THE ruine of a house is not vsually by the Fire . fire on the hearth , where the greatest ●ire is , but by some small sparke ●hat lies hid in some corner . So ●he soule of man is not so much Psal. 19. ●ndangered by sinnes that are knowne , and so may bee repented of : but by those that are hidden and no notice taken of them .

A Piece of Match set to a traine of Gun-powder it Gunpowder . burneth dimme a great while but blowes 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.

AS a mad-man after sleepe Sleepe of mad-men . is more outragious when the malignant humour is concocted . So after death a wicked Mat. 25. 46 man awakes with eternall horror .

A Man that receives a wound Wound . in his heate , feeles it not , but when he comes to bee cold ●t paines him . So the sins where●y Pro 13. 25. Satan wounds us , wee are ●nsensible of them in the heat of our passion , but when we ●re layd in the cold earth , we ●hall feele the hurt of them .

A Flint yeeldeth not fire bu● by force , but a spring sendeth Spring . forth water naturally . So God sheweth not forth wrath but as provoked by sin : but he Mi. 7. 18. is mercifull from his owne nature .

AS in a City or Corporation , Magistrates . men otherwise equal are chosen to beare rule for a time . So though all Gods attributes be equall : yet mercy is Psal. 145. 9. that which cheifly reigneth in Christ .

A Bottle or vessell 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 .

WHen Chirurgions cut off a leg or an arme , they use to give the Patient strong water aforehand to Strong water . comfort him . So when a judgement is approaching we should fortifie our selves with Gods Pro. 31. 6. promises .

A Vessell of wine kept for a mans owne vse or hi● Wine . friends may last a good whil● being moderately dranke of , bu● if those come that are strong to drinke strong drinke , that may be spent in a day , which would have lasted a moneth . So mans life which otherwise with Psal. 90. 9. temperance , and care might be spun out to 30. 40. 50. or 60. yeares , if God let in great drinkers , as burning feaver , plague , &c. it is spent on a sudden .

AS a womans breast overcharged with milke , if it Milke . be not drawne forth , not onely paines the woman , but putrifies and becomes unwholsome . So a man to whom God hath given Iam. 5. 2. ability , that improves it not for the good of others , it turnes to his owne hurt and ruine .

AN apple though it hang Apple . long on the tree , yet if it be gathered before it be ripe it is pluckt 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 .

THe sheepe can live upon Sheepe . the bare mountains where the fat Oxe would be starved . Ezek. 34. 13. So a humble heart is content with a meane condition , which a proud spirit would murmure at .

A Man that is to travell , a great burden or pack at his Packe . backe hinders his journey . So worldly men hinder their progresse Hab. 2. 6. to heaven by loading themselves with thicke clay .

ONe staffe in a mans hand Staffe . may helpe him in his journey , but a bundle of staues would be troublesome . So a competencie may helpe in the way to heaven ; whereas abundance Mat. 10. 10 may be hurtfull .

PRosperitie , and abundance Long Garments . are like long garments to a man that walkes , they will trip up his heeles if he take not heed . 2 Kin. 4. 29.

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 keepes the inheritance of 1 Pet. 1. 4. heaven for his children .

AS men that are carried in a boate , they set themselves Boate. some on one side , and some on the other to poize the boate even . So a christian when he is ready to bee overturned with prosperity should meditate on that which may humble him , and when hee is ready to sinke Iam. 1. 9. in affliction to thinke on that which may raise him up , that his carriage may be equall .

AS the best Gold goes currant Gold . with the graines of allowance : So the Saints are accepted Psal. 103. 14. with God notwithstanding their infirmities .

A Nurse sometimes lets her child have a fall to let it Nurse . know that it cannot stand by any strength of its owne . 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 .

GOd sometimes suffers his Fall . children to fall that they may grow in the roote of graces , humility . As the vertue 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 roote , as in winter , & commonly the sharpest winter makes the fruitfullest spring .

THe knowledge of every man but a Christian is like Beggar . the knowledg of a beggar , who knoweth the roade from place Prov. 15. 2. to place , but hath no setled home of his owne .

MAny men that pretend Shaddow , friendship they are like the shaddow of the bodie , they follow a man while the sun of prosperitie shines : but if a cloud Jsa . 30. 2. of adversity hide that sun , those shadowes are gone .

THe fire that is made of Greene wood . 2 Cor. 8. 19. greene wood must have much blowing , but a fire made of charcoale is soone kindled : so the heart of a carnall man receives not holy impressions without much adoe , but the heart of a Christian , like charcoale having beene formerly kindled is apt to take fire againe .

AS the Almoner of a King , Almes . or great man casts his almes among a company of beggars and one or two many times Psal. 10. 9. carrie all from the rest . So these outward blessings are promiscuously bestowed , and some carry away all , and leave the rest destitute .

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 .

THe rivers a long time run Rivers . under ground till at the last they breake forth into streames , so Gods love in election , and redemption it is Isay 31. 18 concealed from a man till it breake forth in his regeneration , and effectuall calling .

A Traytor , though he have Traytor . the libertie of the Tower to walke in , and provision of meat and drinke and all necessaries , yet he takes little pleasure Psal. 32. 2. in them because his treason is not pardoned , but hee 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 Gods love , he cannot bee truly thankfull for what he enjoyeth .

A Shepheard sets his dogge Shepheard ▪ upon the sheepe to bring them in , and then hee rates the dogge , so God suffers evill men to molest his children that they Psal. 21. 20. may cleaue closer to him , and then hee punisheth those that troubled them .

WHen Bees begin to swarme the casting Bees . of dust upon them allaieth them : So when proud thoughts arise , the consideration of mortalitie , Eccles. 12. 7 that wee must lye in the dust will asswagethem .

A Snake while she is living winds and turnes every Snake . way , but being dead is laid out straight at length : so wicked subtile men have many shifts and devises while they live , but Psal. 10. 8. when they die , all is discovered and laid open .

A Peece of metall that is but Gilt. gilt , the gilt weares off , and it is worse & worse : but that which is massie gold weares brighter , and brighter . An hypocrite hath a gilded outside , Pro. 10. 20. which in time weares off , and he is discovered , but a true Christian , though his outside may seem rustie , is pure Gold within .

AS dust that being scattered Broome . over the house , seemeth little , but being swept together becomes a heape : So the sins wee have committed being looked on with a carelesse eye , Psal. 38. 4. appeare to be no great matters , by serious consideration they prove an vnsupportable burthen .

AS a Chyrurgion desires to Chirurgion take way nothing but the woūd , but somtimes it is festred 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 rivetted in us that hee is forced to take away other contentments that wee may part with our sins .

A Man that traivaileth , those Traveller . Townes and places that he hath passed seeme lesse and lesse , and those to which hee is approaching , to appeare 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 appeare lesser and lesser ; but the things of heaven greater and greater .

THe Sunne casts light and Burning glasse . heate upon all the world in his generall course : but his beames being concenterate in Ephes. 1. 18. a burning glasse , it sets fire upon the obiect . So God in the creation looked upon all his workes with a generall love , but the beames of his love to his elect , shining through Christ inflames their hearts .

THe glow-worme appeareth Glow-worme . bright in the night , but is not seene in the day time . So a civill Man is some bodie in darke times among men of darke judgements : but shall be Mat. 19. 30 nothing when the day of God shall trie him .

AS the Marriner that guides Marriner . the ship , at the same time hath his hand upon the rudder , and his eye on the starre : so Psal. 118. 25. we should be dilgent in the use of means but look up to heaven for a blessing .

AS a bad swimmer may Swimmer . reach forth his hand to save another , and drowne himself : so a man by his parts and 1 Cor. 9. 27. and gifts may do good to others and himself be a cast-away .

AS the sun lookes red sometimes Sun . by reason of vapours and mists , but in it selfe is alwayes alike : So God in himself is vnchangeable , though he appeare Heb. 12. 29. red to vs in anger by the assending of our sins .

AS a Man that hath a servant Servant . sick , and sets another seruant to attend him , he supplies him with those things he calls for , but it is by vertue of his masters command . So in our places though the duties wee doe bee to men yet wee must 1 Cor. 7. 22. have an eye to the command of God .

AS Phisitians vse , when men Bleeding . bleed excessively to open a veine , in another palce , and so 2 Cor. 7. 10. stanch excessive bleeding : so when we grieve immoderately for the losse of outward things wee turne our griefe upon our sins .

THough a scholler may be Scholler . playing when his Master walks up and down the schoole , yet he will bee carefull and serious when he is saying his lesson : so though perhaps we be more Heb. 12. 2. remisse in our ordinarie vocation , yet we should have a speciall eye to God , when we are before him in his ordinances .

IF a man stand and observe Diall . the hand of a dyall he cannot perceive it moove , but if he come an houre or two after , he sha●l see that it hath mooved and that so much time is past . So if we looke on the things of the world in their passing wee 1 Cor. 7. 31. shall see no great alteration , but if wee see them past by the eye of faith wee will neglect them .

A Pigeon having her eyes put out flyeth directly upwards : Pigeon . so the eye of reason being shut faith ascends more directly Heb. 11. 27. to divine things .

AS the Marriners needle , Marriners needle . though it bee 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 weake and full of trepidation and wavering .

AS discontented louers upon Love-tokens . the least distast send for all their love tokens back and will goe on no further . So when hipocrites are crossed in their aymes , they repent of the good ●al . 1. 13. duties they have done , and desist from Gods service , and imbrace the world .

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 fearefull of Heb. 5. 14. death : by the frequent examples of mortalitie , they grow carelesse , and fearelesse of it .

HOrses , 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 wildnesse . So those that are 2 Chron. 24 2. brought up in good families are many times conformable , but being once at libertie run into excesse of riot .

AN Oven being stopped when the fire is in it , it increaseth Oven . the heate : So when men conceale their doubts and feares , and troubles from others Eccles. 4. 9. it doubleth their griefe .

IT was wont to bee a tryall Venemous creatures . whether Land belonged to England or Ireland , by putting toads , and snakes , and other venemous 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 venemous lusts live in us , wee belong to hell ; if they die by mortification , to heaven .

AS the Kine of the Bethshemites that carried the Kine . Arke , though they lowed after calves , yet they went right on Psal. 119. 37. theirway . So a Christian though his heart may linger after temporall things , yet he keepes on in his course of Christianity .

CHildren shoote arrowes Arrowes . on purpose to loose them and never looke after them , but men when they shoot goe after ●heir arrowes to see how neere ●he marke they light . So wicked Psal. 88. 1. men when they have made ●heir prayers have no more regard of them ; but Gods children looke after their prayers ●nd observe how God answers .

AS in a Cordiall potion , it is not the water or the beere Drug . but the herbe or drug conveyed in it that works the cure . So the ministerie of the word alone Psal. 51. 12 cannot worke upon the heart , but the spirit of God accompanying the ordinance .

THe Phisitian gives a bitter potion which some Potion . times makes the patient sicke then the disease it selfe , but hi● end is to restore him to healt● by it : So the afflictions of God Heb. 12. 11. children seeme bitter potions but God aymes at the health o● their soules in it .

WHen people goe abroad Garments . they put on their gay apparell , but when they goe to bed they strip them off . So an hipocrite in his life Rom. 13. 14 may put on the garments of a faire profession , but when hee comes to lie downe in the bed of death shall he be stripped of all and left naked .

AS the earth that beareth Weeds . the strongest weedes , it hath much heate in it , and 2 Tim. 1. 1● if it were tilled and manured it would beare good corne . So those that are vilest in their courses , when they are once converted become most excellent instruments of his glory .

IF a man in the Kings high-way Kings highway . be robbed in the day-time , it is recoverable from the Country , but if hee travaile at vnseasonable times , it is at his owne perill . So if a man keepe in Gods wayes , he hath promised Psal. 91. 11 to guard , and protect him , but if he stray out from them , he exposeth himselfe to danger .

THe raine it is long bottleing Raine . in the clouds , but at the length it falls downe speedily in showers : so God is Rev. 16. 1. long in providing his judgements , but at the last they are showred downe suddenly .

IF a man shoot at a But or a short marke the arrow flieth Butt . point blanke , and with great force : but if he shoot at a long marke though it go forth swiftly it flags , and falls at length . Mat. 6. 7. So the fervencie of spirit in prayer is sometimes much abated , ere a long prayer be ended .

IN a sheete almanack , a man Almanack at one view may see all the moneths in the yeare , both past , and to come , but in a book almanack , as he turneth to one Psal. 139. 2. 6. so he turneth from another , and can looke but on the present . So the knowledge of God at one instant looketh to things , past , present and future : but the knowledge of man one-to a few things , past , and present , and that successively .

AS a gardiner , when he first Tree . planteth a tree , hee digs the earth , and is carefull to water it evening and morning , but after the tree hath taken roote , he leaves it to the common influences of the heavens , so in the first preaching of the Gospell it was necessarie that the gift of miracles should goe along with the gift of preaching ; the people 1 Cor. 14. then being Idolaters and vnbeleevers that never heard of Christ ; but now the Gospell is Aug. de Civit , dei . lib. 22. Cap. 8. planted and stablished and beleived miracles are superfluous .

IN the summer a man cannot Breath . see his owne breath . which in winter , he can easily discerne , So he that will not in the summer of this life beleeve Heb. 11. 6. that there is a God shall feel it to his eternall torment in the winter of hell .