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

Canons of Parables.

1. PArables are more frequently used in the New than in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament are these Parables, Judg. 9.8. applied ver. 16. 2 Sam. 12.1. The Parable of Nathan to David, Esa. 5.1. The Parable of the Vineyard ex∣pounded, ver. 7. Ezek. 17.2, &c. The Parable of the two Eagles explained, ver. 12. Ezek. 33.2. Of the Watchman, applied to the Prophet, ver. 7.

In the New Testament are these Parables, Mat. 13.3, &c. Mark. 4.3, &c. Luk. 8.4, &c. Mat. 13.24, &c. Mark 4.26, &c. Mat. 13.31. Mark 4.30. Luk. 13.18, 19. Mat. 13.33. Luk. 13.21. Mat. 13.44. & ver. 45, 46, 47. Mat. 18.23. Luk. 7.41. John 10.1. Luk. 12.16, 42. Mat. 24.45. Mark 13.34. Luk. 13.6. & 14.16. Mat. 18.12. Luk. 15.4, and ver. 8. & ver. 11. Luk. 16.1. & 18.2. Mat. 20.1. Luk. 19.11. Mat. 21.28, 33. & 22.2. & 25.1, 14, &c.

2. Christ with good Reason used a Parabolical Way of Preaching —: these Rea∣sons partly concern God, viz. a Fulfilling of the Scripture, as Mat. 13.34, 35. with Psal. 78.2. Or, secondly, Men, who are teachable and Godly (1) for their In∣formation, Mark 4.33. John 3.12. (2) To excite and stir up a Fervor in them of being taught, as Mat. 13.9. Mark 4.9. Luk. 8.7. See Mat. 13.10. Mark 4.10.

Sometimes they are used to stubborn and unteachable Men, who despise the Word, to inform them, stir them up (peruse Mat. 13.9. with Psal. 48. 2 Tim. 2.25.) to check and convince them, Mat. 21.33, 40, 41, 43. See Luk. 7.43. See 2 Sam. 12.6, 7. 1 King. 20.39, 40, 41, 42. Mat. 13.11. Mark 4.11, 12.

3. In Parables, if they be taken intirely, there are three Things, the Root, the Bark, and the Sap or Fruit. The Root is the Scope to which it tends. The

Bark is the sensible Similitude, and the Sap or Fruit is the Mystical Sense, &c.

4.

In the right Explication and Application of Parables the Scope of them is principally to be heeded, viz. the Drift of the Spirit, which may be gathered from foregoing and subsequent Things, with which it has any Connexion.

See Mat. 20.16. & 19.30. and Mat. 13.31.

5. In Parables there is no necessity of being too sifting and anxious about every single Word, nor ought we to expect a too curious Adaptation or Accommoda∣tion of it, in every Part, to the spiritual Thing inculcated by it: but only to mind the Applicatory Part; as the Edge of a Sword is only designed to cut.

6. Parabolical Theology is not argumentative. That is, any Exposition or Accom∣modation of them beyond their Native Scope, or wherein the Interpretation dis∣agrees with the Analogy of Faith, or where it is superstitiously wrested; this is like the wringing of the Nose, till it brings Blood, Prov. 30.33.

7. It helps very much in the Understanding of Parables, if Men know the Na∣tural Properties of such Things, Arts or Mysteries, as are proposed in the Simili∣tudes. As what Treasure is, what a Jewel or Pearl is, what Mustard, Tares, &c. are.

8. Whereas it is frequently said, that the Kingdom of Heaven is like this or that Thing, we are not to understand that it is so in all its Parts, or in every Respect, but only in such Things as are declared in the Similitude. So Christ is compared to a Thief only in this respect, because he comes in a Time when unlook'd for, or when unexpected, Luk. 12.39.

9. All Parables do not conclude in the same, but in a different Manner. Some from Likeness (a simili) as the seven Parables, Mat. 13. Some from Things unlike, as that of the unjust Judge, Him that desired three Loaves, and the unjust Steward, &c.