forgett God least if yee neglect this day of grace yee shortly prove these things to be true by woofull experience in remediles Miseries â—kilfull ordering of Fruittrees produceth Fruitfulnesse HVSBANDMAN But yet I see some few of these great Trees even in this rich soyle who by some skill and extraordinary industry of the Husbandman do bring forth very good Fruits and plentifully too from yeare to yeare how glad should I be were yee all so Fruitfull I should then have a greater revenue of Profitts yearely then I have Remove the Cause and the Effect ceaseth FRVITTREES Thou knowest by Experience that immoderation and excesse in any thing is hurtfull and dangerouse so when thou knowest the Cause of a mischiefe or inconvenience thou hast best remove it if thou can'st that so the effect also may cease as this in Nature so also in Morall or Spirituall things sublatâ Causâ tollitur effectvs HVSBANDMAN This also is of higher and further use in reference to the great on 's in the world A due Commendation of the Pious and Religious Gentrie Although great Revenues high Titles Dignities Honours Riches and Pleasures of the world are great snares and Temptations unto those who have them yet through the mighty and powerfull operations of the spirit of God in the carefull and diligent use of the meanes of grace which some of the great Persons do exercise themselves in their minds and hearts are inlightned and changed from a state of Nature to a state of Grace who are famous Examples unto others in their generations and have a great influence upon all round about them being Patterns of Piety great Charity and Vertue And so are truly Noble as being Borne from above Sones and Daughters to the Lord God Almighty Though according both to * 1 Cor. 1.26 Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many Noble are called Scripture Experience and Observation of inlightned spirituall minds the greatest part of such walke in the broad way and enter into the wide gate that leadeth to destruction the eyes of their minds being blinded not only by Corruption and Sathan as all sorts by Nature are but also dazelled by the glittering shew and splendor of these Pompous gaudy Vanities Profitts and Pleasures of this world and so their state is thereby the more dangerous Then what infinite grace is shewed forth in chusing and calling some of them Notwithstanding these impediments and plucking them as Brands out of the Burning making them as rich Diamonds and Pearles among Pebbles and common stones These persons then lye under the greatest Bonds and Obligations that can be to returne answerable Obedience Duty and Thankfullnesse unto God for his rich and free Grace to them in Jesus Christ Not only in saving them from the wrath to come but also estating them in an inheritance immortall invisible and that fadetâ— not away reserved in Heaven for them Section 8. HVSBANDMAN Omnia fâ—orebunt prospiciente Deo Methinks yee swagger and are very brave this May-morning iâ— your beautifull blossomes and greenâ— leaves whence had yee all this Gallantrieâ— The Voice of all Creatures to Man FRVIT-TREES It pleased our bountifull Creator to bestow it upon us but iâ— is for thee and for the sake of mankind which ingageth thee and all men to acknowledge it And to serve him and praisâ— him with more chearefullnesse This is ouâ— Language and Lesson to all Men which every particuler tree among us does dailâ— speake aloud qui fecit me propter te fecit te propter se He that made me for thee made thee for himselfe HVSBANDMAN But I have seene you meanely clothed sometimes in the yeare I perceive yee change your Garments now and then have yee severall suits of Apparell Fruit-trees receive and loose their beauty once a yeare FRVIT-TREES Yea we are diversly clothed we weare out a new shuite every yeare Our bountifull Lord and Master puts upon us a fresh new Garment every spring of the yeare and we are very beautifull to looke upon all the spring and Summer with various coloured blossomes leaves and Fruits but towards Autumne this brave clothing looseth its fresh colour because the Sun the efficient Cause of our Springing growth and flourishing withdraws from us and is gone towards the South parts And as cold weather coms on these our beautifull Garments of Leaves â—nd Fruits fade and fall from us by litâ—le and little till we are quite Naked and â—hen for a season we are in a melancholy posture The state of all things here below changeable HVSBANDMAN Vicissitude and change is the state of all visible Creatures from Riches to Poverty from Poverty to Riches sometimes prosperity sometimes adversity sometimes health sometimes sicknesse sometimes honour sometimes disgrace good Report and evill Report turnes and changes of providence which we ought to be fitted for that in every state we may be therewith content by getting a well grounded confidence and assurance of the love of God in Christ which never changeth as all created things do but is the same for ever without variablenesse or shaddow of change There is evidently a very great change and alteration concerning you betweene Sommer and Winter as hath been said but how is it with you in the cold sharp Winter in frost and snow stormes of Haile Raine strong and boisterouse Wind and sometimes blasting killing Winds and Aires have yeâ— any reliefe or nourishment then to feedâ— upon how do yee to live and hold out iâ— the time of all these difficulties yee shew forth no effects of life either by growthbuds blossomes or leaves how do yee find your selves to be during that sharp time Fruit-trees are pincht and endure difficulties in Winter Fruit-trees in the spring revive FRVIT-TREES It 's true indeed There is a very great alteration in us betweene Sommer and Winter our beauty and ornaments being taken from us and we are left naked and bare and seem during all that time as if we were quite dead so that some unskilfull persons judg us so to be indeed yet we have a conserving sap existing in us all that time which keeps us alive though we cannot exert it then because the Sun which is the efficient Cause of our growth is at that time farr remote from us But when it returnes again in the spring time and daily draws neerer to us then by its warmth and influence we begin to be a little refreshed for though we have not sence yet we have perception which is to us insteed of sence and we shew it by the effects for thou seest we then begin to plump our buds which by little and little do open and brake forth into Blossomes Leaves and shootes And by degrees as the Sunne draws neerer and neerer and it 's heare and influence is stronger and stronger upon us we are more and more refreshed by it our blossome Buds turn into Fruits and we shoote forth uigorously and strongly and bring forth
since is answered by St Austen 10 Book of his confessions I put the Question saith he to the Earth and to the Sea and to the rest of the Creatures and they give me an Answer Now if you would know what my Question was It was the deep intention and consideration I had in my heart about the Creatures And would you know what their Answer was their Answer was that which I collected in my Meditations from their several Natures qualities and properties So that to confer and discourse with Fruit-trees as in the ensuing Dialougue and to receive insturctions from them not only as to temporall Profits but Spiritual also it is in a Rational serious and Spiritual manner to consider them and dive and search into their Natures and Properties as we may observe and gather by Experience from year to year concerning them which every Rationall man may do more or lesse But yet the more knowledg and Experience any man has the better it is don And then the making of right conclusions upon such Considerations those are the Answeres Teachings or instructions of the Fruit-trees so of all other Creatures as was said Job 12.7 aske the Beasts and they shall teach thee docebit te unaquaque ex Bestiis docebit te The Excellencies Vertues beauties and perfections that are in the Creatures do plainly shew forth and manifest the infinite Excellencies and perfections of God his VVisdom Power Goodness Beauty Bounty c. Now when we diligently consider and search out their Natures and Vertues Beauties and Properties which God hath Stampt upon them and put into them and make right Conclusions then we confer and discourse with them The Creatures discover the Attributes of God to the Eye as his word does to the Ear and both to the Mind And this produceth or should do in every one Praise and Glory to God wonder and admiration of him for that he is the Creator and contriver of all these excellent things who being the Originall and first Cause of all these wonderful and excellent Creatures so many so good so beautifull so usefull profitable and pleasant in the lives of men it must needs be concluded that he himself is much more so in himselfe yea infinitely above better and exceeding them all and consequently to be desired and loved above them all Aquin Hujusmodi interrogatio est mentis operatio qua creaturarum perfectiones intuemur Tunc homo Creaturas interrogat quando eas diligenter considerat sed tunc interrogate respondent cum homo prospicit quod tanta ordinatio esse non possit nisi ab aliqua superiore sapientia dispensante That is When we seriously consider the nature and properties of inanimate creatures then we aske Questions of them and they being thus Questioned they return an answer unto men when we clearly perceive that their wonderfull Natures vertues and properties cannot be but from the Power and VVisdome of a superior Cause Every created being instructs us concerning our Creator of his wisdom and goodnesse and of our duty and thankfulnesse we owe unto him so that as many Creatures as are in the world so many Teachers there are in the world Therefore none shall be excused at the last day for their ignorance of God seeing we have not only the word of God but all the Creatures of God to instruct us concerning God and our duty to him So then with these breife instructions concerning discourse with Fruit-trees I commit the Ensuing Dialogue to thy use for thy profitt Who am thy Friend to serve thee in love RA AVSTEN The Contents Trees Speake to men pag. 1. The Language of Fruit-trees p 2 The Age of Fruit-trees ibid. Mans fall Restoring and Establishing p. 3 Section 2. Sympathy and Antipathy in Vegetables p. 4 Sympathy and Antipathy of Plants truly stated p ib. Likenâ—ss of Natures accord best among men p. 6 No attaining Communion with God without a new Nature ib. No cordiall fellowship between Regenerate and Vnregenerate persons p. 7. Perception in Fruit-trees in fled of sence ib. Four distinct Rankes of Creatures each Genus including many speties p. 8 All Creatures are subservient one to another p. 9 Section 3. The benefite of due Ordering of Fruit-trees p. 16 God chastneth all his people some more some lesse for their profit p. 11. Section 4. Fruittrees beautiful objects p. 13 Immoderate love to Creatures dangerous ibid. Too much love to Creatures abates love to God p. 14 Communion with Creatures calls for Communion with God p. 15. Section 5. Profits and Pleasures by Fruit-trees p. 16 Fruits of Trees mans Food ibid. Planting Fruit-trees commended by Antient and late writers p. 18 Section 6. Two things seeming discouragements in Planting p. 22. Vaine minds take up with present satisfactions p. 23 Examples of the greatest persons in Planting p. 23 Many Profits and Pleasures in planting Fruit-trees p. 27 Section 7. Great Trees in too fat soyle bear not well p. 29 Moderation is best p. 29 A just Reprooff of the carnal careless Gentrie p. 30 Skilfull ordering of Fruit-trees produceth Fruitfulnesse p. 31 Remove the Cause and the effect ceaseth p 32 A due commendation of the Pious and Religious Gentry ibid. Section 8. The voice of all Creatures to man fruit-Fruit-trees receive and loose their beauty once a year p. 35 The state of all things here below changeable p. 36 Fruit-trees are pincht and endure difficulties in winter p. 37 Fruit-trees in the Spring revive ibid. Some Christians go through great tribulations p. 38 The light of Gods Countenance refresheth the soul after darknesse p. 41 Section 9. The Opinion about descention of Sap examined p. 41 No descention of Sap in Trees p. 43 The Spirit and nature of true Christians tends upwards p. 34 Section 10. Fruit-trees are prepared in Nurseries to be transplanted p. 45 Elder trees transplanted make room for the younger p. 46 Some of the best kinds are to grow still in the Nursery p. 47 Nurseries of Materiall Fruit-trees are apt similitudes of Mystical Fruit-trees in Vniversities ibid. The Spirit and grace of God is to be prefered before all Natural and acquired abilities p. 48 Section 11. Some Fruits seem good to the Eye but are bad to the tast p. 50 Fruit-trees improved by ingrafting p. 50 No works pleasing to God without sincerity p. 51 Section 12. Mulberytrees called Sapientissima Arborum p. 52 Mulberry-trees bud late because of a tender nature ibid. Some Christians are more valiant for Christ then others p. 53 Section 13. Fruits ripen successively upon the same tree others altogether p. 54 The wisdom and bounty of God in the ripening of Fruiis p. 55 Section 14. South-Country trees prosper not in England p. 56 Plant Fruit-trees fitt for the Country ibid. Section 15. Redstreake trees formerly of little account p. 57 Redstreake Apples best for Cider p. 58 Comfort after trouble joy after sorrow ibid. Section 16. More planting of late years then formerly p. 59 Reasons for
Fruits and flourish in our beauties all the Summer Some Christians go through great tribulations HVSBANDMAN These things we find to be so according to Nature And it is a very proper and apposite similitude of the state and condition of deseried soules all along in Each particular its one of those similitudes that runs equatuor pedibus it holds in all respects for so it is with Christians but more especially with some perticular persons one time or other in their life they indure and undergo hard and difficult things great afflictionâ— Temptations and Tribulations which befall them according to the good pleasure of God who ordereth and overruleth all for their good and profit thereby purging out Corruptions and trying their graces to increase holinesse Ps 84.11 for god himselfe who is a Sunn and a shield to his people doth not only withdraw from their spiritts and hides his face and so leaves them in darknesse and they walk in darknesse Children of Light walk in darknesse some a shorter some a longer time But also he permitts many outward troubles afflictions and crosses to come upon them upon their Bodies Names Estates Relations Soule and Body all that concerns them are overwhelmed overturned broken and destroyed as to sence and appearance both to themselves and others that behold them Job 1 2 3. c. And during this long night of darknesse this hard and sharpe Winter season there is as it were a Death upon all they have for he that is the life of the Soule as the Soule is of the Body is gon their beloved is gone and hides himselfe They seek him but they cannot find him Cant. 3 2. The Poore and needy seeke water and there is none Isay 41.17 and their Tongue faileth for thirst they cry after him but he heareth not and makes as though he would never heare nor regard them any more The absence of this Sun makes all within and without darke yea more bitter then Death it selfe And more then all this the sence of the absence of God and also the apprehensions of the losse of God the irrecoverable losse of God is the same in some degree with the Torments of Hell Yea the worst and greatest of the torments of the Damned Paena damni the paine of losse is agreed by all Divines to be the greatest torment in Hell worse then the paine of sence that torments the Body though that be intollerable too Reve. 7.14 Hose 14.7 All these Temptations and great Tribulations some deserted soules go through and indure in this sharp Winter season But when this Sunn returnes and draws neere again the Fruit-trees begin to revive and spring They revive as the Corne and grow as the Vine and shoote forth their Rootes as Lebanon Then the Figg-tree putteth forth her greene Figgs and the Vine with the tender Grapes give a good smell Cant. 2.13 When this Sunn of Righteousnesse ariseth upon the Soule he refresheth and restoreth comforts to those distressed weary Soules Isay 57.18 which they are exceeding sensible of and are as it were overjoy'd As marriners at Sea when they are delivered from some Terrible Tempests and Stormes from which they were almost in dispaire to have escaped yet with much a do comming saffe to Land how are they transported with joy and gladnesse for their safe arivall at their desired Haven The light of Gods Countenance refresheth the Soule after darknesse This deliverance from these spirituall stormes and Tempests in this sharp Winter season is much more Yea more then can be expressed in words or shaddowed out by any similitude it is Joy unspeakable and full of glory Heb. 12.11 Then followes the peaceable Fruits of Righteousnesse all the rest of the Summer of their life with more light and Joy then if they had never been in darknesse Even as Fruit-trees after a long cold sharpe Winter when the warme spring comes on and the heate of Summer followes all flourish in their beauties and ornaments of Blossomes Leaves and Fruits Section 9. The opinion about descension of Sap Examined HVSBANDMAN Some learned men have thought and asserted that Sap in Fruit-trees doth descend in Autumne from the Branches to the Rootes which going down of the Sap causeth the Leaves and Fruits to fall off and the Branches to cease growing And Wood-men and many others receive it and hold it as their common opinion for an undoubted truth What say yee of your selves as to this matter FRVITTREES If Learned men and others are of that opinion they had best consider it againe and looke better into the grounds of their opinion secundae cogitationes meliores for we deny the thing Ther 's no going down of any of our Sap Nature is wiser then so to part with any Sap that it hath gotten our Sap is our Life it is our foode upon which we live and increase yearely and by which we are inabled to bring forth Blossomes Leaves and Fruits in Sommer yearely how come we to be of this bulke and bignesse as thou seest but by the assention of Sap and the digesting and assimulating of it into our substance of Wood Barke Leaves Blossomes and Fruits we should be glad of moâ—e Sap if we could get it but we will part with none downe againe to our Roots for our Rootes are better stored with Sap all the yeare long then we the branches And besides this necessity of keeping it and impossibility of parting with it the Naturall and innate property of our Sap is alwaies to ascend there is an active vegetative spirit in us the Nature of which is alwaies to ascend and according to the Law of our Nature can do no otherwise it being a tenuous light Body or substance of a flammeous and aerious Nature whose appetite is alwaies upwards according to the knowne Axiome omne leve sursum Nay more should we part with any of our Sap downe againe we should then fade and decay our substance would be thereby diminished that as we increase one part of the yeare by ascension of Sap so we should also decrease another part of the yeare by descension of Sap and what then would become of us Therefore there is no such thing in Nature as descension of Sap in Trees No descension of Sap in Fruit-trees HVSBANDMAN I am perswaded as ye have said That there is no such thing in Nature as descension of Sap in Fruit-trees and have severall Reasons against it besides what hath been said For no Effect can be produced without a Cause Now there is no Cause can be so much as colorably assigned for such an Effect in Nature Therefore we conclude there is no such thing for Sap when it moves alwaies ascends never descends If any man be yet unsatisfied concerning this touching the descension of Sap in Trees it being deeply radicated in their minds and an opinion of long standing he may receive further satisfaction concerning it from six perticular Arguments against it grounded upon Reason
and Experience set forth at large in a little Booke intituled a Treatise of Fruit-trees by a Practiser in the Art of Planting Fruit-trees pag. 191. 192. c. As for Leaves of Trees falling in Autumne and Rootes being better then at that time which some attribute to the descending of Sap the Cause is grosely mistaked other Causes for those Effects are easily assign'd Leaves fall off because Sap at that time hath done ascending and Rootes are best then because no sap ascends from them they are then fed and will first be served The Poet thought it an Excellent thing to find out the true Causes of things when he said felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere Causas The spirit aâ—d Nature of true Christians tend upwards But besides the Temporall Profitts and advantages that may arise from the knowledge of these things we learne some lessons and instructions for spirituall advantages If the innate spirit and Sap in Fruit-trees is still aspiring and ascending upwards and never downwards unlesse forced contrary to its Naturall propensity This teacheth us That so it should be with all Christians Nay so it is with such as are not nominally only but Christians indeed and in truth Their spirituall Nature aspires and ascends upwards the Divine Nature whereof all beleevers are pertakers more or lesse does as Naturally ascend and raise and draw the soule in it's desires affections and operations upwards Heavenwards towards Christ the life strength and Treasure of true beleevers as corrupt Nature tends downwards Earthwards and towards the Creatures so that by this Professors may try themselves and come to know what Nature or Principle dwells and prevailes in them The Tree is knowne hy it's Fruits Causes are knowne by their Effects so also in this Case Section 10. fruit-Fruit-trees prepared in Nurseries to be transplanted HVSBANDMAN Here is a very large Nursery of Fruit-trees some very young lately sping up some of a middle size and others very large faire Trees and of all these some are grafted and some ungrafted Methinks these that are of the biggest and eldest sort being now prepared and grown large Trees should be transplanted and removed out of the Nursery somewhere abroad into severall Countries in Orchards Gardens and Fields that so they might have roome to spread and enlarge themselves and beare store of good Fruits for the profit of many Elder Trees transplanted make roome for the Younger FRVIT-TREES Iâ—s true These that are faire large goodly Trees should be removed from the rest of the younger sort else we that are young and comming up are like to be oppressed by them for we shall not have roome to grow and enlarge And besides these great large Trees will reach and in tangle one with another and crosse fret and gall one another And therefore it is very fit and necessary that they should be removed hence for to that end they were planted here And then others will come up in their roomes and increase as they have donne and so successively be removed where they may grow and enlarge and be profitable in their Fruits for many yeares Some of the best kinds are to grow still in the Nursery HVSBANDMAN I know that the end of Planting a Nursery of Fruit-trees is to prepare them for transplanting elsewhere But yet it is very convenient and necessary too that some of the best Trees such as have the best properties in all respects should remaine still in the Nursery whereof to gather Grafts and bring forth Fruits in order to the preparation of the young ungrafted Trees that they also may be fitted for transplantation in due time Nurseries of Materiall Fruit-trees are apt similitudes of Misticall Fruit-trees in Vniversities And this if it be well considered is a very apposite Similitude of Vniversities and societies of Learning being Nurseries of Misticall Fruit-trees designed on purpose for instruction and preparation of youth that they may be Fruitfull Trees of the Lords Planting and Grafting to bring forth much good Fruit to the Husbandman that he may be glorified Isay 61.3 And to this great end every one concern'd should labour earnestly to be fitted and prepared with Gifts and Graces Learning and all endowments and qualifications of the Mind And having received Talents then to improve and imploy them for their Masters use that so they may receive a reward It is necessary as was said there should some of the chiefe and Principall Fruit-trees remaine in the Nursery for Governors and Tutors in every society to prepare the younger sort for transplantation into severall parts for publique imployment in the Church and Common-wealth The spirit and Grace of God is to be preferred before all Naturall and acquired abilities Now the maine and chiefe thing to be laboured for and most necessary to be obtayned is the Spirit and Grace â—f God humane Learning and Naturall parts and Abilities improved by Study and industrie are of singuler use and advantage and all indeavors are diligently to be used for attainment thereof but these alone are toâ— short to ayme at or attaine the highest end the glory of God For Man by Nature caâ— have no higher End then himselfe his owâ— intrests As water in its current can rise no higher of it selfe then the spring head every thing acts according to its Nature and can do no otherwise Therefore a Principle of grace is absolutely necessary This is spiritually the Philosophers Stone that turnes all Naturall attainments into Gold it uses and improves all to spirituall Ends and uses in order to the glory of God so that we must get this or we get * Si Christum discis satis est si caetera nescis Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera discis nothing Every one should be of such a spirit as Luther who protested Earnestly that God should not put him off with worldly things or Naturall Gifts herein we should be earnest with God and take no nay no denyall Though we should aske temporall things conditionally if it be the will of God to give them yet we may and ought to aske spirituall things which are â—…olutely necessary without condition The Kingdâ—me of heauen suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11.12 Section 11. Some Fruits seeme good to the Eye but are bad to the Tast. HVSBANDMAN I observe many Trees in this Garden which are faire large Trees to looke upon they flourish yearely with broad greene Leaves and beautifull blossomes and spring up with large shootes but they bring forth no good Fruits some Fruits they bring forth which are large in bulk and substance and have a faire and beautifull colour but their tast and relish is nought the Husbandman likes not their Tast they are of a sower sharpe bitter relish very unpleasant If yee bring forth no better Fruit hereafter yee shall be cut down and madâ— fuell for the fire 〈◊〉 should yee cumbeâ— the ground Fruit-trees improved by ingrafting FRVIT-TREES
We grow in a gooâ—… and fresh soyle and are large in bulk anâ— substance as other Trees and we beaâ—… Fruits according to our Natures but wâ— were never ingrafted as some other Treeâ— are which grow by us so that we growing still upon our own naturall wild stocke and Roote we bring forth Fruit accordingly And so are like to do untill we have an alteration by ingrafting No workes pleasing to God without sincerity HVSBANDMAN Herein yee beare the likenesse and resemblance of hypocrites in the Visible Church who live amongst true beleevers and make a faire shew with an outward forme and Profession of Religion in all externall Duties but because they are not sincere and upright have not the truth of grace nor were ever really ingrafted into Christ but grow still upon the old stocke of corrupt Nature thence it is that their Fruits are nought and unpleasant to God the Husbandman thoâ—gh they are never so faire and beautifull on the outside yet wanting a good Tast that is they have no good Ends in any thing they do they make not the glory of God the chiefe and maine End of that they do for all men by Nature make themselves their End and not the glory of God and therefore they are not accepted of God such had need to consider their state whilst it is called to day and see that they rest not on this side an interest in Christ Section 12. Mulberry-trees called Sapientissima Arborum HVSBANDMAN Here are a certaine Number of Mulberri-trees in a row by themselves which are a kind of Trees in great esteeme among men in severall respects your Leaves are the best foode for Silke-wormes And your Fruits are exceeding good to make Syrups for divers uses which Apothecaries and others do make yearely And yee are called by some auncient Authors who write of Fruit-trees Sapientissima Arborum How come yee to be wiser then other Trees How are any Trees said to be wise what say yee of your selves FRVIT-TREES We owne no such Epithite as wise we are no wiser then other Trees but some men are pleased so to say of us because we keepe in and shew not our Buds nor spring till late in the yeare about the beginning of May when all the cold frosty weather is gone and past But this is according to the course of Nature the Law of our Creation which we and all other Trees do constantly observe And in this is seehe the wisdome of our Creator who doth all things wisely and hath made us so to do Mulberry-trees bud late because of a tender Nature For we are of a more weake and tender Nature then many other Fruit-trees are which bud and spring it may be 6 weeks or two Months before us as Cherrytrees Plumtrees and other Trees do But if we should dare to peepe out and appeare so soone we should not be able to beare it HVSBANDMAN It is very certaine that there are diversities of Natures and properties among Fruit-trees as all other Creatures and therefore they must be planted and ordered accordingly some are so tender that they will not thrive nor beare Fruits but against a wall and that upon the South-Sun too and carefully and tenderly ordered others will grow and beare well in the open Fields notwithstanding all cold frosts storms and winds that they meete with some Christians are more valiant for Christ then others But this may be transferred to a higher use And gives us to understand That this is even so among spirituall Fruit-trees Professing Christians some are more hardy Souldiers and more valiant then others And can stand out against and encounter with more and greater difficulties then others though true beleevers can do some have a great and strong faith Mat. 15.28 O Woman great is thy faith others have but a weake faith O yee of little faith Mat. 6 30. Some have great measures of the Spirit of God light wisdome and knowledge others are but Babes and Children in understanding and grace some Christians have much love to Christ and zeale for him as having the manifestations of his love more cleare and evident to them then some others have some others Love but little and all is weake in them and so they can do but little nor suffer for Christ the moving Cause being but weake in them the Effects are Answerable Section 13. Fruits ripen successively upon the same Tree others altogether HVSBANDMAN I observe That some kinds of these Fruit-trees do bring forth their ripe fruits gradually and successively upon the same Tree some of the Fruits are ripe and ready to be gathered severall weekes before the rest as amongst Aprecotts Peaches Cherrys and Plums and such like Sommer Fruits we find some Fruits ripe whilst others on the same Tree and same Bough are yet hard and greene But some other kinds of Trees bring forth their Fruits ripe and ready together all at one time upon the same Tree as Pippins Peremains and all Winter Fruits What is the Reason of this variation in the ripening of the Fruits of Trees The Wisdome and bounty of God in ripening of Fruits FRVITTREES Thou maist herein see and observe the Wisdome bounty and goodnesse of our Creator For if we that are Cherrytrees Plumtrees and such like sommer Fruits should bring forth our Fruits all at once there would be a glutt of Fruits And we should do more hurt then good amongst People for we are no lasting Fruits we cannot keepe as thou knowest but should in a few daies rott upon thy hand Therefore God gives our Fruits to thee successively some one day and some another as thou and others may make use of them for health and Profitt And as for hard Winter Fruits they are ripe all of them together on the same Trees that so they 〈…〉 gathered altogether and laid up in â—…ore for use all the yeare long And is thâ—… not the like Wisdome bounty and goodnesse from God shewed to all people in this as in the former though each of them in different respects as hath been said Section 14. HVSBANDMAN Here are a sort of Trees that do not thrive nor prosper as other Trees do what 's the reason seeing yee are as well planted and preserved as other Trees which grow neere unto you FRVIT-TREES South Country trees pâ—…per not in England We are forreners this is not our Native Country we were brought from beyond the Seas from a warme Clymate where we had a strong heate and influence of the Sun but we are here in a cold Country and it agrees not with us we shall never grow nor prosper nor bring forth Fruits to please thee or for thy Profit Plant Fruit-trees fitt for the Countrey HVSBANDMAN I beleeve what ye say to be true Many Gentlemen of great estates to please their minds have sent for and bought many rare Plants and Trees from forraine parts out of the South-Countries of France Spaine Italie and other Southerne Clymates and
changed your Natures wherein yee were first created but all mankind have changed their Natures and the natures of some have beene twice changed since their first Creation first in Paradice even whilst yee stood by and were witnesses of that sad change from a state of holinesse to a state of sin and Corruption by that act of disobedience in eating the forbidden Fruit of one of the Trees in the same Garden wherein yee were planted but the second change of our Nature yee know nothing of this is from that woefull state of corruption and sin to the state of grace and Holinesse This second change of our Nature is peculiar only to some particular persons who are called and sanctified in due time in their generations and at last Eternally saved Section 18. Heate of the Sun needfull for Fruits HVSBANDMAN These Trees that grow most in the Sun I see beare the best Fruits those that grow much in the shade and have little Sunn their Fruits are not halfe so good as the other what say yee is the Cause of such difference in the Fruits fruit-Fruit-trees have a preception of the heate of the Sunn and are refreshed by it FRVIT-TREES The Cause is plaine and evident We that grow in the Sun are exceedingly refreshed by it's heate and influence it is the efficient Cause of our life and growth For in the spring of the yeare we have a preception of its drawing neerer and neerer every day towards us which we are very glad of and expresse the same in our budding blossoming and Fruitfulnesse And our Fruits are also better ripened and concocted by the heate of the Sun then those are which grow in the shade Beleevers that walke closest with God bring forth the best Fruits HVSBANDMAN This is plainly so And it is true also in us we that are Christians and walke in the light of Gods Countenance such have the refreshing influence thereof God is a Sun and shield to his people Ps 84.11 And the neerer and closer any beleevers walke with him the more fruitfull they are And the more sweet are all their Fruits Section 19. HVSBANDMAN Here are multitudes of goodly Fruit-trees And wee Experience that yee do yearely bring forth store of beautifull and wholesome Fruits for our profitt how long are yee to continue with us in your beauties vertues and profitts FRVIT-TREES As we were from the Creation of the world and served the first man so shall we continue to the end of the world for the use and service of the last man The Scripture saith Fruit trees were from the beginning and shall be to the End of the world HVSBANDMAN I remember it is written God having created Adam he put him into the Garden after he had caused every Tree bringing Fruit after his kind to spring up out of the Earth he gave the Fruit to Adam for food And the Scripture also tells us men shall be planting Fruit-trees when Christ comes to Judgment As is was in the daies of Noah they Planted they Builded Even so shall it be in the comming of the Sonne of Man Luke 17.28 HVSBANDMAM But whence are all your vertues your good and usefull Properties in the lives of Men What is the Primum mobile the originall and first Cause of all excellencies in you The excellencies of all Creatures are united in God and infinitely more then all FRVIT-TREES These were given us by our wise and bountifull Lord and Creator who as he made all his Creatures so also he gave to every individuall their various distinct specificall properties and Natures as it pleased him The good and vertues of the Creatures should leade us unto God and there to rest HVSBANDMAN It is manifest then hereby that he is the Originall and fountaine of all the good things in the world in and upon all the Creatures in the Heavens Earth and waters and all the Excellencies and rare properties of Beauty sweetenesse and goodnesse in any respect whatsoever that is in any or in all the Creatures they are united in God the chiefe good And with an infinitenesse above them all And therefore from the sight of you his Creatures and in our desiring and using of you with your vertues and properties we should be drawn to God and desire and chuse him above any or all his Creatures as being the cheife good Section 20. Young small Trees full of good Fruits HVSBANDMAN Here are a number of Young small Trees that I see are full of faire beautifull and lovely Fruits which is a very rare sight to behold though they are not above 3 or 4 yeares old from their engrafting yet they beare more Fruits then others here not farr from them that are three or fourscore yeares old what is the reason hereof FRVIT-TREES We were all of us ingrafted whilst we were but young and small Trees with choice and speciall Grafts and therefore it is naturall to us to beare good Fruits early HVSBANDMAN That is indeed according to the will and pleasure of the Husbandman if it seeme good unto him to graft some whilst young others when grown up to a stronger body and to let others alone without grafting who shall find fault with him for using this his freedome and liberty And it is also manifest that it is even so amongst Christians so God dealeth with them God calls some of his people in childhood and youth others afterwards some he calls and converts early even in their childhood and youth others in their middle age some he calls the first houre of the day some the Eleventh and some the last houre in elder age But they who come to God in Childhood and youth have great and many advantages of those who come afterwards It is Gods command that we should come to him early betime and soone as may be in Childhood and youth Vdum mollelutum es nunc nunc properundus acri fiagendus sine fine roâ—a Pers sat 3. Eccl 12.1 Remember now thy Creator in the daies of thy youth while the evil daies come not such as chuse rather to serve the devill and their owne lusts in Childhood and youth and think to come to God afterwards in old age let them hearken to what God hath said concerning such Pro. 1.24 Because I have called and yee refused I have stretched out my Hand and no man regarded c. I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your feare commeth But such as begin to follow God betimes early in their childhood and youth and to bring sorth good Fruit whilst they are young and of tender yeares and give unto God their spring time their virgin yeares they usually know more of the mind of God and of the love of God then others And have greater evidences and manifestations of the love and favour of God then others have they are usually speciall and remarkable persons above others and receive more favours from God then others of his people do who come