est in explicabilis horti commoditas nam si necessitatem considero agricultura tanto est humano generi emolumento ut eâ carere nullo modo possis si utilitatem inter primas non postrema Nec quaenam illi poterit comparari si voluptatem dignitati commistam ea est excellentia c. August Quid enim hoc opere innocentius vacantibus quid plenius magnâ consideratione prudentibus quid majus mirabiliusque spectaculum est qnam cum positis seminibus Plantatis surculis translatis Arbusculis insitis malleolis tanquam interrogatur quaeque vis Radicis germinis quid possit quidve non possit unde possit vnde non possit cum rerum natura humana ratio quodammodo loqui potest quid in ea valeat numerorum invisibilis interiorque potentia quid extrinsecus adhibita diligentia in ipsa consideratione perspicere quia neque qui plantat est aliquid neque qui rigat sed Deus qui dat incrementum Antient Authors define the chiefe part of Husbandry to be this The Husbandman ought to consider the Nature of the Trees which he is to Plant and so to dispose of them as they may have fitt soyle and scituation that they may have the influence of the Sunne as much as may be And there will arise great Profitts and advantages with Pleasure attending them O how sweet saith he and pleasant is the Fruit that thou hast Planted with thine own hand to eate thereof and to distribute of the same to thy Friends and acquaintance They say the Profitts of Fruit-trees are wonderfull and cannot be reckned up there is no end of the Account St. Austin accounts this an excellent imployment and worthy the esteem of the best men having many deep misteries secrets of Nature in it to exercise and imploy the understanding of the most eminent persons in considering the Nature of seeds sown in Grafting young Twiggs transplanting Trees and many other works about them to consider and find out the Nature of these things and to apply our selves accordingly but in all to know and conclude That it is not he that Planteth nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase Mr Boulton an eminent godly Divine in his time saies that Vinyards Gardens Orchards and such inclosed Plotts are the Stars and Paradices of the Earth And Sr. Fran Ba Essayes pa. 226. saies Gardens are the purest of humane Pleasures the greatest refreshments of the spirits of man without which Buildings and Pallaces are but grosse handi-workes Section 6. HVSBANDMAN Seeing it is manifest and concluded by all men that this work of Planting Fruit-trees is very Profitable and Pleasant how comes it to passe that so many men are yet negligent and slothfull in the worke Many young Gentlemen who have good estates in Lands and might very much improve their Estates by Planting yet are negligent and all that can be said to encourage them to it will not prevaile to set them on worke what may be the reason of this grosse neglect is their any fault or matter of discouragement arising from you that doth hinder them Too things seeming discouragements in Planting FRVIT-TREES There are indeed two things especially that may perhaps arise from us seemingly as matters of discouragement to some men The one is We cannot bring forth Fruits speedily to any considerable profit men must be content to stay and waite certaine years ere they can have any great profits from us And sensuall men that are all for present Profitts Pleasures and satisfaction of their appetites with present things will not stay our time which is necessary for our growth and increase that we may bring forth store of good Fruits for their Profitt And likewise The worke and labour about us seems to be but a meane worke Young proud Gentlemen think it a worke and imployment much below them to digg in the ground to set Trees they account it too mechanicall and therefore have a kind of disdaine of such an imployment which too things often hinder some men from propagating of us notwithstanding we are known to be so profitable Vaine minds take up with present satisfaction HVSBANDMAN It is true indeed some wild lightheaded young Gentlemen that have good Estates runne altogether after the satisfaction of their sensuall appetites and desires which they may have at present and are impatient of delay and so neglect and undervalue these profitts by the Planting of Fruit-trees in regard as yee have said there must be a time of waiting patiently for Profitts by Planting but yet the more wise and sober Persons of the Gentry who hearken to Reason more then Sence are considerate and are fully convinced of what hath beene said concerning the great Profitts by Planting Fruit-trees and other kinds of Trees and accordingly are very diligent about the worke Examples of the greatest persons in Planting But as for that proud conceite of this worke being below them and too Mechanicall let them but consider what was the worke of the first Man and that in his state of happinesse The worke appointed him by God himselfe was to dresse the Garden and to keep it And let them consider also what Examples there are recorded of great persons who imployd themselves with great delight in this work of Planting Fruit-trees Kings Emperours and the greatest Powers were not ashamed of it but performed it with their own hands Dioclesian Emperour of Roome left his Empire and betook himselfe to this implâ—yment in the later part of his life Elizeus sportanus planted spatiouse and large Orchards and used therein to feast and banquet with his children and Friendâ— Ezra 1.2 c. Cyrus King of Persia who had all the Kingdomes of the Earth given to him was diligent and most exact in this worke of Planting Fruit-trees with his owne hand as he himselfe acknowledged to Lysander when he came to visit him See his own words as they are Recorded Epistola alberti Lolâ—… ad herculem Libidâ— re Rustica pag. 30. Cyrus minor Persarum Rex vir ingenii excelsi rerum gestarum gloria celeberrimus cum ad eum venisset Lysander Lacedaemonius ipse summis virtutibus pâ—…stans eique dona nonnulla attulisseâ— ceteris rebus comis humanus erga ipsum fuerit quodam vero die recreationis caussa in quendam hortum magna ipsius industria undique conseptum singulari artificio consitum eum adduxit Tum Lysander admiratus egregium omnium rerum ordinem atque proceritates Arborum illarumque in quincuncem directam seriem fructuum pulchritudinem ac odorum qui e floribus spirabant suavitatem dixisse fertur Atqui Lysander meo ingenio ista sunt elaborata mei sunt ordines Arboresque Plantae aliaque quae ita miraris mea manu sunt sara Tum vicissim Lysandrum ipsius comtemplantem purpuâ—am corporisque elegantiam ornatum persicum auro gemmisque praetiosissimis
splendentem respondisse O Cyre quam meriâ—o beatus ab omnibus perhiberis cum excellenti fortunatua singularis ranta conjuncta copulataque sit industria So that such men as are so highly conceited of themselves to think this worke and imployment about Fruit-trees to be below them are much mistaken they need not be ashamed of it more then their betters Neither hath it beene the choice of some few Eminent persons only but of very many as we find by Records in severall Authors see further Epistola alberti Lolii ad herculem Li de re Rust Solemus autem circa Agriculturae tractationem duos potissimum fines considerare utilitatem nimirum quam continuo inde percipere possumus venustate florum germinatione stirpium proventu fructuum capere solemus Et in qua ubique magna copia bonarum fructuosarum Arborum sese offerat Nonnullos alios in medium adducere qui amore rei Rusticae ita capti fuerunt ut post habitis omnibus dignitatibus Magistratibus Regnis Victoriis triumphis ad Agriculturam se totos applicuerunt Caelum nitescere Arbores frondescere Vites laetificas pampinis pubescere Ramos Baccarum ubertate incurvescere Segetes largiri fruges florere omnia Subsequitur postea aestas non solum floribus ut in primis sunt Lilia Rosae Violae hyacinthi Caryophilli infiniti alii ornatur sed etiam frugibus fructibus vuis animalibus omnibusque rebus Caeteris ad vitam nostram necessariis sustinendam abundat Certe si recte diligenter inquisiveris videbis profecto omnes studiosos literatos homines Ruris cesessu vehementer ses oblectasse illudque semper expecisse plurimum Nam praeter aerem liberum jucundam viriditatem quae plurimum ingenium excitant spiritus quoque inde recreari intelligentiam mirifice acui certum est O beata fincera vita o suave atque honestum ocium quasi omni negotio melius Agricultura sola est cui ingenui excellentes viri admoveri debent Quid datur a divis melius mortalibus aegris Quam bona quae pariunt passim letissima Rura Hic hominum primi vitam incoluere beatam Cum placidam nondum turbarent praelia pacem Cum variis tellus redimitur floribus cum Arboribus viride redeunt per brachia frondes Atque avium dulces cantus nemora avia complent Tunc mecum aut felix nusquam vitae genus ullum Quo se mortales factant aut hoc erit unum Many Profitts and Pleasures in Planting Fruit-trees Thus we see what the Ancient and more recent writers and those of Learning and Eminency in the world have said and esteemed of this worke of Planting Fruit-trees both as to Profitts and Pleasures in the lives of men and how they have preferred it before other imployments Therefore there is reason all men should have a good esteeme of Fruit-trees and of the works about them especially seeing they are profitable not only as to Temporall Profitts in the lives of men from the Cradle to the Grave from the beginning of the world to the end of it But the same also ministring so many occasions and helps in order to spirituall advantages as hath been shew'd being Examples to us of Obedience to God in that they keep the Lawes of their Creator inviolable after their kinds in observing the Course of Nature from the beginning of the world to the end of it And continually speaking to us to do the same Many advantages we have by them with all Pleasures and Delights superadded So that such a worke carries away the vote and suffrage of all People according to the Poet. Omne tulit punctum qui misciuit utile dulci. Here are two of the most cogent Arguments that prevaile with all men Argumentum ab utili Et Argumentum a voluptate Arguments from Profitts and Arguments from Pleasures Pleasure is call'd sal condimentum vitae the Salt that seasons all things to us the Profitts are more because of the Pleasures and the Pleasures are more because of the Profitts They being united together do commend and set off each other more then they would be single and alone Section 7. Great Trees in too fatt soyle Beare not well HVSBANDMAN Here are a sort of Trees that grow in a very rich soyle deepe and fatt and are faire handsome large lovely Trees as any I can see but yet they do not answer these things in their Fruits I expect they should bring me some Fruit and profit better and more then other Trees that grow in a poore leane soyl and are but small Trees to these which are growne to a vast bignesse and largnesse of body and branches I cannot be satisfied with such poore and small returnes from such great Trees in such a rich and fertile soyle as they here grow in Moderation is best FRVIT-TREES There is good reason we should bring forth good Fruits and more then those Trees that grow in poore ground but consider thou whether our unfruitfulnesse be not occasioned by our too fatt and Plentifull feeding for thou knowest that Repletion is an enemy to Generation in all Creatures according to their kinds Men and Women that are too full fed and grow grosse and fatt they seldome are fruitfull as others who are more moderate and temperate and this is our case by reason of our too full fatt feeding in this deepe and fertile soyle we grow great and run out yeerely in large shootes and broad leaves but shall beare little Fruit while it is so with us A just Reproofe of the Carnall Careless Gentry HVSBANDMAN These things are true and are usefull in their place as to temporall Profitts in the ordering of Fruit-trees But we may learne hence a Lesson of higher concernment it plainly shaddowes out unto us that it is too manifestly seene amongst some great persons the Gentry of this Nation who being Trees planted by Gods providence in a rich and fertile soyle they grow very great in power and dignity swelled with high titles of honour abundance of riches and the best things the world affords But as for Fruitfullnesse towards God spirituall Fruits they are very few and small amongst many of them who live a most carnall sensuall life as if there were no life after this feeding pampering and cherishing their bodies while the poore soule is neglected leane and starven And so ware out a few daies in promp and pride and in a moment goe downe from the stage of the world into eternall woe and destruction O miserable life that some of them live even whilst they live most at ease and in their pleasures Is not he worthy to be accounted a foole that will chuse and prefer a painted bauble not worth 2d before a rich Treasure worth many Millians Much more foolish are they who preferr a short momentany life of sensuall pleasures before the pleasures and glory of Eternall life Consider this yee that
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-Fruit-trees improved by ingrafting FRVIT-TREES
least the Principall part being left behind which is analogous with the Roote of a Tree in Planting without which it cannot grow And therefore such as undertake this worke of Inoculating looke well to this that this small Roote of the Bud be in it when it is set on the stock The Properties of a Tree are in every seede And further This is also true and a thing to be considered and admired That as the Properties and Vertues of the whole Tree are in every Bud so also they are in every seede or kernell that is in every one of the Fruits that grow upon the Tree But herein a Caution is to be observed which is not so in Buds and Grafts which alwaies bring forth the same in kind That is The seeds or kernells of any Tree sowen will produce the same in kind in this sence that is if we sow the seede of an Appletree it will be of the same speties it will bring forth Appletrees so of the seede of Peretrees or any other kind But then these young Trees produced by the same seede will yet bring forth variety severall sorts of Apples some better some worse yet all of them Apples of one sort or other And in that perticuler also it is the more Admirable That the seede or kernells being alike from one and the same Tree should yee bring forth different sorts of Fruits yet all of them Apples too but different in kinds The same flower seede brings forth variety So also it is in the seedes of flowers when sowen â—…e selfe same seede brings forth different sorts of flowers some double some single some one colour some another which is to be Admired if considered God in his infinite Bounty and goodnesse gives us variety of his good Creatures as well for Pleasure and delight as for Necessity And this should occasion his Praise and Admiration and more chearefull Service from us who reape the benifitt and comfort thereof Section 25. HVSBANDMAN What other wonders in Nature are there that we should take notice of in your continuall course and processe from yeare to yeare whereby you set forth the glory of the Creatour that we may understand it and Admire God in his workes for the workes of the Lord are great sought out of all them that have pleasure therein Ps 111.2 3. His worke is honourable and gloriouse and Ver. 4. O come hither and behold the workes of God How wonderfull he is in his doings He hath so done his Marvelous workes that they ought to be had in remembrance FRVIT-TREES We discover many things to be taken notice of and Admired by all men for the Eternall Power and Wisdome goodnesse and bounty of God is seene in us besides what has beene or may be said take notice of this further Many kinds of Fruits upon one Tree Upon one great Appletree or any other kind may be grafted many kinds great variety according to the number of the boughes and Branches so many severall sorts may be grafted Perhaps 20. 30. 40. or more severall sorts of Apples may be Engrafted upon the same Tree if men desire it for a curiosity some early kinds some later some of one shape and bignesse some of another the Grafts being variouse though they grow all upon one Tree and feede upon one and the selfe same Sap yet they will bring forth variety of Fruits every Graft after his owne kind HVSBANDMAN I have seene variety of Fruits upon one Tree and many more kinds might have beene Grafted upon it if men would these severall sorts of Grafts brought forth variety of Fruits every Graft after his kind And this proves that to be true which a Learned * Sr Fran Bacon Nat Hist pag. 100. Philosopher hath asserted That Grafts Governe all Grafts Rule although they are Engrafted upon a different stock yet they convert that different Sap which they feede upon into their owne Natures and bring forth Fruits accordingly And this observation may be usefull both for Profitt and Pleasure A man that hath but a small peece of ground for his Orchard yet he may have variety of Fruits upon a few Trees according to the bignesse and largenesse of the Trees so he may multiply his Grafts of what kinds he thinks best Si quid novisti restius istis Candidus imperti si non his utere mecum FINIS
by this little Creature Deus maximus in minimis God is seen in the least of his Creatures yea go to the Oxe and the Asse thou brutish sensual man or woman consider and learn of them They know and own serve and obey their Master him that feedeth them Isay 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel hath not known Me saith the Lord. but thou as thou wantest grace so also thou wantest the good Nature that these poor Creatures have and shew forth to him that keeps them Thou art fed and clothed dayly and hast all things convenient for life from the hand of God and yet thou ownest him not but servest thy self and rebellest against God therefore these dull Beasts shall condemn thee Let not men make light of these things of learning from Fruit-trees and other Creatures they shall find one day and that shortly too they shall be called to an Account and be judged by the Creatures as well as by the word Therefore it concernes every one to learn their speech and language and to be instructed thereby in order to their own Duty and the glory of God O the loud cry and voyce of Naâ—ure from these very Creatures of â—he infinite wisdome Power and bounty â—f God towards Man how is it heard plainly and distinctly not only in the infinite number and kinds of Fruit-trees Flowers and vegetables in Orchards and Gardens but also in every individuall and particular Tree Consider only but one large Appleâ—ree some of them bearing many Bushels of Fruits in one year Every â—articular Fruit hath severall seeds or â—ernels in it and every seed though â—any thousands from one Tree hath â—…e Nature of the whole Tree in it â—…lf and that exacty Potentially the whole tree in that small substance many of them lesse then a graine of Wheat it hath in it the innate intrinsicall forme and vertue of the VVhole Tree that huge and vast body that we see above ground and will if sowen produce the same in kind And not only so but likewise every small Twigg of the Tree yea the least bud of the least twigg hath also virtually the whole tree in it self and produceth the same if inoculated according to Art St Austen takes notice of these things and admires God in them Gen ad lit ch 15. and exhorts all men to study them and learn from them Ex ipsis operibus dei indagare conemur consideremus ergo cujuslibet Arboris pulcritudinem in robore ramis frondibus Pomis c. illud germen ex semine in semine ergo illa omnia fuerunt primitus non mole corporeae magnitudinis sed vipotentiaque causaliter in exiguo grano mirabilior prostantior que vis est quia valuit adiacens humor commixtus terrae quid enim ex arbore illâ surgit aut pendet quod non ex quodam occulto Thesauro seminis illius extractum atque depromptum est Job exhorts us to learn from these and all Creatures Chap. 12.7 8.9 c. Aske now the Beasts and they shall teach thee and the Foules of the Air and they shall tell thee Or speake to the earth and it shall teach thee or as it is translated speake to every Twigg or Tree that growes upon the Earth and it shall teach thee And the Fishes of the Sea shall declare unto thee Here we see are many Masters and Teachers for the instruction of Man in his duty to God Christians that have not only Reason but grace may learn from Creatures that have neither Reason nor sence Grace in the heart of a Christian improves common earthly Objects to spiritual uses and holy Ends it is spiritually the Phylosophers stone that turnes Earth into Heaven Naturall Objects into Spiritual As faith sees him that is invisible and things that are not seen so sence shewes us him that is inisible i. e. God in his workes Being as a prospective Glasse through which we may see the lively species of infinit excellencies in God First All Creatures yeild ready Obedience to God for they obey the Law of their Creation Fire and Haile Snow and vapors Stormy winds and Tempests fulfilling his word Ps 148.8 Secondly And as Creatures teach us Obedience to God in observing the Law of their Creation so also they teach us dependance upon God as we see Hose 2.21 God having betrothed Israel his people in righteousnesse in judgment in loving kindnesse in mercies in Faithfulnesse and that for ever from that time all the Creatures do strive to do them good but yet in a Chain of dependance Every one confessing their inability without help from God Israel had need of the Creatures to nourish them They cry to God for Corne VVine and Oyle These are ready and willing to nourish Israel but then the Earth must bring them forth therefore these cry to the Earth to give them rooting and nourishment the Earth would do this willingly for Israels sake but cannot except the Heavens do water it with Rain and Dewes therefore the Earth cryes to the Heavens but the Heavens though willing can give no Rain nor refreshing until God command them to do it therefore the Heavens cry unto God that he would give them Commission to water the Earth As we see Hose 2.2 I will hear saith the Lord I will hear the heavens and they shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corne and the VVine and the Oyle and they shall heare Israel So God commanding the heavens the heavens feed the Earth and the Earth feeds the Corn VVine and Oyl and these feed Israel The eyes of all Creatures waite upon God and he giveth them their meate in due season Ps 145.15 he feedeth the young Ravens that call upon Him Ps 147.9 The Lyons roaring after their Prey do seeke their Meate of God So they all teach us the same Lesson of dependance upon God for all necessaries The Apostle Paul shewes us That there is somewhat even in inanimate Creatures that puts forth an Act of Expectation yea of Earnest Expectation for deliveraâ—ce from the bondage that the sin of man hath brought them under Rom. 8.19 The earnest expectation of the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God and ver 22. The whole Creation growneth and travelleth in pain together until now Thirdly We may also learn this Lesson from the Creatures even from irrationall and lifelesse Creatures not only as was said 1 Obedience to God and 2 dependance upon him but likewise 3ly to desire and long for a full freedome and deliverance from the bondage of Corruption and to attain the Glorious liberty of the sons of God for shall inanimate Creatures do this and shall not Rational and Spiritual Christians do it much more Now if any one ask this Question how may we speake to Fruit-trees or any other Creatures that are without Reason or sence that we may receive Instructions from them This Question long
Physitian can so temper poyson as to make it with other ingredients â—…procure or preserve health so that in aâ—… these things God is seene and to be praâ—sed and admired in his dispensations towards his people and they to learne obedience by the things that they suffer anâ— to be more thankfull and firutfull in theâ—… hearts and lives afterwards Section 4. Fruittrees Beautifull Objects HVSBANDMAN It is a great pleasure and delight to walk among you so many beautifull Fruittrees seeing yee grow so handsomely and uniforme yee grow in order in straight lynes every way look which way a man will decent formes and order of things are pleasant to the Eye as a Consort of Musick is to the Eare And besides yee are more beautifull and delightsome in your various coloured blossomes leaves and fruits these even ravish the â—ences with their delicate colours smels and tasts all exceeding gratefull to the sences and delightsome to the mind Immoderate love to Creatures dangerous FRVITTREES We owne what thou sayest to be true We are indeed fine beautifull Objects and desireable good things usefull and profitable in the lives of men But thou and others had best take heed and beware least yee love us too much that yee set not your hearts upon us for Lalet anguis in herba a serpent may be hid even amongst pleasant and beautifull flowers the old Serpent is still alive that bitt and stung thy first Parents in the Garden of Eden they setting their minds too much upon the beauty and excellency oâ— the Fruits that they saw They saw that the Fruits were beautifull to the Eye and good for food and they took and Eate oâ— it being seduced also by the subtilty oâ— the Serpent And thou maist be sure hâ— hath not lost any of his Malice Power â—… Policy but is watchfull day and night to do thee and others mischeife Too much love to Creatures abates love to God HVSBANDMAN This is a good caution and to be heeded and observed daily For the Pleasures and Profitts of the Creatures do often stale away the minds anâ— affections even of good men which abatâ—… the streame of their love to God whicâ— occasions more or lesse sooner or lateâ— â—hastnings and afflictions from the hand â—… God who cannot beare that the hearâ— of his people should be alienated from hiâ— by any of his Creatures Yet nevertheleâ—… here is a lawfull use of these and otheâ— Creatures with Pleasure and delight so it be within due bounds But this delight in Fruit-trees in Orchards and Gardens in a kind of Communion and complacency with them it shaddows out unto us a great and singular mistery and a priviledge of beleevers the greatest on this side heaven that is Communion and Fellowship with God the enjoyment of him for ever Communion with Creatures calls for Communion with God Sincere and humble Christians know by experience what it is to walke with God in Fellowship with him God doth gratiously condiscend to have Communion and Fellowship with Man with such as he hath Chosen to himselfe and changed sanctified and prepared as Vessels of mercy for his owne use And herein we need not restraine or lymitt our love and affections as we ought to do towards the Creatures all we have or can let out is too little and small â—or this infinitely best Object of Love Communion with and delight in all other Obâ—ects must be subordinate unto this for all the good and desireablenesse of the Creatures are but so many Drops derived from â—his infinite Ocean in his presence is the â—ulnesse of joy at his right hand there are pleasures for ever more Section the 5. Many Profitts and pleasures by Fruittrees HVSBANDMAN There hath been very much spoken by Auntient and late writers about the Profitts and Pleasures that are found in Orchards and Gardens And all people generally do much commend The worke of Planting Fruittrees because of the Profitts and Advantages that yearely do arise from Fruittrees Besides all the delight and Pleasures super-added wherein do these Profitts and Pleasures consist tell us some particulars briefely Fruits of Trees Mens food FRVITTREES Thou knowest ovâ— Fruits are usefull and Profitable many waieâ— in the lives of men They are for food alâ— the yeare long both for meate and drink iâ— was the first Food given to man and thaâ— in his best state and condition even iâ— Paradice the most pleasant place upoâ— the Earth our Fruits were his appointeâ— food he might eate of all our Fruits onâ— Tree only excepted And Fruits of Trees have been mans food ever since and so shall be to the end of the world HVSBANDMAN It is true the Fruits of Trees are good food both for Man and Beast which beeing well ripened they may be used for wholesome food many waies Especially made into Cider the most wholsome drink known in the * Vinetum Britannicum by J. W Gent p. 18. world and so accounted by Learned and skilfull Physitians and found so to be by long Experience not of particular Persons only but by severall Generations successively in severall Countries where it is temperately and moderately used as their common drink which hath been of late time more especially much * see Silva Pomona by Mr. Euelin of the Royall Society celebrated and commended by many worthy and eminent persons upon good grounds both of Reason and Experience As conducing more then any other Liquors to health and long life which are much in esteem among all people Planting of fruit-Fruit-trees commended by Antient and late writers Now because the Profitts and advantages by Planting Fruit-trees are so many and great I think it not amisse to acquaint my friends here present with the Praises and Commendations that some Authors have given to this work and imployment of Planting Fruit-trees that they may be more in love with it and more diligent in it for their own Profitt and for Posteritie also Varro Li. 1. Cap. 4. de re Rustica hinc profectò Agricolae ad duas metas dirigere debent ad utilitatem voluptatem Menander Agricolarum vita voluptatem capit Dum tristia spe futurorum solatur est profecto virtutis vitae Magister Ingenuae omnibus hominibus ager Agricultura quid sit Mihi videtur nihil aliud esse Agriculturam quam inspectâ Plantae Natura Caeli Terrae ei idoneum cultum tribuere ut ita dicam Caelum cum Terra maritare vel societatem perquirere Caeli Terrae ad Arbores O quam dulcissimum est fructus ex arboribus quas sevisti inseruisti coluisti propriis manibus colligere Amicis agnatisque jactabundus largiri c. Virgil in Georg O fortunatos nimium bona si sua norint Agricolas quibus ipsa procul civilibus Armis Fundit humo facilem victum justissima tellus Aves canoros garrulae funduni sonos Et semper Aures cantibus mulcent suis Mira