through patience comfort of the Scriptures might have hope this is one cause why the faults and sins of the Saints of old are recorded Take heed of too much admiring the best men there is drosse Vse 4 mixed with their purest mettles It is an error therefore in some persons who take all for granted that some whom they admire deliver in their Sermons or otherwise and that follow their Judgments and Examples because theirs Let us tryall things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.2 The eightie ninth Observation in Nature WE see materiall fruit-trees that are ungrafted wild trees as forward to bring forth their sower and naughty fruits as the grafted trees are to bring forth their good fruits Crab-trees and others of the worst kinds are as forward in the spring in blossoming and shooting forth as grafted trees of the best kinds This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition which also concurrs with the word and Experience That Carnall persons are as forward and zealous in the waies of sin as usually the godly are in the waies of holinesse Proposition shadowed All people are carried on in those waies that are sutable to their Principles whether spirituall or carnall Papists other superstitious persons are as zealous in their waies as usually men fearing God are in Gods waies The Idolatrous people mentioned Jer. 44. were very zealous and earnest in worshiping their false gods insomuch that when the Prophet from God told them the danger thereof and that it would be no lesse than destruction to them if they continued so to provoke God their spirits rose against him they answered him boldly and stoutly with one consent vers 16.17 The word that thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord we will not heare it of thee but wee will doe whatsoever commeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heaven and to powre out drinke offerings unto her as wee have done both wee and our fathers our Kings and our Princes So were the worshipers of Baal earnest and forward in calling upon their Idoll cutting and lancing themselves And the people of Ephesus Acts 19. how earnest were they for upholding their Diana vers 28. They were full of wrath and cryed out saying great is Diana of the Ephesians and the whole City was full of confusion and they rushed into the Common place with one consent c. So vers 24. How vehemently earnest have we seene carnall persons for upholding the booke of common-Common-prayer receiving the Lords Supper at Easter c Wherein they will not be hindred an experiment whereof we had lately of some grosly ignorant persons who were prevented at one place from receiving the sacrament of the supper from the hand of a profane Minister they went after him the same day to another place wading through the waters which then by reason of great raine overflowed the banks to come to him out of their blind zeale not knowing what they did and for all superstitious customes feastings may-games merry meetings and such like who amongst the godly are more forward and ready in the waies of God than these kind of persons are in these waies of sin Now the reason of this is because the waies of sin are agreeable and sutable to the Nature of carnall persons and Secondly because Sathan workes mightily in the spirits of such persons to stirre them up and to carry them on in carnall courses especially in any thing which hath in it but the least shew of good Vse 1 The consideration of this should make regenerate persons to take shame to themselves That they who have the Commands of God Divine Principles the holy spirit the glory of God the welfare of others an eternall inheritance c. to carry them on and encourage them should yet be no more forward and zealous in the the waies of God then ungodly ones are in the waies of sin O it should humble us g eatly that we are so dull cold and formall that we have no more zeale spirit and life in the pleasant and holy waies of God that we are no more forward to bring forth sweete wholsome and pleasant fruits to God than wicked men are to bring forth poysonous and deadly fruits It is an intollerable shame to some professors especially to see them so likewarme and unactive in the waies of God when power is in their hand to act for God and his people they move slowly and feebly in his cause wicked men are commonly more zealous and active in the service of Sathan and their lusts then Gods people are in the service of the living and true God This is a thing greatly to be bewailed by us The ninetieth Observation in Nature THere is great difference in the dimensions or bignesse of fruit-trees some are very high and large trees others but low and small some are huge strong trees others but weake and slender some growing upon poore barren grounds they can never attaine that bignesse as others that grow upon strong fertill grounds yet the husbandman ordereth and preservethall of them This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The conditions of the people of God are much different yet God careth for them all Proposition shadowed The state of the children of God is very various whether we consider them in Naturall civill morall and spirituall respects some are young some old some of weake some of strong constitutions of body some but of weake and low naturall parts and abilities of mind others of eminent gifts and endowments some of poor and meane estates and live much upon contribution others are rich and great in the world some are low and weake in grace babes in Christ others are strong men fathers c. yet God careth and provideth for them all his love is towards all Rich Abraham and poore Lazarus are both beloved of God some are in great esteeme and reputation generally among the people as Cornelius Acts 10.22 A man of good report among all the Nation of the Jewes others lie in contempt and dishonour some have great measures of grace as the woman of Canaan Matth. 13.28 O woman great is thy faith so the Centurion Luk. 7.9 I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Others have but a weake faith Matth. 8.26 O ye of little faith So Matth. 16.8 O ye of little faith So Rom. 14.1 in some grace is but as a graine of Mustard-seede in some others it is growen high and strong Stephen was a man full of faith Acts 6.5 So of Love and other graces some have much others but little Simon mentioned Luk. 7.40 had but a little love to our Saviour but Mary loved much so of knowledg zeale c. We see the state of Gods people is very different in all respects yet the care
Prayers and Discourses because they have not so much Humane Learning as themselves Fourthly In discouraging and hindering such servants of the Lord as desire to improve their Graces and gifts for God endeavoring to commend the Lord Christ to others for their salvation Fiftly By endeavoring to prejudice the minds of men against such who yet God imployes in the work of the Ministry Sixtly In boasting of their Parts and Learning and resting thereon forgetting God who gave it Seaventhly In neglecting to use their Learning for that end for which God bestowed it on them Consider hath God given you larger opportunities and greater helps and advantages than others that you should be more idle and unfruitfull than others the Lord awaken you and make you zealous and active for your Master in this time of need many places have been a long time destitute of godly able Preachers that when he shall come he may say unto you well done good and faithfull servants enter into the joy of your Lord. Concerning the Author of the following Observations and Similitudes what ever Carnall men or the pride of Spirituall men may object as who that is zealous and active for God can escape the censures of some men it evidently appeares to me that the Spirit of God hath carried him on in this work Reject not the work because it is not done by a Publique Minister of the Gospell for many private experienced Christians have beene in this way very profitable to the Church of God These are the last times wherein God fulfills his great Gospell promise in powring out his Spirit upon all flesh and those whom God intends for any speciall service he prepares them for it by some speciall preparations I have seene a large particular Relation composed by this Author of God's dealings with him for many yeares together wherein it appeares that God began betime with him early even the first houre of the day And he hath beene exercised with many Temptations from his youth up having passed through the spirit of bondage early in the morning and by degrees came to close with Christ and to attaine a comfortable assurance of his interest in him But afterwards even about the middle of the day upon the spirits withdrawing and God's hiding of his face for some gratious ends he fell into a long and sad desertion passing through the valley of the shadow of death the paines of hell gat hold upon him and that in an extraordinary way and measure But God by degrees lifted him up out of the deepe Pit out of the Mire and Clay and set his feet upon a Rock and hath put a new song into his Mouth and made him active for God in his Generation As for his following Labours I doubt not but God will make them very usefull and profitable to the people of God what is more helpfull to the understanding and remembring of Spirituall things than plaine and pregnant SIMILITUDES of things which we are daily conversant with all these being also enlarged upon by him and improved to spirituall ends and advantages What was all the old Ceremoniall Law for many hundred yeares but teaching the People by SIMILITUDES Tipes and Ceremonies which were all shadowes of things to come Heb. 10.1 The spirit of God used SIMILITUDES by the Ministry of the Prophets Hos 12.10 yea the great Prophet of the Church frequently used SIMILITUDES in his teachings and Ministers of the Gospell in our daies find them very usefull and profitable in their teachings Wherefore Reader I recommend the following Observations and Similitudes to thy use Praying that the spirit of God may engraft every truth into thy heart and cause it to grow and bring forth much good fruit to the glory and praise of God and thy owne everlasting good STEPHEN FORD Pastor of a Church of CHRIST in CHIPPIN-NORTON Propositions Shadowed out unto us by Observations in Nature and Cleared by Scripture and Experience 1. GOd from all Eternity made choice of what Spirituall Plants he pleased to Plant in his Garden the Church and refused others pag. 1. 2. The dispensations of God towards weak Christians are more gentle than towards such as are strong p. 3. 3. Many Spirituall Fruit-trees bring forth faire and Specious fruits to Observation which yet are unpleasant to the Husbandman p. 5. 4. Persons joyned in any Relation they have comfort or affliction together according to their natures p. 6. 5. God calls his People for the most part in youth and more rarely when they are old p. 8. 6. When the Spirit of God withdrawes then Mysticall Fruit-trees cease growing their Leaves and Fruits fall and they endure sore conflicts for a time but at the returne of the Spirit they are restored to former comforts with advantage p. 13. 7. Generally those persons who are excessive and most curious about the formes of Duties have least of the power of Godlinesse p. 18. 8. By the fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees p. 20. 9. Some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off p. 22. 10. We should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts graces and Fruits may especially encrease p. 23. 11. While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakly so also if the flesh be strong the Spirit is weak p. 26. 12. The more closely a Christian walks with God the more stedfast he is and more free from Spirituall enemies p. 28. 13. Corrupt nature abides in believers as long as they live and is but in part subdued by grace p. 29. 14. It is not any outward excellencies but the Image of God upon the Soul that is the glory of a person p. 30. 15. There is a firme and constant union betweene Christ and every Believer p. 32. 16. Vniversity men ought in convenient time to go forth into the service of the Church and Common-wealth except some choice persons fit for government of the Societies p. 33. 17. Saving grace or the Divine nature in Believers abides in the Soul for ever But common gifts or graces may be lost p. 37. 18. God is well pleased with Zealous and active Instruments in his Works But men of dull indifferent spirits he often layes them aside and puts others in their stead p. 39. 19. The commotions troubles and confusions in the Church of God will end in the settlement peace and glory of it p 41. 20. Believers by ingrafting into Christ do live in him and he in them and are thereby made one with him p. 43. 21. All believers have a likenesse and resemblance of one another in the Image of God upon their soules p. 45. 22. Those whom God purposeth to bring hereafter into his celestiall Paradise he prepareth them for it here in this life p. 47. 23. Grace in the hearts of believers is not suddenly strong but strength is gotten by degrees p. 49. 24.
the guide of all believers thereby they judg of good and evill fruits of wild and of Ingrafted Trees 1 Cor. 2.12 The one and fiftieth Observation in Nature SOme grafts are in part prepared by the husbandman in Order to Ingrafting and yet through neglect or unskilfulnesse in Ordering or hurts by Men Cattle hot sunnes dry winds or something els they are spoiled and never take hold of the stocks whereby they should grow to perfection This shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Some Persons are wrought upon in part in somethings like to those that are Ingrafted tnto Christ who yet never attaine to be really united to him The spirit of God Convinceth the world of sin as well Reprobates as the Elect they are sometimes terrified with the apprehensions of the wrath and justice of God for sin and may for a time lye under the spirit of Bondage and common convictions of the spirit may have knowledge some common graces reforme in part make a Profession And yet after all throug negligence workings of Sathan and the world they come short of Christ The young man in the Gospell Mat. 19 had same good beginning some civill righteousnesse being by Christ told what to do more he slinks back from Christ and went his way to his earthly possessions So the hearers Luk. 8.13 they heare the word and believe for a time but in temptation fall away And many of the disciples of Christ Iohn 6.66 went back and walked noe mart with him also 1 Joh. 2.19 Gal. 5.7 Ye did run well who did hinder They went out from us c. so many in these daies having begun well after a while they fall off and with Demas imbrace this present world Vse 1 Let us not hastily conclude of any ones being in the state of grace because of some beginnings and progresse in a Profession Use 2 This should stirr up every one to go on towards perfection not to rest in beginnings but to presse forward towards the Marke And to give all possible diligence to make our Calling and Election sure and to put that great Question out of Question whether arm we are really in Christ whether we receive sap and life from that stock to grow and bring forth good fruits if so then certainly we shall persevere unto the end The two and fiftieth Observation in Nature THe least and most crooked Ingrafted tree brings forth better fruits without any artificiall helps then the fairest tree with all the art that can be used to it if ungrafted This Similitude shadowes out unto us this Proportion That the meanst person in Christ brings forth better fruits then the most accomplisht unregenerate person in the world Proposition shadowed Every believer is acted by the spirit of God and spirituall Principles and all their spirituall fruits spring from Christ their roote and thence it is that they are of such accompt with God But unregenerate persons cannot doe one good worke cannot bring forth one good fruit because they have no spirituall Principles they have not the spirit of God as to any renewing santifying operations in them but are whoiy carnall and therefore whatsoever proceeds from them is so Jo. 3.6 That which is of the flesh is flesh And Tit 1.15 To them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure but even their minds and consciences are defiled As from a muddy fountaine flowe impure streames or from a corrupt Roote spring naughty fruits so from the spirits of carnall persons proceed fleshly operations The carnall mind is enmity against God Rom. 87 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God vers 8. Their grapes are grapes of gall their Clusters are bitter Deut. 32.32 But the fruits of believers are sweete and pleasant fruits because they spring from the true Vine Joh. 15. So that the husbandman will come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.16 Hence we may see the grosse mistake of most people in the Vse 1 world who value spirituall fruits according to bulke and outward beauty The Sermons books discourse c. of great men are for the most part cryed up and had in estimation especially if they be not only eminent in Place and Office but also in learning and Gifts who yet in the meane time neglect or slight the Sermons Prayers books and discourses of persons low in the world and in Gifts and naturall endowments though these proceede from a gratious heart a renewed nature and the spirit of God though they have a tast a savour and relish of the divine Nature and have a veine of holinesse running through them which God himselfe and his people who are most spirituall are delighted with But the naturall man cannot perceive nor discerne the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 Use 2 This may abate the pride of worldly wise men though eminent in all naturall and acquired abilities who like the proud Pharisee boast of themselves and despise others whose fruits are farre better then theirs But know O vaine man That not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 Use 3 This is a ground of great comfort to every gracious heart though they be never so meane and imperfect in gifts and naturall endowments yet their Graces may be eminent and their fruits pretious Though they be small as the poore widdowes mite yet they are better and of more esteeme with God then all the great fruits of formall Professours Mark 12.41 42. The three and fiftieth Observation in Nature THe thriving roots of a fruit-tree is alwaies ready to give up sap and nourishment to the Branches and if the Branches could draw sap continually the roote would continually give it The Spirituall lesson shadowed Proposition shadowed That Christ is continually ready to communicate strength and refreshing to his people and all defects thereof are from themselves Believers receive all their life and power from Christ whereby they doe any thing spiritually And when the soule findeth not strength and refreshings by reason of the strings of Corruptions and temptations from sathan and the world yet all the while Christ is ready to communicate himselfe for it is his Office as well as his Nature he is appointed of God to give out all supplyes to his people 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made unto us wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption The soule is sometimes sluggish and carelesse of seeking or entertaining Christ yet Christ is ready and calls for entrance Behold I stand at the dore and knock if any man heare my voice and open the dore I will come in and sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 And againe Cant. 5.2 3. It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying open to me my love my dove my undefiled But how carelesse is the soule of entertaining Christ I have put off my Coate how shall I put it on c. The Apostle tels us
the Lord Mr. R. Austine the Author of the Treatise of Fruit-trees SIR THE benefit my selfe and others have received from your godly society and Gospell conversation heretofore may be argument enough for us thankfully to embrace your pregnant similitudes and Gospell observations I must confesse I am bound to blesse the Lord for the acquaintance and familiarity I formerly had and still have with you I seldome came to your garden but you made your trees speak something of Christ and the gospell your custome was to present your Christian friends and visitors with such clusters of gospell grapes which you now send abroad to the world It s admirable to see what spirituall improvements you have made of your Nursery the Reader if he have senses exercised to rellish and distinguish will soone taste the sweetnesse of your spirituall fruit especially considering 1. Pares cum paribus facillimè con jungantur That you take your rise from such things as are obvious and familiar to every mans Capacity which may easily set the minds of the Readers on work upon Jesus Christ duoilla nos maximè movent similitudo exemplum Cic 3. de Orat. The creatures all speak thus Qui fecit me propter te fecâ—â— te propter se Bernard 2. It s wonderfull to see so much Gospell gathered from natures Twiggs The naturall voyce of the creatures tell us that God is As Aristotle and Galen report but none ever made the creatures in so plaine and familiar a manner speak of Christ before I must acquaint the Reader that here is in your Similitudes gospell profit with soule delight and pleasure The spirituall Reader is here taught how to meete with Christ amongst the Mirtle Trees Sir we must all give you thanks for your pious explication of natures * Dicta enim Hieroglyphica apud Aegyptios sacra quaedam monumenta sculptis animalium figuris significantia Macrob. Satur. lib. 1.21 Hieroglyphicks whereby you have made the creatures speak plaine It s gospell wisedome that must make your young plants to beare such apples of gold Do men gather grapes of thornes or figs of thistles saith Christ No naturally they will not yeeld such kinds of fruit but here are spirituall grapes from natures wild trees that 's admirable 3. The Reader may observe that you make the dead to speak as well as the living Joh. 15.2.6 Mat. 15.13 Luk. 13.7 I meane your withered and unprofitable plants which you cast out of your Nursery yeelds most profitable observations The Lord will have a time to root out every tree and cut off every branch which beares no fruit not a body onely but sap not leaves but fruit which the Lord likes in professors 4. Your varieties of spirituall fruit may exceedingly please the godly Reader mens minds naturally are much delighted with variety all the similitudes in the world will not reach to that fulnesse and variety of fulnesse which is in the Lord Jesus Christ we read Revel 22.2 of a Tree that bare twelve manner of fruits which Tree is Christ Mr Diodati saith a Reverend man in his pious Annotations It s a mystery to the world that Beleivers should bring forth variety of fruits to Christ and yet receive all manner of fruits from Christ Rom. 11.36 of him and by him and through him and therefore to him be all things Our life is hid in Christ as the root our graces are all from him Coll. 3.3 our sap fruit and all therefore its observable what your drift is As Christ the Prophets and Apostles were wont to send men to Trees Consider the Lillyes how they grow Fruits and Plants for divine considerations now least men should fix too much here you strive to fetch the minds of the Readers off from them all to Christ againe and especially by the same way The good Lord open our eyes that we may follow on in your path that as we have all felt the misery following of our eating the forbidden fruit we may eat now of this Tree of life So prayes Sir Your very loving Friend and Brother in the Lord J. F. A Minister of the Gospell Decemb. 24. 1656. To the READER THE blessed God hath a speciall work to do in the world in which he imployes his faithfull servants and such oftentimes as are in comparison of others but as Babes in Christ when such as the men of the world esteeme the only wise men are rejected of the Lord. God for his owne glory is pleased to staine the pride of men to pull down such as lift up themselves and attribute that glory to themselves which is only due to God and exalts such as are of low degree Luk. 1.52 53. such as see are hartily affected with their owne emptinesse and insufficiency and are enabled to role themselves on God for wisdome and strength to do his work faithfully God hath for the most part made use of Instruments to bring about his great designes and interests both in Church and State such as have been scorned and contemned by ungodly learned men who reject the pretious truths of God because God sends and imployes such of his servants to dispence them unto men that have not such humane learning Titles and degrees as themselves the only things in a carnall Eye but poore low things in a spirituall Eye in comparison of the teachings of the spirit of God I know and do freely grant that Human Learning is a most choice and excellent gift when it is sanctifyed in any person and that which God hath made use of in his servants sometimes to carry on and promote his great workes and interests in the world And I do greatly honour such gratious learned men as improve their grace and learning for God and such persons as have a low esteeme of Learning and speak slightly of it or of Learned men because such I dare affirme such men speak evill of that which they understand not I am no enemy to Humane Learning as some in the University have affirmed and possessed others in the Country with the same opinion of me my practise can witnesse for it is well knowne that I spent many yeares in the University and Country to obtaine a little that I might be the more serviceable to God in my generation and I find that that which the Lord hath given me is very usefull unto me in the work that I am called unto by God and men But I shall intreate And do earnestly desire some Learned men both in the University and Country seriously to consider whether or no they do not greatly and apparently abuse their Learning First In preferring it before the Spirit of God and the saving knowledge of Christ Secondly In having higher thoughts of themselves than of others who it may be are more Holy and Humble and have more of the teachings of the Spirit of God than themselves Thirdly In despising and contemning their Persons Sermons Bookes