Simile. | Parallel.
Gold is a precious Metal, it is esteemed as one of the rarest Things on Earth; hence Things of great Value are in the holy Scriptures set forth by Gold. | The Saints are a choice and precious People, the excellent Ones in all the Earth.1 Since thou hast been precious in my Sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee. They are called precious Sons of Zion, comparable to fine Gold. God esteems them as his Portion: The Lord's Portion is his People, Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance.
II. Gold, tho it is a pure Sort of Metal, yet there is some Dross in it; tho, as Naturalists observe, there is not any Metal, that is more free from Dross and Rust than Gold is. | II. The Saints of God, tho holy, very precious and gracious Ones, yet are they not without Sin; there is some Dross of Corruption in the very best.2 There is not a just Man upon the Earth, that doth good, and sinneth not. If we say, we have no Sin, we deceive our selves, and the Truth is not in us.
⟨p. 191⟩III. Gold is refined in the Fire, and thereby is made more pure than it was before. | III. So the Saints are put into the Fire, I mean, into the Furnace of Affliction, to purge and refine them from all the Dross of their Corruption.3 When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as Gold. I will make a Man more precious than fine Gold. I will bring the third Part through the Fire, and will refine them as Silver is refined, 4and will try them as Gold is tried. They shall call upon my Name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my People, and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
IV. Gold is very pliant, you may bow and work it as you please; and the Fire makes it more pliable and yielding, &c. | IV. So the Saints are of a soft and pliable Nature; God having infused his precious Grace into their Hearts, they are of a yielding Temper, they have Hearts of Flesh; and God, by putting them into the Fire, makes them more pliant and flexible, they presently yield to the Will of God, when others will not, cannot be brought to it.
V. Gold will endure the Fire; tho it be often put into the Furnace, yet it loseth nothing but the drossy Part. The Fire doth it much Good; it cannot destroy the precious Nature of it. Gold retains its Excellency in despite of the envious Rage of fiery Flames. | V. So the Saints of God, or all sincere Ones, endure the fiery Trial;
Simile. | Parallel.
GOld is a precious Metal, it is esteemed as one of the rarest Things on Earth; hence Things of great Value are in the holy Scriptures set forth by Gold. | THe Saints are a choice and precious People, the excellent Ones in all the Earth.1 Since thou hast been precious in my Sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee. They are called precious Sons of Zion, comparable to fine Gold. God esteems them as his Portion: The Lord's Portion is his People, Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance.
II. Gold, tho it is a pure Sort of Metal, yet there is some Dross in it; tho, as Naturalists observe, there is not any Metal, that is more free from Dross and Rust than Gold is. | II. The Saints of God, tho holy, very precious and gracious Ones, yet are they not without Sin; there is some Dross of Corruption in the very best.2 There is not a just Man upon the Earth, that doth good, and sinneth not. If we say, we have no Sin, we deceive our selves, and the Truth is not in us.
⟨p. 191⟩III. Gold is refined in the Fire, and thereby is made more pure than it was before. | III. So the Saints are put into the Fire, I mean, into the Furnace of Affliction, to purge and refine them from all the Dross of their Corruption.3 When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as Gold. I will make a Man more precious than fine Gold. I will bring the third Part through the Fire, and will refine them as Silver is refined, 4and will try them as Gold is tried. They shall call upon my Name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my People, and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
IV. Gold is very pliant, you may bow and work it as you please; and the Fire makes it more pliable and yielding, &c. | IV. So the Saints are of a soft and pliable Nature; God having infused his precious Grace into their Hearts, they are of a yielding Temper, they have Hearts of Flesh; and God, by putting them into the Fire, makes them more pliant and flexible, they presently yield to the Will of God, when others will not, cannot be brought to it.
V. Gold will endure the Fire; tho it be often put into the Furnace, yet it loseth nothing but the drossy Part. The Fire doth it much Good; it cannot destroy the precious Nature of it. Gold retains its Excellency in despite of the envious Rage of fiery Flames. | V. So the Saints of God, or all sincere Ones, endure the fiery Trial;
- 1Psal. 16.2. Prov. 12.26. Isa. 44.4. Lam. 4.2. Deut. 32.9
- 2Eccl. 7.20. 1 Joh. 1.8.
- 3Job 23.10
- 4Zech. 13.9
