Religious Reader, (for I think, few of the profane rabble read any Sermons) let me entreat thee for this, that (cum lectoris nomen feras, ne lictoris officium geras) thou wouldst accept it, not except against it; and being but a Reader, not usurp the office of a Censurer. The main intents of all Preachers, and the contents of all Sermons, aim to beat down sin, and to convert sinners. Which the most absolute and un-•rring Scriptures have shadowed under divers metaphors; comparing them to beasts, to blots, to sicknesses, to sterilities, to pollutions, to leavenings, to whoredoms, to Devils In all which (and many other such figurative speeches) I thin•e it lawful, nay necessary for us, Gods Ministers, to explain the Metaphor; and (still within bounds of the similitude) to show the fit accordance and respondency of the thing meant, to the thing mentioned. Indeed, to stretch the Text against the own wil•, is to martyr it: and to make every metaphor run upon four fe•t, is often violabile sacris. B•t so long as we keep the Analogy of faith, and the sen•e of the present Theme, it is a fault, to find fault with us. Indeed Rhetorical flourishes without solid matter, is like an Egyptian bond-woman in a Queens robes; or the Courtiers Chamber, which is often a rotten room, curiously hanged. Gods word is full of dark speeches, ⟨image 4⟩dark not in themselves, but to our thick-sighted understandings: therefore his propositions, require expositions. Not that we should turn plain Morals into Allegories, but Allegories into plain Morals. The former was Origens fault, of whom it is said, (I speak not to uncover that Fathers nakedness; but to show that all men may err, and therefore truth of love must not prejudice love of truth) that wherein he should not allegorize, he did; and wherein he should have allegorized, to his woe, he did not. I have presumed, not without warrant of the best Expositors, to manifest the manifold temptations of Satan, under the Harlots inveigling her Customers. 1. As Wisdom ver. 3. sends forth her Maidens, her Ministers, to invite guests to her Feast of Grace. So Vice sends forth her temptations; nay, she sits at the door her self, ver. 14. and courts the passengers. 2. If Wisdom call the Ignorant. ver. 4. Who so is simple, let him turn in hither, as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith, &c.
REligious Reader, (for I thinke, few of the profane rabble read any Sermons) let me intreat thee for this, that (cum lectoris nomen feras, ne lictoris officium geras) thou wouldst accept it, not except against it; and being but a Reader, not vsurpe the office of a Censurer. The maine intents of all Preachers, and the contents of all Sermons, ayme to beat downe sinne, and to conuert sinners. Which the most absolute and vn-•rring Scriptures haue shadowed vnder diuers metaphores; comparing them to beasts, to blots, to sicknesses, to sterrillities, to pollutions, to leauenings, to whoredomes, to Deuils In all which (and many other such figuratiue speeches) I thin•e it lawfull, nay necessary for vs, Gods Ministers, to explane the Metaphore; and (still within bounds of the simillitude) to shew the fit accordance and respondencie of the thing meant, to the thing mentioned. Indeede, to stretch the Text against the owne wil•, is to martir it: and to make euery metaphore runne vpon foure fe•t, is often violabile sacris. B•t so long as we keepe the Analogie of faith, and the sen•e of the present Theame, it is a fault, to finde fault with vs. Indeed Rhe•oricall flourishes without solid matter, is like an Egiptian bond-woman in a Queenes robes; or the Courtiers Chamber, which is often a rotten roome, curiously hanged. Gods word is full of darke speec•es, ⟨image 4⟩darke not in themselues, but to our thicke-sighted vnderstandings: therefore his propositions, require expositions. Not that we should turne plaine Morals into Allegories, but Allegories into plaine Morals. The former was Origens fault, of whom it is said, (I speake not to vncouer that Fathers nakednesse; but to shew that all men may erre, and therefore truth of loue must not preiudice loue of truth) that wherein hee should not allegorize, he did; and wherein he should haue allegoriz'd, to his woe, he did not. I haue presumed, not without warrant of the best Expositors, to manifest the manifold temptations of Satan, vnder the Harlots inueigling her Customers. 1. As Wisedome ver. 3. sends forth her Maydens, her Ministers, to inuite guests to her Feast of Grace. So Vice sends forth her temptations; nay, she sits at the dore her selfe, ver. 14. and courts the passengers. 2. If Wisdome call the Ignorant. ver. 4. Who so is simple, let him turne in hither, as for him that wanteth vnderstanding, she saith, &c.
