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
the face of the earth boasting that they can doe mischiefe Sinue at first cumbred the earth with thornes If Adam had abode in his integrity the ground should have been freed from this burthen all things should have been common as they were in the beginning of the Gospel Acts 4.32 neither should any man have said that ought of the things that he possessed had been his own But now the blessing is turn'd into a curse Yet even in Gods righteous judgement there is a manifestation of his providence For since by eating the forbidden fruit we are corrupted and that evill root of covetousnesse lies covered in the heart like Achans wedge buried in the earth and we are so farre from that happy communion and overflowing bounty Josh 7.21 Quam arborem conseruisset sub ea legere alium fructum indignum esse Livi. whereby others might partake with us of those things unto which we have most proper right that we rather with Fabius thinke it derogates from us if we plant the tree and another eate the fruit Et sua retinere privatae domus de alienis certare egregiam laudem esse Tacit. Supposing it belongs to private and obscure men to maintaine their owne bounds but to them of dignity to encroach upon the territory and jurisdiction of other men Neque quisquam Ger. manorum proprios sines habet ne potentiores humiliores possessionibus expellant Caesar Ne familiae rixentur cum vicinis ac limites ex litibus judicem quaerant Varro Now it pleased the Lord in the beginning of the disease to ordaine a remedy and when mens desires were so enlarged that they could not looke upon that which was another mans as if it had been their owne but were ready to transgresse by injurious intrusion Then to prevent discord and enmity and to set limits to our greedy appetite he did cause these thornes to spring up which in succeeding times might be most usefull and commodious as well to withstand the insatiate avarice of them who would devoure that which pertaines unto their neighbour as also for the quiet fruition of the portion which is justly due unto us Testudinem ubi collecta in suum tegimen est tutam ad omnes ictus video esse c. Livi. that as the Torteise is safe while it keeps within the shell but such parts of it as are put forth become subject to harme and danger so we be culpable by exceeding the lot that is falne to us but are free and secure containing within our proper bounds Wheresoever then that we see these thornes whether in the confines or adjoyning to the walkes and other divisions of this our plantation we may be put in mind of Gods curse that did produce them And not only by viewing the thornes but likewise by observing the barrennesse of the earth Exossatus ager Persius wherein we are to fixe our trees which hath lost its prime vigour and strength that God gave unto it to bring forth the tree yeelding fruit after his kind So that no usefull tree will prosper therein without much culture and labour and cost but of it selfe it can multiply briers and weeds Nil nisi cum spinis gramen habebit ager Ovid. which are for the most part hurtfull and prejudiciall unto us It was just with God when man did withhold the most acceptable fruit of obedience from him and did-bring forth bitter clusters and grapes of gall Deut. 32.32 that the ground should likewise detaine its increase from sinfull man being cursed for his sake who by his sinne turn'd Paradise into a desart And now beholding the earth out of which he was taken rejected of God Heb. 6.8 whose end is to be burned he may acknowledge it to be a fit receptacle for himselfe in his death who for his wickednesse deserves to be rooted out of the land of the living Ac saepe videas laetam nitentemque arborem si in locum alterum transferatur succo terrae deterioris elanguisse Macrob Adam in the beginning was a tree of righteousnesse planted in a rich and fruitfull soile but afterward he was transplanted into a desolate wildernesse where we his branches are shot forth and now what good fruit can be expected from us The seed doth partake of the property of that land into which it is transported man is become vaine and unprofitable the earth is corrupt and filled with violence for all flesh hath corrupted his way upon the earth Gen. 6.11 Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth Can any acceptable fruit arise from sinfull man Many times we may discerne the outward surface of the ground is green and flourishing though soone parched in the heat of the yeere but searching into the hidden part Soli superficies aestu facilè siccatur Scal. in Theop. in which the root should bee dilated and spread both for the better establishing of the tree Plus alimenti consequitur ex profundo planta firmius haeret c. Idem and that the moisture might from thence be derived unto the uttermost boughes outmost branches where meeting with the outward warmth it might be concocted and ordered for the strengthening of the tree and bringing forth pleasant fruit I say if we digge into that part of the land which is covered we shall soon meet with not only a dead but a killing earth which cannot afford any good nutriment unto that which is placed therein Even such is the condition of man There may be an outward forme of godlinesse an appearance of religion some shew of piety but let them try and prove themselves and inquire into the hidden man and they shall find as much want of deepnesse of earth for this heavenly plant of grace as there was for the good seed of the Word Mat. 13.5 the stony ground resisted that and our hearts of stone doe withstand this Yea the most perfect doe acknowledge that sinne dwelleth in them and there is a law in their members Rom. 7. warring against the law of their mind Translatu facta est melior quae noxia quondam in patriâ Alciat Pierius And as that Persian fruit was poyson in its owne soile but being removed into another country became safe and usefull so we abiding in our estate of nature have no good thing dwelling in our flesh but being changed and altered by the working of the Spirit we may fructifie and become profitable yet we ought alwaies to be sensible of our corruptions remaining within us which doe encumber our faith being as a strange and forraine plant not growing so readily not thriving so speedily as our carnall lusts doe that prevaile against us and overtop this grace with vanities and being thus oppressed we ought to pray unto the Lord who is able to bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane to break up the fallow ground of our hearts putting his law into
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
are broken and they smitten and beaten because of the fruit that grew upon them so we should be punished for the transgression of our children 1 Sam. 2.31 as Eli was who neglected to prune and correct his sonnes and therefore the Lord did threaten to cut off his arme and the arme of his fathers house hee did not chastise them for their apostasie and back-sliding from the right way and therefore he himselfe by Gods judgement upon him fell backward and his neck brake and hee died The chiefe care of the parent must be to bring up that young nurcerie in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Ephes 6.4 Persicus prunus ex ossibus optimae Scal. in Theop. that as the peach and some plumbs are good arising from the kernell so they from their childhood may know the holy Scripture which is able in that tender age to make them wiser than their teachers and to understand more than the ancients Trees not regarded become crooked and unfruitfull but duely tended they grow to perfection The branch at first shooting out is tender and flexible but at last it growes to a hard and stubborne bough Ut corpora ad quosdam membrorum flexus formare nisi tenera non possunt Quintil. In the beginding if any member of their body grow out of order we will be carefull to seeke for help before their joynts be knit and their bones bee stiffe Oh let us be as provident for their soules as we are prudent for their bodies What is Absaloms beauty or Sauls stature without Solomons wisedome David saith Psal 128.3 thy children shal be like Olive plants round about thy table not like the tall Cedar but the fruitfull Olive Their praise and dignity shall not consist in outward forme and comelinesse but in heavenly endowments and divine gifts and being so qualified they may well be likened to the Olive the fatnesse whereof was used to honour God in sacrifices and to make the face shine in annointing Judg. 9.9 They doe seeke to advance Gods glory Psal 104.15 and they make their father rejoice and have a cheerefull countenance when they behold them walking in all the commandements and ordinances of God blamelesse Psal 144.12 If we desire our sons may bee as plants growne up in their youth we must command them to keepe the way of the Lord and as wee are burning lights by godly instruction so we must be shining lights by vertuous example For what they have seene us doe they will make hast to doe as we have done Be not too indulgent you see how Adonijah rewarded his fathers love 1 Kin. 1.6 who had not displeased him in saying Why hast thou done so And yet he would displease his father and though not in word yet in deed would question his authority in disposing of the kingdome to Solomon who was chosen by the Lord God of Israel We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us Heb. 12.9 and we gave them reverence It may be the more reverence for their correction when it was without provocation or discouragement There is no young tree that doth not send forth some twigs that would be cut off In youth there is something to be taken away Doe not adde the evill of rioting and excesse unto the vanity of youth Such as bring them up in luxury Vinoirrigare consuevit Macrob. Tantumque honoris increvit ut mero infuso enutriantur Plin. Sec. Esay 16.9 deale by their children as Hortensius did by his trees who powred wine to the roots of them in stead of water We should rather imitate the Prophet who saith I will water thee with my teares O Heshbon We must bewaile their offences and be humbled for our former sins Consider from what stocke they did proceed and when we behold their infirmities let us remember that such were some if not all of us But we are washed 1 Cor. 6.11 but we are sanctified but we are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God Our planting and watering and all our labour about them will be vaine unlesse God give the increase Multae istarum arboaum meâ manu sunt satae Cicero Plutar. in Artax Cyrus might speake of the trees planted by himselfe but his owne name in the Persian tongue did put him in mind of the Sunne without whose influence the work of his hands could not prosper God is able to change Benoni into Benjamin to make thy sonne become a plant of righteousnesse The child of so many prayers of so many teares cannot miscarry Thou maist thinke thy sons heart to be as dead and barren as Sarahs wombe The Lord who strenthened her to bring forth Isaac is able by the operation of the Spirit to forme Christ in his heart causing you both to laugh and rejoyce There is some fruit that is harsh and unsavoury when it is gathered but usefull and pleasant after it hath been kept a long time Although for the present thy son bee as grievous unto thee as Esau to his mother yet through the Lords mercy hee may hereafter prove as comfortable and obedient as Joseph to his father In the last place I will adde another care and charge of the Parent which is the first and last yea the onely aime and desire of most men who labour to perform or rather to pervert that place where it is said Fathers ought to lay up for their children that as the branches derive their sap and nourishment from the root so children should receive some estate means from their parents Which ought to be done decently and in order Not that the father Quae quantum vertice ad auras Aethereas tantum radice in tartara tendit Virg. like an earth-worm should be hidden as the root under ground living in wilfull penury and obscurity that afterward his branches may flourish in greatnesse and spread themselves abroad He is worse than an Infidell that provides not for his family and hee is worse than an Infidell that doth provide for his family in this manner when hee forgets to distribute to the necessity of the Saints and excludes all works of piety and charity thinking that there is but one thing needfull which is to bee troubled about many things to be overcharged with cares to bee entangled with worldly affaires to eate the bread of sorrowes that he may heap up riches and the glory of his house may be increased He seekes not for the beginning and increase of grace but placeth his godlinesse in gaine and useth all crooked waies and sinister meanes to obtaine his wretched ends viz. that his estate which formerly was small as a grain of mustard-seed may wax a great tree Ramorum pondera adeo in terram curvantur ut annuo spatio infigantur novamque sibi propaginem faciant circa parentem Scal. exer de Indica ficu Mangle in Purchas and
shoot out great branches and so in the end become like that tree whose branches spreading from the body doe bend themselves downwards to the earth where they take hold and with new rooting multiply themselves into a wood Arbore de rais They enlarge their borders joyning house to house Isa 5.8 and field to field till there be no place that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth The plant which was a long time in growing up may soon be hewen downe Et quas fallacis collegit lingua parentis Has eadem nati lingua refudit opes Claudian Dirae filius est rapacitatis Martial Nothing is more usuall than for the sonne to cut downe those trees which were cherished and maintained by the father to waste that substance with riotous living which was gotten with avarice and rapine wherefore bee not herein just overmuch neither make thy selfe over-wise Wholly to cast our selves upon the Lord and to neglect all lawfull meanes is a presumptuous temptation Againe to sacrifice to our net and trust to our owne wisedome not leaving any space where God may worke by his power and providence is a desperate contempt of the divine blessing which is the best inheritance Fortunam 〈◊〉 avidè vorare pergas eandem malè concoquas necesse est Sincer. Job 20.15 28. Hee that hath swallowed downe riches shall vomit them up again God shall cast them out of his belly The increase of his house shall depart and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath If God prepares a worme to smite the tree it withereth If hee blowes upon the same it perisheth suddenly and comes utterly to an end This is the conclusion of the covetous man and the same confusion belongs to all other ungodly men Psal 37.35 Luco dilectior omni Laurus hane imo stipite caesam vidit Claudian I have seene the wicked in great power and spreading himselfe like a green bay-tree yet he passed away and loe he was not yea I sought him but hee could not bee found Such men may bee compared unto that tree which doth ever beare leaves and never any fruit so they may make shew of piety and seem to be religious but doe not bring forth the fruit of the Spirit The Bay-tree prospers best in the shade so they seeke not to be enlightened from above and to have the Sun of Righteousnesse arise and shine into their hearts Traditur non feriri ipsam à fulmine Fracastor That tree is not blasted nor consumed by lightning so they are not moved nor awakened when they heare Gods judgements denounced against sinners But as the ancient Conquerours were crowned with Laurell Hâc victores Delphi coronari triumphantes Romae Plin. Sec. so they doe triumph as victorious when with their carnall weapons they seem to overcome such as they thinke to be their enemies because they tell them the truth breaking their bands asunder and casting their cords from them yet let them remember that as the branches of this tree are used in solemnities of rejoycing and mourning so their present solace and delight may soon be finished and they bee called to sorrow and lamentation The Bay-trees which for many yeeres have flourished are smitten by a great frost and doe wither away En frigidus orbes Purpureos jam somnus obit Val. Flac. Corpus inane animae frigus letale secutam est Ovid. Such as heretofore have lived in prosperity and enjoyed their health and strength may soon bee surprized by that cold sleep and have their bodies benummed by death After which as the Bayes doth crackle make a noise when it is burnt Laurus Terribili sonitu flammâ crepitante crematur Lucret. so they being cast into unquenchable fire shall continue in weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Fragiles incende bitumine lauros Virg. Quod inter urendum fragorem edunt Turne There shall bee desperate yellings and hideous outcries the mighty voice of Thunder the raging of the Sea the Cataracts of Nilus the sound of the Ordnance the roaring of Lions howling of Wolves lowing of Oxen barking of Dogges all the most dreadfull and offensive clamours in the world are not to bee compared to the torments that shall be inflicted upon the sonnes of perdition in this their sense of Hearing In the time of their life God gave them this sense by which faith doth enter into the soule Eares they had but not an eare to heare and hearken to the Word of truth and therefore neglecting to improve this gift to their comfort and salvation they are justly therein punished after their decease Not labouring now to receive good things thereby afterward they receive evill things When such as stand in the way of sinners doe heare what evill of punishment the Lord doth threaten to bring upon the impenitent I wish that both their eares may tingle that they may be moved with horrour fear of the vengeance of eternall fire having a space given them to repent if not for love of God and the joy that is set before us yet for dread of the fiery indignation that they may returne unto the Lord in an accepted time while they may be heard before that day doth overtake them in which they shall be as farre from succour as from audience Job 8.9 Our daies upon earth are a shadow whereof we may fitly be admonished by this green tree whose leaves do never fall Wee may soone be changed from a flourishing to a languishing estate and therefore as this tree doth produce some berries for medicine though not for meat so let us bring forth fruit meet for repentance that the diseases of our soules may bee healed and the issue of our corruptions may be stopped It may be expected that as we have compared wicked men in generall unto this Bay-tree mentioned by David so we should now descend to some particulars that wee may see such men as trees walking as the blind man of Bethsaida did Mar. 8.24 when hee began to be restored to his sight It is true that such men are resembled to divers kinds of trees As the proud man to the Cedars of Lebanon Isa 2.13 and the Oakes of Bashan The ambitious to the Bramble Judg 9.15 and the like But within the compasse of our ground we desire to maintaine only such trees as are fruitfull Wee will herein follow the example of Christ who oft-times resorted to the garden with his Disciples not of John the Baptist who went into the wildernesse Wherefore omitting to speake of wild and barren trees we will apply our selves unto the Vine Fructum vitis qui prae aliâ—s omnibus excellit Calvin whose fruit being rightly used doth excell the fruit of all other trees and is said to cheare both God and man God in a drink offering and man when hee doth use it with moderation and is therefore prescribed to