Troposchēmalogia: 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

Inferences.

IS Sin a Wound? or doth it wound the Soul, wound the State, Nation, and Church of God? We may then infer from hence the Folly of Men and Women who love and hug their Sin. Wilt thou, O Sinner, hug a Serpent in thy Bosom, that strives to sting thee to Death? what Fools are wicked Men?

2. Let us learn from hence to bewail the Condition of our sinful Relations, let the Husband mourn over his unbelieving Wife, and the Wife mourn over the unbelieving Husband; Fathers grieve for their unconverted and wounded Children, and Children grieve for their wounded and unconverted Parents, &c. What are they that thou lovest so dearly, and who lye in thy Bosom mortally wounded, and wilt thou not be trou∣bled for them? what not one Sigh nor Tear come from thee for them? be astonished, O Heavens! what a hard Heart hast thou?

3. Seek out for help, you that are unconverted, delay not; and let such who are heal∣ed, do what they can to get help and Cure for their Friends: if a Husband, a Wife, a Father, a Child or Brother be dangerously sick, or wounded externally, how ready are you to enquire for some skilful Physician, or Chyrurgion! and what speed will you make! and will you not be as tender and as careful of their Souls?

4. Take heed you do not draw others into Sin. What not only wound thy own Soul, but be cruel also to the Souls of others! wilt thou murther thy self, and murther thy Friend too?

5. What blind Wretches are they that make a mock at Sin? [See Fools.]

6. Let it be also matter of caution to all, to take heed they rest not satisfied with slight healing,* 1.1 They have healed the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly, &c. This may be done many ways.

(1.) Some rest satisfied, and lick themselves whole with the thoughts of federal Holiness, think they are in Covenant with God, through the Faith of their Parents; thus the Jews,* 1.2 We are Abraham's Seed, we have Abraham to our Father; my Parents were Godly; and so they might, and yet thou a Child of the Devil, and be damned for all that.

(2.) Some fly to their Godly Education: but that will never heal their Wounds; 'tis not what a Godly Family thou wast brought up in, and what good Instruction thou hadst, but what thou art, and what a change there is in thee, what Faith and Fear of God is there wrought in thy Soul?

(3.) Others apply the Mercy of God, when they begin to feel Conscience to terrify them,* 1.3 and their Wounds appear, but never consider his Justice: remember God is graci••us and merciful, &c. but will in no wise clear the Guilty.

(4.) Others trust to a partial Reformation of Life, they are other Men to what they were once. Soul, 'tis not Reformation, or leaving all manner of gross scandalous Sins, but a change of Heart and Regeneration thou must seek after.

(5.) Some apply the Promises of God to Sinners, before their Wounds were ever lanced, or their Sores laid open, and the Corruption let out: this is but skinning over the Sore, and to leave it to fester and rancle inwardly; the proud Flesh must with some corroding Plaister be taken down, thou wantest through Humiliation for Sin.

(6.) Many satisfy themselves, because they are not such great Sinners as some are. Remember,* 1.4 I tell ye, nay, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

(7.) Some fly to their Duties, they sin and are wounded, and they think Prayer will make them whole.

(8.) Some boast of their Knowledg and Experiences, &c. they can discourse and talk well, nay, and will tell you, they are Members of the Church too: and this may be, and yet they die of their Wounds, and go to Hell. O take heed you are not slight∣ly healed.

Quest. Well, but it may be you will say, What should we do to be throughly healed?

Answ. There is but one Physician can heal these Wounds; none but the Lord Christ only has the healing Medicine; his Blood is the Balsam, which thou must ap∣ply by Faith. And if thou wouldest have a perfect Cure, thou must be put to pain; He that would be healed, must suffer his Wounds to be lanced, and searched to the bottom.

2. Take the Physician's Counsel, and carefully follow his Directions; come to him presently, whilst it is to day, or thou art a dead Man.

3. If it be so, that he says, thy right Hand must be cut off, bear the Pain; or thy right Eye must be pulled out, submit to him. Whatsoever is dear to thee, that hin∣ders the Cure, thou must deny thy self of.

4. A Purge thou must take, or thy Wounds cannot be healed; the evil Humors, or the Filth and Corruption that is in thy Heart, must by the Spirit of Grace be purged out.

* 1.55. Thou must become a new Creature: Except a Man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jer. 8.11.
• * 1.2

  Mat. 3.9.
• * 1.3

  Exod 34.6
• * 1.4

  Luk. 13 3, 5.
• * 1.5

  John 3.3.