the houshold of faith Let our tongue be our glory in praising God And as the leaves of the tree of life were for the healing of the Nations so let our words be seasoned and tempered with wisdome and love that they may reforme what is evill and minister grace unto the hearers As there is some similitude in the shape and proportion of the tongue Fert folium linguae fert poma fimilima cordi De Persico pomo in Alciato and of the leaves of divers trees as also of very many herbs which therefore have their names given them from that part so there is some resemblance betweene them For as we can discerne what tree it is that we behold by the leafe although there be no fruit remaining upon it at that time so we can understand the disposition of the heart by the words of the mouth for out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Yet because the tongue is a world of iniquity and an unruly evill we can distinguish more perfectly by workes than words As in the parable of the two Sonnes the first said he would not go into the Vineyard but afterward he went the second said I goe Sir and went not the younger did bear the broader leaves Mat. 21.29 but the elder had the goodliest fruit Words are soone uttered and many times rashly spoken like the leaves that in a short time come to their utmost extent whereas the fruit of action is more deliberate and requires much space and leisure to bring it to perfect maturity Although we should for want of that bridle which David speakes of Psal 39.1 sin with our tongue Junipero spina pro folio est Plin. Soc. and our words be like the leaves of the Juniper sharp and piercing as a thorne yet let not our deeds be like the fruit of the Pine Cadentibus ex alto fâ—uctibus si fortè feriatur saepe interficitur c. Imag. deor wounding or killing such as are under them when they fall Let not our anger by lying longin our hearts be as the kernell and seed of malice which will grow up into deadly hatred Where there is a faire promise of amendment and reformation there may be some forbearance The fig-tree was spared for a time Luke 13.7 in regard it was green and flourishing whereas if it had beene withered it should have beene cut downe in the first yeere and not suffered untill the fourth Uvae contra vehementisfimum solis ardorem muniantur Kecker Et contra pluviam et frigus Id. A gentle answer pacifieth wrath even as the leaves protect the fruit from the burning heat of the sun and as they cherish and defend it against stormes when it is young and tender so the truth of our word whereby we are engaged should be a strong motive to produce the reall and absolute performance Otherwise if we have a torrent of words and no actuall discharge of our fidelity if the showers of our deeds be not in some sort answerable to the mighty thunder of our voice we may be likened to that Indian fig-tree Peltae effigiem habet fructum integens crescere prohibiet Scaâ—exer the leafe whereof is as large as a buckler and the fruit no bigger than a beane The consideration of our weake condition may occasion us to bring forth that in our lives which was formerly conceived in our hearts and is come to the birth in our words While we have opportunity let us doe good The time is short the fashion of this world passeth away Esay 64.6 We all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away Job 13.25 Job compareth himselfe to a leafe driven to and fro Such is our feeble estate here upon earth if God doth blow upon us we are scattered if nipt with the frost of sicknesse Quam mult in sylvis autumni frigore primo lapfa cadunt folia Virg l. 6. Ut nunc canae frigora brumae nudent sylvas Sen. Hippol. or wasted with the winter of age we fall to the ground and yet how few there be that doe remember their latterend but rather in the fall of the leafe they hope for new strength and perfect recovery of former health and never thinke of the fall of the tree it selfe that before this winter be ended thou maist be brought downe to the pit The Lord give us wisdome to lay this to heart and to wait for our appointed change In the conclusion of the yeere behold thine own dissolution in the budding of the spring Terra viret rutilantque suis poma aurea ramis Bal Castil Redit ecce anni melioris origo Sincerus when the trees begin to be apparelled with a fresh beauty when the branches that lately seemed to be dead are again covered with their leaves and adorned with their fruit thou maist observe a strong proofe to confirme thee in thy hope of a glorious resurrection If all other things doe shoote forth for man then shall not man himselfe revive and spring up God who restored a vegetative life to Aarons rod when it was a drie sticke Numb 17. causing it to bring forth buds to bloome blossomes and to yeeld Almonds will much more raise Aaron himselfe from the dead Tamen abdita quaedam vitalis superat vis in radicibus imis et trunco exciso nova vere tepullulat arbos Vida We are joyned unto Christ who is the root in the winter of death our life is hid in him but when the time of refreshing is come we shall be raised to an estate of glory Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust Esay 26.19 for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead If we did looke unto the joy that is set before us and by the eye of faith did see that recompence of reward that is reserved for us at that day we would be more industrious in labouring to be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God Eccles 11.1 As they that cast their bread upon the waters shall find it after many dayes so they that have brought much fruit unto God in this life shall have it restored unto them at the resurrection of the just Saint Paul speaks of having some fruit among the Romanes Rom. 1.13 not onely because he was an instrument to gather it but also in regard of that gaine and advantage it would bring unto himselfe at the latter end Nothing can deprive us of this best fruit The worme may destory our bodies and the fruit of them and may consume the fruit of the ground The worme of conscience wil torment such as brought forth fruit unto death by unfruitfull workes of darknes but this fruit is committed unto God who is faithfull and able to keepe it against that day 1 Tim. 6.19 Hereby we
precious seed Shall the good things committed unto us produce such bad effects like unto the wheat that is sowne Infoelix lolium steriles dominantur avenae which in a barren yeere doth degenerate into darnell Far bee it from us to requite the Lord in this manner If hee call and wee refuse If hee stretch out his hand and wee regard not then hee will laugh at our calamity and wee shall call upon him but hee will not heare wee shall seeke him early but shall not find him but if wee doe hearken to his Word and obey his voice then our prayers shall come up as a memoriall before God and bee as seed sowne not in the earth beneath but in heaven above and shall cause a rich and plentifull increase of all heavenly blessings to come downe upon us that our soules may bee filled with good things Yea then our workes of charity and all godly actions shall be as seed which we cast abroad and sow to the Spirit Gal. 6.8 that of the Spirit wee may reap life everlasting 2 Cor. 9.6 Hee that soweth sparingly shall reape sparingly and hee that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully Pro. 11.25 The liberall soule shall bee made fat and he that watereth shall be also watered himselfe Dare wee trust the earth with our seed and dare wee not trust our faithfull Creatour in these workes of charity The earth hath no power nor sufficiencie in it felfe but only from his benediction Shall wee doubt of his goodnesse and mercy who is most just and righteous in himselfe and who doth give this fidelity and ability unto the earth that it may make an abundant returne of that wherewith it is trusted Are wee of such little faith And doe we thus feare in dispencing these outward commodities these transitory benefits Then how shall wee bee able to commend our spirit into the hands of our Father With what courage and comfort shall we commit our bodies to the earth being the last seed we doe sow which shall bee raised in power and great glory excelling that of the pure Lillie more than that doth the royaltie of Solomon Awake and sing yee that dwell in dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbes and the earth shall cast out the dead Isa 26.19 11.1 In illo loco Messias expresse vocatur Flos consentit Hieronymus Causabon Job 38.27 The Flower of the stemme of Jesse did spring up in a garden and our graves shall bee turned into garden-plots As the raine causeth the bud of the tender herbe to spring up so the Lord is able to raise us up unto eternall joy and felicity Yea in this first resurrection hee doth raise us up from the death of sinne to the life of grace I will bee as the dew unto Israel Hos 14.5 even as the cloud of dew in the heare of harvest Isa 18.4 God makes the small drops of water they powre downe raine according to the vapour thereof which the clouds doe drop and distill upon man aboundantly Job 36.27 to satisfie the desolate and waste ground In like manner he doth sendus the showers of his grace he gives us the increase of all spirituall gifts he doth refresh us with his favour and satisfie our thirsty soules with his loving kindnesse Apollo's watering is to small effect unlesse God gives his blessing Deut. 11.10 Although the seed we sow may grow when we water it with our foot yet the seed of grace in our hearts can never prosper unlesse the Sonne of man who began that good work doth likewise perfect the same When the sweet and comfortable showers doe fall upon the earth they doe not onely cherish the flowers and herbs but also doe occasion many offensive weeds readily to grow up so the good gifts that come downe from the Father of lights the gracious blessings that descend from above doe bring forth the acceptable fruit of praise and obedidience in the godly but the cursed weeds of rebellion and provocation in the wicked The goodnesse of God which as a gentle shower mollifying the drie earth doth leade the humble soule to repentance but doth harden the impenitent heart which is fully set to doe evill and to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath The Word of God in season like the former and out of season like the latter raine is the true bread that comes downe from heaven and doth refresh him that is weary and ready to faint and doth satisfie him that is hungry that he shall never hunger any more but it causeth loathing in the full soule As the Israelites did not find any sweetnesse or good relish in the spirituall meat the food of Angels 1 Cor. 10.3 â—s 78.24 25. the corne of heaven that God rained downe upon them Our soule is dried away there is nothing at all besides this Manna before our eyes Num. 11.6 Here is Manna and Manna and nothing but Manna they called it light bread Num. 21.5 and as lightly they esteemed of it Thus the naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned hee cannot apprehend the lively power of the hidden Manna Rev. 2.17 he cannot discover the secret of the Lord which is revealed unto them that feare his name The tares that appeared in the field were suffered to grow unto the harvest Mat. 13.30 but the weeds that come up in the garden must bee taken away in the very beginning Our vices must be plucked up by the roots before they bee surely fixed by long continuance Abdolonymus hortum malas herbas eligens repurgabat Q. Curt. The Historian makes mention of a Gardiner who was found destroying of bad weeds when Alexander sent for him and advanced him to a kingdome So wee supplanting our corruptions and casting out the unfruitfull workes of darknesse shall attaine to a crowne of life As Adam was to dresse the Garden of Eden so wee are to keepe our soule and body blamelesse from the pollution of sinne and in the end when wee rest from our labour we shall enter into our Masters joy Christ saith to the good Theefe Luke 23.43 To day thou shalt bee with mee in Paradise Before God said to the rich man 12.20 This night thy soule shall bee required of thee There the night is mentioned death shall come suddenly upon him as an enemy as a theefe and finde him in greatest security in the dead sleep of sinne Hee delighted in workes of darknesse and shall bee cast into utter darknesse But here the day is named To day thou shalt bee with mee a day of salvation unto the good theefe the first day of his life and such a day as never had any end Christ is the true Light John 1.9 which lighteth every man comming into the world with
lay up in store for our selves a good foundation against the time to come that we may lay hold on eternall life The world may be compared to an Orchard wherein the voluptuous man eats of the fruit with as much haste and greedinesse as was used by the Pharisees in devouring Widowes houses or by the Israelites in eating their quails as if they should never take their fill of delights and pleasures The covetous wretch gathers with as much diligence as may be filling his garments and lading himself but God hath not given him power to eat thereof and when he comes to depart out at the door he is not suffered to carry any part of that with him for which he laboured Only the godly man doth eat with moderation and knowing that as he came in so he shall depart and carry nothing out He distributes to them that cannot help themselves 1 Sam. 30.12 as David gave the figs to the languishing Egyptian which afterward he finds againe for his future benefit He doth exercise himselfe in duties of charity and extends his goodnesse to the Saints that are in the earth and the Lord doth render unto him glory and honour and peace He that hath pitie on the poore lendeth unto the Lord Prov. 19.17 and that which he hath given will he pay him again If God doth account that to be done unto himselfe which is done unto them let us bring forth fruit unto God which like the almes of Cornelius may come up for a memoriall before him The fowles of the aire be as ready to devoure our fruit upon the trees as our seed upon the ground The Pharisees seemed to be full of good fruit but then came the wicked one and tooke it away they gave to the poore but it was to this end that they might have glory of men they had their reward in being applauded here in this world It was not likely that their fruit growing in so publike a place should come to the due perfection Beware of vaine-glory and sinister respects if thou dost perceive any of these fowles to be hovering about thy fruit drive them away Gen. 15. as Abraham did from the carkasses Subdue all evill thoughts and vaine imaginations that may arise in thine heart consider it is God which gives both the will and the deed and all this store that thou hast or givest commeth of his hand and is all his owne 1 Chro 29.16 Such as entertaine any arrogant conceits are not onely robbed of the fruit and comfort of the present duty but by nourishing their impure corruptions they doe endanger the tree it self and may destroy their owne soules For sin doth eat as doth a canker spreading from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foot and entring even to the joints and marrow This is to be cut out of the body and to be cut off in the smaller branches If thine eye offend thee plucke it out if thy right hand offend thee cut it off in what part soever wee can discover any wickednesse wee must take it away by the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God All fleshly lusts are to bee vanquished our carnall members that are upon the earth must be mortified and then whatsoever wee doe shall prosper For if wee have been planted into the likenesse of Christs death Rom. 6.5 wee shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection If wee alwaies beare about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 4.10 then the life also of Jesus shall be made manifest in our body Thus wee have considered how Christ is the root and wee are the branches graffed into him deriving our being in this life and our well-being in the life of grace from his goodnesse and mercy Let us in the next place observe how we our selves are the root and the Word of God the cyons which is put into us that wee may be fruitfull This we are warranted to doe by the testimony of St. James who teacheth us to receive the engraffed word Jam. 1.21 which is able to save our soules Wee may well be compared to the root for as that is the most earthy part of the tree so we by nature are of the earth earthy and have no good thing dwelling in this our flesh Rom. 7. but many sinnes and corruptions that are deeply and strongly rooted within us and therefore may fitly bee resembled unto some wild figge-tree growing in the walls of a building hiding and defacing the beauty thereof The boughes and branches may bee cut and broken off but the root which is wrapped into the stones of the building cannot bee taken away unlesse the walls be thrown down Even so sinne is inwrapped into the joynts and entralls of this our building into our nature and the parts of it and though we may lop off the branches yet the root remaineth while wee carry about this body of death Sinne abideth untill our dissolution The scraping of the house within would not take away the fretting leprosie Levit. 14.45 it must be broken downe Our originall concupiscence cleaveth so close to our nature that it will never leave us untill this earthly house bee demolished As the roots are diffused and spread abroad round about that place where the tree standeth so our corruptions are dilated into every part of the body and faculty of the soule And as the roots are covered in the earth so manifold sins are hidden from the knowledge of men being workes of darknesse The heart is desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 The wisdome of this world is earthly Jam. 3.17 1 Tim. 6.10 The love of money is the root of all evill yea every sinne is a root of bitternesse which if permitted to spring up will trouble us As Jonah when the weeds were wrapped about his head Jonah 2.5 prayed unto the Lord so wee being infolded with our corruptions must seeke unto God for deliverance He is able to destroy the fruit from above and the roots from beneath Amos 2.9 Isa 5.24 and to turne them into rottennesse and dust that they shall not have dominion over us Such as the root is such are the branches also In the estate of our birth before wee bee changed by the work of the Spirit we are no better than the Crab-tree producing sowre fruit Our best performances are impure and uncleane in Gods sight The Crab-stock is full of thorns so we by nature are subject unto the curse It must be a divine power that can free us from condemnation by renewing us in our minds that wee may bring forth fruit meet for repentance In graffing all the branches that before did flourish are taken off and usually the stocke is cut downe not far from the ground so wee are to be cast downe in acknowledgement of our unworthinesse and to humble our selves as a little childe that we may be
one cluster so in the soule of a Christian there should be all kinds of graces accumulate and heaped together in stead of that masse of sin and lump of corruption which wee brought into this world Wee should be filled with all knowledge and all joy and peace in beleeving we should be full of goodnesse ready to communicate willing to distribute to the necessity of other men Which workes of charity and all other pious actions are like the fruit of the Vine for as wee have the comfortable use and benefit of that a long time after it hath been trodden in the wine-presse so likewise of Gods free grace wee doe receive the reward of the good things done in our body after our dissolution and doe then drinke the cup of salvation when wee enter into our Masters joy and are delivered from all weaknesse in the body and infirmity in the soule from all inward and outward frailties even as the grapes in the wine-presse are freed and cleared both from the huskes and kernels Such is our corruption and imperfection here in this world that our best performances are polluted by the contagion of sinne dwelling in our members and may in that regard bee likened to these grapes or or other fruits which have either something without to bee pared off and cast away or else some coare stone or kernell within to be rejected In our most devout exercises and godly endeavours there is either some defect and errour to be discerned by man who lookes to the outward appearance or though wee should bee blamelesse before man yet there is some inward rebellion and iniquity that is naked and manifest before the Lord who looketh to the heart When we are sensible of our former excesse and superfluity and are cast downe in acknowledgment of our transgressions wee should not thereby be deterred from continuance in well-doing but rather seek to amend that in which we have failed and gone out of the way that as such fruits are esteemed best in their kinds in which there is the least waste Mollusca quod caeteris nucibus mollior sit Macrob. either in the shell or any other part that is unprofitable so our performances may be most acceptable when they are not defiled by any grosse errour or presumptuous sinne The Lord Mat. 3.12 who is able to purge the wheat from the chaffe will approve of our good endeavours and godly desires being the fruit of the Spirit and will be pleased to pardon our swerving and deadnesse which proceed from the bitter root of a deceitfull heart In divers of our fruits there is some kernell that being sowne doth grow up in such a plant as may bring forth more fruit of the same kind in like manner the end of one good action should be the beginning of another we should labour to increase and multiply in heavenly graces and spirituall gifts and our reward shal be great in heaven For unto us it shall be given to eate of the Tree of life Revel 2.7 22.2 which is in the middest of the Paradise of God A tree that bears twelve manner of fruits and yeelds her fruit every moneth Such fruit as doth for ever exempt us from the dominion of death such fruit as doth open our eyes for we shall see God face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 such fruit as doth make us to be as gods wee shall bee like him 1 John 3.2 for wee shall see him as hee is such fruit as is good for food so very good Isa 49.10 that when we taste thereof wee shall never hunger any more John 6.34 nor thirst any more But as the Disciple said Lord evermore give us this bread so wee shall alwaies desire and for ever enjoy this food that endures in everlasting life Such fruit as is pleasant to the eye 1 Cor. 2.9 for since the beginning of the world the eye hath not seen the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Such fruit as is to be desired to make one wise even wise unto salvation without which all the wisdome of this world is foolishness and enmity against God But this wisedome is a Tree of life to them that lay hold upon her Pro. 3.18 4.9 a Crown of glory shall she deliver to them Did our first parents think that the fruit of the tree of Knowledge was to be desired Gen. 3.6 when it was forbidden And shall we by a stronger delusion beleeve that this fruit of the Tree of Life is to be neglected and avoided when wee are commanded to labour for it All the trees in the garden of Eden could not satisfie them but they would eate of the forbidden fruit though they became subject to the curse thereby The abundant variety of all the precious fruits brought forth by the Sunne should not please nor content us without this blessed fruit of the Tree of Life Adam was prevented that hee might not put forth his hand to take of that Tree lest having eaten unworthily hee deceived himselfe with a vaine hope of life when death should suddenly overtake him But wee have time and liberty granted unto us that we may stretch forth the hand of faith and receive this fruit whereof if wee eate wee shall not dye He might not gather it upon earth but we may receive it from heaven The Manna which was kept untill the holy Sabbath had no worme in it If wee now treasure up this good fruit against the Sabbath of Rest for our soules it shall never be taken away from us Hee that gathers little shall have no lacke But if in this day of salvation we gather great plenty thereof we may then confidently say Soule take thy rest for evermore thou hast much goods laid up for all eternity The Tree of Life is in the middest of the Paradise of God Oh that the fruit thereof were hidden in our inward parts that we could lay it up and keep it in our hearts wee would then esteem all the dignities and delights in the world to be of as short continuance Isa 28.4 Ita in manibus consenescit Plaut as the hasty fruit before the Summer which when hee that looketh upon it seeth it while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up And to be no better than that fruit which was stollen out of the Orchard Non erant formâ nec sapore illecebrosa that had neither forme to catch the eye nor rellish to allure the hand For which that blessed man in his repentance paid the dearest price that ever was paid for any fruit which was eaten by any of the sonnes of Adam We give fruit unto froward children that they may forsake that which is of more value Shall wee bee such children in understanding for the trifling vanities of this life to reject the durable riches of the heavenly Kingdome Shall wee for the three Apples of honour Atalanta sive Lucrum Bacon
the light of reason and everie Beleever with the light of happinesse and glorie when hee goeth out of this world into the holy Citie that doth not need the Sun Rev. 21.23 for the Lamb is the light thereof To day The performance of this gracious promise is limited to a short time and therefore all doubting is excluded Our Saviour is crucified in the midst as nigh to one malefactour as the other Both formerly were brethren in evill consenting in wickednesse Both began to revile him before their death yet one is rejected and exposed to vengeance the other is taken as a brand snatcht out of the fire Christ doth overshadow him in mercy and delivers not from death but from condemnation Thou shalt bee with Mee A blessed change to bee freed from the fellowship of an impenitent sinner a blasphemous reprobate and to be admitted into the society of Saints yea for ever to be with the Lord An unspeakeable mercy that hee who by his owne confession suffered justly should be with him who had done nothing amisse The righteous died for the ungodly Christ for us sinners hee became Emmanuel God with us that wee may live with him in his kingdome of glory Thou shalt bee with mee in Paradise What wee gaine by the second Adam is much better than that wee lost by the first in the beginning Adam was in Paradise but God was not with him nor the feare of God before his eyes when hee yeelded to the tempter and hee was not with God neither dare hee appeare before him when hee walked in the Garden Then the presence of the Lord was a terrour unto Adam having sinned Now the presence of Christ was the best of comforts unto the theefe being penitent Paradise it selfe was not Paradise unto Adam after hee had offended But when wee shall bee set at liberty from the prison of the grave and acquitted from the sting of death wee shall bee as uncapable of sinne as of mortalitie Oh then let us ever aspire unto this most blessed estate Although this good thiefe did suddenly as it were with holy violence breake into heaven to shew that there is no end of the rich mercies of God yet let not us presume upon this example of grace and so become examples of judgement unto others Our whole life is given us to this end that by patient continuance in well-doing wee should seeke for glory The taste of Gods goodnesse in these outward benefits should excite and quicken our desire to obtaine the full fruition of eternall happinesse If we rest contented in the commodities of this life wee thinke the pleasures of this life to bee as acceptable as the joyes above As Lot thought the plaine of Jordan to bee as the garden of the Lord Gen. 13.10 And then wee cannot bee delivered from the common destruction without the wonderfull mercy of God But let us seeke a better countrie even this celestiall Paradise Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth thereunto and therefore our best diligence is required to find it Yet for our encouragement there are not Cherubims in the entrance to keep us from approaching nigh unto it but the Angel of the Covenant is the way whereby we must walke and which doth guide us in the truth And the doore whereby wee must enter and which doth admit us that wee may bee saved Yea all the Angels rejoyce when we enter into this path of life and doe keep us in this way ministring unto us the heires of salvation who as some have thought were created to supply the defect of some of them and to repaire the breach that their fall had made in this heavenly Paradise There is not a flaming sword turning every way which may strike a terrour into us that we should not come neere But the Sword of the Spirit is given unto us by which we may withstand and vanquish all enemies that shall encounter us in this our passage There bee divers who goe to the Holy Land which is now the spectacle of Gods wrath but let our journey be to the Jerusalem above which is and ever will be the Seat of Mercy and the Throne of Glory While other men labour to plat and describe the place where Paradise was upon earth let us seeke for this place that Christ is gone to prepare for us into which when he comes againe he will receive us that where hee is wee may be also FINIS Perlegi Librum hunc cui titulus est Adam in his Innocencie atque illum typis mandari permitto Martis penult 1637. ex Aedibus Londin SA BAKER