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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75800	The spirituall use of an orchard, or garden of fruit-trees. Set forth in divers similitudes betweene naturall and spirituall fruit-trees, in their natures, and ordering, according to Scripture and experience. The second impression; with the addition of many similitudes. By Ra: Austen, author of the first part. By Ra: Austen, author of the first part.	Austen, Ralph, d. 1676.	1657 (1657)	Wing A4236; Thomason E915_8; ESTC R208885	172,355	230

The Spirituall use of an Orchard or Garden of FRUIT-TREES Set forth in divers Similitudes betweene Naturall and Spirituall fruit-trees in their Natures and ordering according to Scripture and Experience The second Impression with the Addition of many Similitudes By RA AUSTEN Author of the first part Hos 12.10 I have used Similitudes by the Ministrie of the Prophets Jer 17.8 He shall be as a Tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her Roots by the River and shall not see when heat cometh but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the year of drought neither shall cease from yeilding fruit Rom 11.23 And they also if they abide not still in unbeleife shall be grafted in for God is able to graft them in againe Joh 15.1 2. J am the true Vine and my Father is the husbandman Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit Cant. 2.3 Like the Apple-tree among the Trees of the forrest so is my beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast OXFORD Printed by HEN HALL Printer to the UNIVERSITY for THO ROBINSON M.DC.LVII Aug 2. 1656. Imprimatur JOHAN OWEN Vice-Can Oxon A Preface to the Reader HAVING in the first part of this work spoken at large concerning the ordering of Naturall Fruit-trees in all respects and of the great Profits Pleasures and Advantages that arise thence I shall now consider Fruit-trees upon another Accompt and endeavour to make some Spirituall use and improvement of them And this should be our care as to all creatures which we have to do with upon all occasions according to the example of our Lord and Saviour whose use it was to spiritualife Naturall and Morall things when he conversed with us in his bodily presence as we see frequently in Scripture When the Pharisees spake of washing their hands before meate Matth. 15.20 Christ instructs them thereupon about spirituall defilements when the woman of Samaria came to draw water Christ tells her of living water Joh. 4.10 When his disciples brought him Meate he tells them he had meate they knew not of it was meate and drinke to him to do his fathers will Jo. 4.34 When the man spake of having his inheritance divided Luk. 12.13 our Saviour thereupon instructs him and others at large to beware of coveteousnesse and worldly cares when the multitude followed him having eaten of the Loaves Jo. 6. Christ thereupon counsells them to labour for the meat that perisheth not for the bread of life Joh. 6.26 And many spirituall things he illustrates by Similitudes from Naturall things as we see Matth. 13. and many other places from Scede Tares Mustard-seed Leaven a Treasure in the Feild a Pearle a draw net c. So should we make a Spirituall use of Naturall things and so turne Earth as it were into heaven When we have gone through all the workes and labours to be performed in the Orchard and have received thereby a rich recompence of Temporall Profits and Pleasures in the use of the Trees and Fruits we may besides all that make a Spirituall use of them and receive more and greater Profits and Pleasures thereby Men are not wont to stint themselves at wordly Profits but why are they not willing to receive all kinds of Profits or why are they not willing to receive the greatest and best should a man chuse and preferre a Glasse-beade or Toy before some Pretious and Rich Jewell would he not be censured for a foolish man how much more foolish and unwise is he that seeks after Temporall Profits and neglects Spirituall and Eternall therefore be carefull to make a spirituall improvement of fruit-trees The World is a great Library and Fruit-trees are some of the Books wherein we may read and see plainely the Attributes of God his Power Wisdome Goodnesse c. and be instructed and taught our duty towards him in many things even from Fruit-trees for as trees in a Metaphoricall sence are Books so likewise in the same sence they have a Voyce and speak plainely to us and teach us many good lessons The Lord Bacon saies God hath two great Books which we ought to study his Word and his Works the one discovers his Will the other his Power The Apostle saies Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearely seene being understood by the things that are made even his Eternall Power and Godhead The Creatures of God are to be studied as Books for in them we may read the Attributes of God and observe some small resemblances and darke shadowes of his infinite Excellencies and Perfections they are seene Per speculum Creaturarum They who cannot read a line in any Printed Book may read many good lessons in the Book of the Creatures Fruit-trees though they are dumb companions yet in a sence we may discourse with them The Saints soule exalting humiliation p. 87. et p. 205. The works of God speak to the mind as his Word does to the Eare. Mr Boulton saies Our Eyes Especially on the Sabbath day ought as little Bees fall upon severall objects and from them as from so many Flowers gather hony and bring it into the hive That is sweet heavenly wholsome Meditations for magnifying the Creator in all his Attributes Fruit-trees and other Creatures do truely though without an articulate voyce Preach the Attributes and perfections of God to us And we may read divine Truthes in them as in a Book consisting of words and sentences the Creatures of God according to their natures speak out the praises of God Ps 145.10 All thy workes praise thee O Lord and among them Fruitfull Trees 148.9 Things without sense or life have a voyce and speak to us Ps 19. The Heavens declare the glory of God vers 3. Their voyces are heard in every language or Nation and vers 4. Their words go to the ends of the World So that not only rationall and irrationall but even Inanimate Creatures have a voyce and speak loudly to men and it is our duty to learne their language and hearken to them All Creatures as a holy Man saies have a teaching voyce they read us divinity Lectures of divine Providence We must be content to stoope to their way and manner of teaching as the Egyptians and others in former times who were instructed by Characters and Hyeroglyphiques by something represented to the eye Notions were conveyed to the understanding Dumbe Creatures speak virtually and convincingly to the mind and Conscience If we make use of Creatures to serve our turne only in reference to our outward man we make not halfe that use of them as we ought we should study the Creatures and learne from them to bring us nearer the Creator Climbing up by them as by steps or staires till we ascend to the highest Good How much of the goodnesse and excellencies of God do Fruit-trees

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-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

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