AS there is nothing shriller than a voyce ; nothing stronger than the winde ; nothing more violent than a sauour , and yet these being caried through the ayre vnto our senses , are not seene with our eyes , but are perceiued by other parts of our body : so God is not to bee comprehended of vs by sight , or by any other fraile sense , but is to be looked vpon with the eyes of our minde , wher● wee see his wonderfull and excellent workes . Lactantius . lib. 7. cap. 1.

As no man is able to measure the length or the breadth of Heauen , or to sound the depth of the Sea : so no man is capable of the incomprehensible Maiesty of God . Epiphanius haeresi. 70. contra Audianos .

As wee are not able to know the essence of any Starre : so wee are not able to reach to the knowledge of Gods essence . Philo Iudaeus lib. 1. de Monarchia .

As hee that endeuoureth to saile ouer the maine Ocean , and cannot , inforced to turne backe the same way he went : so the ancient Phylosophers and Orators enquiring of the nature of God , failed in wit , and faultered in tongue , confessing at the last that they could find none other thing , but that God was incomprehensible , and vnmeasurable . Chrysostomus hom. 28. operis imperfecti .

As no man can measure the winde , or weigh the fire : so no man can attaine vnto the vnsearchable iudgements of the Lord .

Euen as one standing vpon the shoare doth see the Sea , and yet doth not see the breadth and depth of it : so the Angels , and all the other elect , which bee in Heauen doe see God really , yet they cannot comprehend either the depth of his greatnesse , or the altitude of his et●nitie . Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Duc●s peccatorum .

Euen as there can be found nothing more bright and visible then the Sunne , yet nothing is lesse seene then it , by reason of the excellency of his brightnesse , and the weakenesse of our sight : so there is nothing in it selfe more intelligible then God , yet there is nothing in this life lesse vnderstood then he , for the same reasons . Ibidem .

As the Painter , when he depainted the funeral solemnity of a certaine Kings Daughter , pourtrayed her kinsfolks with heauy countenances , and her Mother more sorrowfull then the rest , but when he came to delineate the Father , he did couer his face with an artificiall shadow , signifying thereby that his Art did here faile him : so when we speake of God , and the deepe mysteries of his di●●nitie , vnder awe of admiration , wee are to lay our hands on our mouthes , and to adore him with ineffable and chast silence . Ibidem .

AS a King when he would keepe any man safe from danger , placeth him in his palace , that not onely the wals of the King , but also the eyes of the King may defend him from his enemies , then the which guard none can be saser : so the heauenly King by the same prouidence doth defend his . Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Ducis Peccatorum .

As the Sun doth not onely illuminate Heauen , the Sea and the Earth , but shineth also thorow a window or a little ●reuice , and doth cast light into the inmost place of the house : so the diuine prouidence doth not only preserue great things , but also respecteth the very least , that are in the Earth . Clemens Alexand●mus lib. 7. stromatum .

As wee know that there are men in a Ship that directly sayles into an hauen , although we 〈◊〉 none of them , by reason of the right guidance of it : so we know that God is the gouernour of all things by his prouidence , albeit we cannot see him with our carnall eyes . Theophilus Antiothe●us lib. 1. ad Antolycum .

As dust is scattered before a storme , as sand is wracked togither by a tempest , as the morning dew vanisheth at the Sunnes heate : so doe the wicked before the presence of the diuine iustice . Nazia●zenus oratione 2. contra Iulianum .

As a master of a family will not suffer himsefe to bee derided and contemned of his seruants , but punisheth their misdemeanours : so God , whose house this whole world is , and whose seruants all men are , will not suffer himselfe to be blasphemed and reuiled , but will take vengeance on the offenders , Lactantius de ●ra Dei . cap. 27.

As a Iudge inflicteth punishment vpon malefactours , least others dreaming of impunitie should grow to the same liberty : so dealeth God with finners , that others may be terrifyed and amend . Origenes Homil. 9. in Ieremiam .

As Physitions meete with some diseases before they appeare ; so God punisheth certaine offences before they bee effected . Plutarch . in Moralib .

As some riuers doe suddainely hid themselues v●der the Earth , yet are carried thither , whither they tend : so the wrath of God although hid and secret , bringeth at the last offenders into extreame calamities , ibidem .

As wee both loue and feare a Prince , as angry with the wicked , but pleased with the godly ; so also wee loue and feare God . ibidem .

As God is angry with them that imitate him in his thundring and lightning , and casts them into Hell , as he did sa●m●neus : so also is hee angry with the lofty and proud , who imitate his greatnesse , but doe not expresse his goodnesse . ibidem .

As the paine of Child-birth taketh a Woman wheresoeuer it finds her , neither can shee flie from it : so the enemies of the Church doe tast of the diuine vengeance , wheresoeuer it seemeth good to God , neither can they auoide it . Fulgentius in Psalmum . 48.

As it is a fearefull sight to see a Ship fraughted with Marchandize tossed with a tempest in the middest of the Sea , so that the waues doe couer it , and beate by violence the sides in sunder , whereby the Marriners cry out , and are at their wits end : so it is much more horrible , if it could bee seene with humane eyes , when as God doth plague a guiltie conscience in the middest of vanitie and ambition . Fulgentius in Psalmum 48.

As Christs coate was without wem : so his life was without crime .

As without the Sunne , there should be continuall night : so without Christ there should bee euerlasting destruction . Clemens Alexandrinus ad Gentes .

As an Husband-man doth cast his seede not in this corner and in that corner of his land , but casteth it euery where throughout his whole land : to Christ commendeth the doctrine of piety to rich and poore , learned and ignorant , to the strong and weake , albeit hee knoweth what successe it shall haue . Chrysostom Hom. 45. in● Matthew .

As the soule is the life of the bodie : so Christ is the life of the soule . Petrus Chrysologus sermone 19.

As at the comming of the Diuell all Nations mourned : so at the comming of the Lord Iesus all people reioyced . Arnobius in Psal. 46.

As an aduocate pleading for an offender , taketh vpon himselfe the cause and faults of him , whom hee patronizeth , as if they were his owne , when notwithstanding hee is guiltlesse : so Christ being without sinne , tooke vp●n him our transgressions , and suffered ●r them , as if they had beene his owne . Chrysostome Sermone aduersus haereti●s . tom . 5.

As in a red hote sword there are ●ctions and perfections of two natures , ●e yron cuts , and the fire burnes : so 〈◊〉 Christ there is two Natures his Di●nity and Humanitie , and both haue ●eir actions and perfections . Damas●●● lib. 3. cap. 15. de fide .

As the Vnicorne by touching poy●ned water with his Horne maketh 〈◊〉 wholesome , whereupon Naturalists ●y , that before hee drinkes , he put●eth his Horne into the water : so Christ●y ●y his Humanitie hath made the poy●ned waters wholesome , and hath ●urified our soules from infection . Ia●obus de Valentia in Psalmum . 42.

As Gold and a Pearle make one Ring : 〈◊〉 God and man make one Christ .

Themistocles hauing offended Philip●he ●he King of Macedonia , and could no ●ay appease his anger , meeting his ●oung Sonne Alexander , tooke him in ●is armes , and met Philip in the face . Philip seeing the smyling countenaun●● of the childe , was well pleased wit● Themistocles : euen so , if through th● manifold sinnes and heynous ▪ offences● thou prouoke the heauy displeasure 〈◊〉 thy God , insomuch as thou shalt tremb● for horrour , take his only begotten an● wel beloued Sonne Iesus in thine armes● and then hee neither can , nor willi● angry with thee .

It is written , that the blood of ● Lambe doth appease the cruell rage 〈◊〉 a fierce Lyon : so the blood of the in● maculate Lambe Christ doth pacifie th● wrath of God .

When the Brethren of Ioseph , h●● sold him to the Ismaelites , to pacifie the● Father Iacob , they brought his Coate 〈◊〉 to bee bloudyed : so if wee will appea●● God our Father , wee must bring v●● him the bloody Garment of his Son●●

The Adamant though it be so ha●● that nothing can bruse it , yet if t●● warme blood of a Goate be powred vp● on it , it bursteth : so although the hea● of the Atheis● and vnbeleeuer bee 〈◊〉 hard , that neither reward nor reueng● can mollifie it , so stoute that no persw●sion can breake it , yet if the grace of God purchased by the blood of Christ , doe but once touch it , it renteth in sunder , and is conforced to a acknoledge an omnipotent and euerlasting Iehouah .

Astrologers say that the Sun passeth through these three signes , Leo , Virgo , and Libra : so the Sonne of righteousnesse , Christ Iesus in the Law came as a Lyon , threatning and destroying ; in the time of grace hee came into the lap of a Virgine in great humilitie , and at the day of iudgemene he will come in Libra to giue to euery one according as hee hath deserued .

As Theseus being giuded by Ariadnes threed , which shee tyed at the entrance into Dedalus Labyrinth , escaped all the danger and errour of it : euen so wee must make Christ the doore , by which wee must enter into the Labyrinth of all our affaires , and tye Ra●abs threed at this entrance , and follow it all the way , that so we may bee safe , and goe in , and out , and find pasture .

As the life of Christ is the life of life : so the death of Christ is the death death .