one cluster so in the soule of a Christian there should be all kinds of graces accumulate and heaped together in stead of that masse of sin and lump of corruption which wee brought into this world Wee should be filled with all knowledge and all joy and peace in beleeving we should be full of goodnesse ready to communicate willing to distribute to the necessity of other men Which workes of charity and all other pious actions are like the fruit of the Vine for as wee have the comfortable use and benefit of that a long time after it hath been trodden in the wine-presse so likewise of Gods free grace wee doe receive the reward of the good things done in our body after our dissolution and doe then drinke the cup of salvation when wee enter into our Masters joy and are delivered from all weaknesse in the body and infirmity in the soule from all inward and outward frailties even as the grapes in the wine-presse are freed and cleared both from the huskes and kernels Such is our corruption and imperfection here in this world that our best performances are polluted by the contagion of sinne dwelling in our members and may in that regard bee likened to these grapes or or other fruits which have either something without to bee pared off and cast away or else some coare stone or kernell within to be rejected In our most devout exercises and godly endeavours there is either some defect and errour to be discerned by man who lookes to the outward appearance or though wee should bee blamelesse before man yet there is some inward rebellion and iniquity that is naked and manifest before the Lord who looketh to the heart When we are sensible of our former excesse and superfluity and are cast downe in acknowledgment of our transgressions wee should not thereby be deterred from continuance in well-doing but rather seek to amend that in which we have failed and gone out of the way that as such fruits are esteemed best in their kinds in which there is the least waste Mollusca quod caeteris nucibus mollior sit Macrob. either in the shell or any other part that is unprofitable so our performances may be most acceptable when they are not defiled by any grosse errour or presumptuous sinne The Lord Mat. 3.12 who is able to purge the wheat from the chaffe will approve of our good endeavours and godly desires being the fruit of the Spirit and will be pleased to pardon our swerving and deadnesse which proceed from the bitter root of a deceitfull heart In divers of our fruits there is some kernell that being sowne doth grow up in such a plant as may bring forth more fruit of the same kind in like manner the end of one good action should be the beginning of another we should labour to increase and multiply in heavenly graces and spirituall gifts and our reward shal be great in heaven For unto us it shall be given to eate of the Tree of life Revel 2.7 22.2 which is in the middest of the Paradise of God A tree that bears twelve manner of fruits and yeelds her fruit every moneth Such fruit as doth for ever exempt us from the dominion of death such fruit as doth open our eyes for we shall see God face to face 1 Cor. 13.12 such fruit as doth make us to be as gods wee shall bee like him 1 John 3.2 for wee shall see him as hee is such fruit as is good for food so very good Isa 49.10 that when we taste thereof wee shall never hunger any more John 6.34 nor thirst any more But as the Disciple said Lord evermore give us this bread so wee shall alwaies desire and for ever enjoy this food that endures in everlasting life Such fruit as is pleasant to the eye 1 Cor. 2.9 for since the beginning of the world the eye hath not seen the things which God hath prepared for them that love him Such fruit as is to be desired to make one wise even wise unto salvation without which all the wisdome of this world is foolishness and enmity against God But this wisedome is a Tree of life to them that lay hold upon her Pro. 3.18 4.9 a Crown of glory shall she deliver to them Did our first parents think that the fruit of the tree of Knowledge was to be desired Gen. 3.6 when it was forbidden And shall we by a stronger delusion beleeve that this fruit of the Tree of Life is to be neglected and avoided when wee are commanded to labour for it All the trees in the garden of Eden could not satisfie them but they would eate of the forbidden fruit though they became subject to the curse thereby The abundant variety of all the precious fruits brought forth by the Sunne should not please nor content us without this blessed fruit of the Tree of Life Adam was prevented that hee might not put forth his hand to take of that Tree lest having eaten unworthily hee deceived himselfe with a vaine hope of life when death should suddenly overtake him But wee have time and liberty granted unto us that we may stretch forth the hand of faith and receive this fruit whereof if wee eate wee shall not dye He might not gather it upon earth but we may receive it from heaven The Manna which was kept untill the holy Sabbath had no worme in it If wee now treasure up this good fruit against the Sabbath of Rest for our soules it shall never be taken away from us Hee that gathers little shall have no lacke But if in this day of salvation we gather great plenty thereof we may then confidently say Soule take thy rest for evermore thou hast much goods laid up for all eternity The Tree of Life is in the middest of the Paradise of God Oh that the fruit thereof were hidden in our inward parts that we could lay it up and keep it in our hearts wee would then esteem all the dignities and delights in the world to be of as short continuance Isa 28.4 Ita in manibus consenescit Plaut as the hasty fruit before the Summer which when hee that looketh upon it seeth it while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up And to be no better than that fruit which was stollen out of the Orchard Non erant formâ nec sapore illecebrosa that had neither forme to catch the eye nor rellish to allure the hand For which that blessed man in his repentance paid the dearest price that ever was paid for any fruit which was eaten by any of the sonnes of Adam We give fruit unto froward children that they may forsake that which is of more value Shall wee bee such children in understanding for the trifling vanities of this life to reject the durable riches of the heavenly Kingdome Shall wee for the three Apples of honour Atalanta sive Lucrum Bacon
pathes Hos 2.6 than to permit us to runne greedily after licentious errours Psal 23.3 Blessed is the man whom God leadeth in the pathes of righteousnesse for his names sake He doth alwaies heare a voice behind him saying This is the way Isa 30.21 walke in it Having once entred into the way of truth we must persevere in it alwaies going on cheerfully without fainting or wearinesse like the Cherubims in Ezechiel Ezech. 1.9 which went straight forward and returned not againe Although in our walkes we goe first forward and then turne againe yet in this passage we must proceed constantly without turning backe Luke 9.62 for then we are not fit for the Kingdome of God Having begun well who should hinder us from persisting in our obedience It had been better not to have knowne this way than having knowne it 2 Pet. 2.21 to turne from the commandement delivered unto us Gen. 5.22 Did Enoch walke with God three hundred sixty and five yeeres and shall not we walke in his ordinances the short terme of our life which is but a span long He had a spacious ground to walke in of a vast extent like Paradise it selfe whereas we are concluded within narrow bounds and can never goe farre but that we are called backe Psal 90.3 Returne yee children of men Although we cannot keep pace with him and Abraham Gen. 24.40 Psal 116.9 and David yet if we walke in the steps of their faith and obedience we shall in the end finish our course with joy In the meane time Rom. 4.12 as we are preserved from discouragement so we must be awakened from securitie there ought to be a continuall pressing forward in the good way By using our legges in walking we become the more fit and able to performe that exercise So we setting our selves in the right way it pleaseth the Lord to establish our goings and to strengthen us for the better discharge of all holy duties We walke with speed and agility when we desire to obtaine heate thereby so there must be a cheerfull forwardnesse in Gods service and a fervent zeale after his glory that our hearts may be warmed by his grace our soules refreshed by his love Thus by revolving such pious thoughts in our minds we may be preserved from evill as the sea by its fluctuation is kept from putrefaction Hic motus aquas maris à putrefactione tuetur Magir. but how few be there who retire into their owne hearts when they goe forth into their walkes and doe more desire the influence of the Spirit to come upon them Cant. 4.16 as the North wind purging them from the infectious settlings of corruption and to blow upon them as the South wind watering their roots by sweet showers that their graces as spices may flow out than they do the gentle breath of coole aire for the refreshing of their bodies It is the common practice of most men in the very beginning of their daies to enter into an intricate Maze of endlesse wandring walking on every side Impii ambulant in circuitu Psal 12.8 as the Psalmist speakes Running round in a circulation untill they waxe giddy and fall into extreme perill or else be as farre in the end from any true rest and solid comfort as they were in the beginning Job 1.7 It was the Divels vagrant course to go to and fro in the earth and to walke up and downe in it Whom doe these men chuse for their leader while they subject themselves to these serpentine windings being involved and invironed with the turbulent affaires of this life out of which they know not how to extricate and unfold themselves and yet they thinke their way to be safe while they seeke to compasse their designes in this turning Labyrinth when as they have never set foot into the path of life but are as farre from arriving at the port of blisse as they be from good success who would presse thorow the North-west passage and at last if ever returne backe with nought but emptinesse and desolation These men seem to be driven with the unsettled errour of Copernicus Quod terra moveatur sol sit omnis motus expers Clavius who thought that the earth did move and the sunne stood still so they are whirled about with the world and doe compasse sea and land for gaine or to accomplish their designes but they stirre not in pursuit of heavenly blessings 2 Cor. 4.4 their minds being blinded by the god of this world lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them like the Egyptians Exod. 10.23 which rose not from their place in the three daies of thicke darknesse so they during the three daies of their youth middle age and old age never rouze up themselves to seeke for the treasure in heaven or to discover the sweet light of Gods Word whereas they make haste to obtaine the fading benefits of this transitory life with such violent forwardnesse that the swift pace of Asahel or Jehu doth not exceed their furious speed Having spent their breath and tired themselves in following this shadow that flyes away from them it were their onely happinesse to consider their erroneous waies And as Alexander did cut that knot he was not able to untie so if they can find no place where they may goe forth then to breake the circle and free themselves from that restlesse succession of worldly cares in which they were before entangled Homines tibi molesti Hic apud te eris Occupatio exhausit hic replevere Lips and having escaped those tumults and vexations whereby they formerly wasted their vigour and consumed their best strength now to repose themselves under the shadow of the Almighty Psal 91.1 as in an arbour of rest and refreshing where they may cast off those tedious molestations which formerly oppressed them and being exempted from the throng of the multitude Psal 4.4 may commune with their own heart and so come to discern that sore travell wherewith all they are exercised under the Sunne who spend their vain life as a shadow and their daies in sorrow and griefe while they seeke after leasing Judg. 9.15 and trust unto the shadow of Jothams bramble that will rend and teare them or of Manasses thornes 2 Chron. 33.11 Jonah 4.7 that will deceive them or of Jonas gourd that will soon forsake them placing their confidence in the instable benefits of this life which before the morning may be dried up from the roots like the barren figge-tree Mar. 11.20 Luke 12.20 Thou foole this night thy soule shall be required of thee then whose shall those things be that thou hast provided Such as relye upon these outward helpes for the fruition of good and protection from evill declare plainly from what stocke they are come viz. that they be the off-spring of
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