Book IV. -s A I N T s .coMPARED To ·L r o N -s; S I M I L E. P A R A L L E L. more Souls. The Blood of the Saints hath been always accounted . the Seed of the Church. XL Earthly Velfds are of little XL -God's faithful Saints and Servants, as they Value ; they are not much acare of little Efieem in the Eyes of the World, <rh~ counted of. precious SoilS of Zion, c~Jmparable to fine Gold, how . are they efleemed as -earthen Pitchers? Lam. iv. 2. So as they have but low and mean Thoughts of themfelves. We have this 'Treafure i;z earthen Vejfels, that the Excellmcy of the Power might be of Cod, and not of us, 2 Cor. iv..7· Rom. ix. 23. SIMILE. I. 0 THSR Velfels are made by Men. ·n 'I S .P A R I T Y. I. BUT the Saints and Miniflers of the Gofpel are Velfels of the Lord's making: He did not only form them confidered as Men, but alfo as fpiritual Velfels, viz. they are chofen Mini£lers prepared for his blelfed Ufe: He is a chofm Vejfel to bear my Name amongft the Gentiles, &c. Ac1s ix. 15. The Saints arc called Vejfels of Mercy, prepared zmto Glory. I!. .OtherVelfcls, when broken 11. But.the Velfels of the 'Lord, though they into fmall Pieces, are generally be broken in pieces by Death, are not thereby quite fpoiled, and can never be fet fpoiled, and utterly loll:, but !hall be fet together .together again. again, and be made far more glorious than thty were before. 'I N F E R E N C E S. .LIT may teach the Saints of God 10 have low Thoughts of themfelves. What is an earrhen Velfel? It is true, the Treafure may be excellelH that is in the Velfel; but that dorh not appertain eo the Veffd. Let God have the Glory of all: What haft thou which thou haft not received? I Cor. iv. 6, 7· 11. Take heed, you that ~re Saints, that you do·not, like earthen Velfels, fmite one .againft another, left by one another you be dafi1ed to pieces. Remember what frail and brittle Creatures.you .are, even poor earthen Velfels. Ill. It may teach.the Saints alfo to look 10 themfelves, le{\ they gather Filth; let -every one keep their Velfels clean. \Vafh yourfdves daily in the Tears of true Re– _pentance, and by Faith in that Fountain tl>at is fet open for Sin, and for Uncleannefs. IV. lt may teach the Saints of God to be coreful of their poor Mini£lers, remember– ing always.that they are alfo but poor frail Vefiels. V. Let the Wicked dread the Thoughts of the great Day, fuch I mean as have, or firivc to break in pieces Chri£l's chofen Vclfels; what will they do in that Day, when he makes Inquifition for Blood? s A I N T s COMl'ARED TO L J 0 N 8. 'The Wicked fly when no Man purfueth, but tbe R ighteou.< are as bold as a Lion, Prov. XXVIII. 1 • .And the Remnant of Jacobjha/1 be as a Lion, &c. Micah v. 8. The Godly are compared .to Lions. SIMILE. 1. A LION is a very magnanimous and courageous Crea– ture; he will not fly from his Enemies; he turneth not away for ·fear of any. PARALLEL. I. so the Sair.ts of God are fuJJ of fpiritua! Courage; they are not difmayed at the Threats of Men. I -will not fear what i'vfan can do unto me: '.Tbough an Hoft jhould encamp againft me, my Heart Jhall not fear; though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Dealh, I ""ill fear 110 Evil, Pfal. xxvii. 3· Hence they are faid to be as bold a" a Lion. Shallfuch a Man as I fly? Neh. vi. 1 I. Iil.Jtefl. Hut fame may fay, Wherein doth the Courage of the Godly appear? wherein are .they as bold as a Lion ? 9 ~ An f.
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