Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	exceed_v	righteousness_n	scribe_n	2,764	5	11.0489	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37483	Tropologia, or, A key to open Scripture metaphors the first book containing sacred philology, or the tropes in Scripture, reduc'd under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each / partly translated and partly compil'd from the works of the learned by T.D. The second and third books containing a practical improvement (parallel-wise) of several of the most frequent and useful metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes of the Old and New Testament / by B.K.	De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685.; Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1681 (1681)	Wing D895; ESTC R24884	855,682	1,006

hunger and thirst after Righteousness c. Blessed are the meek c. But except your Righteousness shall exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5.20 Ye that have abode with me in my Temptations I appoint unto you a Kingdom c. With a multitude of such like Speeches which are contained in the holy Gospel which he uttered to encourage and animate all his Disciples in their Spiritual Warfare IX Jesus Christ takes in and shuts out as he sees Cause he cashereed Judas Demas Hymeneus Philetas and Alexander and takes in Paul Barnabas and Apollo into his Company X. The Lord Jesus is the Head of all true Christians and Commander of the Church Militant in chief all the Bands of the white Reigment march under his Banner H●● is the Head of his Body the Church Given to be a Leader and Commander to the People X. Christ when he was baptized by John took his Place in the Minstry as the Leader of his Church and ran the greatest Hazard yet deserted not his Followers for fear of Danger He not only loved them to the end but did bear them company and abode with them to the last even till he suffered for their sakes the bitter Death of the Cross c. And is spiritally with them all ways to the end of the World XI Christ gives the Word of Command to his Saints which they are to observe If any Man will serve me let him follow me Teach them to observe all things that I command you XII So is Christ by being the Captain of our Salvation for War not originally from his own natural Disposition for he is for Peace but by reason of the resolved Opposition that is in the hearts of his Enemies against him I came not to send Peace on the Earth but to bring a Sword Mat. 10.34 XIII Jesus Christ met with Enemies not only Flesh and Blood yea potent Flesh and Blood Men in Power and high Places such as Herod Pontius Pilate and the Rulers of the Jews but Principalities and Powers no less than Beelzebub himself and all his Train whom he fairly engag'd with eminent Success XIV Jesus made use both of Armor and Weapons he saw no small need for it viz. 1. The Breastplate of Righteousness when Satan and wicked Men by their Temptations would have drawn him from his Allegiance by great Proffers of Power and Glory 2. The Sword of the Spirit by which he cut down the Devil and the wicked Jews in all their Assaults It is written it is written c. 3. The Shield of Faith when he came to the last and most bloody Battel of all For the Joy that was set before him he endured the Cross despised the Shame and is sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on high XV. Jesus Christ like a most valiant Captain made good his Ground against all the Force and Artillery of Hell in a glorious manner even to the death of the Cross. XVI Christ took great care of his Saints to preserve and secure them how ever it fared with himself 1. He left them good Orders to observe in his absence the Rules of the holy Gospel 2. He took care to send them a good Guide for their Conduct no less than the Holy-Ghost the Comforter 3. He prayed for them on Earth and he prays in Heaven to engage the Protection of Almighty God for them Father keep through thine own Name those that thou hast given me c. XVII Jesus Christ prefers his Saints and Followers whom he finds worthy He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists Pastors and Teachers for the Work of the Ministry c. I thank Christ Jesus who hath put me into the Ministry XVIII Christ made not Novices and unexperienc'd Christians Ministers and Pastors of Churches and Leaders of Societies He set Peter James and John to be Apostles and Leaders in the first place and Paul Sylvanus and Timotheus stout and brave Commanders to bring up as it were the Rear God hath set forth us the Apostles last of all as it were appointed to Death XIX Jesus Christ in all weighty Affairs is joined with the Father and holy Spirit the great Council of Heaven and without Him who is called Wonderful Counsellor there is nothing of grand Importance transacted either in Heaven or Earth nay without him was nothing done at first All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made When Commission was givn to Creatures of all kinds to act in their proper sphere Christ was there See Counsellor XX. Christ's place is a place of Honour because he was Worthy and the Army that he hath raised is not a Rebellious Army but legally raised and behave themselves well they are kept under good Government and Discipline not one debauch'd person in the Army is continued in the Muster-Rolls but presently turn'd off blotted out and delivered up to Satan when discovered by his inferior Officers to be such Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness From such turn away Deliver such over to Satan turn him into his own Kingdom Because thou hast loved Righteousness and hated Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oil of Gladness above thy Fellows That all Men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father XXI Jesus Christ offers Terms of Peace and Reconciliation because he would prevent their Ruine if possible before he falls upon them and fights against them with the Sword of his Mouth Turn at my Reproof how often would I have gathered thy Children together c. In what Place soever you enter say Peace c. I gave her space to repent of her Fornication but she repented not Rev. 2.21 I will kill her Children with Death c. XXII Jesus Christ when his Grace and Offers of Mercy are refused hath and will make slaughtering work in the Earth O what work was made upon Jerusalem not long after the refusing the terms of Peace and offers of Grace and Favour by Jesus Christ. See the lamentable Story in Josephus c. And what work will shortly be made with bloody Rome in the day of Death Mourning and Famine that is coming on apace when she shall have Blood given her to drink and shall be utterly burnt with Fire And what Devastation will be made by this great Captain who is red in his Apparel and his Cloaths as them that tread in the Wine-Press at the Battel of Armagedon when the vast Armies of the Beast shall be slaughtered and destroyed by the sharp Sword that goes out of his Mouth And Blood shall come forth to the Horses Bridles for a thousand and six hundred Furlong●● The Fowls of Heaven shall be filled with their Flesh there shall

are in and among Rocks X. Rocks yield Oil The Rocks poured me out Rivers of Oil saith Job And in another place 't is said God made Israel to suck Honey out of the Stone and Oil out of the hard Rock XI Rocks afford a very sweet and refreshing Shadow in hot Countries to weary Travellers XII Rocks are dangerous to stumble at or to fall on especially to fall from When Men get up almost to the Top of a high and mighty Rock and suddenly through want of care fall down such are broken to pieces and perish inevitably Parallel I. THe Lord Christ is a firm and sure Foundation Vpon this Rock will I build my Church c. Behold I lay in Zion for a Foundation a Stone Another Foundation can no Man lay The Church being built upon Christ the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Whosoever lays the Stress and Structure of his Salvation upon this Foundation the Powers of Hell and Rage of Devils shall never be able to subvert and destroy This made the Apostle to break forth in that holy Triumph Rom. 8. II. God in Christ is a Believer's spiritual Habitation they like the Dove make their Nest in the Clifts of the Rock He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God See Habitation Dove c. III. Christ our Rock is high in respect of the Dignity of his Person He is the high God He was lower than Men in the state of his Humiliation yet far higher and more glorious than the Angels He is high in respect of his Dwelling-place being exalted far above all Heavens high in respect of his Power and Sovereignty having absolute Dominion over Devils Angels and Men. IV. He that by Faith ascends upon the Top of this spiritual Rock may take a better Prospect and Survey of Heaven than Moses could of Canaan when he stood upon the Top of Pisgah He sees most of God and the Glory of the other World that stands upon the Rock Christ. V. God in Christ is the Godly Man's Refuge He that makes God his Defence or flies to Christ for Refuge needs not fear Devils nor wicked Men nor what all the Powers of Hell can do unto him See Strong-Tower VI. The Lord Jesus hath the Stability of a Rock in him He is the Rock of Ages the same yesterday to day and for ever He grows not weak as his Years so his Strength decays not VII All sweet Peace and Comfort proceed from the Rock Christ His Promises are sweeter than Honey or the Honey-Comb VIII That celestial Stream Spring and River of Comfort viz. the Spirit proceeds from the Throne of God and the Lamb From this Rock saith a worthy Writer the clear and crystalline Streams of living Water bubble forth IX In Christ are hidden all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledg all the Graces of the Spirit which are compared to but far more excellent than Gold Pearl or precious Stones are only to be found in this spiritual Rock X. Christ affords us Store of precious Oil the Spirit is so called with which the Godly are all more or less anointed We have received an Vnction from the Holy One No Oil like that which comes from this Rock XI Christ is as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land He keeps off all the hot scorching Beams of the Wrath of God and Hell See Apple-Tree XII Christ is a Rock of Offence many stumble at him and fall on him and some fall from him whose State of all is very sad For when Men fall from this Rock having gotten up very high by a speculative Knowledg and Profession they fall suddenly to the lowest Hell Metaphor I. ROcks tho they abide and last long yet are not everlasting II. Rocks in many respects are barren useless and unprofitable things yield no Fruit Seed that falls upon a Rock comes to no maturity Some fell upon a Rock c. III. Rocks are part of the coursest and grossest Element they are but Earth condensed and congealed into a massy senseless Lump Disparity I. CHrist abides for ever and ever he being stiled the Rock of Ages II. Christ the spiritual Rock is very fruitful and every way exceeding profitable III. Christ is of the highest and best of Beings He that made and formed the Elements and gave being to all Creatures and Things who tho called a Rock yet is the Lord from Heaven and a quickning Spirit Inferences 1. TAke heed Christ be not unto you a Stumbling-Stone and Rock of Offence 2. Let the Godly who dwell in this Rock fear no Evil their Rock is not like our Rock 3. Get into this Rock be like the Dove that makes her Nest besides the Holes Mouth 4. When you are down in the Valley and the Waters swell and threaten to overflow you get with David by Faith and Prayer upon the Rock that is higher than you 5. Prize the Rock precious Water Honey and Oil flow from it 1. 'T is a rich Rock 2. 'T is a living Rock 3. 'T is an invincible Rock 4. 'T is a feeding and fattening Rock 5. 'T is a Rock of Pearls and Diamonds 6. 'T is an eternal Rock 6. When you see a great Rock think of Christ. 7. Build all your Hopes of Happiness upon it let your Anchor be so cast as to take hold of this Rock Christ a Fountain Jer. 2.13 They have forsaken me the Fountain of living Water c. Zech. 13.1 In that Day there shall be a Fountain opened c. AMong the many Things that Christ is compared to in the holy Scripture to set forth his transcendent Excellency Beauty Usefulness and Perfections this of a Fountain is none of the least it being a most profitable Metaphor Metaphor I. A Fountain is the Spring and Head of a River from thence Waters issue and stream forth 'T is the Rise and Beginning of Springs and Waters II. A Fountain implies Abundance of Water I will open Fountains in the midst of the Vallies that is Fulness or Store of Water it denotes Plenty III. A Fountain is very tenacious a Place fit dense hard and well-compact to retain the Water leaving some certain Passage for to let its Water out in an orderly manner IV. A Fountain when the Passage or Vent is open le ts out its Water freely V. Fountains always empty themselves into low Places they love to glide in the Vallies of the Earth He sends his Springs into the Vallies VI. Fountains by letting out their Water into Vallies Meadows and low Ground make them very fruitful when Mountains and high Grounds abide barren and unprofitable VII Fountain-Water is usually common to all the Poor and he that hath no Money may partake of it none are forbid to come to a Fountain VIII Fountains yield pure and unmix'd Water Streams are sometimes muddy they may be defiled but Fountain-Water is clear fair and without Filth IX Many Fountains are deep

that have Interest in him or can lay claim to this Lamb and his Righteousness is for our Cloathing No Money will pass for currant as it were with God but Jesus Christ. He is the Saints Treasure their Estate and Inheritance lies in Christ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness c. X. Christ made himself of no reputation In respect of his Humanity he is called a Worm as Annotators expound that in the Psalmist Psal. 22.6 I am a Worm and no Man a Reproach of Men and despised of the People He was small and despised in the eyes of the great Heroes of the Earth There are several great Disparities between Christ and a Lamb but we shall pass by them and only take notice of two or three Inferences I. IF the Lord Jesus was such an harmless innocent silent and delightful Lamb how doth this set out and aggravate the horrid Sin of the Jews and others who put him to death II. And how doth it magnify the Love and Pity of God to us that he should be pleased to part with this precious Lamb out of his Bosom to be made a Sacrifice for our Sins III. From hence also we may learn how to carry it in the World not to be high-minded and seek great things for our selves he did not so Let the same Mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus c. IV. Let us make him our Example when under Suffering and in the hands of wicked Men who when he was reviled reviled not again let us not seek Revenge nor render Evil for Evil to any Man V. Moreover let us be contented as He was whatever it pleaseth the Father to exercise us under or in what Pasture soever he sees good to put us VI. And since he suffered so willingly for us let us labour when called thereunto to lay down our Lives for his holy Name-sake Christ the Pearl of great Price Mat. 13.45 46. And when he had found one Pearl of great Price he sold all that he had and bought it Metaphor I. PEarls as Naturalists tell us have a strange Birth and Original 't is the wonderful Geniture of a Shell-Fish congealed into a diaphanous Stone The Shell which is called the Mother of Pearl at a certain time of the Year opens it self and takes in a certain moist Dew as Seed after which they grow big till they bring forth the Pearl II. Those that would find Pearls must search curiously for them and resolve to run through many Dangers among those huge and terrible Monsters of the Sea saith Pliny III. 'T is not an easy thing to find Pearl very few know where to seek for it it lying usually at the bottom of very deep Waters IV. Pearls are things of very great worth The richest Merchandize of all and the most Sovereign Commodity throughout the whole World are these Pearls saith Pliny Moreover he tells us of one Pearl that Cleopatra had which was valued at six hundred thousand Sestertii hence Men will part with all for Pearl V. Yet notwithstanding many Men and Women do not know the Worth and Value of Pearls and hence they through Ignorance esteem them not above Pebbles Swine tread them under their feet they value Pease above Pearls VI. Pearls have a hidden Virtue in them tho for bulk but small yet in Efficacy they are very great VII Pearls are of a splendid and oriental Brightness for which reason the Greeks call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à nitore splendente their Beauty is as much within as without VIII A Pearl is round which is an Emblem of Eternity it hath no end IX Pearls are firm strong and well-compact so as Fire cannot consume them nor ordinary Strength break them X. They need no other Riches that find a Pearl of great Price and Value they are made for ever as the Proverb is in respect of this World XI Pearls are a rich Ornament Such as have precious Pearls in their Ears or rich Strings of them about their Necks are look'd upon as honourable Persons XII Pearl is a very rich and Sovereign Cordial and is of excellent use and virtue to prevent Poyson to preserve natural Strength and purge Melancholy XIII Pearls are called Vniones by the Latins because they are found one by one quòd conjunctim nulli reperiantur Parallel I. THe Original and Birth of Christ is wonderful God manifested in the Flesh is the Admiration of Angels A Virgin the Mother of this Pearl according to the Flesh being over-shadowed with the holy Spirit which is compared to Dew conceived and when her Time was come travailed and brought forth Christ the Pearl of great Price And the Angel said unto her The Holy-Ghost shall come upon thee and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee c. II. Those that would find the Pearl of great Price must search and seek after him diligently as for hid Treasure and must resolve to pass through all the Troubles and Difficulties that attend the Way of true Piety and Godliness III. 'T is no easy thing to find Christ and obtain an Interest in Him many seek him where he is not to be found in the broad Way and by the Merit of their own Performances few they be that find this precious Pearl IV. Christ is of an inestimable value may well be called the Pearl of great Price The Worth Excellency of Christ far exceeds the Riches of both Indies He is the rarest Jewel the Father hath in Heaven and Earth more precious unto Believers than Rubies and all that can be desired cannot be compared unto Him No mention shall be made of Pearl Hence the Saints part with all for him and do account the best of earthly things but Dung that they may win Christ. V. The Lord Jesus tho in himself he is so precious and prized above all by the Godly yet wicked and carnal Persons by reason of that sordid Ignorance and Blindness that is upon their Understandings esteem him not above the perishing things of this World nay some swinish Men prize their own beastly Lusts above Christ. VI. Christ hath an hidden Virtue most excellent in Nature tho He seem weak small and despised in the Eyes of the carnal World yet he is the Power of God to Salvation VII Christ is beautiful fair and shining his Oriental Brightness is far above the glorious Splendor and Brightness of the Sun shining in his Strength He is the Brightness of the Fathers Glory and the express Image of his Person Christ's Beauty is as much within as without VIII Christ in respect of his Divinity is from Eternity to Eternity without beginning and without end IX Christ is called a Stone a tried Stone and sure Foundation there is no Fire can consume him nor can all the Powers of Hell break or mar him X. They

Delight and Jewel of his Father's Heart his only begotten Son who lay in his Bosome 3. He is most precious in that he is preferred so much above Angels and in his being able to undertake the Work of our Redemption which none in Heaven or Earth had Worth enough in them to do Nothing less than this choice and valuable Jewel or precious Stone would be received as a sufficient Price to satisfy the Justice of God or make full Compensation for Sin the Breach of God's holy Law 4. He is most precious in respect of his Qualifications He hath the fulness of the Godhead in him It pleased the Father that in him all Fulness should dwell hence said to be full of Grace and Truth God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oil of Gladness above thy Fellows He hath not say Divines the Fulness of Parts but the Fulness of Degrees There may be some Addition made to that Fulness that is in Believers but there can be no Addition made to his There is in Christ not only enough the Fulness of Sufficiency but also the Fulness of Redundancy Angels may have no want but in Christ is an Overplus to redound to others He hath enough to fill thousands and millions of thousands Of his Fulness we have all received and Grace for Grace 5. Christ is precious in the esteem of the holy Angels the Angelical Host to honour and shew their high esteem and awful respects to him at his Birth sang with a loud voice Glory to God in the Highest They adore and worship him continually All the Godly accounted and will for ever account of Him as the most precious and inestimable Jewel in Heaven or Earth The Saints in Heaven for ever proclaim his glorious Worth and Praise they cry Power Riches Wisdom Strength Honour Glory and Blessing to the Lamb for ever and ever To all the Saints on Earth he is precious Paul accounted all things as dung that he might win Christ The Spouse crys out He is white and ruddy the chiefest amongst ten thousand Believers have parted with all things in this World freely for his sake Nay in love to him and to shew how they did adore and honour him have been made Sacrifices in dreadful Flames rather than they would undervalue or deny his holy Name Christ is precious very precious most precious always precious altogether precious Precious in his Nature precious in his Name that is as precious Ointment poured forth precious in all his Offices his Spirit Grace Word Ordinances and Promises are precious Can Believers value him enough who is their Life Life External Life Internal and Life Eternal Christ is their Light he is their Mediator Surety Friend Food Clothing Ornaments Portion c. in a word He is All in All to them VII Christ being a precious Stone never loses his Strength or Beauty as he cannot be defaced by Men nor Devils Eternity it self cannot dissolve this Stone nor diminish its brightness Christ is durable Heaven and Earth shall fade away and wax old like a Garment but Jesus Christ is still the same and his years fail not he is the same yesterday to day and for ever VIII Christ Jesus the spiritual precious Stone is exceeding great As God he is of infinite dimension filling Heaven and Earth with his Presence He is large enough for the whole Foundation and every Corner this one entire Stone serves for all IX All manner of Perfections Virtues choice and admirable Excellencies meet together in the Lord Jesus his Brightness is far above the Brightness of Diamonds his Whiteness excells the Whiteness of Pearls and there is no medicinal Virtue or Quality in any precious Stone but in a spiritual way is far more transcendent in him He cures the Sight strengthens and cures the Heart makes fruitful resists Poyson c. See the Metaphors Pearl of great price and Foundation Inferences I. FRom hence we may infer That the Church of God is a very rich and glorious Building as 't was foretold it should be O thou afflicted tossed with Tempests and not comforted behold I will lay thy Stones with fair Colours and thy Foundation with Saphire II. Ascribe all the Beauty and Glory of the Church and of the Saints to the Lord Jesus III. Bless God for this choice and precious Stone of the Corner The more excellent Christ is the more it should draw out and enlarge our Hearts to bless and praise God for him IV. For Trial. Is Christ precious to you I shall lay down a few Rules whereby you may try your selves 1. Dost thou own Christ to be very God He cannot be valued nor esteemed by any as he is in himself till they thus account of him and believe in him 2. Dost thou honour adore and obey Him as thou dost honour adore and obey the Father All Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father 3. Is there nothing here below which thou valuest and prizest above Christ An Hypocrite hath always something that lies in his Bosom which he esteems and prizes more than Christ Their Hearts go after their Covetousness The young Man went away sorrowful because the World was uppermost in his Affection If Christ be truly precious to any he is superlatively precious to them 4. If God should bid thee ask what thou wilt as he did Solomon what wouldest thou request of him Would it be thinkest thou this precious Stone this Christ this Pearl of great price to have a Right to him to be like him to enjoy him to be with him for ever 5. Is Christ much in your Thoughts Where your Treasure is there your Hearts will be also 6. Hast thou denied thy self of all things or art thou ready so to do and to follow Him For whom I have suffered the Loss of all things and do account them but Dung that I may win Christ. 7. Canst thou not be satisfied with any thing thou dost enjoy without him Canst thou say with one in another Case Yet all this availeth me nothing so long as I see not or have not a clear Evidence of my Interest in Jesus Christ. 8. Dost thou build wholly upon Him Is He All to thee Dost thou see him all in Pacification 'T was he that appeased the Wrath of the Father satisfied both Law and Justice He is All in Justification Who is the Lord our Righteousness He is All in Election the first and chief of his Father's Choice the way of it He hath chosen us in him Is He All to thee for Acceptation Who hath made us accepted in the Beloved He is All in Conversion 'T is he that shews us the Necessity of it that doth quicken and beget us by his Word and Spirit 't is he that forms a new Spirit in us Is he All to thee about Pardon of Sin He purchased Pardon 'T is by his own Blood viz. that Atonement which he hath made we

for fit for his own Use and Eternal Life This way he makes us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 As Heaven is prepared for us so Christ is preparing us for Heaven VIII This may support and comfort us under Affliction for tho no Chastening seems joyous at present but grievous yet nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable Fruit of Righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby Christ compared to an Eagle Exod. 19.4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians and how I bore you on Eagles Wings and brought you unto my self Deut. 32.11 12. As an Eagle stirreth up her Nest fluttereth over her Young spreadeth her Wings looketh to them beareth them on her Wings so the Lord did lead him c. Rev. 12.14 And to the Woman were given two Wings of a great Eagle that she might flie into the Wilderness c. SOme say that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aquila an Eagle is derived of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be carried violently Others from an intensive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a Year because it is lively from whence came the Proverb Vivacior Aquilâ livelier than an Eagle Others say That the Latin Aquila is derived ab aquilo colore from its dun colour For its swiftness and seldom returning Job says chap. 9.26 My days pass away as the Eagle c. that is swiftly and never to return Because of its velocity and forcible flight it denotes the quick invasion of an Enemy Jer. 48.40 49.22 Hos. 8.1 Micha 1.16 which describes the greatness of the Calamity Exod. 19.4 I have born you on Eagles Wings that is the Lord hath lovingly supported and cherished you as Eagles do their young who bear them safe over craggy and dangerous places See Jer. 4.13 Lam. 4.19 It 's said Psal. 103.5 Thy youth is renewed like the Eagles that is he hath strengthned thee so as to go through all Difficulties c. Galatinus saith that the Messiah is called an Eagle Prov. 30.19 c. But in the Texts alledged viz. Deut. 32.12 Exod. 19.4 c. the Lord is compared to an Eagle with respect to the Protection and Safety of his People the Swiftness of his Deliverances and his tender Care and Affection to them The great Eagle Annotators tell us signifieth the Lord Jesus and it seems to be an Allusion to that Flight of the Church from Egypt to Canaan which she undertook not by her own Counsel but by the Lord's Command and performed not by her own Strength but by the Lord's As the Church of Israel fled from the Dragon Pharaoh as he is called Ezek. 29.3 So the Christian Church fled from the Serpent or Dragon here with two Wings of a great Eagle Now tho I deny not but these Scriptures refer to God the Father yet may they as safely and in the Judgment of some more properly refer to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stephen speaking of Christ saith This was he that was with the Fathers in the Wilderness which spake to them in Mount Sinai c. Simile I. THe Eagle is a Royal Bird the Princess or Queen of all the Birds of the Air. II. The Eagle is a very strong Fowl Naturalists speak much of the Eagle in this respect Eagles carry the Prize saith Pliny both for Honour and Strength III. The Eagle mounts up exceeding high out of the reach or sight of Men. IV. The Eagle hath a very piercing Eye when she is on high can see down to the Earth nay behold the small Fish in the Sea V. The Eagle is a mighty swift Creature My Days are swifter than an Eagle She is swift in pursuit of her Prey VI. The Eagle Historians tell us fights with Dragons and Serpents and overcomes them VII The Eagle hath strong and long Wings which she easily spreads forth for the succor and help of her young VIII The Eagle bears and carries her young upon her Wings she spreads abroad her Wings takes them beareth them upon her Wings IX The Eagle hides her Young in high and mighty Rocks where her Nest is even in the same ragged place of inaccessible Rocks X. The Eagles Voice Naturalists tell us is so terrible that when he is angry he makes all living Creatures to be afraid Dracones audito etangore Aquilarum fugerunt in speluncas The Dragons when they hear the angry Voice of the Eagles flie into the Dens to hide themselves XI The Eagles way in the Air cannot be known XII Historians say the Eagle can look on the Sun in its brightest Splendor without being dazled She tries her young Ones the same way to see whether they be her true Off-spring for if they cannot behold the Sun but wink or their Eyes water they turn them out of their Nest and disown them as Degenerates or Bastards XIII The Eagle trains up her Young to be like her self and to mount up as she mounts XIV The Eagle is very careful and tender of her Young XV. Naturalists tell us the Eagle gives her Young Ones of her own Blood when she cannot get other Blood for them to drink XVI The Eagle is very long-liv'd The Greeks express her by a word signifying Longevity And some give the Reason not only from the excellent Temperament of her Body but because she lives in such a pure Air free from all evil Vapours and noisom Smells Parallel I. JEsus Christ is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth King of Kings and Lord of Lords As the Eagle among Birds so Christ both amongst Men and Angels hath the preheminence II. The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Mighty God I have laid help on one that is mighty For Strength he is compared to a Lion What is all human and natural Power to the Strength and Power of Jesus Christ III. The Lord Jesus after his Resurrection mounted up exceeding high into the highest Heavens far out of the sight of Man's natural Eye where he cannot be reached by wicked Men or Devils IV. Jesus Christ hath a wonderful piercing Eye seeth not only from the highest Clouds whither the Eagle mounts but from the highest Heaven can look into the Secrets of every Man's Heart even into the Hell of wicked Mens diabolical Counsels and can throughly see their bloody Purposes and Contrivances altho they dig never so deep yet they cannot hide themselves from his Omniscience for he sees what they are doing V. The Lord Jesus is swift when he comes to fight against the Enemies of his Church he is swift in the executing of his Judgments swift to deliver and help his People See Metaph. Sun Hart c. VI. Jesus Christ the spiritual Eagle fought with that great red Dragon the Devil and hath bruised the head of the Dragon VII The Lord Jesus hath strong Love enlarged and great