Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	old_a	young_a	youth_n	300	4	8.2577	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B25425	Troposchēmalogia: Tropes and figures; or, A treatise of the metaphors, allegories, and express similitudes, &c. contained in the Bible of the Old and New Testament To which is prefixed, divers arguments to prove the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures wherein also 'tis largely evinced, that by the great whore, mystery Babylon is meant the Papal hierarchy, or present state and church of Rome. Philologia sacra, the second part. Wherein the schemes, or figures in Scripture, are reduced under their proper heads, with a brief explication of each. Together with a treatise of types, parables, &c. with an improvement of them parallel-wise. By B. K; Tropologia. Book 4.	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.; De Laune, Thomas, d. 1685. Tropologia. aut	1682 (1682)	Wing K101A; ESTC R7039	690,855	608

shie of and ready at all turns to flie from and avoid any external horrible Uncleanness But Sin is a bewitching and ensnaring Uncleanness All the bodily Beauty in the World did never entice so many as the Deformity and foul Face of Sin hath Beauty and Comeliness are the Attractives the Loadstone of Love Christ was not loved by many because he did not appear beautiful he vail'd his glorious Beauty Lust is loved tho it be altogether unbeautiful Christ is the Mirror of Beauty tho some see no Comeliness in him he is fairer than the Children of Men But there is no Form or Comeliness in Sin nothing indeed why it should be desired yet how is it admired and esteemed by all Sorts of Men They dote upon it and run mad with love to it 't is so bewitching as the choicest Beauty in the World III. Wh●t Filth Uncleanness or Pollution is of such a murthering killing and destroying Nature as Sin It is true some horrid Pollution is of a corrupting poysonous and destroying Quality but not like Sin This Venom this Uncleanness is worse than any more mortal than any it kills both Body and Soul too it destroys eternally O there is no finding out the cursed Nature of it there is nothing can save from the killing Power of it nor cleanse from its Pollution but Christ's Blood Inferences O What a woful Condition is Man in by Nature how unclean in God's sight Well might Eliphaz say Job 15.16 How abominable and filthy is Man who drinketh in Iniquity like Water The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notes that which is most abhorring to the Nature of Man that which is not only so nauseous that the Stomach cannot digest it but so base that the Mind is burthened to think upon it yea the Word imports that which is rejected by all the Senses that which the Eye cannot endure to look upon that which the Ear cannot endure to hear of that which is a Stink in the Nostrils and which the Hand will not touch such a a thing is Man in God's Sight by reason of Sin Filthy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Word is derived from a Root that signifies Caryl on Job 15.16 corrupt rotten putrified the Scum of a Pot the Rust of Metals the Dung or Excrement of Man and Beasts There are no Words saith Caryl filthy enough to express the Filthiness of Man The Word is found saith he but three times in Scripture in this Construction and in all of them 't is applied to shew the abominable Wickedness of Man The first is this Job 15.16 Psal 14 3. Psal 53.3 as if this were a Word pick'd out on purpose as a Glass to shew Man his Face and natural Complexion in c. Job 7.17 II. O what is Man that God should be mindful of him What Beauty is there in him that the Almighty should set his Heart upon him III. What little reason have wicked Men to be proud And how sadly are they mistaken who think to adorn themselves with Sin How do Sinners pride themselves in their filthy Garments and Cloak of Unrighteousness He is no Gallant now a days unless he can swear and curse and cry Damn-him and Sink-him Lord what an Age is this They shew their Sin as Sodom and hide it not they glory in their Shame IV. Let us learn from hence to be fully sensible of our Birth-Pollution I mean Original Sin Job 25.5 Job 14.4 that which we brought into the World with us Can he be clean that is born of a Woman Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Can the Stream be clean when the Fountain is so unclean All that are born by natural Generation are unclean Adam's particular Act or Breach of the Law of God was ours we being in him he stood as the common Root of all his Posterity 't is also by the Almighty imputed to us The natural Pravity or Corruption which issueth from thence passeth from Generation to Generation V. We may infer from hence that every Man and Woman hath need of washing say not therefore with Peter Thou shalt never wash my Feet when every part is defiled c. VI. Go polluted Soul go to the Fountain 'T is the Blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all Sin VII Bless God there is a Fountain to wash in a Fountain opened for Sin and Uncleanness See Fountain in the First Volume VIII You that are clean praise the Almighty Ye were as filthy as others Such were some of you c. Saints may be said to be clean four manner of Ways 1. Clean meritoriously by the Blood of the Lord Jesus 2. Efficaciously by the Spirit uniting them to Christ and sanctifying their Hearts 3. Clean instrumentally by the Word Now are you clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you 4. Clean impulsively and attractively by Faith Purifying their Hearts by Faith Sin compared to Gray-Hairs Hos 7.9 Yea gray Hairs are here and there upon him and he knoweth it not HE knoweth it not that is Israel or Ephraim viz. the ten Tribes Hos 1.4 Amos 9.8 Ephraim may be considered as a Kingdom I am against the sinful Kingdom or as a Church They were a People in Covenant with God or in a National Church-State and once youthful and beautiful but now they are become old and gray-headed i. e. they had Symptoms of Decay and Ruine upon them Gray Hairs Some by gray Hairs understand heavy Judgments others some prevailing Evils or Sins which were Signs of Destruction c. There may be Truth in both Note Symptoms of Ruine oft-times appear upon a People before their Ruine comes Parallels GRay Hairs are a Sign that a Man's best Days his youthful Days are gone So some Sins and Judgments upon a People are a Sign that their best Days are past away that their Youth and Glory is departing II. Gray Hairs are a Sign of old Age So some Sins and Judgments upon a People shew forth that they are old in Wickedness III. Gray Hairs come oft-times by great Grief Scaliger tells us of a young Man Burroughs who through the extreme Trouble of his Spirit was turned gray in one Night So the Judgments and Miseries of a People because of their Sins make them gray-headed and thereby look old and withered c. IV. When gray Hairs come upon a Man they bring oftentimes with them feeble Knees and Stiffness of the Limbs So Sin makes feeble the Heat of Zeal and Vigour of Spirit is thereby abated V. Gray Hairs are Symptoms and Fore-runners of Death and Mortality So some Sins and Miseries upon a People are the clear Symptoms of spiritual Death or Night of Darkness VI. Some Men have gray Hairs here and there and they know not of them So a Soul Nation or Church may have sad Symptoms of Ruine upon them and they be ignorant of them He knows it not Quest What were those gray Hairs that

their own Nature look up to Him it might convince us that all inferior Creatures do depend upon Him as well as those noble Ones But when they come in with the Faces of other Creatures looking up it is a clear Evidence that all depend upon Christ By him were all things created Col. 1.16 17. that are in Heaven and in Earth visible and invisible whether Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers All things were created by him and for him and by him all things consist Sixthly We are to learn from hence to be heavenly-minded with the holy Angels to look up The Holy Angels compared to the Wind and to Flaming-Fire Psal 104.4 Maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flaming Fire Heb. 1.7 And of the Angels he saith Who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a Flame of Fire SOme of the modern Jews deny there is any mention made of Angels in Psal 104.4 affirming that the Subject the Psalmist treats of are the Winds with Thunder and Lightning which God employs as his Messengers and Ministers to do his Will and Pleasure But that the Psalmist means the Angels is evident from the Design and Scope of the Words The Consent of the ancient Jews lies against the Sentiments of the modern both the old Translations either made or embraced by them expresly refer the Words unto Angels On Heb. 1. so Dr. Owen observes do the Seventy and so doth the Targum thus rendring the Place Who maketh his Messengers or Angels swift as Spirits and his Ministers strong or powerful as a flaming Fire The Supply of the Note of Similitude makes it evident that they understand the Text of Angels and not of Winds and of making Angels as Spirits and not of making Winds to be Angels or Messengers which is inconsistent with their Words The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth usually denote the Angels themselves and no reason can be given why it should not do so in this place The Apostle puts it out of doubt positively saying And of the Angels he saith c. That the Apostle speaketh not here of the Nature and Essence of Angels but their Dignity Honour and Employment is evident upon which account saith our Reverend Author he preferreth the Lord Jesus Christ before them Observ God sendeth his Angels like the Winds or like a Flame of Fire Metaphor Parallel THe Wind is invisible who can see it ANgels are invisible Spirits we are daily attended upon by them but see them not II. The Wind blows at God's Command he is said to hold the Wind in his Fist II. Angels go at God's Command He hath them at his Beck Psal 103.20 III. The Wind is quick piercing and powerful in its Operation the Cause of many gracious Effects tho sometimes sent as a Judgment III. Angels are quick agil and powerful in their Working and many great and glorious Blessings Saints receive from their Ministration tho sometimes sent as a Scourge to Nations and particular Persons to execute God's Displeasure as on Sodom c. Flaming-Fire I. A flaming Fire is of a burning quality I. Seraphims signify Burning noting that mighty Zeal they are attended with in doing God's Will II. A flaming Fire is of a consuming destroying and devouring Nature II. So have the Angels of God been to many of God's implacable Enemies as hath been hinted III. A Flaming Fire is a good Defence in a howling Wilderness especially if it be round about such as dwell therein III. The Angels of God are a glorious Defence to the Church whilst in the Wilderness of this World where they are daily surrounded by wicked Men who are compared unto Beasts of Prey Psal 34.7 The Angels of God encamp round about them that fear him c. Inferences THis may comfort the Godly who dwell among blood-thirsty Enemies they are surrounded with a Flame of Fire viz. the holy Angels of God 2. Let ungodly Ones tremble can they stand before a flaming Fire and not be consumed God can soon send his Angels to destroy them 3. It should also stir up Believers to act with much Zeal and Fervency in the Work and Service of God The Angels for Zeal and Agility are like a Flame of Fire We should do the Will of God on Earth as the Angels of God do it in Heaven The Holy Angels compared to Horses 2 Kings 6.17 And Elisha prayed and said Lord I pray thee open his Eyes And the Lord opened the Eyes of the young Man and he saw and behold the Mountains were full of Horses and Chariots of Fire round about Elisha Zech. 1.8 I saw by night and behold a Man riding upon a red Horse and he stood among the Myrtle-Trees that were in the bottom and behind him were three red Horses speckled and white BY these Horses all Expositors understand the holy Angels of God are intended They are compared to Horses and Chariots of Fire also to Horses of divers Colours These things seem very dark and mysterious 1. We shall briefly however hint a few things why they may be compared to Horses II. Why to Horses and Chariots of Fire III. Why to red speckled and white Horses Metaphor Parallel A Horse is a strong and a very couragious and fearless Creature which God himself elegantly setteth forth Job 39. v. 19 to 24. Hast thou given the Horse his Strength hast thou cloathed his Neck with Thunder Canst thou make him afraid The Glory of his Nostrils is terrible He rejoyceth in his Strength He goeth on to meet the armed Man He mocketh at Fear and is not affrighted neither turneth he back from the Sword c. ANgels are mighty in Strength One of them saith an eminent Writer is stronger than all the World They are called mighty Angels or God's mighty Ones Angels of his Strength They are couragious and void of Fear their Necks may be said to be cloathed with Thunder they turn their Backs for none They fear not the glittering Spear nor the Shield Who is able to engage or encounter with one of the glorious Seraphims or Cherubims Are any of the Sons of the Mighty a Match for him What was Alexander or Julius Caesar or all the mighty Champions that ever were to the Angels of Heaven II. The Horse is a very useful Creature useful to carry Burthens and draw the Chariots of Princes useful to ride on useful for War c. II. Angels are exceeding useful See Oxen. They bear up the Saints they help support and carry them along in their Journey to their everlasting Home they carry their Souls into Abraham's Bosom The Beggar died and was carried by the Angels c. The Chariots and Horses of Fire that parted the two Worthies 2 Kings 2.11 12. those Princes of the Prophets and carried one of them to Heaven were the Blessed Angels of God II. They are compared to Horses and Chariots of Fire to shew how fierce agil and swift they are in their Motion and how

Money and to mind their own private Advantage more than the Credit and Glory of their Sovereign and Honour of their Captain VI. So it is a Reproach to a Christian to aim at Self in all he doth in Religion Many Men care not to do any thing for the Honour of God further then it makes as they conceive directly for their own Interest and Advantage Tell some Men of this or that Ordinance and Command of Christ they presently object May I not be saved without it Is it necessary to Salvation These Men only make Religion as a Bridg to carry them to Heaven meer mercenary Souls Alas a true Christian obeys and serves Christ sincerely that he may glorify and honour his holy Name knowing he deserves more at his hands than he is ever able to perform not doubting his Labour shall ever be in vain in the Lord the very Work is Wages to him Paul was resolved Christ should be magnified in his Body whether it were by Life or by Death Phil. 1.20 VII A Souldier hath his Warfare appointed him and his Enemies discovered to him and Orders to fight VII So a Christian hath his Warfare appointed him his grand Enemies are made known to him and he hath received Commission also to enter the Combat with them whosoever they are whether Foreign or Domestick whether external or internal secret or open First His Foreign or External Enemies are these 1. The Devil called the King of the Bottomless Pit Prince of the Power of the Air the great Dragon the Captain-General of the black Regiment and of the Hellish Militia that makes War against the Lamb and his Followers Every Christian is commanded to enter the List and to fight against these Principalities and Powers Eph. 6.11 12. 2. The World this is another grand potent and subtil Adversary many have been overcome and subdued by it 1. The Things of the World viz. the Pleasures Honours and Profits of the World These as one well observes have their Hooks and Snares hid under their pleasant Baits they usually prevail by Craft their Flatteries and Allurements are very dangerous By this part of the World Satan set upon our blessed Saviour Mat. 4.8 2. The Men of the World who are the Subjects of the Prince of Darkness and his Souldiers the Militia of Hell and the Auxiliaries of Satan the Seed of the Old Serpent who are filled with Enmity against the Woman's Seed Rom. 8.44 He that is born after the Flesh persecuteth him that is born after the Spirit c. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father ye will do These continually oppose the Truth and hate Godliness and those who profess it 3. The Worships of the World Saints have been often exposed to great Dangers for opposing the Ways Inventions and Superstitions of Men the Worship of the Beast and cursed Fornications of the great Whore but whilst they are able to stand or have Life in them they must oppose and resist all false Ways and Worshippers such as strive to make void the Doctrine of Christ and the Commands of God by their Traditions 4. There are also the Lusts of the World the Lusts of the Eye and the Pride of Life which Saints are engaged to fight against and oppose 1 John 2.16 Secondly They have their Domestick Enemies 1. Sin which is a wretched and treacherous Inmate and cursed Adversary 2. The Flesh These two made the holy Apostle to cry out Rom. 7. 1 Pet. 2.11 O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me c. Hence we are exhorted as Strangers and Pilgrims to abstain from fleshly Lusts that war against the Soul VIII A Souldier expects and therefore ought to prepare to meet with his Enemies he knows he is chosen listed and placed under the Command of his Captain on purpose to fight VIII So a Saint expects and therefore ought to make ready to meet with spiritual Opposition from the Enemies of the Soul as soon as ever he is listed and entred into Christ's Service As it fell out with the Captain himself who no sooner was baptized Mat. 4. but presently he was led into the Wilderness to be tempted of the Devil So a Christian must always be prepared and resolved to engage and fight them Whom resist stedfastly in the Faith IX A Souldier goeth not on a Warfare at his own Charge his Prince bears the Expence of the War and furnisheth him with whatsoever is necessary for that Atchievement IX A Believer goeth not out in the Spiritual Warfare at his own Charge Christ furnisheth him with Clothes Armor Weapons and with all Things needful and necessary all is managed by his gracious and blessed Spirit X. A Souldier ought to be expert and well-skill'd in Martial Discipline to know all the Postures of War particularly the Word of Command and to obey presently He must not dispute the Matter nor make the least Pause Those Souldiers that were under the Centurion were very tractable upon this account as himself confessed I say to one Mat. 8.9 Go and he goeth and to another Come and he cometh X. So a Saint ought to be well-skill'd in all things necessary for a Christian Souldier it requires much Wisdom and Experience he must understand the Word of Command and be ready to obey his Captain as soon as ever the Word is given David had learned this part well I made haste Psal 119.60 Acts 26.19 and delayed not to keep thy Commandments And Paul saith He immediately obeyed the heavenly Vision It is a very unbecoming thing in Christians to stand or make a pause about their Obedience to Christ in those Things they are convinced to be their indispensible Duty it argues they have but little regard to the Honour of their Captain the Lord Jesus Christ Shall Souldiers be so careful and ready to obey their earthly Leaders who are but Men and shall not we be as ready and forward to obey the Lord Jesus Christ our heavenly Leader who is the most w●se and blessed God XI Souldiers must know their Places how to keep both Rank and File Military Discipline hath appointed every Officer in the Army his proper Place and every private Souldier to abide in the same Rank and File or Place where he is set by his Commander and none may alter their Station or change their Postures upon their own private account they must not break their Order upon their Peril for that is a Dishonour to the Captain and Standers by will laugh and reproach him besides if it be in a Time of Battel he exposeth himself and others to great Danger If an Army or Body of Men are once broken and in Confusion they are soon routed by their Enemies XI So must a Saint know his Place and particular Station where he is set by his Captain the Lord Jesus If he be set as a File-leader or made an Officer to lead a Party it is

his Days Or who having a long Race to run that requires all his Strength resolves to defer it until old decrepid Age IX Wicked Men think 't is time enough to repent when they have spent all their Days in Sin and in serving the Devil When they should reap the Harvest of a godly Life they think 't is time enough to begin to sow to the Spirit and convert to God They sow to the Flesh and yet think to reap Life everlasting when nothing is more evident than this viz. Whatsoever a Man soweth that shall he reap therefore saith the Apostle Gal. 6.7 8. He that soweth to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting Shall foolish Men think to serve the Devil all the best of their Days and yet hope that at last God will accept of their Repentance X. A Fool delighteth to do Mischief Prov. 10.23 or as Solomon saith It is a Sport to a Fool to do Mischief We daily see how mischievous Idiots are 't is dangerous to let some of them at large or to be in Company with them tho others are more harmless X. Wicked Men are full of Mischief Hence saith David Psal 26.10 Gather not my Soul with Sinners nor my Life with bloody Men in whose Hands is Mischief c. Psal 28.3 Draw me not away with the Wicked and with the Workers of Iniquity which speak Peace to their Neighbour but Mischief is in their Hearts Yea he deviseth Mischief upon his Bed he setteth himself in a way that is not good Nothing more evident than this How restless have the ungodly been in every Age of the Church to contrive Mischief against their peaceable Neighbours especially the wicked Papists What Plots and Sham-Plots have they devised to destroy the Quiet and Peace of this Land nay to destroy the upright and godly People that dwell therein They care not what Mischief they do so that they may undo and spoil those who hate their idolatrous Church One while they study Ways how to blow up the King and Parliament another while burn our Houses and lay our famous City in Ashes And as if this Mischief were not enough they have carried on a secret and devillish Design to take away our Religion and Lives and whatsoever is dear to us and then to blind the unwary and credulous Sort of People invent Sham-Plots to cast all upon the innocent Protestants But let them remember in this they are but Fools they have the Mark and Brand of Fools upon them and their Mischief shall fall upon their own Heads He that seeketh Mischief Prov. 11.27 it shall come upon him XI Is not he a Fool that labours for the Wind and thinks to feed on the Wind and pursues a Shadow and sets his Heart upon that which is not XI Wicked Men are said to labour for the Wind Riches are compared to the Wind and he that pursues after them pursues after the Wind and what a Fool is he that doth thus What Profit hath he saith Solomon that hath laboured for the Wind And as Men are said to labour for the Wind Eccl. 5.16 so likewise they are said to feed upon the Wind Ephraim feedeth on Wind Hos 12.1 and followeth after the East-Wind Which saith Mr. Burroughs is a Proverbial Speech to note the following after vain and unprofitable Things that is to feed on the Wind when Men please themselves in their own Conceits and in their own Counsels and Plots c. 1. When they promise to themselves great Matters by Ways of their own and leave God's Ways and Institutions they may be said to feed on the Wind and the Prophet rebuketh the Ten Tribes for this 2. They feed on the Wind saith he and so their Hearts are puffed up in Pride and carnal Confidence You know according to the Food a Man or Woman feedeth upon so will their Bodies be so those that feed upon the Wind must needs have proud Hearts or be puffed up with Pride and Self-conceitedness 3. Evil Men that live upon Comforts that are carnal and seek for the Honour and Applause of Men they feed upon the Wind they seek to satisfy themselves with Vanity they strive to take hold of a Shadow and follow after the Wind Things that cannot fill the Soul nor satisfy its Desires Things that are uncertain lost by one Storm at Sea consumed by one Spark of Fire or gone by a false Oath or wasted by the Badness of Trade or by the Extravagancy of an evil and foolish Son and therefore are Fools XII Is not he a Fool that esteems the greatest Evil above the greatest Good XII Wicked Men set their Hearts upon their base and cursed Lusts love their Sins more than God and Christ We read of some who are Lovers of Pleasure more than Lovers of God Now is not Sin the greatest Evil and God the greatest Good 2 Tim 3.4 There is nothing bitterer than the one nor nothing b●tter than the other and yet they chuse Sin and refuse the Good that is in the eternal God and account Christ not worth the Pleasure of one wicked Lust and therefore Fools XIII Is not he a Fool who to avoid a Spark leaps into the Fire or to save his Hat loses his Head XIII Wicked Men to avoid a little Trouble and Affliction in this World expose themselves to eternal Torment before they will deny themselves of their Lusts they will burn in Hell for them rather than go to Prison for Christ they will go to Hell for denying of him Inferences LAment over wicked Men Fools are to be pitied 2. Be patient and thou wilt see what will become of these Fools 3. It shews what abundance of Folly and Fools there are in the World 4. It shews us how strangely ungodly Men worldly wise Men are deceived in themselves 5. It shews what true Wisdom is The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom and to depart from Evil is Vnderstanding and in another place 't is said Psal 111.10 The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom and a good Vnderstanding have all they that do his Commandments 6. Let it caution thee to take heed lest thou art a Fool The Characters of such an one as given by wise Solomon take as followeth 1. He will be medling Prov. 2.3 2. One that is as you have heard mischievous Prov. 10.23 3. One that many Afflictions and Stripes will not work upon nor humble 4. One whose Sin cleaves to him Prov. 27.22 5. One that is full of Words Eccles 10.14 6. One that will utter all his Mind Prov. 29.11 speaks that which he should conceal 7. One that Prosperity destroys Prov. 1.32 8. One that is slothful Eccles 4.5 9. One that trusteth in his own Heart Prov. 28.26 10. One that holdeth it Folly to depart from Evil. Prov. 13.19 Wicked Men compared to

have fit Instruments to work with viz. the Gospel which is called the engrafted Word i. e an Instrument or Means by which Souls are planted or grafted into Christ by the help of the Holy-Ghost without which they can do nothing III. A Planter knows that until the Ground he is to plant be dug up and well prepared 't is not meet to be sowed or planted III. So Ministers know unless the Hearts of Sinners are dug by the powerful Convictions of the Word and Spirit of God they are not fit to receive the Seed of Grace nor to be planted in God's Vineyard IV. Planters as Naturalists observe find by experience that a wild ungrafted Tree never bears good Fruit nor can till it be removed out of its natural Soil into a good Soil and grafted with a better Kind The Root that bears this wild Fruit is a degenerate Root and that is the Cause the Fruit is so unpleasant sowre and naught IV. So Ministers also know that unregenerate Men who grow upon the natural Root of old Adam unless they are removed and planted into Jesus Christ cannot bring forth acceptable Fruit to God until removed by the Power of the Word and Spirit and transplanted into Jesus Christ by a lively Faith Mankind naturally are the Off-spring of a corrupt and degenerate Root viz. the first Adam for as is the Root and Tree such are the Branches and the Fruit thereof A corrupt Tree cannot bring good Fruit. Mat. 7.18 V. A Planter who hath Skill in Grafting knows the Stock must be cut off before the Sienes as some call them or after Pliny Sions be grafted in V. So a Minister knows that until the new Stock viz. Jesus Christ was cut off that is to say crucified no Men as spiritual Syenes can be grafted into him by a lively Faith Tho there is in this a great Disparity as applied to Ministers for Planters cut off or cleave the Stock themselves before they graft the Siene but Christ was cut off by another hand VI. A Planter knows a Twig that is to be grafted or a Bud inoculated must first be cut off with a Knife that is keen or sharp or an Instrument from the Tree on which it naturally grew And when the Grafts are cut off in order to this Work 't is a critical Season with them saith worthy Mr. Flavel if they lie too long before they are engrafted or take not with the Stock they die and are never more recovered they may stand in the Stock a while but are no part of the Tree VI. So a Minister knows before a Soul can be grafted into Christ he must be cut off of the old Stock viz. old Adam and taken off of his own Righteousness The first Work upon a Christian is cutting Work They were cut or pricked in their Hearts Acts 2.37 Heb. 4. while Peter preached to them The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged Sword As no Siene is engrafted without cutting so no Soul is united to Christ Joh. 16.8 9. without a true and cutting Sense of Sin and of its own Misery And when Souls are under a Work of Conversion 't is a critical Time with them many have miscarried then and never recovered again They have indeed for a time remained like dead Grafts in the Stock by an external lifeless Profession but never come to any thing for such dead Grafts in a little time fall off from the Stock Christ and perish But this I must needs say it is principally for want of being quite cut off or because they were never throughly cut or wounded at Heart Convictions upon their Hearts were never deep enough or not kind Convictions rather Legal than Evangelical they were not cut by a fit Instrument c. VII A Planter when Grafts are cut off and prepared to be engrafted makes all convenient speed he can to close them with the new Stock the sooner saith one that is done the better The Graft is intimately united and closely conjoined with the Stock the Conjunction is so close that they become one Tree VII So a Minister when he sees poor Sinners are fitted and every way prepared by powerful Convictions ought to make what speed he can to apply the Plaister and direct them to a Closure with Christ that is to say Act. 16.30 31. to believe on the Lord Jesus And when this is done there is an intimate Union betwixt Christ and the Souls that believe in him He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit 'T is the nearest closest and strictest Union they are so glewed one to the other so that look as the Graft is really in the Stock and the Sap of the Stock is really in the Graft So a Believer is really tho mystically in Christ and the Spirit of Christ is communicated to a Believer He that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God 1 Joh. 4 16 And as the Graft is bound to the Stock so steadily that the Wind cannot lose it so the believing Soul is fastened to Christ by such Bonds Flavel as will secure it from all danger of being loosed from him any more This doth the Soul's Vnion with Jesus show And where and how these heavenly Plants do grow VIII A Planter sometimes plants a whole Vineyard with the help and assistance he hath from others VIII So a painful Minister may nay and has planted a whole Church by the help and assistance of the Spirit of God yea several Churches as St. Paul and others we read of c. IX A Planter's Work like other Labourers is very hard they oft-times sweat at it spend and waste themselves they find some Ground very rocky and difficult to dig up and to manure IX So is the Minister's Work a very hard and laborious Work no Digger nor Planter works harder or takes more pains than some faithful Planters or Preachers of the Gospel they frequently sweat at their Work as we have elsewhere shewed and by their Study and great Labour waste their frail Bodies Some Sinners have rocky Hearts X. A Planter doth not only plant but also water his Plants that they may grow and thrive the better X. So godly Ministers do not only preach whereby Souls are planted by the heavenly Doctrine but also pray for Encrease whereby their Plants are watered I have planted and Apollo watered What Paul plants Apollo comes after and waters with his Doctrine that dropp'd like Dew Neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the Encrease XI He that plants a Vineyard with his own Labour ought to be allowed to eat of the Fruit thereof and it would be accounted a strange thing should he be denied it XI So a faithful Minister or spiritual Planter ought to eat of the Fruit of that Church or Vineyard he hath planted or doth keep prune and manure that is to say to be fed and comfortably maintained by them Who goeth a Warfare at his

Apostle expresly tells us that a Man of Sin shall arise who shall be a lawless One 2 Thess 2.3 c. 1 Tim 4. that will lift up himself against God to sit in the Temple of God that was hindred in his wicked Design by the Imperial Power who gets up by a falling away That he was to be so considerable as to be easily discerned and discovered by the Christian World that he was to manage a great Mystery of Iniquity His coming up was to be by the Assistance and Working of the Devil He was to have a twofold Power Civil and Ecclesiastical comprehending all earthly Power He was to suggest Signs and lying Wonders to the People He was to make use of all Treachery or Deceivableness and Lies his Followers were to be given up to strong Delusions his Party was to speak desperate Lies in Hypocrisy to have scared Consciences That he should be against Matrimony that he should command a long Lent and to abstain from Meats If the Pope of Rome be not a Man of Sin then Beelzebub is not a Devil as is largely demonstrated in the foregoing Sheets for no Divine or Humane Law can set any Bounds to his Ambition and spiritual Tyranny That he exalts himself against God in polluting his pure Worship and against Kings by his usurped Supremacy is before evidenced That he was hindred by the Roman Imperial Power is the Opinion and Judgment of the Learned and also that he was the monstrous Spawn of the Great Apostacy That he manages a great Mystery of Iniquity in which his grand Counsellor the Devil lends him Politicks to a double Usurpation and Encroachment upon Soul and Body pretends to Miracles and false Wonders acts like the Metropolitan Cheat and Impostor of Christendom That his Followers are strongly deluded meer Lyars and Hypocrites with seared Consciences forbidding honest Marriage but allowing Canonical Whoredom That he forbids Meats but can dispense with the grossest Debaucheries All these I say with those other Marks the Holy Spirit gives of him are so legible upon the Pope as if the very Sun-Beams had writ them in Capitals upon his Brazen Forehead Therefore we dismiss him with this full-prov'd Conclusion That He and only He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Antichrist and the very Man of Sin Thus you have had a brief Description of Mystery Babylon and the Antichristian Beast who hath been so long a time so great a Plague to the World but more especially to God's Church and we did intend to have added some probable Conjectures concer●ing the Time of her Fall which according to most Authors will be in this present Age c. according to Peter du Moulin Brightman and others before the Year 1690. 'T is said The ten Horns shall hate her c. And I have met with a very ancient Prophecy that says There shall arise a Prince of the Illustrious Lilly that should make War with ●landers c. And that he should fall out with Rome and make War against Italy and in the fortieth Year of his Reign should burn Rome with Fire And according to the Description there given of the Person it should seem to be the present French King the Difference there seems now to be between him and the Pope causeth many to speak of it c. But this we must leave to what Time shall produce THE Tenth HEAD OF Metaphors Allegories Similes AND Other Borrowed TERMS CONCERNING Sin and the Devil Sin a Thief Luke 10.30 And Jesus answered and said A certain Man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among Thieves which stripped him of his Rayment and wounded him leaving him half dead c. THis is generally taken for a Parable tho 't is not so called and before I run the Parallel concerning Sin and a Thief I shall very briefly open the whole Parable according to my present Understanding and commit it to better Judgments 1. By this certain Man I understand the First Adam 2. By Jerusalem that happy State and Place of Peace and Rest which he enjoyed before his Fall 3. By his going from Jerusalem to Jericho his departing from God in obeying the Serpent 4. By Thieves Sin and Satan c. These stripped him of his Rayment viz. His first Righteousness c. and spiritually wounded him leaving him half dead i. e. tho he was alive in his Body he was dead in his Soul In the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die 5. By the Priest and Levite who had no compassion on him may be meant the Law and Levitical Priesthood 6. By the Samaritan Jesus Christ 7. By pouring in Wine the Blood of Jesus that precious Fruit of the true Vine by Oyl the Holy Spirit which those receive who partake of the Virtue of Christ's Blood called the Oyl of Gladness 8. By setting him on his own Beast may be intended the Doctrine of the Gospel for that a Doctrine metaphorically is said to carry the Soul as a Beast doth the Body Be not carried about with divers and strange Doctrines c. Heb. 13. 9. By the Inn may be meant the Church of God for thither the true Doctrine of Christ carries Believers 10. By the Host the Minister or Pastor of the Church 11. By the two-Pence given to the Host to take care of the poor wounded Person may be meant the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit or as others the Old and New Testament but I rather conclude the former 12. The Samaritan going away may signify Christ's Ascension into Heaven who besides all the Divine Gifts Graces and Comforts of the Spirit he bestows upon his faithful Ministers here and to capacitate and fit them to do their Work and Office he will when he comes again give them Eternal Life Observ Sin and the Devil are and may fitly be compared to Thieves and Robbers If this may not safely be inferred from hence yet from divers other Texts of Scripture it may naturally be reduced c. See Rom. 7.11 2 Cor. 11.1 2. Eph. 4.22 Heb. 3.13 In the opening of this we shall first shew what Sin and the Devil robs Men of 2. Shew what kind of Thieves and Robers Sin and the Devil are Thieves Parallel A Thief is one or more that in a secret and felonious manner takes away that which is another Mans whether it be Goods Money c. and thereby oft-times undoe and utterly ruine their Neighbours depriving them of all those good things they had in Possession or the Promise of enjoying c. SIn and Satan strive unjustly to take away or deprive the Sons of Men of their undoubted Right to Divine Things Adam was invested with a very great Estate he had great abundance of all good things in his Possession before the Fall viz. Union and Communion with God perfect Righteousness c. he was the Heir of the World Eden in an especial manner with all the Riches Glory and Delights thereof were his c. nothing

Leprosy c. BY the Plague of the Leprosy all Expositors agree was represented the hateful Nature of Sin Note Sin may fitly be compared to the Plague to the Plague of the Leprosy c. Parallels THe Leprosy proceedeth from poysoned and corrupted Humors in the Body So Sin is nothing else but the poysonous and corrupt Humors of the Soul II. The Plague of the Leprosy spreads over every part of the Body So Sin hath spread it self over the whole Lump of Mankind and over every Faculty of the Soul III. No Disease is more stinking and hateful to Men than the Leprosy So nothing is more abominable and detestable in the sight of God and sincere Christians than Sin IV. No Disease is more contagious and infectious than the Leprosy the Plague of the Pestilence saith a Divine is not so infectious as the Plague of the Leprosy Dr. Taylor it infecteth Houses Walls Vessels Garments c. So nothing is so infectious as Sin See Sin a Wound V. The Plague of the Leprosy separated the infected Person from the Fellowship of all Men whatever they were if incurable altho Kings they were utterly and for ever excl●ded the Host as Vzziah neither were they admitted to come into the Temple to join in holy Things So Sin unrepented of 2 Kings 15.5 separateth from God and Christ and from the Fellowship of the Saints it shuts Souls out of the Church nay out of Heaven it self VI. No Disease is more painful and mortal or more incurable therefore they were enjoined to put on mournful Apparel and Garments it was so rarely and seldom cured that most carried it to their Graves So Sin is very painful and tormenting as we before have shewed VII The Symptoms of the Leprosy agree with the Symptoms and Effects of Sin 1. There is a D●bility and Weakness of all Parts in them that have this Disease because the Spirits are exhausted So Sin makes feeble weakens and debilitates the Powers of the Soul Hence Jacob when he blessed Reuben cries out As weak and unstable as Water because of his Sin Saints have weak Hands and feeble Knees oft times hereby 2. There is in a Leper a Tumor and Swelling in the Flesh So Sin swells a Man up in Pride Vain-glory and Self-conceitedness 3. There is in them saith my Author a burning Thirst through the adust and burnt Blood by Melancholy whereof it ariseth So Sin causeth an Inflammation and Burning of Anger of Lust and vehement Thirst after the World Preferment Pleasures Riches c. See Poyson 4. There is in them filthy putrid Matter breaking forth in a most loathsom manner So such as are greatly infected with the Plague of Sin cast forth nothing but horrid Pollution Hence wicked Men are likened to the troubled Sea that casts forth mi●y Dirt. 5. They have a hoarse and weak Voice So Sinners cannot pray or if they do John 9. they cannot be heard God hears not Sinners 6. They have a stinking Breath and Mouth and therefore they must cover their Lips lest by their Breath they should infect others So Sinners have a filthy Breath Their Mouths are full of unclean and adulterous Speeches belching forth nothing but vile and abominable Oaths Cursings and slanderous Accusations against the Godly and sometimes also against one another but these seldom cover their Lips Inferences WHat an horrid Disease and Plague of Plagues is Sin Every Man hath a running Plague-Sore upon him Who is it that is not a Leper from the Womb We were all born with this Plague we brought it into the World with us Every Man as he is in himself may cry out Vnclean unclean Sin hath spread it self over us like a Leprosy II. Wicked Men are miserable whoever they are if not cured of this Plague Sin renders a Man more hateful to God than an ugly Toad is to us III. It may caution Saints to shun the Company of a vile Sinner and dread Sin and flie from it as from the Plague Nothing that Sinners touch but they defile infect and taint it till they are cleansed whether earthly or heavenly Things all Creature-Comforts and Actions are unclean to them hereby The very Plowing of the Wicked is Sin Prov. 20.4 Tit. 1.13 yea the Sacraments Prayers or Alms all is polluted so long as they are unconverted Vnto them that are defiled nothing is pure c. IV. A wicked Man can converse with no Man but as a Leper he infects him by his ill Example he endangers the Lives and Souls of Men. V. It may teach the Saints to bless God and admire his Grace who hath delivered them from the Contagion of Sin Joh. 5.14 But art thou made whole sin no more VI. None but the High-Priest pronounced a Person clean from the Leprosy so none but Christ can discern our Uncleanness and pronounce us clean and wholly free from the Plague of Sin O What is Sin it is a Leprosie When Scripture so compares it may not I Call it a Plague a Wound a loathsome Sore That doth corrupt and spread the Soul all ' ore Like to an Ulcer or infectious Biles Which the whole Man most wofully defiles O how do Men fly from the Pestilence And shall not we learn Wisdom now from thence Sin is a Plague that kills eternally All sorts of Men unless they swiftly fly To Jesus Christ no Med'cine will do good Nor heal the Soul but this Physicians Blood Sin compared to Poyson Rom. 3.13 The Poyson of Asps is under their Tongues POyson of Asps denotes 1. Sometimes great Punishments Job 6.4 20.16 He shall suck the Poyson of Asps c. 2. Sometimes corrupt Doctrine and Heresies wherewith Men poyson themselves and Followers Deut. 32.33 Their Wine is the Poyson of Dragons i. e. their Doctrine So Ainsworth Rev. 17.2 With the Wine of her Fornication Which intends Venom and Poyson of the Devil the old Dragon or the detestable Superstition and Idolatry of Antichrist and Church of Rome 3. It signifies the cruel Malice and Rage of Men. Note Sin is the Venom or Poyson of the Serpent or the old Dragon Parallels POyson inflames heats and as it were sets the Body on fire So Sin inflames heats and sets as it were a Man's Spirit on fire What a Heat doth the Devil put some Men in by stirring up their Wrath Rage and Malice against their Neighbours II. Poyson causeth a great and extreme Thirst Gross or dreggish Liquor will not quench the fiery Thirst of Poyson Caryl it drinks saith one nothing but pure Spirits So Sin stirs up an insatiable Desire or Thirst after Revenge as also after the Pleasures Profits and Honours of this World which nothing can allay but the Water of Life which Jesus Christ gives John 4.14 III. Poyson gets quickly saith one to the Spirit 't is subtil and spiritful Plutarch and in a very little time will corrupt the whole Mass of Blood c. So Sin in a little time