but a Christian is like Beggar. the knowledge of a beggar, who knoweth the road from place Prov. 15. 2. to place, but hath no settled home of his own. 35. Difference of men after death. THe hawk flies high, and is much made of being alive, Hawk & hen. but being dead is good for nothing but the dunghill. The hen scrapes in the dust when she Pro. 14. 32 is alive, but being dead is brought as a choice dish to her master's table. So wicked men prosper, and good men are abased in this life: but being dead the one is cast into the dungeon the other advanced to the palace. 36. A Christians aim. AS waters conveyed in Water. pipes will rise as high as the spring from whence they Phil. 3. 19 issue: so the soul of a Christian being touched from heaven, it will not rest till it rise thither again. 37. False friends. MAny men that pretend Shadow, friendship they are like the shadow of the body, they follow a man while the sun of prosperity shines: but if a cloud Jsa. 30. 2. of adversity hid that sun, those shadows are gone. 38. Outward things variable AS the shadow that followeth Shadow. the body it is sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, but the body still the same, so Phil. 4. 12. the honour and credit and wealth of a Christian may be sometimes less sometimes more, but the body of grace is the same. 39 Different dispositions. THe fire that is made of Green wood. 2 Cor. 8. 19 green wood must have much blowing, but a fire made of charcoal is soon kindled: so the heart of a carnal man receives not holy impressions without much ado, but the heart of a Christian, like charcoal having been formerly kindled is apt to take fire again. 40. Outward blessings how disposed. AS the Almoner of a King, Alms. or great man casts his alms among a company of beggars and one or two many times Psal. 10. 9 carry all from the rest. So these outward blessings are promiscuously bestowed, and some carry away all, and leave the rest destitute. 41. Benefit of afflictions. AS water cast upon the smith's Smith's water, coals make them burn hotter, and brighter: so the afflictions of God's children increase Ps. 119. 71 the lustre of their graces. 42. How to understand Scriptures, AS in tuning of a Lute, or other Lute. instrument, the striking upon one or two strings help to tune the rest: so comparing one scripture with another is a help 1 Cor. 2. 13. to understand them. 43. Reward of sincerity. A Physician doth not lose Physician. his fee though the patiented miscarry and die. So those that are sincere hearted in the 1 Cor. 15. work of the Lord shall not lose their reward, though the success be not answerable to their pains. 44. Discovery of God's love. THe rivers a long time run Rivers. under ground till at the last they break forth into streams, so God's love in election, and redemption it is Isay 31. 18 concealed from a man till it break forth in his regeneration, and effectual calling. 45. Way to thankfulness. A Traitor, though he have Traitor. the liberty of the Tower to walk in, and provision of meat and drink and all necessaries, yet he takes little pleasure Psal. 32. 2. in them because his treason is not pardoned, but he expects daily to be drawn forth to execution. So a man that hath all the comforts of this life, if he want assurance of the pardon of his sins, and of God's love, he cannot be truly thankful for what he enjoyeth. 46. How sinners are brought to Christ A Rebel, so long as the Hue and cry pursues him, he Hue and cry. runs away and hides himself; but when proclamation of pardon comes forth he comes in Psal. 130. 4 and submits himself. So the denunciation of God's judgements affright men that they run from God, but when pardon and mercy is offered, it makes them submit to Christ as their King. 47 Infirmities to be borne with. A Member that is distempered, Member. or out of joint, is not presently to be cut off, but Psal. 103. 23. used tenderly and set in joyn● again, so those that are froward and pettish, and passionate, are not to be excluded, but reduced to a better temper. (48) Gods purpose effected. THe wheels in a watch, o● clock, go contrary one to Wheels of a watch. another, some one way, some another, yet all serve the intent of the workman, to show the time, or to make the clock to strike. So in the world men Isay 46. 10. take contrary courses, there are good men that go one way, and wicked men another; but all in conclusion serve to accomplish the purpose of the great workman God himself. 49. Difference of carnal & holy men. AN Organ or wind instrument maketh no music Organ. till first there be breath put into it; but a stringed instrument yields music with a touch: A carnal man being dead must 2 Tim. 12. 2. have a new life breathed into him before he can walk holily, but a child of God doth good upon a touch, upon the least occasion. 50. End of persecutors. A Shepherd sets his dog Shepheard▪ upon the sheep to bring them in, and then he rates the dog, so God suffers evil men to molest his children that they Psal. 21. 20. may cleave closer to him, and then he punisheth those that troubled them. 51. Way to humility. When Bees begin to swarm the casting Bees. of dust upon them allaieth them: So when proud thoughts arise, the consideration of mortality, Eccles. 12. 7 that we must lie in the dust will asswagethem. 52. Wickedness discovered. A Snake while she is living winds and turns every Snake. way, but being dead is laid out strait at length: so wicked subtle men have many shifts and devises while they live, but Psal. 10. 8. when they die, all is discovered and laid open. 53. Difference of hypocrites and Christians. A Piece of metal that is but Gilt. gilt, the gilt wears off, and it is worse & worse: but that which is massy gold wears brighter, and brighter. An hypocrite hath a gilded outside, Pro. 10. 20. which in time wears off, and he is discovered, but a true Christian, though his outside may seem rusty, is pure Gold within. 54. Experience beyond knowledge. A Physician knows not the Patient. pain of the disease so well as his patiented, though his learning be greater: so experienced Phil. 1. 19 Christians know the mysteries of God better than learned men that want experience. 55. Faith and Love. AS in making of a circle, one point of the compass is Compasses fixed in the middle, the other is moved about to make the circle. 1 Tim. 6. 11. Faith is as the one point of the compass that is fixed on Christ, and love the other point that goeth about and doth the work. 56. Benefit of Consideration. AS dust that being scattered Broome. over the house, seemeth little, but being swept together becomes a heap: So the sins we have committed being looked on with a careless eye, Psal. 38. 4. appear to be no great matters, by serious consideration they prove an unsupportable burden. 57 'Cause of Trouble. AS a cloth that seemeth dry Cloth. being held to the fire will be moist and smoke, the moisture being in the cloth not in the fire. So when men come to job. 42. 6. God's ordinances they are sometimes troubled, the cause is not in God's ordinance but from corruption in them. 58. Why God aflicts his Children. AS a Chirurgeon desires to Chirurgeon take way nothing but the wound, but sometimes it is festered Amos 49. 10. so in the member, that he is forced to cut off the member with it: So God intends we should part with nothing but sin: but it is so riveted in us that he is forced to take away other contentments that we may part with our sins. 59 Progress in our spiritual journey. A Man that traivaileth, those Traveller. Towns and places that he hath passed seem less and less, and those to which he is approaching, to appear greater Heb. 11. 27. and greater. So a Christian in his journey to heaven the things of the world that he hath left behind, they appear lesser and lesser; but the things of heaven greater and greater. 60. Object of the soul. A cipher stands for nothing Cipher. by itself, but by other figures placed before it, it makes a number. So the soul of man, Rom. 6. 11. like a cipher is valued by that which it sets before it whether it be God or the world. 61. Efficacy of God's love. THe Sun casts light and Burning glass. heat upon all the world in his general course: but his beams being concenterate in Ephes. 1. 18. a burning glass, it sets fire upon the object. So God in the creation looked upon all his works with a general love, but the beams of his love to his elect, shining through Christ inflames their hearts. 62. Civil men discovered. THe glowworm appeareth Glow-worm. bright in the night, but is not seen in the day time. So a civil Man is some body in dark times among men of dark judgements: but shall be Mat. 19 30 nothing when the day of God shall try him. 63. Means effectual by the Spirit, AS the Arteries go along Arteries. with the veins, without which the blood would be a dead, loathsome thing; so the spirit of God must go along Eph. 6. 18. with his ordinances and means or else they can effect nothing. 64. How to use good means AS the Mariner that guides Mariner. the ship, at the same time hath his hand upon the rudder, and his eye on the star: so Psal. 118. 25. we should be dilgent in the use of means but look up to heaven for a blessing. 65 Nature of worldly things. AS a man that drinketh salt Salt water. water it quencheth not his thirst but increaseth it, so the things of this life being enjoyed, they satisfy not the desires Eccles. 5. 10 of men but enlarge them. 66. Lost labour, AS a bad swimmer may Swimmer. reach forth his hand to save another, and drown himself: so a man by his parts and 1 Cor. 9 27. and gifts may do good to others and himself be a castaway. 67. God immutable. AS the sun looks red sometimes Sun. by reason of vapours and mists, but in itself is always alike: So God in himself is unchangeable, though he appear Heb. 12. 29. red to us in anger by the ascending of our sins. 68 To serve God in serving men. AS a Man that hath a servant Servant. sick, and sets another servant to attend him, he supplies him with those things he calls for, but it is by virtue of his master's command. So in our places though the duties we do be to men yet we must 1 Cor. 7. 22. have an eye to the command of God. 69. Not to hoard up for ourselves. THe vapours that the Sun Vapour. exhaleth from the sea are sent down again to moisten the earth. So the good things Heb. 6. 7. 8. that God bestoweth on us, should be dispensed to the necessity of others. 70. Cure of immoderate grief. AS Physician's use, when men Bleeding. bleed excessively to open a vein, in another place, and so 2 Cor. 7. 10. staunch excessive bleeding: so when we grieve immoderately for the loss of outward things we turn our grief upon our sins. 71. Care in God's ordinances. THough a scholar may be Scholar. playing when his Master walks up and down the school, yet he will be careful and serious when he is saying his lesson: so though perhaps we be more Heb. 12. 2. remiss in our ordinary vocation, yet we should have a special eye to God, when we are before him in his ordinances. 72. How to look on transcient thing. IF a man stand and observe Dial. the hand of a dial he cannot perceive it move, but if he come an hour or two after, he sha●l see that it hath moved and that so much time is past. So if we look on the things of the world in their passing we 1 Cor. 7. 31. shall see no great alteration, but if we see them past by the eye of faith we will neglect them. 73. Flight of faith. A Pigeon having her eyes put out flieth directly upwards: Pigeon. so the eye of reason being shut faith ascends more directly Heb. 11. 27. to divine things. 74. Grace sanctifieth all things. AS meat may be wholesome of itself, yet salt makes Salt. it more savoury: So though outward benefits be good in themselves, yet it is grace that makes 1 Tim, 5. 4. them blessings to us. 75 Final obduration. A Tree after it is cut down Tree. may lie in the yard under the rain a long time before it be cast into the fire. So after Hos. 4. 17. God hath forsaken a man he may continue a long time under the means of grace before he be cast into hell fire. 76. Defect of worldly things. IT is with the things of the Ducks. world and the soul as with a hen that hatcheth ducks: the ducks after a while go into the water, the hen may hover 1 Tim. 6. 7 about the brink but cannot follow them. So the soul after a while taketh her flight into another world, and leaves these earthly things behind on the shore. 77. Faith and doubting consistent. AS the Mariners needle, Mariners needle. though it be truly touched it fixeth not presently to the North-pole but trembles and shakes a while, and then is fixed: So faith may be true, and 1 Cor 15. 58 yet at the first weak and full of trepidation and wavering. 78. Hypocrites behaviour. AS discontented lovers upon Love-tokens. the least distaste send for all their love tokens back and will go on no further. So when hypocrites are crossed in their aims, they repent of the good ●al. 1. 13. duties they have done, and desist from God's service, and embrace the world. 79. Another AS a Cur dog when his Dog. master beats him will either fly in his face, or run from him So an hypocrite when God punisheth Heb, 3. 12. him, either murmurs against him, or forsakes his service. 80. The force of Custom. CHildren at the first sight of a vizor are affrighted Vizor. with it, but after a while they care not for it. So men that were sometimes fearful of Heb. 5. 14. death: by the frequent examples of mortality, they grow careless, and fearless of it. 81. Different carriage in an evil man. Horse's, and such wild Ferry-boat. creatures, being in a Ferrie-boate on the water, stand still and are quiet, but being once out of it, resume their former wildness. So those that are 2 Chron. 24 2. brought up in good families are many times conformable, but being once at liberty run into excess of riot. 82. Concealed grief double. AN Oven being stopped when the fire is in it, it increaseth Oven. the heat: So when men conceal their doubts and fears, and troubles from others Eccles. 4. 9 it doubleth their grief. 83. How to know we belong to heaven. IT was wont to be a trial Venomous creatures. whether Land belonged to England or Ireland, by putting toads, and snakes, and other venomous creatures into it; and 2 Tim. 2. 21 if they lived there it was concluded it belonged to England; if they died; to Ireland. So if venomous lusts live in us, we belong to hell; if they die by mortification, to heaven. 84. The older the world the worse. AS a sink, the further it Sink. runs, the more soil it gathers: so the world the older it grows the worse it is: the sins 1 Tim. 4. 1. of all former times meeting together in the latter. 85. Christian constancy. AS the Kine of the Bethshemites that carried the Kine. Ark, though they lowed after calves, yet they went right on Psal. 119. 37. theirway. So a Christian though his heart may linger after temporal things, yet he keeps on in his course of Christianity. 86. How to regard our own prayers. CHildren shoot arrows Arrows. on purpose to lose them and never look after them, but men when they shoot go after ●heir arrows to see how near ●he mark they light. So wicked Psal. 88 1. men when they have made ●heir prayers have no more regard of them; but God's children look after their prayers ●nd observe how God answers. 87. Efficacy of the Spirit. AS in a Cordial potion, it is not the water or the beer Drug. but the herb or drug conveyed in it that works the cure. So the ministry of the word alone Psal. 51. 12 cannot work upon the heart, but the spirit of God accompanying the ordinance. 88 God's aim in afflictions. THe Physician gives a bitter potion which some Potion. times makes the patiented sick then the disease itself, but hi● end is to restore him to health by it: So the afflictions of God Heb. 12. 11. children seem bitter potions but God aims at the health o● their souls in it. 89. God's time the best. THe Physician turns the glass, and resolves the Mour-glass. physic shall work so long, the patiented desires ease, and cries Psal. 31. 15 out he is tormented, but the other knows the fittest time. So God's children cry out in afflictions, How long Lord: but the Lord knoweth the best time to release them. 90 Corruption discovered. A Man that stirreth with a Puddle. staff in a vessel or spring of fair water, though the water be stirred it continueth still jam. 1. 13. 14. in its clearness, but stirring in a puddle or finck it is presentlymuddy and offensive. So when men provoked by others, are transported by their passions, the cause is not from the provocation of others, but from the corruption in themselves. 91. Hypocrite uncased. When people go abroad Garments. they put on their gay apparel, but when they go to bed they strip them off. So an hypocrite in his life Rom. 13. 14 may put on the garments of a fair profession, but when he comes to lie down in the bed of death shall he be stripped of all and left naked. 92. How to reproove great men, MEn that plough hilly Ploughing. ground they go not directly up and down, but side ways: so those that are to tell 2 Sam. 12. 1 great men of their faults, must go about as we see Nathan did with David. 93. The wickedest men may be converted. AS the earth that beareth Weeds. the strongest weeds, it hath much heat in it, and 2 Tim. 1. 1● if it were tilled and manured it would bear good corn. So those that are vilest in their courses, when they are once converted become most excellent instruments of his glory. 94. To keep in God's ways IF a man in the King's highway King's highway. be rob in the daytime, it is recoverable from the Country, but if he travail at unseasonable times, it is at his own peril. So if a man keep in God's ways, he hath promised Psal. 91. 11 to guard, and protect him, but if he stray out from them, he exposeth himself to danger. 95. Delayed judgements heavy. AS a man that shooteth in a Shooting. bow the further he draweth the arrow bacl the faster and further it flieth: so though Mat. 24. 48. 49. 50. God many times delay his judgements, yet the severity of them recompenseth his forbearance. 96. Another. THe rain it is long bottleing Raine. in the clouds, but at the length it falls down speedily in showers: so God is Rev. 16. 1. long in providing his judgements, but at the last they are showered down suddenly. 97. Long prayers sometimes dangerous. IF a man shoot at a But or a short mark the arrow flieth Butt. point blank, and with great force: but if he shoot at a long mark though it go forth swiftly it flags, and falls at length. Mat. 6. 7. So the fervency of spirit in prayer is sometimes much abated, ere a long prayer be ended. 98. Difference of knowledge in God and in man. IN a sheet almanac, a man Almanac at one view may see all the months in the year, both past, and to come, but in a book almanac, as he turneth to one Psal. 139. 2. 6. so he turneth from another, and can look but on the present. So the knowledge of God at one instant looketh to things, past, present and future: but the knowledge of man oneto a few things, past, and present, and that successively. 99 Cessation of miracles. AS a gardener, when he first Tree. planteth a tree, he digs the earth, and is careful to water it evening and morning, but after the tree hath taken root, he leaves it to the common influences of the heavens, so in the first preaching of the Gospel it was necessary that the gift of miracles should go along with the gift of preaching; the people 1 Cor. 14. then being Idolaters and unbelievers that never heard of Christ; but now the Gospel is Aug. de Civit, dei. lib. 22. Cap. 8. planted and established and believed miracles are superfluous. 100 Reward of Atheism. IN the summer a man cannot Breath. see his own breath. which in winter, he can easily discern, So he that will not in the summer of this life believe Heb. 11. 6. that there is a God shall feel it to his eternal torment in the winter of hell. FINIS. The Names of the things from whence the Similes are taken. FIre. 1 Gunpowder. 2 Sleep. 3 Wound. 4 Prison. 5 Spring. 6 Magistrates. 7 Bottle. 8 Strong water 9 Wine. 10 Milk▪ 11 River. 12 House. 13 Sun. 14 Apples. 15 Sheep. 16 Pack. 17 Staff. 18 Long Garment: 19 Strong drink. 20 Host. 21 River. 22 Aaron and Hur. 23 Boate. 24 Looking-glass. 25 Dog. 26 Gold. 27 Missletoe, 28 Nurse, 29 Fall. 30 Sickness. 31 Air. 32 Birds. 33 Beggar. 34 Hawk and hen. 35 Water. 36 Shadow. 37 Shadow. 38 Green wood, 39 Alms. 40 Smiths water. 41 Lute. 42 Physician. 43 Rivers. 44 Traitor. 45 Hue and cry. 46 Member. 47 Watch-wheeles. 48 Organ. 49 Shepherd's dog. 50 Bees. 51 Snake. 52 Gilt. 53 Patient. 54 Compasses. 55 Broome. 56 Cloth. 57 Chirurgeon. 58 Traveller 59 Cipher. 60 Burning glass. 61 Gloeworme. 62 Arteries. 63 Mariner. 64 Salt-water. 65 Swimmer. 66 Sun. 67 Servant. 68 Vapour. 69 Bleeding 70 Scholar. 71 Dial. 72 Pigeon. 73 Salt. 74 Tree. 75 Duck. 76 Mariners needle. 77 Love-tokens. 78 Dog. 79 Vizor. 80 Ferrie-boat. 81 Oven. 82 Venomous creature. 83 Sink. 84 Kine. 85 Arrows. 86 Drug. 87 Potion. 88 Hourglass. 89 Puddle. 90 Garments. 91 Ploughing. 92 Weeds. 93 Highway. 94 Shooting. 95 Rain. 96 Butt. 97 Almanac. 98 Tree. 99 Breath. 100 An Alphabetical Table of the matter to which the comparisons tend. A Simile. A Boundance of outward things a hindrance. 17. 18. 19, 20 Aim of a Christian. 36 Afflictions their benefit. 41 Afflictions why sont. 58 Gods aim in afflictions. 88 Atheism rewarded. 100 B Blessings outward how to use them. 12 Blessings outward how disposed 40 C Covetous man's curse. 11 Christian's carriage. 24 Content see humble. Christ see sinners. Christians and hypocrites differ, 53 Civil men discovered. 62 Consideration beneficial. 56 Care see ordinances. Custom forcible. 80 Constancy of a Christian. 85 Corruption discovered. 90 Conversion of wicked men. 93 D Death of wicked men. 3 Death of wicked men untimely. 15 Difference of men after death. 35 Dispositions different. 39 Doubting with faith. 77 E Experience beyond knowledge. 54 F Falls of God's children. 30 False friends. 37 Faith and love. 55 Flight of faith. 73 Faith see doubting. G Growth after falls. 31 Grief immoderate cured. 70 Grace sanctifieth all things. 74 Grief concealed, double. 75 Great men reproved how. 92 H Humble men content. 16 Way to humility. 51 Hypocrite see Christian. Hypocrites behaviour. 78. 79 How to know we belong to heaven. 83 Hypocrite uncased. 91 I judgement brought by sin. 2 Infirmities in the Saints. 27 Infirmities to be borne with. 47 Progress in our spiritual journey. 59 God immutable. 67 judgement delayed heavy. 96 K Unprofitable Knowledge. 34 Knowledge see Experience. Knowledge different in God and man. 98 L Life, cause of the shortness of it. 10 Life of good men why prolonged. 22 Love of God discovered, 44 Love see faith Love of God efficacious. 61 Labour lost, 66 M Mercy in God by nature. 6 Mercy in God supreme, 7 Men different. 49 Means how to use them. 64 Means see spirit. To serve God in serving men, 68 Different carriage in an evil man. 81 Miracles ceased. 99 O Outward things variable. 38 Care in God's ordinances. 71 Obduration final. 75 P Promises the use of them, 9 Plenty enjoyed by wicked men. 21 Punishments. 21 Punishment feared by wicked men. ●● Purpose of God effected. 4● Persecutors their end. 50 Prayers how to regard them. 86 Prayers long sometimes dangerous. 97 R Reason the defect of it. 14 Rewards 23 Riches uncertain. 33 S Secret sins dangerous. 1 Sin willbe felt at last. 4 Sins of others why not offensive. 5 Sin the deformity of it. 25 Sin the nature of it. 28 God our strength. 29 Strength from Christ, 32 Scriptures how understood. 42 Sincerity the reward of it. 43 Sinners how brought to Christ. 46 Soul the object of it. 60 Means effectual by the Spirit. 63 Not to hoard up for our selves. 69 Effiicacie of the Spirit. 87 T Thankfulness the way to it. 45 Trouble the cause of it. 57 Transcient things how to see them. 72 Time of God the best. 89 V Variable see outward. W Weak how to instruct them, 8 Weakness of man, 13 Wickedness discovered. 52 Worldly things the nature of them. ●● Worldly things defective. 76 World the older the worse. 84 Way of God to be kept in. 94 FINIS.