Wits common wealth The second part. A treasurie of diuine, morall, and phylosophicall similies, and sentences, generally vsefull. But more particularly published, for the vse of schooles. By F.M. Master of Arts of bot Vniuersities.

Gods Prouidence.

AS a King when he would keepe any man safe from danger, placeth him in his palace, that not onely the wals of the King, but also the eyes of the King may defend him from his enemies, then the which guard none can be saser: so the heauenly King by the same prouidence doth defend his. Lodouicus Granatensis lib. 1. Ducis Peccatorum.

As the Sun doth not onely illuminate Heauen, the Sea and the Earth, but shineth also thorow a window or a little ••reuice, and doth cast light into the in∣most place of the house: so the diuine prouidence doth not only preserue great things, but also respecteth the very least, that are in the Earth. Clemens Alexan∣d••mus lib. 7. stromatum.

As wee know that there are men in a Ship that directly sayles into an hauen, although we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 none of them, by reason of the right guidance of it: so we know that God is the gouernour of all things by his prouidence, albeit we cannot see him with our carnall eyes. Theophilus Antiothe••us lib. 1. ad Antolycum.

As an house decayeth without an in∣habiter; as a Ship perisheth without a Pylot; and as the body dyeth being for∣saken of the soule: so all things goe to wracke and ruine without the diuine prouidence. Lactantius lib. 3. cap. 20.

As a Wagoner directeth his chariot▪ and a Pylot his Ship: so God guideth all his creatures. Philo. lib. de Sommijs.

As we know that there is a soule in a mans body, by the motion of the body, albeit the soule be inuisible: so God by his prouidence and ordering of all things is apprehended; although by no eye hee can be discerned. Theophilus Antioche∣nus lib. 1. ad Antolycum.

As an Eagle caryeth her young ones vpon her wings; and as a mother carieth her child in her armes: so God suppor∣teth his, Deuteron. cap. 1. & cap. 32.

As God respecteth a little bird of the Sea called Alcyon, that in the midst of winter he sendeth a calme for fourteene dayes, (which the Mariners call Alcyo•• dayes) till she hath hatched and fledged her young ones, that the waues of the Sea may not trouble her, nor destroy her brood: so the diuine prouidence re∣gardeth

men in all their actions, who are made according to his Image; but especially hee defendeth his children, That they shall not be afraid for any ter∣rour by night, nor for the arrow that flyeth by day; for the Pestilence that walketh in the darkenesse, nor for the sickenesse that destroyeth in the noo••e day, Isidorus Clarius orat. 50. tomi primi.

As a skilfull Architect prouideth all things necessary for his building: so doth God for his creatures. Lactantius de opificio dei. cap 6.

Mariners, when they see a storme ap∣proching, first call vpon God, that they may ariue safely in their wished hauen, then they take in their sailes, and prouid all things that are needfull: so we must trust to the diuine helpe and prouidence, yet so, that we adde also our owne in∣dustry, Plutarchus.