Troposchemmalogia: 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. KTroposchēmalogia: 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
Benjamin Keach 1640–1704London: printed by John Darby, 1682
[12], xvi, 436, 48, 437-444 p. · 337k words · Wing K101A · ESTC R7039
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
THE Eighth HEAD OF Metaphors, Allegories, and Similes, WITH Other Borrowed TERMS, That respect MEN.
I. Of Men in general.
II. Of the Godly, or good Men.
III. Of Sinners, or wicked Men.
Jer. 22.9. Hear, O Earth, Earth, Earth.
Psal. 33.5. Let all the Earth fear the Lord.
Let all the Earth keep Silence.
Rev. 12. But the Earth helped the Woman.
Earth. | Parallel.
The Earth is far from Heaven; there is a vast Difference between them. | All Men, whilst they remain unconverted, or abide in a State of Nature, are said to be far from God; tho not in respect of Place, yet in respect of Condition, Men being by reason of Sin in a State of Enmity:
Ye that sometimes were afar off, are now made nigh by the Blood of Christ.
⟨p. 134⟩
II. The Earth is a heavy, lumpish, and gross Body. | II. So Man naturally is Earth-like, a heavy and lumpish Piece, being taken out of the Earth, and the Off-spring of red Earth: As is the earthy,
such are they that are earthy.
III. The Earth hath its great Dependency upon the Heavens; did not the Rain from above water it, and the Sun shine upon it, how hard and barren would it soon be? | II. So Man hath all his Dependency upon God; neither the spiritual Man, nor the natural Man can subsist, unless the Heavens send down Blessings upon them. All humane, as well as divine Growth and Fruitfulness, comes from above.
IV. Earth turns and cleaves to Earth, as its proper Centre. Tho a Piece of it may by force be lifted up, or thrown upward, yet by an innate Propensity to descend, it naturally falls down again. | IV. So Man naturally cleaves to, and takes delight in earthly Things: He that is after the Flesh,
minds the Things of the Flesh. He that is not born anew, born of the Spirit, but is wholly an earthly Man, the Earth is his proper Centre; tho sometimes his Heart may (in an artificial way as it were) be lifted upwards, yet down he falls again to his own Centre.
V. What a dark Dungeon would the Earthly Globe be, did not the Heavens shine upon it! | V. So what a dark Dungeon is Man's Heart, and in what Egyptian Darkness would all Men and Women be involved, were it not for the Light of the God of Heaven, his Word, and blessed Spirit!
VI. Those Things that are fed and nourished by the Earth, are Earth, and (we see) go or return to Earth again. | VI. So the Body of Man, which is fed from the Earth, which was taken out of the Earth, (we daily see) goeth to the Earth again; and therefore Man may be called Earth, Earth, Earth;
that was his Original; Earth he was, and Earth he is, and to Earth he shall return again.
VII. The Sun every Spring by its powerful Influences, causeth all earthly Plants and Flowers to come forth, that seemed dead in Winter. | VII.
Earth. | Parallel.
THe Earth is far from Heaven; there is a vast Difference between them. | ALl Men, whilst they remain unconverted, or abide in a State of Nature, are said to be far from God; tho not in respect of Place, yet in respect of Condition, Men being by reason of Sin in a State of Enmity:1 Ye that sometimes were afar off, are now made nigh by the Blood of Christ.
⟨p. 134⟩II. The Earth is a heavy, lumpish, and gross Body. | II. So Man naturally is Earth-like, a heavy and lumpish Piece, being taken out of the Earth, and the Off-spring of red Earth: As is the earthy, 2such are they that are earthy.
III. The Earth hath its great Dependency upon the Heavens; did not the Rain from above water it, and the Sun shine upon it, how hard and barren would it soon be? | II. So Man hath all his Dependency upon God; neither the spiritual Man, nor the natural Man can subsist, unless the Heavens send down Blessings upon them. All humane, as well as divine Growth and Fruitfulness, comes from above.
IV. Earth turns and cleaves to Earth, as its proper Center. Tho a Piece of it may by force be lifted up, or thrown upward, yet by an innate Propensity to descend, it naturally falls down again. | IV. So Man naturally cleaves to, and takes delight in earthly Things: He that is after the Flesh, 3minds the Things of the Flesh. He that is not born anew, born of the Spirit, but is wholly an earthly Man, the Earth is his proper Center; tho sometimes his Heart may (in an artificial way as it were) be lifted upwards, yet down he falls again to his own Center.
V. What a dark Dungeon would the Earthly Globe be, did not the Heavens shine upon it! | V. So what a dark Dungeon is Man's Heart, and in what Egyptian Darkness would all Men and Women be involved, were it not for the Light of the God of Heaven, his Word, and blessed Spirit!
VI. Those Things that are fed and nourished by the Earth, are Earth, and (we see) go or return to Earth again. | VI. So the Body of Man, which is fed from the Earth, which was taken out of the Earth, (we daily see) goeth to the Earth again; and therefore Man may be called Earth, Earth, Earth; 4that was his Original; Earth he was, and Earth he is, and to Earth he shall return again.
VII. The Sun every Spring by its powerful Influences, causeth all earthly Plants and Flowers to come forth, that seemed dead in Winter. | VII.
So the Lord Jesus will cause all these earthly Bodies of Men to rise up from the Dead at the last Day.1 All that are in the Graves shall hear his Voice, &c.
This may inform Mankind of their Original, and may tend to keep them humble. Why should any Mortals have such high towering Thoughts of themselves, and vaunt in Pride, and Haughtiness of Heart, spotting, trimming, and decking themselves, when, alas! their Bodies are nothing but Earth, Lumps of Earth: They dwell in Houses of Clay,1 and it is but a little while ere the Worms will feed upon them. Tho now they seem like curious Vessels, or refined Earth, yet in a short space they will be part of the grossest and loathsomest Earth that Eyes can behold, nothing but Filth, and stinking Putrefaction.
THis may inform Mankind of their Original, and may tend to keep them humble. Why should any Mortals have such high towring Thoughts of themselves, and vaunt in Pride, and Haughtiness of Heart, spotting, trimming, and decking themselves, when, alas! their Bodies are nothing but Earth, Lumps of Earth: They dwell in Houses of Clay,1 and it is but a little while ere the Worms will feed upon them. Tho now they seem like curious Vessels, or refined Earth, yet in a short space they will be part of the grossest and loathsomest Earth that Eyes can behold, nothing but Filth, and stinking Putrefaction.
1O then be not proud of your Bodies, nor of your Beauty: They who are now the fairest and goodliest to look upon, may quickly have a broken and loathsome Skin. A Disease, or one Fit of Sickness may spoil all thy Beauty, deface and blemish thy excellent Feature; and if a Disease doth it not, old Age will: Time will draw Furrows in thy Face, and make Wrinkles in thy Brow. Strength and Beauty are no Matches for Time. All Things were made in Time, and Time will mar all Things: So long as Generation continueth, Corruption must.
1O then be not proud of your Bodies, nor of your Beauty: They who are now the fairest and goodliest to look upon, may quickly have a broken and loathsom Skin. A Disease, or one Fit of Sickness may spoil all thy Beauty, deface and blemish thy excellent Feature; and if a Disease doth it not, old Age will: Time will draw Furrows in thy Face, and make Wrinkles in thy Brow. Strength and Beauty are no Matches for Time. All Things were made in Time, and Time will marr all Things: So long as Generation continueth, Corruption must.
The two Externals which Man is most subject to be proud of, are Beauty and Apparel. Clothes are a Flag of Vanity, and Pride sits upon the Skirts. But remember, how fine soever your Clothing is this day, God can put you on another Suit before tomorrow: He can put you on such Clothing, as you shall have little cause to be proud of; He can make you wear Worms, and Clods of Dust.
The two Externals which Man is most subject to be proud of, are Beauty and Apparel. Cloaths are a Flag of Vanity, and Pride sits upon the Skirts. But remember, how fine soever your Cloathing is this day, God can put you on another Suit before tomorrow: He can put you on such Cloathing, as you shall have little cause to be proud of; He can make you wear Worms, and Clods of Dust.
And if we (saith he) consider it, we have little reason to be proud of Clothes, for if we follow the best of them to their Original, they will be found to be but a Clothing of Worms, and Clods of Dust.
And if we (saith he) consider it, we have little reason to be proud of Cloaths, for if we follow the best of them to their Original, they will be found to be but a Cloathing of Worms, and Clods of Dust.
What are Silks, Satins, and Velvets, but the Issue of Worms? And what is your Gold and Silver, what your Pearls and precious Stones? Are they any thing, (if you will resolve them into their Principle) but Clods of Earth? They are indeed better concocted by the Heat of the Sun, refined and polished by the Art of Man; but if you search their Pedigree, they are but Clods of Dust, &c. And if you be proud of such Clothing, God can clothe you with Worms, not only of unrefined and unpolished, but of putrefied and filthy Dust.
What are Silks, Sattens, and Velvets, but the Issue of Worms? And what is your Gold and Silver, what your Pearls and precious Stones? Are they any thing, (if you will resolve them into their Principle) but Clods of Earth? They are indeed better concocted by the Heat of the Sun, refined and polished by the Art of Man; but if you search their Pedigree, they are but Clods of Dust, &c. And if you be proud of such Cloathing, God can cloath you with Worms, not only of unrefined and unpolished, but of putrified and filthy Dust.
