Metaphor. | Parallel.
1IN a great House are not Vessels of of Gold, and of Silver only, but of Wood, and of Earth; some to Honour, and some to Dishonour. | SO in the Church of God, there is a Mixture of Good and Bad, Sheep and Goats, sincere Christians, and Hypocrites; like as in a Eield there is a Mixture of Wheat and Tares; and in a Floor of Grain, there is Chaff as well as Corn: tho when any appear unsound, drossy, and ungodly, she turneth them out. When the Family of Christ consisted but of twelve Men, there was a Judas amongst them.
II. In a great Family there are Persons of different Ages, of different Strength, of different Relations to the Master of the Family, and of different Employments. | II. So in the Church of God there are little Children, young Men,2 and Fathers; there are weak and stronger Christians, some that stand in need of Milk, some that are fit for strong Meat; some that need to be led, and carried in Arms; some that are Teachers and Rulers, and others that are taught and ruled.
III. The Master, chief Head, or Governor of a Family, provides and takes care of all that belong to him;3 hence the Apostle saith, He that provides not for his Family, is worse than an Infidel, and hath denied the Faith. | III. So God, the great and good Master of this heavenly Family, doth and will provide for all and every Soul that belongs to him.4 Take no thought for your Life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your Body, what ye shall put on. Why take ye thought for Raiment? Consider the Lilies of the Field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. Therefore if God so clothe the Grass of the Field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the Oven; shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little Faith? The young Lions do lack, and suffer Hunger; but they that fear the Lord, 5shall want no good thing. He will give Grace and Glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly. My God shall supply all your Wants, &c.6 Casting all your Care upon him, for he careth for you, &c.
IV. A Family is also under the Government of him who is the chief Head and Ruler thereof. | IV. So is the Church under the Government of Christ; and every Member is subject to that Authority, Order, and Rule, which he hath left therein.
⟨p. 129⟩V. The Master of a Family defends his Family, to the uttermost of his Power, against all Enemies.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
1IN a great House are not Vessels of of Gold, and of Silver only, but of Wood, and of Earth; some to Honour, and some to Dishonour. | SO in the Church of God, there is a Mixture of Good and Bad, Sheep and Goats, sincere Christians, and Hypocrites; like as in a Eield there is a Mixture of Wheat and Tares; and in a Floor of Grain, there is Chaff as well as Corn: tho when any appear unsound, drossy, and ungodly, she turneth them out. When the Family of Christ consisted but of twelve Men, there was a Judas amongst them.
II. In a great Family there are Persons of different Ages, of different Strength, of different Relations to the Master of the Family, and of different Employments. | II. So in the Church of God there are little Children, young Men,2 and Fathers; there are weak and stronger Christians, some that stand in need of Milk, some that are fit for strong Meat; some that need to be led, and carried in Arms; some that are Teachers and Rulers, and others that are taught and ruled.
III. The Master, chief Head, or Governor of a Family, provides and takes care of all that belong to him;3 hence the Apostle saith, He that provides not for his Family, is worse than an Infidel, and hath denied the Faith. | III. So God, the great and good Master of this heavenly Family, doth and will provide for all and every Soul that belongs to him.4 Take no thought for your Life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your Body, what ye shall put on. Why take ye thought for Raiment? Consider the Lillies of the Field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. Therefore if God so cloath the Grass of the Field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the Oven; shall he not much more cloath you, O ye of little Faith? The young Lions do lack, and suffer Hunger; but they that fear the Lord, 5shall want no good thing. He will give Grace and Glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly. My God shall supply all your Wants, &c.6 Casting all your Care upon him, for he careth for you, &c.
IV. A Family is also under the Government of him who is the chief Head and Ruler thereof. | IV. So is the Church under the Government of Christ; and every Member is subject to that Authority, Order, and Rule, which he hath left therein.
⟨p. 129⟩
- 11 Tim. 2.20.
- 22 Joh. 2.12, 14. Heb. 5.11, 12, 13, 14.
- 31 Tim. 3.8.
- 4Mat. 6.25, to 30.
- 5Psal. 84.11
- 6Phil 4.19.
