Lord ! should I with the hypocrite decline the profession and prac- tice of holiness, to escape the rage of persecuting enemies, at what time they cease, my own conscience would begin to hunt me like a blood- hound ; let me rather chuse to be chased by men than God, to flee
* Venator defessa thero quum membra reponit, Mens tamen ad sulvas, et sua lustra redit, Claud.
196 H'CSBATSfDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR,
before pursuing enemies, than be dogged from day to day \vitli a guilty conscience.
Meditations upon Thees.
Upon the fall of Blossoms, nipt hy a frosty morning,
JlSeHOLDING in an early spring, fruit-trees embossed with beau- tiful blossoms of various colours, which breathed forth their delici- ous odours into the circumambient air, and adorned the branches on which they grew, like so many rich jewels, or glittering pendents ; and further observing, how these perfumed blossoms dropt off, being bitten with the frost, and discoloured all the ground, as if a shower of snow had fallen ; I said within myself, these sweet and early blossoms are not unlike my sweet and early affections to the Lord in the days of my first acquaintance with him. O what fervent love, panting desires, and heavenly delights beautified my soul in those days ! The odoriferous scent of the sweetest blossoms, the morning breath of the most fragrant flowers, hath not half that sweetness with w^hich those my first affections were enriched. O ! happy time, thrice pleasant spring ! My soul hath it still in remembrance, and is humbled within me ; for these also were but blossoms which now are nipt and faded, that first flourish is gone ; my heart is like the winter"*s earth, because thy face. Lord, is to me like a Avinter sun. " Awake, O north wind ! " and come, south wind, blow upon my garden, that the spices there- *' of may flow out, then let my beloved come into his garden, and " eat his pleasant fruit !"
Upon the Imitting, or setting of Fruit.
HAVE often observed, that when the blossoms of a tree set and knit, though the flourish thereof be gone, and nothing but the bare rudiment of the expected fruit be left ; yet then the fruit is much better secured from the danger of frosts and winds, than whilst it re- mained in the flower or blossom ; for now it hath past one of those critical periods, in which so many trees miscarry and lose their fruit. And methought this natural obse?'vatio}i fairly led me to this theolo- gical proposition, ' That good motions, and holy purposes in the soul,
* are never secured, and past their most dangerous crisis, till they
* be turned into fixed resolutions, and answerable executions, which
' is as the knittino; and settino- of them."'
Upon this proposition my melting thoughts thus dilated : happy
had it been for thee, my soul ! had all the blessed motions of the
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THIXGS. 197
Spirit been thus knit and fixed in thee. Oh, how have mine affec- tions blown and budded under the warm beams of the gospel ! But a chill blast from the cares, troubles and delights of the world with- out, and the vanity and deadness of the heart within, have blasted all ; my goodness hath been but as a morning-dew, or early cloud, that vanisheth away. And even of divine ordinances, I may say what is said of human ordinances, " They have perished in the using." A blossom is but Jructus imperfectus^ et ordinahilis^ an imperfect thing in itself, and something in order to fruit ; a good motion and holy purpose is but opus imperfectum, et ■ ordinabile, an imperfect work, in order to a complete work of the Spirit ; when that primus impetus, those first motions were strong upon my heart, had I then pursued them in the force and vigour of them, how many difficulties might I hav^e overcome ? Revive thy work, O Lord, and give not to my soul a miscarrying womb, or dry breasts.
Upon the sight of a fair spreading Oak.
▼ T HAT a lofty flourishing tree is here ? It seems rather to be a little wood, than a single tree, every limb thereof having the dimen- sions and branches of a tree in it ; and yet as great as it is, it was once but a little slip, which one might pull up with two fingers ; this vast body was contained virtually and potentially in a small acorn. Well then, I will never despise the day of small things, nor despair of arriving to an eminency of grace, though at present it be but as a bruised reed, and the things that are in me be ready to die. As things in nature, so the things of the Spirit, grow up to their fulness and perfection by slow and insensible degrees. The famous and heroical acts of the most renowned believers were such as themselves could not once perform, or it may be think they ever should. Great things, both in nature and grace, come from small and contemptible beginnings.
Upon the sight of many sticks lodged in the hranches of a choice
-OW is this tree battered with stones, and loaded with sticks^ that have been thrown at it, whilst those that grow about it, being barren, or bearing harsher fruit, escape untouched ! Surely if its fruit had not been so good, its usage had not been so bad. And yet it is affirmed, that some trees, as the walnut, c^c. bear the better for being thus bruised and battered.
198 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR,
Even thus it fares in both respects with the best of men ; the more holy, the more envied and persecuted ; every one that passes by will have a sling at them. Methinks I see how devils and wicked men walk round about the people of God, whom he hath inclosed in "his arms of power, like so many boys about an orchard, whose lips water to have a sling at them. But God turns all the stones of re- proach into precious stones to his people ; they bear the better for being thus battered. And in them is that ancient * observation verified.
" The palms and crowns of virtue thus increase ; '* "Thus persecution's turned into peace."
Let me be but fruitful to God in holiness, and ever abounding in the work of the Lord, and then whilst devils and men are flinging at me, either by hand or tongue persecutions, I will sing amidst them all with the divine poet :
^' What open force, or hidden charm,
'* Can blast my fruit, or bring me harm,
" Whilst the inclosure is thine arm."" Herb, Poem, p. 125.
Upon the gathering of 'choice Fr lilt J)' om a scrubbed unproinlsing Tree.