The mysterie of rhetorique unveil'd wherein above 130 the tropes and figures are severally derived from the Greek into English : together with lively definitions and variety of Latin, English, scriptural, examples, pertinent to each of them apart. Conducing very much to the right understanding of the sense of the letter of the scripture, (the want whereof occasions many dangerous errors this day). Eminently delightful and profitable for young scholars, and others of all sorts, enabling them to discern and imitate the elegancy in any author they read, &c. / by John Smith.

PARABOLA, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, [parabole] a parable, or a similitude of a thing: derived from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 [paraballo] confero, comparo, assimilo, to confer, resemble, or make comparison.

A Parable is as it were a shadow that goes be∣fore the truth: and is by nature a comparison of things that differ, made under some simili••ude.

It is said to be a similitude, when by some comparison we make known that which we would have to be understood.

So we say a man to be made of iron, when we would be understood to speak of a cruel hard∣hearted and strong man.

It is a comparing, signifying a similitude, (or a comparative speech) tending to the explanati∣on and perspicuity of the things under it: or it is a similitudinary speech, whereby one thing is uttered and another signified.

These are English Parables, or Similitudes.

As a vessel cannot be known, whether i•• be whole or broken, except it have liquor in it: so no man can be throughly known what he is, be∣fore he be in authority.

If we need look so far back for an example, we may see this truth veryfied in Hazael; compare

2 King. 8.13. with ch. 13. v. 22.

Like as it is a shame for a man that would hit the white, to misse the whole But: even so it is a shame for him that thirsts after honor, to fail of honesty. This is a saying of a Heathen Phi∣losopher.

A parable in the Gospel signifies an Aenigma∣tical or Allegorical Comparison, as also an Al∣gory and Aenigma.

A parable must be expounded, and no further strained then things agree with the principal in∣ten••ion scope and drift of the Spirit of God in that Scripture: as Matth. 20.1, 2, &c. where the scope is, God is not a debtor unto any man.

In Parables we must alwayes look more ••o the sense and scope, then to the letter.

Note that in a Parable there are three things essen••i••lly considerable; viz.

1. Cottex, t••e rind or shell; that is the words and terms.

1. Radix, the root or the scope unto which the Pa••able tends.

3. Medulla, the marrow, that is, the mysti∣cal sense of the Parable, or the fruit which may be gathered from it.

Matth. 24.32. As from the budding and sprou∣ting of trees, ye may know that Summer is nigh; so likewise ye when ye shall see the signs of the Son of man, know that his coming is near, even at the doors: so in Mark. 3.23.

Matth. 13.33. The kingdome of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Here the former part of the Parable is that which is brought into the similitude: where∣of the literal sense is,

That a little leaven (being put together with the meal into one lump) hath that effect, that it pierces into and spreads over the whole lump.

The later part is that unto which the former is applyed, and by our Saviour signified in the first words: The kingdome of hea∣ven.

The mystical sense thereof is,

That the Gospel hath that efficacy, that be∣ing preached in Palestina, it should presently be spread over the whole world, and make the Church far larger then it was; for leaven doth mystically signifie the Gospel; and the whole lump, the Church, which God hath from eter∣nity decreed to call unto himself out of the world by the Gospel.

Isa. 5.1. The Parable of the vineyard you have there; which in the 7. verse is explained thus,

The vineyard is the house of Irael; the plea∣sant plant is the men of Judah; by grapes judg∣ment is understood; and by wilde grapes oppres∣sion.

Ezek. 17.2. A great Eagle with great wings, long winged, full of feathers,* 1.1 which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the high∣est branch of the Cedar, he cropt off the top of his young twigs, and carryed it into a land of Traffique, &c.

This obscure Parable the holy Ghost explains in the 12 ver. thus,

The great Eagle signifies the King of Babylon; by Lebanon is signified Jerusalem: and by the highest branch of the Cedar and the top of his young twigs, the King and Princes of Jerusalem; by a land of traffique and a City of Merchants, is signified Babylon.

See Luke 16.19. Mat. 13.3.24.44. Luke 8.4. Mat. 22.2, &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An Epig∣matical Parable.