so 2 Cor. 4.6 By this Ingrafting there is a Transforming a change of the Mind Rom. 12.2 be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind there is a new heart and a new spirit Ezek. 36.26 Vse This being so it concernes us seriously to consider upon what grounds we build our hopes of eternall life for except this Change be wrought except a man be borne againe he cannot see the kingdome of God John 3.3 what ever we do let us give all diligence to make our calling and Election sure Many deceive themselves O what a sad thing is it to be mistaken in this great and most concerning businesse whereon depends our Eternall welfare There is no salvation out of Christ and if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature 2 Cor. 5.17 There are new Principles and dispositions in the soule contrary to those of Corrupt Nature consider it seriously and give all diligence to make your calling and Election sure The sixtie third Observation in Nature OF one matter or substance in trees are made severall distinct substances Of the sap in Fruit-trees are framed the Bark wood Pith Leaves Buds Blossoms stalks fruits and seed all of them distinct and of divers Natures yet formed by one and the same spirit and sap arising from the roote of the tree This Similitude shadowes out unto us That The severall Gifts and Graces in believers are wrought by the same spirit Proposition shadowed Gifts and Graces in the people of God differ not only in degrees but also in Nature and kind as they are distinct Gifts and Graces yet all of them framed by the spirit of God for the edifying and building up of his Church Some excell in Gifts yet are but low in Graces some others are weake in Gifts but strong in Graces They have a strong saith a fervent love much humility invincible courage and zeale and would sooner suffer for Christ than some others who excell in Gifts These things the Apostle shewes at large 1 Cor. 12.14 Now there are diversities of Gifts but the same spirit and there are diversities of administrations but the same Lord and diversities of operations but the same God who worketh all in all And as in the Materiall fruit-tree al the severall and distinct substances mutually concurre according to the Law of Nature to the increase and making up of a faire and comly fruit-tree not only for the profit of the Husbandman but also for the increase multiplying of the same species or kind so likewise do all the severall Gifts and Graces in believers wrought by the same spirit serve mutually as well for the enlarging and multiplying the branches of the Vine-tree the Church of God as the honour of the Husbandman that planted it This points out whither we should go for Gifts and Graces Vse 1 and the increase of them Jam. 1.5.17 they come downe from the father of lights Vse 2 Stronger Christians ought not to despise or neglect the lowest gifts and graces in their brethren because they are the same in kind with theirs and from the same spirit Vse 3 From hence the weakest believers may take comfort they have the same spirit dwelling in them as the strongest Members yea the same spirit that is in the head who in due time will draw all of them to himselfe The sixtie fourth Observation in Nature There are very many Profits and pleasures found in the Husbandmans Garden of fruit-trees both to himselfe and others fruit-trees bring many Profits to a mans estate Profits to his body to his Mind to his name And there are Pleasures to all the senses He also invites and bids his freinds welcome into his Garden and make them partakers with him of his Profits and pleasures This is another Similitude and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed There are exceeding many and great Profits and pleasures found in the Church of God The Church is compared to a Vineyard wherein are many choice plants Esay 5.1.2 c. It is called an Orchard and Garden of Fruit-trees Cant. 4 12.13 A garden inclosed is my sister my spouse thy plants are an Orchard of Pomegranates with pleasant fruits Mr. Bolton Now as in Vineyards Orchards Gardens c. which are as a holy man saies as the starrs and Paradises of the Earth there are many Profits and Pleasures found so are there likewise in the Church of God There are Profits to all purpose 1 Tim. 4.8 Godlinesse is Profitable to all things againe Rev. 3.18 I Councell thee to buy of me gold that thou maist be rich The people of God are made rich by Christ so that they lay up Treasures they have a treasure in their hearts Matth. 12.35 and treasures in heaven Matth. 6.20 God is their father and all his Attributes are laid out for them They have an inheritance immortall and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for them They have infinite treasures because Christ is theirs and all his fulnesse And as there are these Profits found in the Garden of fruit-trees the Church of God so also there are Pleasures in abundance all her waies are waies of pleasantresse Prov. 3.17 As the husbandman invites his freinds into his fruit-garden to eat of his fruits and drink of his wines made of them and to partake of all his Pleasures there so does the Mysticall Husbandman invite his freinds to partake of the delights that are in his Garden Cant. 5.1 I am come into my garden my sister my spouse I have gathered my mirrhe with my spice I have eaten my hony combe with my hony I have drunk my wine with my milke-Eat O freinds drinke yea drinke abundantly O beloved And as we sit in Arbours and under the shade of trees in Gardens in sommer season and eat pleasant fruits and drinke wines made of them such delights also are in this Mysticall Garden Cant. 2.3 As the Appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shaddow with great delight and his fruit was sweete to my rast vers 4. He brought me into the Banqueting house And in the banqueting house there are pleasant wines to cheare refresh the heart mixed wines Prov. 9.2 wine of the Pomegranate Can. 8.2 I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juyce of my Pomegranate There is both seasting and Banqueting in this Garden of fruit-trees Esay 25.6 A feast of fat things a feast of wines on the Lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the Lees well refined There is variety of all dainties and free welcome they need not spare the Master of the feast saies freely from his heart Eat O freinds drink yea drink abundantly O beloued Cant. 5. So then we see there are variety and abundance of Profits and Pleasures in the Church of God This therefore may be improved for the invitation and encouragement Vse 1 of those that are yet out
well as to another all were purchased at one and the same rate even with his owne blood The ninetie eighth Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees are profitable for one purpose and some for another their fruits being of severall kinds some are usefull one way and some another some are fittest for Cider others to bake or to be prepared severall waies for the Table others are eaten of themselves without any preparation some are fit for foode some for Physick some for Cordials all are good and profitable in their kinds according to their severall uses Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The people of God bring glory to him profit and edification to the body of Christ in divers respects according to the diversity of the Gifts Graces and Operations of the spirit of God in them This is manifest from Scripture and continuall Experience Believers having severall Gifts and endowments in Nature and grace are imployed and set on worke by God in their generations according as he hath fitted them for their severall work For as the Members in the Naturall body have not all one and the same Office so neither the Mysticall body Rom. 12.6 Having then Gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us whether prophesie let us prophesie according to the proportion of faith vers 7. Or Ministry let us wait on our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching or he that exhorteth on exhortation c. As every man hath received the gift so Minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God Let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all may things be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.10 11. What ever his gifts or abilities be weake or strong meane or eminent they are his Talents or one at least which must not be hid but used and imployed for the glory of God and profit of himselfe and others As among the Members of the body the least and meanest is use full and profitable to the body And the eye cannot say unto the hand I have no neede of thee nor againe the head to the feete I have no need of you but such as seeme to be most feeble are necessary 1 Cor. 12.21 22. so in the body of Christ and also in the politicall body the Common-wealth the laboring husbandman and the meanest Tradesman are necessary and their labours and industries in severall and various waies are all as really in their measure conducing to the upholding and advantaging of a Nation as those in the highest imployments The Apostle shewes this truth very largely 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. c. There are diversities of Giftes diversities of administrations diversities of operations by the same spirit vers 8. To one is given the word of wisdome to another the word of Knowledg to another faith to another the gifts of Healing to another the working of Miracles to another Prophesie to another discerning of spirits to another divers Tongues to another the interpretation of tongues All these worketh that one and the selfe same spirit dividing to every man severally as he will Seldome or never is it seene that any one man is eminent in all the faculties of the mind in all gifts and graces but if he excell in one he is defective in another If his gift lie in solidity of Iudgment and understanding it may be he is defective in his utterance or ready making out what he conceives and apprehends wherein some others excell that come short of him in Iudgment one man excells in quicknesse of apprehensions another in soundnesse of Judgment another in the gift of memory another in a facile and ready expression One is eminent in the grace of faith another in love another in humility another in patience another in zeale One man hath skill in one science another man in another One in this Art or Trade another in some other As the Members in the Naturall body have severall formes and severall uses and offices so is it in the Mysticall body the Church and also in the state or Common wealth that in various and severall respects all might bring Glory to God and benefits one to another The consideration of this should make us to admire the wonderfull Vse 1 wisdome of God in so ordering and disposing of things that one person might be helpfull and profitable to another every one usefull in his place and calling by their severall gifts graces actings and operations of severall natures and degrees among themselves and one with another that all should conduce and worke together though in severall waies and respects to bring glory to God and profit and edification each to other Vse 2 This also should teach Governours and all who have any charge over others to observe and find out what the Gift and qualification is of those over whom they have any charge that so accordingly they may designe them and dispose of them this is their duty and their wisdome And it is every ones duty in reference to himselfe before he enter upon any Calling or course of life to consider wherein cheifey his gift lies that accordingly he may apply himselfe For seeing the spirit of God divides to euery man gifts and qualifications severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 it is our duty to row with the streame and saile with the wind we shall make the speedier and better progresse And for want of this many men dishonour themselves their Callings God most of all by entring upon those waies and works for which they are no way fit as wanting a Gift to that purpose it lying in some other respect which they ought to have searched out and improved that so they might have brought thereby more glory to God and more profit to the body of Christ And further in this Proposition as in a glasse we may see the folly and pride of some men who being eminent in some Gifts or Vse 3 endowments and thereby also it may be answerably profitable in Church or Commonwealth upon occasion of which they despise others who are their inferious in such gifts but know O vaine man that those others may excell thee in some other Gifts and may bring glory to God and benefit to the body of Christ as much another way by their fervent prayers spirituall speeches and conferences holy and humble walking diligent improvement of Gifts Talents advantages which God hath put into their hands And therefore Christians should walke humbly though never so eminent in qualifications even upon this consideration as well as others that though they excell their brethren in these and these things yet those their brethren may go beyond them in other gifts and be profitable as much or more than themselves another way according to what God hath given them The ninetie ninth Observation in Nature All the winter long there is sap abiding in the tree and continually rising
bring forth fruits seasonably pag. 161. 81. The godly are profitable not only one to another but the wicked also fare the better for them pag. 163. 82. When men are slow in the duties of obedience God is patient towards them in the use of all good meanes waits for their fruitfulnesse pag. 164. 83. Vnregenerate persons of themselves cannot come to Christ nor bring forth one good fruit pag. 166. 84. Some Christians cheifly pursue some particular duties belonging to them and neglect others pag. 168. 85. While persons remaine in an unregenerate state all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them pag. 170. 86. Christians by walking holily and fruitfully they bring much honour to God but if otherwise dishonour pag. 171. 87. The same things which are blessings to the Godly are curses to the wicked because of their different Principles pag. 172. 88. The best of Gods Children are guiltie of many sins and infirmities in their conversations pag. 174. 89. Carnall persons are as forward and zealous in the waies of sin as usually the godly are in the waies of holinesse pag. 176. 90. The Conditions of the people of God are much different yet God careth for them all pag. 178. 91. True and faithfull Ministers of the Gospell do diligently looke into the state of their people and deale with them accordingly pag. 179 92. God discovereth a speciall care of and love unto those of his people whose Judgment and waies concurre with his designe in their generation pag. 183. 93. God is a long time in calling the Gentiles and implanting them into Christ according to his purpose and promises pag. 187. 94. Externall Vniformity in the Churches of Christ is of small accompt with him in respect of Vnity and spirituall worship pag. 191. 95. God many times makes use of wicked and unregenerate persons for the preservation and good of his owne children pag. 197. 96. God in his infinite wisdome and goodnesse observes the fittest times in all his dispensations towards his people pag. 199. 97. Jesus Christ gives forth as constant a supply of all grace to the meanest of his people as to those who are most eminent pag. 201. 98. The people of God bring glory to him profit and edification to the body of Christ in divers respects according to the diversity of the Gifts Graces and operations of the spirit of God in them pag. 2â—2 99. There is a continuall secret supply of strength from Christ to every believer in time of desertion and temptation to preserve them from totall falling away pag. 205. 100. True Christians do communicate of their good things as freely to the poore as to the rich pag. 207. THE SPIRITUALL USE OF A GARDEN of FRUIT-TREES The first Observation in Nature THE Husbandman makes choice of what wild Plants he pleaseth to bring into his Orchards there to Graft and order to fruit-bearing from yeare to yeare He leaves other plants in the Woods and waste grounds he lets them alone and meddles not with them but takes and leaves these or those as pleaseth himselfe This is a Similitude of the State of Spirituall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That God from all eternity made choice of what Spirituall Plants he pleased to plant in his Garden the Church Proposition Shadowed and refused others God in his eternall decree chose some persons and refused others as his word clearely manifests he chose some wild plants here and there a few to plant in his Orchard to order to fruit-bearing and let others alone to grow wild and bring forth their naturall fruits and this upon his own free will and pleasure without any foresight of faith repentance good works or any thing in us This the Apostle shews Eph. 1.4 He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world Vers 5. according to the good pleasure of his will before they had done good or evill Rom. 9.13 I have loved Jacob and hated Esau and Jo. 13.18 I know whom I have chosen And our Saviour tells us Joh. 15.16 I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remaine The Husbandman lets other Plants alone to grow wild without the wall of his Orchard Many wicked men and women in the world which were passed by in his decree and therefore are not brought into his Church nor Ingrafted into Christ who in their generations bring forth sower bitter and poysonous fruits Rom. 9.18 He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth That is He giveth grace to those whom he hath chosen and denies it to others leaving them to themselves Vse Esay 61.3 The Consideration of this should be a strong and continuall motive to all those who have made their Calling and Election sure being perswaded upon good grounds that they are Trees of righteousnesse of the Lords Planting to praise and admire the free grace of God who hath chosen them to be his adopted children ingrafting them into Christ and planting them in his Garden to bring forth pleasant fruits to himselfe We were all of us wild Plants as bad by nature as the worst in the world and God hath made choice of us and left others How should this make us admire his rich and free grace in Christ to us and to shew forth his praise in our Conversations The Apostle tells us this is the very end wherefore we are Chosen 1 Pet. 2.9 Yee are a chosen Generation a Royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darknesse into his marvelous light There was no moving Cause why the mysticall Husbandman should make Choice of us rather than of others as there is of materiall Plants The Husbandman looks upon their straightnesse and fitnesse in other respects it may be wherefore he chuseth them before others But the mysticall Husbandman hath all the grounds and Causes of choice within himselfe Eph. 1.5 according to the good pleasure of his will Let this therefore teach us and stirre us up to bring forth all Vse 2 good fruits unto him in abundance who hath so abounded in love and mercy towards us and hath let out his free grace in chusing of us And although we cannot recompence the Husbandman or make him the richer by our fruits yet we may please him and honour him thereby Herein is my Father glorified that ye beare much fruit Joh 15.2 The second Observation in Nature THe Husbandman doth order his young fruit-trees with more tendernesse and gentlenesse then such as are strong and well growne trees because such while they are small and tender are in more danger of breaking and brusing and other hurts then they are afterwards So that besides the great Wall or Common fence about the Orchard he makes a more speciall fence with Bushes Stakes or the like about each of them and gives
Hypocrite alwaies call upon God Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up Mat. 15.13 This being so it should make every one give all diligence to be Use 2 fully assured whether they be but as Boughes stuck in the ground without roots or branches of the true Vine Joh. 15.5 Such as are really ingrafted into the true Vine the hottest sun of persecution can never hurt them the gates of Hell shall not prevaile against them Such shall be as a Tree planted by the waters that spreadeth out her roots by the river and shall not see when heat commeth but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the yeare of drought neither shall cease from yeelding fruit Jer. 17.8 The Tenth Observation in Nature WEe seek for the best kinds of fruits to engraft in our Orchards we are carefull and diligent with much labour cost and time to obtaine the most usefull and most profitable fruits though we take some paines for ordinay kinds yet we especially desire the best fruits From this Observation we are taught That VVe should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts Proposition shadowed graces and Fruits may especially increase The Apostle saies 1 Cor. 12. There are diversities of gifts wrought by the same spirit all of them desirable and profitable but some are more profitable than others which he exhorts us to look after and desire especially Vers 31. Covet earnestly the best Gifts There is a precellency and greater worth in some Fruits than in some others 1 Cor. 13. I will shew you a more excellent way And Phil. 1.10 That ye may approve things that are excellent or as some read it things that differ Follow after charity and desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophecy 1 Cor. 14.1 And vers 12. For as much as ye are zealous of spirituall gifts seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church He preferres one grace before another And now abideth faith hope and love these three but the greatest of these is love 1 Cor. 13.13 This reproves those who content themselves with the lowest Vse 1 and meanest gifts graces and fruits and strive not after the best and chiefest Many having gotten some competent abilities they goe on in a formall way running in a round or Circle making little or no progression at all no increase or growth Yea sometimes for want of exercise and improvement of their Gifts they loose what they had and become very Drones and Dunces Vse 2 We should consider and examine which are the best gifts graces and spirituall fruits that so we may apply our selves to gaine and increase them especially First then Such are best as are most usefull and profitable to our selves and others Profit and edification is the great end why the spirit of God gives gifts 1 Cor 12.7 The Apostle valued those gifts most which were most for Edification 1 Cor. 14.19 I had rather speake five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others than 10000 words in an unknowne Tongue Knowledge Tongues humane Learning and Parts are little worth unlesse they be used to edification What then shall we thinke of those men who use them for ostentation and to gaine admiration Secondly If we find any gift grace or spirituall fruit commended to us in speciall and particular in the word such hath the highest commendation that possible can be as the gift of Prophesie above other gifts 1 Cor. 14.1 Desire spirituall gifts but rather that ye may prophesie Which is a gift to be able publiquely to expound the word of God Diod. Annot. and to apply it to the edification of the Church And of Graces Love is the chiefest 1 Cor. 13.1 Now abideth Faith Hope and Love these three but the greatest of these is Love And 1 Pet. 4.8 Above all things have fervent love among your selves So for Meeknesse of Spirit God himselfe commends it to us in particular for a most speciall fruit 1 Pet. 3.4 The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is a thing with God of a great price Thirdly those graces wherein wee most resemble God the father and Christ such are most excellent as Love Mercy Humility we are cald upon as might be shew'd at large to imitate the father and the sonne in these things especially VVhat is more sweet and amiable in the Conversations of men than Love Mercy Humility these are Graces and fruits of highest esteeme both with God and men Such as hold forth Truths in publique should bring forth the best Fruits in expounding and applying the word they ought to lay open those truths that are most suitable to Persons times and occasions and decline other things of lesser moment and in particular subjects to bring forth those things that doe most naturally arise from the word according to the genuine sense of it without straining or wresting there being such infinite variety of matter that it may be as the first and purest Liquor of Grapes or as life hony that runnes without strayning which is by far the best Men should stand most upon the Essentialls of Religion and Christianity How to get an interest in Christ and then how to improve it to grow in grace to subdue Corruptions how we may get and maintaine a constant habituall Communion with God And for our Meditations Speeches and Actions we must still looke at the best if there lye many and various duties before us and all cannot possibly be donne we ought to set our selves to consider and find out which are most convenient most necessary most profitable and best And accordingly apply our selves thereto and not to goe hand over head to any of them upon this ground for that it is a good worke it is our duty for so perhaps we shall neglect a more excellent and more profitable worke and misse of the best and choicest fruits The Eleventh Observation in Nature WE finde by experience that after a plant is engrafted both the Graft and the stock will shoote forth and if the Graft grow vigorously and strongly then the shootes of the stock are but weake but if the shoots of the stock break out strongly then the Graft growes but weakly therefore the husbandman takes paines often to cut off the shoots that grow upon the stock that so the graft may grow the better This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakely So also if the flesh be strong the spirit is weake In all persons Regenerate there are two Natures the one contrary to the other the Spirit and the flesh the new man and the old man the Divine Nature and Corrupt Nature these two Natures abide in us and act in us so long as we live in this earthly Tabernacle and they