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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

ill and loose Professors bring a great Reproach upon the Church of God but there is a Day coming when the Church shall be freed of them Zech. 14.21 There shall be no Canaanite in the House or City of God XVII The Citizens of a great and glorious City are much affected with and highly esteem and love the City where they dwell XVII So the Citizens of Zion have an honourable respect and high esteem for God's Church as appears particularly in David If I forget thee O Jerusalem Psal 137.56 let my right-hand forget her Cunning if I do not remember thee let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chiefest Joy Many Reasons may be given why the Godly are so much taken with Zion 1. Because it is the place of their Birth they were born or rather born again in her And of Zion it shall be said This and that Man was born in her Psal 87.5 6. and the Highest himself shall establish her Vers 6. The Lord shall count when he writeth up his People that this and that Man was born there 2. Because 't is the City of their Father and so their blessed Inheritance all the glorious Immunities thereof are theirs 3. It is a City redeemed or purchased by Christ's most precious Blood Acts 20 27. 1 Cor. 6. Psal 87.2 he gave himself for it Ye are bought with a Price 4. 'T is built by God and for God it is the Place that he hath chosen he esteems highly of it He is said to rejoyce in Zion he loves the very Gates thereof more than all the Dwelling places of Jacob. 5. It is a splendid and most glorious City her Foundation is laid with precious Stones yea the choicest Saphires her Streets are paved with that which is more rare than the purest Gold XVIII Some Citizens who are industrious grow very rich and attain to great Honour among their Neighbours and those are quickly known and taken notice of they may be discovered in divers respects XVIII So some of the Citizens of Sion who are diligent and industrious in the Improvement of Grace and the Means of Godliness grow very rich in Faith and good Works rich in spiritual and divine Knowledg rich in heavenly Experience Prov. 10.22 The diligent Hand maketh rich with the Blessing of God And these rich Saints are also soon discovered and taken notice of 1. Rich Men wealthy Merchants can trust or stay a great while for their own when poor Men must have all presently paid down The clearest Promise or firmest Covenant will not serve their Turn without some considerable part presently paid 1. So those who are spiritually rich Jam. 2 5. rich in Faith rich Merchants of Mount Zion the City of God can trust they cand stay patiently in expectation of the Good of the Promise as Abraham Rom. 4 20 who was strong or rich in Faith when others cannot rely upon a bare Promise or take God's single Word for the accomplishment of this or that 2. Rich Citizens have a great Stock lying by them 2. So those who are rich Citizens of Sion rich in Grace have a Stock of blessed Experience as David had They have a Stock of Faith much Faith when others have but a little a Stock of good Works having done much for God and for his Church c. 3. Rich Citizens have abundance of precious Things rare Merchandizes to delight in as Gold Silver and many other rich Commodities 3. So rich Citizens of Sion have abundance of rare and precious things in their Ware houses viz. their Hearts as Love Peace and Joy in the Holy-Ghost Gal. 5 22. 4. Rich Men do not live upon their Labour as poor Men do Some rich Men work and take as much pains as the poorest Man in the City but their Work is pleasant and more delightful to them than the Labour of one that is very poor 4. So rich Citizens of Sion tho they work hard for God 1 Co● 15.10 I laboured more abundantly than they all Yet their Work is sweet and pleasant to them because they work not for Life or for a Livelihood Gal. 2.20 they rest not upon doing but live by Faith but poor Saints live more upon doing than believing they have but little of that or any other Grace 5. Rich Men go finer or are generally more richly adorned than the Poor you may know a rich Citizen by his costly Ornaments by his rich Robes and Chains of Gold about his Neck 5. So rich Saints are more adorned with the Garment of Humility 1 Pet. 3.1 2.3 with the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the sight of God of great Price They can deny themselves are patient under Sufferings endure all things contentedly for Christ's sake they have much Wisdom Prov. 1 9. as an O nament of Grace upon their Head and Chains of Gold about their Neck 6. Rich Citizens do usually bring up their Children more nobly and give them more Learning and better Education than the Poor generally do or can 6. So rich Saints such as have much Grace who are great Dealers and have got much by Trading in spiritual Things bring up their Children more vertuously Gen. 18.19 Eph. 6.4 and give them better Education they give them better Counsel better Examples than others they train them up in the Fear and Admonition of the Lord taking God for a Patern herein Psal 94.11 12. who maketh the Word and Rod a Blessing to his Children 7. Rich Citizens live high keep a good Table in comparison of what the Poor do or are able 7. So those who are spiritually rich have many precious Morsels yea blessed Variety of choice things they are often feasted by Christ and are with him in the House of Wine Cant. 2.4 and delight themselves in Fatness their good Conscience is to them a continual Feast Prov. 15.15 8. Rich Citizens can bear Burthens Taxations and Losses better than the Poor 8. So those who are spiritually rich can best bear up under cross Providences Persecution and Losses for Christ's sake 9. Rich Men can do for others poor Men can do but little for their poor Friends or Neighbours when the Rich can do much 9. So those that are rich in spiritual Experience in Faith and good Works can do much for weak Christians by Prayer by Advice and good Counsel Exod. 17.11 Jam 5.16 Moses did mighty Things by Prayer for Israel The fervent Prayer of a righteous Man availeth much 10. Rich Men can best strive with Difficulties and live in Years of Scarcity when others who have but just from hand to mouth are in such times in danger of starving or to be reduced to great Extremities 10. So those who are strong and very rich in Faith and all other Graces are help'd to bear up and pass through a Difficulty in Time of Want and

the Lord Ezek. 15.6 As the Vine-Tree that is amongst the Trees of the Forrest which I have given to the Fire to be consumed so will I give the Inhabitants of Jerusalem I will set my Face against them they shall go out of one Fire and another Fire shall consume them And ye shall know that I am the Lord c. The Church compared to a Dove Cant. 2.14 O my Dove that art in the Clifts of the Rock c. Psal 74.19 O deliver not the Soul of thy Turtle-Dove unto the Multitude c. THat is thy Church and People who worship none but Thee as the Turtle-Dove that never entertains Conjunction with another and who in their Affliction like a Dove express their Grief in Sighs and solitary Groans to thee and which is unarmed weak simple and meek like the Turtle-Dove which is esteemed the least among the Species of Doves as Aristotle says The Chaldee renders it The Soul of such as learn thy Law that Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Turtle-Dove being of some affinity with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Law Christ calls his Church a Dove by which Metaphor saith Glassius its Simplicity Chastity c. is denoted Doct. That the Spouse of Christ or a gracious Soul is or may fitly be compared unto a Dove Metaphor Parallel A Dove is a meek and harmless Creature Be ye innocent as Doves THe Saints of God are injurious to none they seek the hurt of no Man they are and ought to be harmless Phil. 2.15 the Children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation II. The Dove makes her Nest in the Rock Cant. 4.14 her Safety and Place of Abode is in the Clifts of the Rock II. The Saints make their Abode in the Rock Christ they build only in him Exod. 3● 22 and upon him and indeed in the Clifts of this Rock they rest viz. in the Wounds Piercings Dyings and Crucifyings of the Lord Jesus Christ III. The Dove is a Creature that feeds not upon Carrion as Eagles Ravens and other Fowls do but only upon pure Grain III. Gracious Souls or sincere Christians do not feed upon the sensual Pleasures and carnal Delights of this World as the Ungodly do Psal 119.104 128. nor will they feed upon or receive in the detestable Carrion of Mens Traditions they hate Idolatry false Worship and every evil Way and only feed and live upon the pure Grain of God's holy Word IV. The Dove is a Creature much molested by all Birds of Prey IV. The Saints of God are persecuted and molested by all the Sons of Belial they are chased like a Dove or Partridge upon the Mountains 1 Sam. 26.20 V. The Dove hath no other Defence when molested but by Flight V. The Godly have no other way when molested by Satan and wicked Men but to flie to God At what time I am afraid I will trust in thee Psal 56.3 VI. The Dove thinks not her self secure till she be got into the Rock VI. The sincere Christian looks not upon himself as secure until he is got into Christ Prov. 18.10 The Name of the Lord is a Strong-Tower the Righteous run into it and are safe They like Noah's Dove flie to the Ark. VII The Dove is a Creature very chast and true to its Mate VII The sincere Christian and Spouse of Christ is very chast to the Lord Jesus will own no other Head or Husband they defy the Pope that First-born of Satan and all others who pretend to Headship and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction over their Consciences VIII The Dove hath a lovely Eye and 't is always fix'd upon her Mate VIII The Saints of God have a single and lovely Eye in Christ's Sight they strive to be like the Dove resisting Pride Lust and Wantonness and to be adorned with Meekness and Modesty having always their Eyes upon Jesus Christ not daring to lift up their Eyes to other Lovers Isa 8.17 Psal 25.15 but by holy Intention wait upon him alone in all their Devotion IX The Dove loves to accompany with Doves they will gather together by great Numbers if they can IX God's Children love Communion and Fellowship one with another that they may mutually be comforted and edified in the Faith They flie like a Cloud Isa 60.8 and as Doves to their Windows that is to the House or Church of God X. The Dove mourns when she hath lost the sight of her Mate X. A gracious Soul mourns when it hath lost the Sight of Jesus Christ Isa 38.11 14. Ezek. 7.16 Thou hiddest thy Face and I was troubled saith David I did mourn as a Dove saith Hezekiah mine Eyes fail with looking up I shall not see the Lord in the Land of the Living They shall be on the Mountains like Doves in the Vallies every one mourning for his own Iniquity XI The Dove is a very fruitful Creature having Young almost every month in the Year XI The Church is also very fruitful to Christ 1. In respect of bringing forth Children Psal 87. This and that Man it shall be said was born in her 2. In respect of bringing forth the Fruits of the Spirit and good Works XII Doves love to be by the Rivers of Water XII Christians or gracious Souls love to be by the sweet Streams of living Water Psal 23.3 4. by that River that makes glad the City of God they love to drink of the Promises and Consolations of the Spirit XIII Doves have Feathers of divers colours Psal 68.13 and 't is observed when the Sun shines their Beauty appears most as if their Wings were covered with Silver and their Feathers with yellow Gold XIII The Saints are gloriously adorned with the Righteousness of Christ and with the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit and when the Sun of Righteousness shines Psal 45. and sends forth his splendent Beams and Rays upon them then their Graces appear and shine most glorious XIV The Dove was appointed by the Lord under the Law for a Sacrifice and no other Bird or Fowl of Heaven but the Dove And hence you read in the Gospel that there were those that sold Doves in the Temple Mat. 21.12 which was as it is thought to accommodate such as came to offer Sacrifice XIV The Godly are required to offer up themselves both Body and Soul as an acceptable Sacrifice unto God Rom. 12.1 and many of them have been commanded and readily have yielded themselves up to God in a way of suffering for Christ's sake Prov. 15.8 and none but those who are God's own sincere Children are accepted in offering up themselves either in a way of doing or suffering XV. The Dove is said to be silly and without Heart Hos 7 11. wants Courage c. XV. The Saints of God are of themselves in many things silly and foolish wanting that Heart Courage and Magnanimity of Spirit to stand up for God his

their Hearts lest instead of good Wheat they should at last prove evil Tares 2. It also reproves those Magistrates who in a blind Zeal persecute Men for Religion and Conscience sake pretending they do it to destroy the Tares viz. Hereticks c. whereas they know not but that those they persecute may be good and faithful Christians Besides 't is a Work that belongs not to them God would have both tho one Sort may be very vile and impudent Hereticks Schismaticks c. to live together to the end of the World Wicked Men compared to Chaff Psal 1.4 The Vngodly are not so but are like the Chaff which the Wind driveth away Mat. 3.12 But he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire Wicked Men are compared to Chaff Simile Parallel CHaff before it is separated from the Wheat cleaves close to it and the Wheat must be trod or threshed before the one can be separated from the other SO some wicked Men I mean Hypocrites seem to cleave close to the Saints and to be in perfect Union or Oneness with them And the Godly must be trod upon or threshed with the Flail of Persecution before they as sacred Wheat can be separated from the Chaff viz. counterfeit Christians II. Chaff is of little worth or value to the Wheat Jer. 23.28 What is the Chaff to the Wheat 'T is a low mean and contemptible thing one Bushel of Wheat is worth many Bushels of Chaff II. So wicked Men and Hypocrites are of little worth and value in the sight of God he esteems one true Christian worth thousands and ten thousands of Hypocrites I give Egypt for thy Ransom Isa 43.3 Ethiopia and Seba for thee Since thou wert precious in my sight thou hast been honourable c. III. Chaff is light and airy 't is no ponderous Thing and therefore the Wind carries it away with a Blast III. So the Wicked whatever shew they make of Religion and Piety they are light as Chaff they are not weighty nor ponderous their Lightness and Levity is discovered by their Words and Behavior and when the Blast and Tempest of Persecution comes it drives them away from the seeming Zeal and Religion they pretend to and at last the Wind of God's Wrath will drive them into the lowest Hell there to be burned with unquenchable Fire Inferences THis shews what a great difference there is between the Godly and the Ungodly also what the woful Condition of Hypocrites is and what will be in the End Wicked Men compared to Thorns Numb 33.55 They shall be Pricks in your Eyes and Thorns in your Sides c. Josh 23.13 But they shall be as Snares and Traps unto you and Scourges in your Sides and Thorns in your Eyes c. Cant. 2.2 As a Lilly among Thorns Nah. 1.10 For whilst they are folden together as Thorns c. THorns as Glassius and others observe in these Places of holy Sripture signify wicked mischievous Men. Numb 33.55 Simile Parallel THorns came in with the Curse Cursed is the Ground for thy sake Gen. 3.18 Thorns also and Thistles shall it bring forth unto thee c. Had not Adam sinned we should not have been troubled with Thorns SO wicked Men came in with the Fall and as the Fruit of the Curse Had not Adam sinned the World had never been troubled with these Briars and Thorns but ever since the Curse for Adam's Sin the World hath been full of these Thorns II. A Thorn is no tender Tree but contrary-wise sturdy hard knotty and full of Knobs and Pricks dangerous to meddle or have to do with II. Clopham So the Wicked these Sons of Belial Belegnol without Yoke that is such as will not come under the Yoke of Obedience or Beli Gnalah not ascending because their Males prospered not These Thorns wicked Men 2 Sam. 23.6 are hard-hearted knotty-conditioned full of pricking and stinging Words and Works What can he expect that meddles with a Thorn or Briar but to be scratch'd prick'd and wounded in his so doing So that Man that has to do with some wicked Men shall be scratch'd or prick'd in his good Name and Estate one way or other III. Thorns are Trees of little worth low and base Things hurtful to Fields Gardens and Vineyards c. III. So wicked Men are of little worth and value in God's sight they are of a base Spirit and Principle Lovers of Pleasure more than Lovers of God preferring Earth above Heaven Prov. 10.20 The Heart of the Wicked is little worth And as they are unprofitable and little worth in themselves so they are offensive and prejudicial to God's Garden they hinder the Growth of the Saints as much as in them lies wounding the Lilly that groweth among them See Lilly among Thorns IV. Thorns nevertheless do serve sometimes to make a Hedg to keep out wild Beasts from breaking into a Field or Vineyard IV. So some of these wicked Ones God now and then makes use of to be a Hedg to his People to keep out a more bloody and cruel Adversary Rev. 12 The Earth helped the Woman that is Wicked Men Men of the Earth stood up for and sided in with the Church and People of God and so proved as a Wall of Defence or Hedg to them Besides God makes use of them sometimes as a Hedg to stop his People in their evil Courses by suffering these Sons of Belial to afflict them I will hedg up her Way with Thorns Hos 2.6 V. Thorns and Briars when they are grown to any height are oft-times by the Owner cut down and cast into the Fire V. So the Wicked and Ungodly when they are grown to a great height of Wickedness provoking God against themselves are cut down and cast into Hell That which beareth Briars and Thorns is near unto Cursing whose end is to be burnt He 8.6.8 VI. Thorns and Briars are not able to stand before a devouring and consuming Fire VI. So the Wicked are not able to stand before the dreadful and angry God For while they be folden together as Thorns Nah. 1.10 and whilst they are drunken as Drunkards they shall be destroyed as Stubble fully dry Isa 27.4 Who would saith God set the Briars and Thorns against me in Battel I would go through them I would burn them together Inferences IS it not a strange and marvellous thing that God's People are no more scratch'd and prick'd with these troublesom Thorns considering what a Multitude of them are amongst us 2. It may caution all true Christians how they meddle with these pricking Thorns 3. It shews the Folly of the Wicked who strive with the Almighty and set themselves in Battel against Him who is a consuming Fire and they but Thorns and Briars or like Stubble fully dry Wicked Men compared to Mountains Isa 41.15 Thou shalt thresh the Mountains and beat thm small c. Isa 2.14 Vpon all high Mountains that are lifted up

Christ He is no good Souldier that cannot endure Hardness But here it may not be amiss to enquire What is that Hardness that the Saints do and must endure First They must endure all that Hardness that either their Sins or the Profession of the Gospel may expose them unto 1. Saints are exposed to Hardships by means of their Sins their own Iniquities bring great Sorrow and Trouble upon them It made David many times cry out and water his Couch with Tears 2. Sin is not sweet to a Saint in the committing of it He is overcome sometimes to do that which he hates and his own Conscience afterwards sorely lashes and wounds him for it Sin brings not only Hardships upon the Soul but many times sore Distress upon the Body and Family and a Blast upon a Man's outward Estate Secondly A Saint meets with the Hardship of Self-denial he bears the Pain of having a Right-hand-Lust cut off and a Right-eye Lust pulled out he parts with the best the nearest and choicest of his outward Enjoiments Vnless a Man deny himself of Father Mother Brethren Sisters Children House and Land c. for my sake he is not worthy of me This Hardness some cannot endure the young Man could not bear it When he heard this Doctrine he went away very sorrowful c. Mat. 10.22 Thirdly They endure the Hardness of Mortification or of crucifying the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Circumcision was painful to the Body and let me tell you the Circumcision of the Spirit is more hard and difficult to a Saint to undergo Which is made without hands cutting off the Foreskin of the Heart or putting away the Body of Sin by the Circumcision of Christ Mortify your Members which are upon the Earth The killing of Sin is as the killing or destroying the Members of the Body Fourthly Saints endure Hardness from Men. 1. By hard Words All the cruel Reproaches Slanders Revilings Tauntings Scoffings Backbitings c. that the Sons of Beliál can invent they are forced to endure They bend their Tongues like their Bow for Lies and their Tongue is as an Arrow shot out The Tongues of some Men are like cruel Weapons As with a Sword in my Bones my Enemies reproach me c. The Sword in the Flesh is painful Psal 42.10 Heb. 11.36 but the Sword in the Bone is much worse Mockings are ranked amongst the great Sufferings of the Godly Others had Trials of cruel Mockings The Archers this way shot hard at Joseph and what a poysonous Arrow did the Jews let flie upon Christ Behold a Drunkard a Wine-bibber a Friend of Publicans and Sinners He casteth out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils As for this Fellow we know not from whence he is Paul was accused for being a pestilent Fellow a Mover of Sedition and a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens c. These things are hard to bear 2. There is the Hardness of Mens Hands as well as of their Tongues Wicked Men saith a Learned Divine have Iron Hands which many times fall heavy upon the Souldiers of Christ How heavy was the Stroke of Cain upon his righteous Brother and what heavy Hands did Pharaoh lay upon the Israelites in Egypt What Hardships did the Primitive Saints endure under the Heathen Emperors in the ten Persecutions And what sore Sufferings and cruel Torments hath the Woman's Seed borne and endured under the Papal Power What Burnings Roastings and Flayings alive All along from the Beginning to this Day the Saints have endured great Hardness from wicked Men. See Heb. 11.35 to the end They were tortured with Scourges Bonds and Imprisonments they were stoned th●y were sawn asunder tempted slain with the Sword they wandred about in Sheep-skins and Goats-skins in Deserts and Mountains and in Dens and Caves of the Earth being destitute afflicted tormented Fifthly Saints endure Hardness from Satan He comes out with open Mouth against them like a roaring Lion seeking to destroy them Christ's Souldiers encounter with Devils they wrestle with Principalities and Powers Eph. 6. Satan daily lets flie his fiery Darts against them Sixthly They meet with some Hardness and Trouble by the Withdrawings of God himself Some Afflictions come more immediatly from the Hand of God Job complains of the Arrows of the Almighty David cries out as if the Lord had broke his Bones Yet God in all the Afflictions and Trials he brings upon his People designs their Profit When he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold Job 23. It is that we may be Partakers of his Holiness Yet nevertheless the Strokes and Chastisements of the Almighty are hard to be borne Seventhly Christ's Souldiers meet with Hardness whilst they attend upon their proper Work in their particular Places and Stations unto which they are called Some have harder Service than others as the Forlorn Hope and the Van saith one may meet with harder Service than the main Body of the Army the Frontiers and File-Leaders may meet with more difficult Service than the Rear and the Watchmen that lie Perdue and stand Sentinel with harder Duty than those that abide on the Guard But tho some endure more Hardness than others yet all must take what befalls them in the Place and Station where they are set The Ministers of the Gospel likely are the Men mostly exposed and yet sometimes others suffer as hard things as they yet every one must see to discharge his Duty in his respective Place The Sentinel must not quit his Watch because it is cold or Danger approaches the File-Leader must not face about and fall back in the Rear because of the Hardness of the Service the Leaders must not bid the private Souldiers fall on and themselves run away the Colours are most aimed at yet the Standard-bearer and Ensign must stand by them and display them in the Face of the Enemy So whatever comes Ministers must preach and People must hear and the Publick Worship of God must be maintained the Banner of the Word must be displayed Saints must keep their Ground and Station where they are set by Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 9. Necessity is laid upon me and wo is me if I preach not the Gospel XVII A good Souldier exposeth himself to endure Hardness voluntarily patiently couragiously constantly and sincerely XVII So the faithful and good Souldier of Jesus Christ is not haled dragged or forced to his Duty and to undergo Difficulties for the Gospel-sake but freely and with a ready Mind engages in the Work I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem Acts 21.13 for the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ cares not for press'd Souldiers his are all Volunteers When the Gospel-Trumpet sounds Come away come up hither immediately they are upon their Feet 2. They endure patiently taking their Captain for their Example When reviled they revile not again In Patience possess ye your Souls 3. They endure the Hardness of

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

own Charge at any time Who planteth a Vineyard and eateth not of the Fruit thereof 1 Cor. 9.7 Or who feedeth a Flock and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock Say I these things as a Man or saith the Law the same also c. If we have sowed unto you spiritual Things is it a great thing we should reap your carnal Things Read Labourer XII Planters greatly rejoyce to see their Plants thrive and grow and their Labour prosper XII So Ministers rejoyce to see Saints or spiritual Plants grow and thrive in Grace and true Holiness I have no greater Joy than to see my Father's Children walk in the Truth XIII Planters do not only take delight in planting in the Spring and other fit Seasons but do also take care of the Plants at such times when it is Winter lest the Frost and Cold should spoil their Growth XIII So spiritual Planters Christ's faithful Ministers do not only take delight to labour in Christ's Vineyard to plant and graft when the Sun or Spring-Season of Providence shines upon them but endure the sharpest Storms of Persecution in the taking care of those tender Plants who by reason of the sharpest Winter may be in greatest Danger XIV Planters have been and are greatly instrumental for the Benefit and Advantage of the Place or Country where they dwell by the Vineyards Orchards and Gardens they have planted XIV So Ministers have been and are great Instruments of much Good and Benefit to the Place or Country where God hath blest their Labours by planting Churches who have sent forth such Fruit that many thereby have been made fruitful in Grace and Holiness What spiritual Profit have these after-Ages reaped by the Labours of those that were at first and those that followed after as Planters in God's Vineyard of which the holy Scripture and other Histories give a full Account So that Word is fulfilled Others have laboured and you are entred into their Labours i. e. We reap the Benefit of those that were Planters before us as others may reap the Benefit of the Labours of such as are now entered into the same Work that the Generation that is to come may praise the Lord. Inferences WHat Grace and Glory is this O Saint that God hath conferred on thee in taking thee out of that wild dead and barren Stock and planting thee into that precious living and fruitful One Christ Jesus Canst thou enough admire and prize this Grace and Favour II. It shews what wonderful Union and blessed Nearness there is between Christ and every sincere Christian III. It shews us that all our good Fruit is from Jesus Christ and by means of that blessed mysterious and glorious Union with him IV. Ministers ought to be Men of Wisdom such as are faithful able and willing to labour Men that are not idle V. It reproves not only such Saints that take up with the Name of Plants in God's Vineyard and bring not forth Fruit but also Churches that see not or will not see nor learn their Duty to their painful and faithful Ministers VI. It shews the Folly and Madness of all those that go about to hinder or spoil the Work of those spiritual Planters God's Ministers For what would Men think of such that should suffer none to plant nor any Plant or Tree to grow nay destroy in as much as in them lieth all the Vineyards Orchards and Gardens in the Place or Country where they dwell Such like Work do all those that persecute God's faithful Ministers and People Ministers compared to Builders 1 Cor. 3.10 According to the Grace of God which is given me as a wise Master-Builder I have laid the Foundation c. A Builder is a Metaphor taken from Carpenters and Masons c. that build Houses the Hebrew Word by which Building is expressed is derived from the Root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to build or rear an House or City God in Christ is the chief Master-Builder He that built all Things is God 1 King 10.4 and he is the great Builder of his Temple Vpon this Rock will I build my Church c. And yet Ministers under him are likewise Master-Builders c. Metaphor Parallel A Wise Master-Builder gives direction to others how the House c. must be built and to this purpose shews the Figure or true Form of it that so other Under-Builders may know how to go on with their Work SO St. Paul and other great and wise Master-Builders the Apostles have given plain Directions to us and all inferior Builders how the House of God must be built and with what Materials and they have left in the holy Gospel a plain Scheme or Figure of it that so all spiritual Builders may know how to proceed in their Work II. A Master-Builder takes special care rightly to lay the Foundation upon which the whole Fabrick or Structure is to be built c. II. So the Apostles have as Instruments in God's hand laid the Foundation of the true Religion the Foundation of Faith and Salvation the Foundation of the true Church c. 1 Cor. 3.11 Another Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ III. A Builder hath sometimes much Rubbish to remove before he can go on with his Work as the poor Jews had who built the Temple c. III. So have Ministers much Rubbish to remove out of their own and Sinners Way before they can proceed in their blessed Work There is the Rubbish of False-Doctrine about Justification this was in the Apostle's way as well as 't is in ours The Jews were hardly taken off from their own Righteousness and legal Ceremonies they would needs build upon a Legal Foundation They stumbled at the Stumbling Stone c. We have much Popish Rubbish to remove the Rubbish of Mens Inventions and superstitious Ceremonies c. besides the Rubbish of other Hereticks and Deceivers IV. A Builder oftentimes meets with hard Work in hewing and squaring his Timber and Stones some being very rugged and knotty c. IV. So Ministers find some Sinners are very stubborn and obstinate like knotty Timber scragged and rugged Stones which without much Labour and Pains are not hewed and fitted for the Building V. A wise Builder takes care to prepare and make all his Materials ready before he raises the Structure or builds his House V. So should a Minister of the Gospel see that all the spiritual Stones and Timber be well squared fitted and prepared by a through Work of Repentance and Faith before they are placed or laid into the Building or Church of God Prepare thy Work without and make it fit for thy self in the Field and then build thy House Prov 24.27 They must not lay Stones into the Building as they come out of the Quarry from whence they are digged such Persons as were never converted nor capable Subjects of it and then afterwards when they are put into God's