A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

2. Deal as much in Similitudes and plain and easy Resemblances as you can, taking your Rise from the Creatures they see and hear, always greatly respecting their weak capacity. Are you sitting in your Houses, you may thus bespeak them: Oh my dear Child, is this an handsome dwelling, this house made with Stones and Timber? O how much desirable is that House above with God, that House not made with hands, but eternal in the Heavens? When they awake out of sleep, mind them of their Duty, ¹of giving their first thoughts to God, and of awaking out of sin unto righteousness, and of their awaking the last day out of the Grave by the sound of the Trumpet, 1 Thess. 4.16. Do they see the light of the day shining into their eyes? Ask them. Is it indeed a pleasant thing to behold the Sun; O how excellent then is God's goodness in causing the Sun of Righteousness to arise upon us with healing in his wings? ²Are you putting on their clothes? O my Child, think on sin, which was the cause of your Soul's nakedness, and of your Bodies need of apparel. Be not proud of your clothes which are given to hide your shame: Never rest satisfied till your Soul be arrayed with the Robes of Christ's Righteousness. When at the fire, tell them of that Lake of fire and brimstone that burneth for ever, into which all those that live and dye in sin shall be cast. At Table, how easy is it, how profitable, how delightful will it be, out of every Creature there to extract spiritual food for our Souls? The Bread minds them of the Bread of Eternal Life; their hunger, of hungering after Christ's Righteousness. By a Rivers side, how easy is it to mind them of the Water of Life, and of those Rivers of pleasure at God's right hand for evermore. Thus may you,³ without the least taedium or disgust, teach those little Bees to such spiritual Honey out of every Flower. By these similitudes, as by so many golden Links, you may draw Truths into their heads and memories. Thus it pleased the Lord to teach his people of old, by using Similitudes, Isa. 5.1.