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
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
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-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