The Spirituall use of an Orchard or Garden of FRUIT-TREES Set forth in divers Similitudes betweene Naturall and Spirituall fruit-trees in their Natures and ordering according to Scripture and Experience The second Impression with the Addition of many Similitudes By RA AUSTEN Author of the first part Hos 12.10 I have used Similitudes by the Ministrie of the Prophets Jer 17.8 He shall be as a Tree planted by the waters and that spreadeth out her Roots by the River and shall not see when heat cometh but her leafe shall be greene and shall not be carefull in the year of drought neither shall cease from yeilding fruit Rom 11.23 And they also if they abide not still in unbeleife shall be grafted in for God is able to graft them in againe Joh 15.1 2. J am the true Vine and my Father is the husbandman Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit Cant. 2.3 Like the Apple-tree among the Trees of the forrest so is my beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast OXFORD Printed by HEN HALL Printer to the UNIVERSITY for THO ROBINSON M.DC.LVII Aug 2. 1656. Imprimatur JOHAN OWEN Vice-Can Oxon A Preface to the Reader HAVING in the first part of this work spoken at large concerning the ordering of Naturall Fruit-trees in all respects and of the great Profits Pleasures and Advantages that arise thence I shall now consider Fruit-trees upon another Accompt and endeavour to make some Spirituall use and improvement of them And this should be our care as to all creatures which we have to do with upon all occasions according to the example of our Lord and Saviour whose use it was to spiritualife Naturall and Morall things when he conversed with us in his bodily presence as we see frequently in Scripture When the Pharisees spake of washing their hands before meate Matth. 15.20 Christ instructs them thereupon about spirituall defilements when the woman of Samaria came to draw water Christ tells her of living water Joh. 4.10 When his disciples brought him Meate he tells them he had meate they knew not of it was meate and drinke to him to do his fathers will Jo. 4.34 When the man spake of having his inheritance divided Luk. 12.13 our Saviour thereupon instructs him and others at large to beware of coveteousnesse and worldly cares when the multitude followed him having eaten of the Loaves Jo. 6. Christ thereupon counsells them to labour for the meat that perisheth not for the bread of life Joh. 6.26 And many spirituall things he illustrates by Similitudes from Naturall things as we see Matth. 13. and many other places from Scede Tares Mustard-seed Leaven a Treasure in the Feild a Pearle a draw net c. So should we make a Spirituall use of Naturall things and so turne Earth as it were into heaven When we have gone through all the workes and labours to be performed in the Orchard and have received thereby a rich recompence of Temporall Profits and Pleasures in the use of the Trees and Fruits we may besides all that make a Spirituall use of them and receive more and greater Profits and Pleasures thereby Men are not wont to stint themselves at wordly Profits but why are they not willing to receive all kinds of Profits or why are they not willing to receive the greatest and best should a man chuse and preferre a Glasse-beade or Toy before some Pretious and Rich Jewell would he not be censured for a foolish man how much more foolish and unwise is he that seeks after Temporall Profits and neglects Spirituall and Eternall therefore be carefull to make a spirituall improvement of fruit-trees The World is a great Library and Fruit-trees are some of the Books wherein we may read and see plainely the Attributes of God his Power Wisdome Goodnesse c. and be instructed and taught our duty towards him in many things even from Fruit-trees for as trees in a Metaphoricall sence are Books so likewise in the same sence they have a Voyce and speak plainely to us and teach us many good lessons The Lord Bacon saies God hath two great Books which we ought to study his Word and his Works the one discovers his Will the other his Power The Apostle saies Rom. 1.20 The invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearely seene being understood by the things that are made even his Eternall Power and Godhead The Creatures of God are to be studied as Books for in them we may read the Attributes of God and observe some small resemblances and darke shadowes of his infinite Excellencies and Perfections they are seene Per speculum Creaturarum They who cannot read a line in any Printed Book may read many good lessons in the Book of the Creatures Fruit-trees though they are dumb companions yet in a sence we may discourse with them The Saints soule exalting humiliation p. 87. et p. 205. The works of God speak to the mind as his Word does to the Eare. Mr Boulton saies Our Eyes Especially on the Sabbath day ought as little Bees fall upon severall objects and from them as from so many Flowers gather hony and bring it into the hive That is sweet heavenly wholsome Meditations for magnifying the Creator in all his Attributes Fruit-trees and other Creatures do truely though without an articulate voyce Preach the Attributes and perfections of God to us And we may read divine Truthes in them as in a Book consisting of words and sentences the Creatures of God according to their natures speak out the praises of God Ps 145.10 All thy workes praise thee O Lord and among them Fruitfull Trees 148.9 Things without sense or life have a voyce and speak to us Ps 19. The Heavens declare the glory of God vers 3. Their voyces are heard in every language or Nation and vers 4. Their words go to the ends of the World So that not only rationall and irrationall but even Inanimate Creatures have a voyce and speak loudly to men and it is our duty to learne their language and hearken to them All Creatures as a holy Man saies have a teaching voyce they read us divinity Lectures of divine Providence We must be content to stoope to their way and manner of teaching as the Egyptians and others in former times who were instructed by Characters and Hyeroglyphiques by something represented to the eye Notions were conveyed to the understanding Dumbe Creatures speak virtually and convincingly to the mind and Conscience If we make use of Creatures to serve our turne only in reference to our outward man we make not halfe that use of them as we ought we should study the Creatures and learne from them to bring us nearer the Creator Climbing up by them as by steps or staires till we ascend to the highest Good How much of the goodnesse and excellencies of God do Fruit-trees
Meeke to bind up the Broken hearted to proclaime liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound to proclaime the acceptable yeare of the Lord to comfort all that mourne c. Now the reason hereof is because soules lying under apprehensions of wrath for sin their doubt is mainely of Gods willingnesse to save them they know not his Will in the thing therefore to labour to convince them of his Love of his willingnesse and readinesse to receive and save sinners that come to him by Christ is the great businesse in case of distresse and doubting Vse 1 This being so then those who goe about to direct and comfort weary soules laden and burthened with the sense of sin and wrath are to beware how they presse the duties of the Law to such in order to settlement and peace some are ready still in such Cases to tell the partie distressed in conscience you must walke strictly take heed of Sin give not way to corruptions not so much as any motions or stirrings of them within and be diligent in all duties of hearing the word reading meditation c. and so put them on the duties of the Law or Covenant of workes whereby to get peace and acceptance with God making God appeare as a hard Master and thereby lay one burthen upon another in stead of easing of them Whereas the sweete refreshing Promises of the Covenant of grace the infinite Love of God in our pretious Lord Jesus Christ should be laid open and held forth clearely to such a weary soule that such a one might see the great workes of fulfilling the Law and satisfying divine Justice done to his hand in case he lay hold upon and close with Christ by faith This is the ready way to settle such a soule to make the Graft take hold of the stock from which it may receive life This the Apostle shewes us by a plaine instance Gal. 3.2 Received ye the spirit by the worke of the Law or by the hearing of faith as if he should say ye know this course was taken with you before ye beleived The doctrine of free grace was preached to you ye heard that Justification came not by the workes of the Law but by faith in Christ even so it is now Secondly Soules thus in distresse ought to harken to and receive offers of grace when they heare them made and not to Vse 2 put them off and neglect them as very many doe They will not or dare not close with the free promises of grace because say they I wretch am not worthie I am not fitted my heart is hard my Corruptions are strong I am full of sin my whole life is nothing but sin Why thou shalt never have it otherwise so long as thou standest off and refusest to close with Christ If thou think to get thy heart into an humble melting frame and temper and to subdue Corruptions and then to close with Christ thou wilt but deceive thy selfe that 's not the way but seeing thy want of Christ and thy sinfull undone condition without him and a true desire in thee to get out of it and to be sanctified as well as justified to be saved from sin as well as wrath let it be the very first thing thou doest to venture on him and close with him accept of his love and doe but touch him by faith and thou shalt find thy selfe healed of all thy spirituall diseases but without this course notwithstanding all thy owne strictnesse and endeavours in duties thou wilt find thy selfe to be worse and worse The five and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman having laboured and taken much paines about Engrafting his Plants when in the spring he sees they begin to bud and shoote forth when he observing of them perceives they have closed with and taken hold of the stock he is glad of it this is a ground of rejoycing to him he is very well pleas'd to see the good successe of his labours about his Fruit-trees This discovers to us That A sinners Repentance and closing with Christ causeth joy both in heaven and Earth The Lord the great husbandman is alwaies at worke labouring to draw soules to Christ by all waies and meanes And his sub-husbandmen the Ministers of the Gospell and all his people one way or other do labour in the same worke they are Co-workers fellow labourers with him in this great Gospell worke Now when they see their works and labours have good successe they rejoyce and are glad 1. The people of God rejoyce when they see unregenerate persons come in to Christ because they are renewed themselves and it 's naturall for every Creature to be glad of and rejoyce in its like Secondly they rejoyce at the conversion of others because they love God The Reason and Love is alwaies glad at that which pleaseth and makes for the beloved God hath honour hereby and therefore they rejoyce Secondly the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell rejoyce at the conversion of soules not only upon these accompts but also because they are more immediately concerned in it it is their proper worke and businesse to winne soules to Christ Now when they see the successe of their Labours they say as the Apostle 3 Epistle of John 4. I have no greater joy then to heare that my Children walke in the truth So the Apostle Paul 1 Thes 2.19 what is our hope our joy our Crowne of rejoycing are not yee c v. 20. For ye are our glory joy Thirdly The good Angels also rejoyce when sinners turne to God This our Saviour tells us Luk. 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth c. vers 10. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Fourthly God the father sonne and spirit rejoyce at the Repentance of sinners The spirit to speake after the manner of men is said to be greived with sin when soules reject his motions so on the contrary when they hearken to him he is well pleased Our Saviour having taught his disciples and brought them to understand and receive the things of the kingdome of God he rejoyced Luk. 10.21 In that houre Jesus rejoyced in spirit c. Also we see how God the Father is wel pleased when sinners come in to Christ this is at large made out unto us in the Parable of the Prodigall Luk. 15.20 the father seeing his sonne returning to him how glad is he of it he ran to meete him and fell on his neck and kissed him then there was Musicke and dancing and feasting c. all this is but to let us know how welcome a soule is to God when it returnes from its wandrings Esay 65.19 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and Zepth 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy
Prayers and Discourses because they have not so much Humane Learning as themselves Fourthly In discouraging and hindering such servants of the Lord as desire to improve their Graces and gifts for God endeavoring to commend the Lord Christ to others for their salvation Fiftly By endeavoring to prejudice the minds of men against such who yet God imployes in the work of the Ministry Sixtly In boasting of their Parts and Learning and resting thereon forgetting God who gave it Seaventhly In neglecting to use their Learning for that end for which God bestowed it on them Consider hath God given you larger opportunities and greater helps and advantages than others that you should be more idle and unfruitfull than others the Lord awaken you and make you zealous and active for your Master in this time of need many places have been a long time destitute of godly able Preachers that when he shall come he may say unto you well done good and faithfull servants enter into the joy of your Lord. Concerning the Author of the following Observations and Similitudes what ever Carnall men or the pride of Spirituall men may object as who that is zealous and active for God can escape the censures of some men it evidently appeares to me that the Spirit of God hath carried him on in this work Reject not the work because it is not done by a Publique Minister of the Gospell for many private experienced Christians have beene in this way very profitable to the Church of God These are the last times wherein God fulfills his great Gospell promise in powring out his Spirit upon all flesh and those whom God intends for any speciall service he prepares them for it by some speciall preparations I have seene a large particular Relation composed by this Author of God's dealings with him for many yeares together wherein it appeares that God began betime with him early even the first houre of the day And he hath beene exercised with many Temptations from his youth up having passed through the spirit of bondage early in the morning and by degrees came to close with Christ and to attaine a comfortable assurance of his interest in him But afterwards even about the middle of the day upon the spirits withdrawing and God's hiding of his face for some gratious ends he fell into a long and sad desertion passing through the valley of the shadow of death the paines of hell gat hold upon him and that in an extraordinary way and measure But God by degrees lifted him up out of the deepe Pit out of the Mire and Clay and set his feet upon a Rock and hath put a new song into his Mouth and made him active for God in his Generation As for his following Labours I doubt not but God will make them very usefull and profitable to the people of God what is more helpfull to the understanding and remembring of Spirituall things than plaine and pregnant SIMILITUDES of things which we are daily conversant with all these being also enlarged upon by him and improved to spirituall ends and advantages What was all the old Ceremoniall Law for many hundred yeares but teaching the People by SIMILITUDES Tipes and Ceremonies which were all shadowes of things to come Heb. 10.1 The spirit of God used SIMILITUDES by the Ministry of the Prophets Hos 12.10 yea the great Prophet of the Church frequently used SIMILITUDES in his teachings and Ministers of the Gospell in our daies find them very usefull and profitable in their teachings Wherefore Reader I recommend the following Observations and Similitudes to thy use Praying that the spirit of God may engraft every truth into thy heart and cause it to grow and bring forth much good fruit to the glory and praise of God and thy owne everlasting good STEPHEN FORD Pastor of a Church of CHRIST in CHIPPIN-NORTON Propositions Shadowed out unto us by Observations in Nature and Cleared by Scripture and Experience 1. GOd from all Eternity made choice of what Spirituall Plants he pleased to Plant in his Garden the Church and refused others pag. 1. 2. The dispensations of God towards weak Christians are more gentle than towards such as are strong p. 3. 3. Many Spirituall Fruit-trees bring forth faire and Specious fruits to Observation which yet are unpleasant to the Husbandman p. 5. 4. Persons joyned in any Relation they have comfort or affliction together according to their natures p. 6. 5. God calls his People for the most part in youth and more rarely when they are old p. 8. 6. When the Spirit of God withdrawes then Mysticall Fruit-trees cease growing their Leaves and Fruits fall and they endure sore conflicts for a time but at the returne of the Spirit they are restored to former comforts with advantage p. 13. 7. Generally those persons who are excessive and most curious about the formes of Duties have least of the power of Godlinesse p. 18. 8. By the fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees p. 20. 9. Some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off p. 22. 10. We should bend all our desires and endeavours that the best gifts graces and Fruits may especially encrease p. 23. 11. While the Spirituall part in us acts and growes strongly the fleshly part acts but weakly so also if the flesh be strong the Spirit is weak p. 26. 12. The more closely a Christian walks with God the more stedfast he is and more free from Spirituall enemies p. 28. 13. Corrupt nature abides in believers as long as they live and is but in part subdued by grace p. 29. 14. It is not any outward excellencies but the Image of God upon the Soul that is the glory of a person p. 30. 15. There is a firme and constant union betweene Christ and every Believer p. 32. 16. Vniversity men ought in convenient time to go forth into the service of the Church and Common-wealth except some choice persons fit for government of the Societies p. 33. 17. Saving grace or the Divine nature in Believers abides in the Soul for ever But common gifts or graces may be lost p. 37. 18. God is well pleased with Zealous and active Instruments in his Works But men of dull indifferent spirits he often layes them aside and puts others in their stead p. 39. 19. The commotions troubles and confusions in the Church of God will end in the settlement peace and glory of it p 41. 20. Believers by ingrafting into Christ do live in him and he in them and are thereby made one with him p. 43. 21. All believers have a likenesse and resemblance of one another in the Image of God upon their soules p. 45. 22. Those whom God purposeth to bring hereafter into his celestiall Paradise he prepareth them for it here in this life p. 47. 23. Grace in the hearts of believers is not suddenly strong but strength is gotten by degrees p. 49. 24.
same folly as those who take more care about the shape and fashion of the Garment than the health and soundnesse of the body Or to use the Metaphor in hand they bring forth Leaves instead of fruits and so are unprofitable trees lyable to Gods displeasure and cutting downe every moment and also to be accompted by discerning Spirits to be such as have little or nothing of The power of godlinesse The Eighth Observation in Nature THe Fruits of trees discover plainly of what kind the Trees are the Leaves and blossomes especially of some kinds may deceive us but the fruits cannot deceive us but discover manifestly of what Nature the trees are From this Observation we learne That Proposition shadowed By the Fruits of Spirituall Trees we may conclude the Nature of the Trees The waies and Conversations of men discover what their Natures are If men of discerning Judgments will but exactly observe and try the Actions of others they may by degrees conclude from what Principles they act It s true indeede from the Actions and waies of some persons a man cannot easily conclude this vices in some are clothed in the habits of Vertues howsoever of some others this is more cleare The worke of grace in the hearts of some is so cleare and apparent in their lives and Conversations that if men will but judge according to Scripture rules the worke will be manifest So on the other side concerning Profane and scandalous persons a man may without breach of charity conclude such persons to be at present in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity And though Formall Professors may for a time deceive us by their Leaves and blossoms of good words shewes Professions Formes and outward Observations Wolves may have on Sheeps clothing Yet if we tast and observe their fruits after a time we shall know them Mat. 7.16 by their fruits ye shall know them So againe Lu. 6.44 Every tree is knowne by his own fruit Vse 1 This should teach every one to try their owne fruits by the word of God for thereby will be comfort to them that feare God they may have continuall grounds of rejoycing when they observe their fruits to be good to be such as the husbandman cals for and approves of they may thence conclude that they are Trees of the Lords planting Engrafted Trees and this is a ground of joy indeed to know our names are written in heaven And here also will be grounds of conviction to unsound Christians for by a certaine knowledge of the Fruits they may have a certaine knowledge of the Trees And therefore let such seeing and considering their bad fruits give themselves no rest untill they find the nature of their fruits changed whereby they may conclude that the nature of the tree is also changed Vse 2 The thorough and serious consideration of this Proposition may be a speciall meanes to support and satisfie the spirits of Gods people who are in a doubting condition and question the truth of their graces for let such consider that hereby they may receive the best satisfaction that believers can possibly receive next unto the immediate testimony of the spirit of God to look upon and try their fruits by the word for fruits are infallible evidence of the nature of the Tree that brings them forth Therefore observe if these and such like fruits are brought forth the Tree is certainly good an ingrafted tree If there be fervent desires pantings and breathings of the soule after God delight in the word and ordinances Love to God and his people secret goings out of the soule after and closing with spirituall things disliking and hating corruptions and whatsoever is against the mind of God and opposing of it with a rising of spirit against it with zeale and indignation if there be a secret joy and cheerefullnesse in the spirit when things goe well with the people of God when holinesse and the power of godlinesse is like to be set up promoted and encouraged and sin suppressed if the spirit be stirred to pray against the dominion and power of wicked and unregenerate men not onely such as are prophane but also such as are but morally honest yea though they be accomplisht with the utmost of naturall and morall endowments prising and preferring sincerity and holinesse in any person before all gifts without grace These fruits I say are reall and infallible evidences of a good tree of a Tree ingrafted into Christ and that soule that finds them in it selfe if the spirit of God shine upon them and shew them may as certainly conclude upon the truth of grace there as if an Angell were sent from God to tell such a one that he is beloved of God It is as possible in nature for Thornes to bring forth Grapes or Thistles Figgs as for a Bad tree a person out of Christ to bring for h these fruits Let not such soules therefore so dishonour God wrong themselves and gratifie Sathan as to question the truth of grace in themselves but rejoyce evermore because their names are written in heaven Hereby we know we are translated from death to life because of these fruits 1 Joh. 3.14 The Ninth Observation in Nature THe branches of fruit-trees if cut off and stuck in the ground they will in the spring bud and blossome and be as forward as the boughes that grow upon the stock or root and will seeme to grow but when the sun drawes neere and the weather growes hot these boughes begin to decay and wither they cannot indure heat they within a while shew that they want a roote This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That some persons flourish with a profession for a time but in the heat of affliction they fall off Many Christians will flourish with a profession in the time of prosperity when many showers of blessings and outward comforts fall on them but when the hot sunne of troubles and afflictions begins to scorch and the dewes and raine of temporall blessings are taken away and withheld then they shew themselves to be but as Boughes stuck in the ground and without roots which bud and blossome but can bring forth no fruit These are they spoken of in the Parable Luk. 8.13 The seede that falls upon the Rock springs up as well it may be as that on the good ground but when the sun growes hot it scorcheth it and it withers Mat. 13.21 He hath no roote in himselfe but endureth for a while and in time of persecution he is offended Such the Apostle speakes of 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us c. This shewes us the end of Hypocrites formall professors who Vse 1 have no root in Christ such as are not really ingrafted into Christ they will certainly fall away at last none can persevere but by being in Christ Job 27.10 Will he the
are in in his hand too which he turnes as he pleaseth Mens hearts shall be opened to them not only to receive and take in the word which they bring but also to give out of their substance to assure them of it more certainely then they can be by any other meanes But when men lie still neglecting the Lords worke watching for an advantage to get some great place worth so much by the yeare this as it makes such persons low and cheape even in the eyes of good men and reflects upon the whole Ministry in the eyes of the world so also this renders the labours of many fruitlesse and insuccessfull it being a just and righteous thing with God to leave such to themselves and their carnall ends And as to those persons who have beene long in Vniversities and are not fit for any publique imployment either in Church or Common-wealth having mispent their time and improved in nothing but in Corruptions these ought to be cast out as unsavoury salt or removed as unprofitable unfruitfull trees out of the Nursery that so there may be roome for other hopefull young plants to grow and thrive in their places to be profitable Instraments in their generation And if Governours have not sufficient authority to send forth the one or to cast out the other they ought to obtaine it where it may be had Otherwise the great and maine end of Vniversities can never be attayned neither can Governours who neglect to doe this be able to make a good accompt unto God in this matter which will shortly be required of them Give an accompt of thy stewardship for thou maist be no longer steward The seventeenth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees never loose their innate or naturall properties but they abide in the Trees as long as the trees live They may and sometimes do loose all adventitious properties such as they have by the Art and industrie of men but they neuer loose their Naturall All the skill and power of men cannot rob the Trees of their Naturall properties without the destruction of the Trees This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall fruit-trees and shadowes forth unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Saving grace or the Divine Nature in believers abides in the soule for ever but common Gifts or Graces may be lost When God gives any soule to Christ there is then a Marriage between Christ and that soule Now the Bonds and Lawes of Marriage hold and are in force so long as the parties live The Covenant between God and his people is a well ordered covenant sure and stedfast 2 Sam. 23.5 Grace in Believers is a spirituall nature or the Divine Nature And if that all naturall living Creatures retaine their Naturall vertues and properties so long as they live how much more shall the soule which is a spirituall substance hold and keep those spiritually Naturall properties habits and inclinations that God fixeth in it Holinesse is a Divine Nature or new Creature which God puts into the Soules of Beleivers and in respect of duration is like unto the Author of it who is Eternall We are kept by the power of God through faith 1 Pet. 1.5 And as God is the Author of faith so also he is the perfecter of it Heb. 12.2 All the Attributes of God are engaged for our perseverance in grace he is faithfull who also will do it 1 Thes 5.23 24. I will put my feare this new Nature into their hearts and they shall never depart from me Jer. 32.40 they shall never loose it neither shall their enemies take it from them either with power or policy it is impossible Mark 24.24 If it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect implying it is not possible Multitudes of other Scriptures might be brought to this purpose but I study brevity throughout all the worke But now such as have but Common Spirituall Gifts may and do fall away These make a Profession for a time for some selfe and sinister ends and after a while fall off and come to nothing They are as a Bough stuck in the ground without Roots that for a while in the pleasant spring will bud and Blossome like other boughes upon living Trees but in the heate of sommer it withers and dies see Observ 9. Many have excellent naturall parts in respect of their apprehension understanding Memory utterance c. Much Learning skill and acquired abilities and may be able to Preach Pray discourse c. much better then many of Gods people they may be inlightned and tast of the heavenly Gift they may receive the word of God with some liking of it and in some things conforme unto it And yet by degrees may loose all or most of these things for all these if no more come short of true grace or holinesse they are common to the Reprobate as well as to the Elect. They went out from us because they were not of us 1. Joh 2.19 such are as the stonie ground Matth. 13.21 the seed springs and dies soone after Vse 1 These things being so it highly concernes all Professours to looke well to their Principles what they have received whether true and saving graces or but only Common Gifts and Graces lest with the foolish Virgins that had Lamps but no Oyle they be such out of heaven when they expect to enter in Hence we may see the folly and weaknesse of those who labour more for spirituall gifts then for saving graces some men Vse 2 bestow more cost time and labour for accomplishments in humane Learning and Morall abilities which may be all lost then they doe for the wisdome of God and his Image which abide in the soule for ever Is not this Esau like who preferred a Messe of Pottage before a blessing How shall any be able to excuse such men from grosse spirituall folly blindnesse and want of Judgment who preferre things wherein Sathan excells them before those things which make men resemble God Surely there is no clearer Evidence of darknesse of mind then for men to labour more earnestly for Gifts than for Graces for things that perish then for Eternall Treasures The nineteenth Observation in Nature THe husbandman hath use for many Tooles and Instruments about his works in his Garden of Fruit-trees and if any of them grow dull and unserviceable for which ends they were appoynted if his knives sawes c. after often whetting and filing will not cut but become blunt and dull tooles he layes them aside or perhaps sometimes in displeasure throwes them aside and makes use of some other Instruments that have an edg He very much approves of sharp Tooles about his works This shadowes out unto us That God is well pleased with zealous and active Instruments in his works Proposition shadowed But men of dull indifferent spirits he often layes them aside and puts others in their stead God the Great Misticall husbandman hath great works in hand in his
Garden the Church Joh 5.17 My father worketh hitherto and I worke And though he can doe all his works with a word of his Mouth yet he is pleased to make use of many Instruments in carrying them on Now God doth very much approve of Zealous and active instruments in the works he sets them about their zeale being guided with wisdome and Judgment Jehu because he was Zealous and active for God in destroying Ahabs house God established him 2 Kings 10.30 and his posterity in the Throne unto the fourth generation But Saul an eminent Instrument and set up by God himselfe yet neglecting to doe the Lords work throughly which was in his power to doe God said him aside in displeasure and set up David a zealous and active Instrument in his stead to carry on the works he had to doe And Eli though a good man and an eminent Instrument in the hand of God yet when he grew dull wanted edg viz zeale to suppresse the wickednesse of his sonnes and to honour God in his Office God was exceedingly displeased with him and threw him aside in respect of making use of him any longer and chose another in his stead 1 Sam. 3. But how well was God pleased with Phinehas a man of spirit and zeale for God God himselfe stands up for him and commends him Phinehas and his sonnes were established in the Priests Office Numb 25.13 He shal have it and his seed after him even the Covenant of an everlasting Priesthood because he was zealous for his God God cannot abide indifferency and luke-warmnesse in matters concerning his honour and the interest of his sonne which he himselfe is jealous for a dull flat indifferent spirit in these things is loathsome to God he cannot beare it Rev. 3.16 Because thou art luke-warm and neither hot nor cold I will spew thee out of my mouth Men that act not for God they act against him Luk. 11.23 He that is not with me is against me Use Seeing this is so It is the safety and wisdome of all men in any place of Power higher or subordinate to lay out themselves with zeale for God to be diligent and active Instruments in the designes of God acting according to the directions and leadings of his Word and Providences The advantages will be not only the honour of God in the inlargement and establishment of the kingdome of Christ but also the honour and establishment of such Instruments God will still delight to imploy them in his great works Numb 25.13 The nineteenth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman in Autumn and Winter is Pruning of his trees and boughs and branches are scattered up and downe all the parts of the Orchard He is then digging up the earth and baring the Roots of trees transplanting some and setting others in their roomes and doing many other works which make the Garden lye rough and unhandsomely But all these works tend to the greater beauty pleasure profit in the garden afterwards in the spring and sommer This Similitude shadowes out unto us this Proposition which is cleared by Scripture That the Commotions troubles Proposition shadowed and confusions in the Church of God will end in the settlement peace and glory of it God hath a great work to doe in the world and is now about it even in our daies He hath said he will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land That he will shake all nations and the desire of all Nations shall come Hag. 2.6.7 When were the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea so shaken as they have been of late yeares who knowes not of the overturnings and great alterations that have been among us both in Church and State It is God that changeth the times and the seasons it is he that putteth downe one and setteth up another and all these things are but in order unto the glory of his Church Yea he will still shake and overturne the Nations untill he hath established and setled his sonne Christ Lord and King over all the Earth This is his great designe now in hand Thus saith the Lord God remove the Diadem and take off the Crowne this shall not be the same exalt him that is low and abase him that is high Ezek. 21.26 I will overturne overturne overturne it and it shall be no more untill he come whose right it is I will give it him Christ alone hath right to raigne and God hath promis'd him the Heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession Psal 2.8 And such as oppose him and stand out in rebellion against him though they be Kings and Monarch's and say we will not have this man to raigne over us he will break such with a rod of Iron and dash them in peeces like a Potters vessell Psal 2.9 Christ now meets with opposition in coming to enter upon his kingdome and thence are all the stirres commotions and confusions among us but he will at length prevaile and the government shall be upon his shoulders and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end the zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this Esay 9.7 His Kingdome shall at length be established upon the tops of the Mountaines and be exalted above the hills Mica 4.1 And after he hath rebuked the strong nations of the earth and brought them into subjection Then they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their speares into Pruning hooks and shall learne war no more but they shall sit every man under his Vine and under his Fig-tree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it Mica 4.3 4. and againe Esay 32.18 My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places Let all take notice of the great designe that God hath in hand Vse 1 in the enlargement of the kingdome of his sonne and establishing him in it and beware they be not found fighters against God And though men contrive and bend their strength against God yet will he carry on his work and they shall be broken Esay 8.9 Associate your selves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces Gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces Vse 2 This truth is full of Consolations to the Church of God which hath been long oppressed and kept under by the enemies thereof For surely the time of deliverance is neere As by the budding and blossoming of the Fig-tree and all other Trees we know that the Sommer is neere so the terrible shaking of the Nations declare that the redemption of Gods people drawes neere these being the last daies The day of the Churches deliverance from under the power of Antichrist hath dawned Esay 60.1 Arise and shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that
Charets like a Whirle-wind vers 16. For the Lord will judg with fire and with his sword all flesh Now when shall this be even when the Lord will enlarge his Church when he will extend peace to Ierusalem as a River and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame Esay 66.12 When the isles a farre off shall declare his glory among the Gentiles and brethren shall be brought out of all Nations when the new heavens and the new earth shall be made the Church of God enlarged and beautified as we may see at large vers 19.20 c. The Prophet Jeremiah speakes likewise to the same purpose c. 23.19.20 Behold the tempest of the Lord goeth forth in wrath a violent whirles wind shall fall downe upon the head of the wicked and the anger of the Lord shall not returne untill he have executed and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart Now when these things shall be we see vers 20. in the latter daies when God is enlarging his Church ye shall understand it plainely This God will doe that he may glorifie himselfe in shewing forth his power and justice towards his enemies love to his people This may informe us and give some light unto us why all the Vse 1 destructions confusions and overturnings which have beene in these Nations of late yeares have come to passe and what other Nations shall shortly find also The great husbandman is about the enlarging of his Orchard according to the many Prophesies and promises in his word Now therefore who or whatsoever hinders and stands in the way shall certainely be removed 2 Thes 2.7 The Lord shall consume him Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightnesse of his coming Vse 2 As this is unspeakable consolation to the saints who are the goodly fruit-trees in this large garden so is the same cause of trembling and astonishment to all opposers of God in this his great worke Weeds and wild Plants in a garden that 's carefully ordered are not so sure of plucking up as these persons are of a downfall for God hath said it he will plant his Garden and enlarge it upon an high mountaine and eminent and then up goe the wild trees though never so high and beautifull Ezek. 17.24 Then all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought downe the high tree have exalted the low tree have dryed up the greene tree and made the dry tree to flourish I the Lord have spoken it and have done it Vse 3 Thirdly yee that stand out and oppose the worke of God be perswaded to deliver your selves from destruction beware of hardnesse of heart in refusing to see and acknowledge the hand of God in his dispensations for as Pharaoh the inhabitants of Egypt Canaan and others were destroy'd in their opposition against the plantation of old so shall it be with all hardned sinners in these latter daies Those being but Types and shadowes of things that shall come to passe in these gospell times Heb. 10.1 The law hath a shadow of good things to come Not only as they shadow forth Jesus Christ but also the things of Christ in his Church Vse 4 And further Let this Caution Gods owne people It is to manifest and evident that even some of them doe in some respects oppose the worke of God we see what divisions and contentions there are amongst them about the things concerning the kingdome of Christ Now therefore take heed of opposing the mind of God for if he be displeased with those who help not the Lord against the mighty will he not be much more displeased with those that oppose him and are against him in any of his designes It may hinder them of much good which otherwise they might have received from God See Pag. yea it may provoke God to cut them off though his owne people The husbandman sometimes cuts off a Branch or cuts downe even a good tree when it is in his way and hinders any of his great workes so doubtlesse does the Lord with some of his owne people when through any worldly interest or corruption they oppose his designes Therefore take heede speake not neither act against God and his waies through mistakes be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5.17 The eight and twentieth Observation in Nature WHen rare and excellent fruit-trees and fruits are first knowne there being but few of them they are more valued and esteemed then afterwards when they are multiplyed and growen common though the commodities are still the same in goodnesse as at first This shadowes out unto us That The constant enjoyment of the best things from God through corruptions makes them lesse noted and esteemed Proposition shadowed The nature of man is much taken with new things which having beene a while used and enjoyed are not afterwards of so much value with us though the things remaine in their former goodnesse and worth health peace and plenty and the best good things of this life yea the Ordinances of Christ society of the saints seasons and oportunities of grace spirituall priviledges are lesse observed and prized after a long enjoyment of them then at the first Though Manna was a pleasant bread Angels foode and the people of Israel were well pleased with it for a time yet afterwards they were weary of it Numb 21.5 Our soule loatheth this light bread When the people of God see the necessity and want of good things and earnestly pray and waite for them and at length God satisfies their desires and gives out the mercy longed for then they are much taken and affected with it their affections are raised and enlarged they put a price and value upon it greatly rejoycing in it and blessing God for it But after a certaine time of enjoyment the heart is lesse upon it the streames of affections are abated and run lower there is not that frequent notice taken of it neither when the mind reflects upon it at any time are the affections stirred as at the first when the thing was new Thus it is even in respect of the best and choicest things wee receive from God in this life even the sence and evidences of the love of God pardon of sin intrest in Christ Communion with the father and the sonne through the spirit These things after an habituall long enjoyment of them are lesse noted and lesse affect the heart then upon their first discovery so that God expostulates with his people about it he takes notice of it and observes the difference of the frame of their spirits what it hath beene and what it is afterwards Jer. 22. I remember the kindnesse of thy youth the love of thine espousales c. when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse time was when we were first acquainted and thou didst take me for thy Lord and Husband thou didst expresse much love towards me and
in others Atoms or Moses appeare in the Beames of the sunne but not in a dimme light Seeing we have three great enemies to encounter with this Vse 2 should make us to put on the whole Armour of God and to stand upon our Guard and watch against them The sixtieth Observation in Nature GRafts before they are joyned to the stock must endure ordinarily many difficulties under the hand of the Husbandman ai cutting off from the Tree lying by for a time it may be severall weeks or months after that cutting to the pith or heart with a sharp knife c. See Observ 62. This is another Similitude of the dare of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That the people of God in their Conversion for the most part go through many straights Proposition shadowed and difficulties Those whom God intends to Ingraft into Christ the spirit first convinceth them of sin he inlightens their understandings to see where and in what case they are by Nature and of their utter inability to help themselves out of it And by degrees cuts them off from all things in themselves Their Reason wisdome skill Learning Gifts all their duties and performances all their own righteousnesse all put together is but as vanity and emptinesse there 's nothing in any thing of their own to help them or do them good so that the spirit becomes a spirit of bondage to them for a time letting them see nothing but terror and sad sights A strict Law or Covenant of works binding them over to Justice and wrath eternall death So that hereby they are cut to the heart and are put upon enquiring and seeking which way to get out of this Case Acts 2.37 what shall we doe Some are kept longer under feares and terrors and are cast lower than others they are brought in such a condition as that they will be glad to receive Christ upon any Conditions then the spirit of God opens their eyes to see a way out of their miseries then he holds forth Christ unto them in the tenders of the Gospell Oh how glad is such a soule to receive Christ upon any tearms upon any tearmes in the world Then the soule longs and hungers and thirsts to be satisfied with Christ and accompts all things but as dung and drosse in comparison of him Then the spirit of God leads the soule as by the hand to lay hold upon Christ to close with him and by little and little works a perswasion in the heart that Christ is his and that he is Christs upon the Accompt of that new pretious sure Covenant of grace in which are all the glorious sweete promises of the Gospell included Let Professours try themselves whether ever they found the Vse 1 case to be thus with them before they had a perswasion of the love of God least they deceive themselves Many build their house upon the sands against which when the Raine and the winds and floods beate when Temptations arise it will fall Mat. 7.27 Yet it is not with all alike in their coming to Christ some close with him upon easier tearms than some others howsoever in all that come to Christ there must be a sense and sight of their misery by sin as they are under the Covenant of works and their great neede of Christ to deliver them from it and thereupon a desire to rest upon him by faith for Justification and acceptance with God through him Of this see more at large Observation in Nature 25. The sixtie one Observation in Nature THe Husbandman upon occasion praises and commends his fruit-trees when they beare many and good fruits some for one property and some for another Proposition shadowed This shadowes out to us That When the people of God bring forth good fruits God himselfe doth praise and commend them The Lord takes pleasure in his people passing by their infirmities and taking notice of what is good in them It was a very high commendation that God gave of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know him that he will command his Children and his household after him and they shall keepe the way of the Lord. God tooke notice of the good fruits that Phynehas brought forth and commends him and rewards him Numb 15.11.12 c. in that he was zealous for his God He said of David That he was a man after his owne heart So of Moses Num. 12.7 My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house And Nathaniel Joh. 1.47 Behold an Israelite indeede in whom there is no guile Particulers neede not be multiplied one or two scriptures may serve for more Rom. 2.29 Their praise is not of men but of God and 2 Cor. 10.18 Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he that the Lord commendeth This is much for the comfort Vse and encouragement of all that are upright in heart God will commend such Though it may be their fruits are none of the fairest on the outside in the eyes of men they have not bulke nor shape nor colour to commend them unto men yet being well tasted savoury fruits having the Relish of truth sincerity Love and right ends the husbandman likes them well and will commend them even before men and Angels Matth. 25.24 Well done thou good and faithfull servant thou hast beene faithfull over a few things c. enter thou into the joy of thy Lord so againe vers 23. The sixtie two Observation in Nature THere is a great change wrought upon fruit-trees by Engrafting Before they brought forth sower and naughty fruits See Observ 43. and 60. but now pleasant This is another Similitude c. and shadows out unto us this Proposition That persons by Regeneration have a great Change wrought in them Propesition shadowed All by Nature bring forth bitter and naughty fruits sower Grapes Grapes of Gall their clusters are bitter And there is noe way possibly to bring them to beare good fruits but by engrafting them into Jesus Christ Now Regeneration or implanting into Christ works a great change throughout the whole man upon all the faculties of the soule and in Conversation The understanding which before was darke and ignorant of spirituall things then becomes by litttle and little inlightned and apprehensive of spirituall things Heb. 10.32 after ye were illuminated c The will which before was crosse and stubborne opposing the will of God becomes in some measure obedient and inclining to what is of God and to affect spirituall things as spirituall for themselves The affections which before implanting into Christ were cold and dead towards Christ and the things of God then have heat and life in them they stirre and move after spirituall things Vnregenerate persons cannot see nor judge of spirituall things no more than of visible outward objects without light but when the worke of grace comes into the soule then light shines there Ephes 5.8 Ye were sometimes darknesse but are now light in the Lord
beene and saies of him that David walked before him with a perfect hear t and departed not from him in any thing save in the matter of Vriah 1 Kings 15.5 How wonderfully did God beare with Jonah and how mild was God towards him when Iona was up in an angry sturdy humour and would needs maintaine it and answere God peremptorily I do well to be angry Jonah 4.9 So Christ passeth by the ignorance and prejudice of Nathaniel concerning himselfe and insted of a reproofe gives him a commendation Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Joh. 1.46.47 And as this is the love of Christ towards particular persons so also towards his whole Church though the Church be as full of spots as the Moone yet the exceeding love of Christ covers a multitude of faults Prov. 10.12 and saies thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Can. 4.7 Love beareth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 God doth not only conceale the failings of his people very much but he takes notice of and commends the most secret good they doe and sometimes publisheth the secret and closet good works of his people upon the house top Luk. 12.3 Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same Rom. 13 3. Yea praise not only of men but of God Rom. 2.29 As it is our duty to speake well of God and the things of God to his praise so it is the pleasure and good will of God to speake well of his people to their praise and commendation so he spake of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know that he will command his children and houshold to walke in my waies c. The like commendation is given of Moses My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house There are many instances of Gods concealing the faults and failings of his people with commendation of the good that is in them Now God judgeth righteous judgment therefore 't is our true honour to be commended by him Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 Vse 1 This should make us very carefull to avoid what may offend this our indulgent and gratious father seeing he shewes his love in concealing our faults let us shew our love in suppressing and declining what is evill let this be one fruit of our Love to God Let it be far from us to turne this grace and kindnesse of God into wantonnesse to be the more bold and take more liberty in sinning because God is so ready to pardon and passe it by Psal 97.10 Yee that love the Lord hate evill the hatred of evill is a fruit of love Vse 2 The consideration of this is a speciall meanes to support the people of God against discouragements and droopings in looking upon sins failings seeing we serve so good a master that is not rigorous and severe as some earthly Masters are that all their poore diligent servants can do will not please them but our Master is of a sweete nature passing by the infirmities and accepting the sincere indeavours of his servants and that with commendation Vse 3 Hence we should be greatly encouraged in all well doing and be the more diligent and industrious to please God in all things an ingenuous and good nature will do more for love than for feare a servant though but morally honest and of a good disposition will do more for a mild Master that beares with him than if he were harsh and hard to please The Cords of love and kindnesse will draw a man of an honest mind in the way of obedience faster than scourges can drive him Vse 4 We should set this before us as a patterne for our imitation if God be so kind and forbearing towards us betweene whom there is such an infinite distance shall not we mete the same measure towards our fellow brethren it is the use the Apostle makes of the same doctrine 1 Joh. 4.11 Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another Let us beare with one anothers infirmities and take notice of all the good we can in each other This is to be like God Shall God forgive Talents of sins to us and shall not we forgive a few pence to our brethren See the reproofe and punishment of the want of this duty Matth. 18.32.33 Consider the sweet exhortation of the Apostle to this purpose Eph. 4.23 Be ye kind one to another tender harted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you The eightieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees bring forth their fruits in their seasons some at one time some at another some sooner some later in sommer and Autumne every kind observes the Law of Nature which God hath fixed in them in respect of times and seasons of bearing fruits From hence we may observe That Trees of the Lords planting bring forth fruits seasonably Proposition shadowed All that are branches of the true Vine doe not only bring forth good fruits and by the purging and ordering of the husbandman bring forth much good fruit John 15.2 but also they bring forth good fruit in due season good fruits brought out unseasonably loose thereby much of their beauty and goodnesse therefore observe the season The Prophet David describing a Godly man one of his properties is this he brings forth his fruit in due season Psal 1.3 Solomon saies a foole utters all his mind but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards Prov. 29.7 A wise man brings forth the fruit of his lips seasonably The voice of a foole is in the multitude of words while others are speaking that 's no good season but a man should stay and wait for a fit time for an opportunity when his words may be heard yea and when the minds of the hearers are best prepared to hear such or such a truth when its most like to take impression Believers have spirituall wisdome wisdome from above Esay 50.4 The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned that I might know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary Though this be principally meant of Christ the head yet his members have from him the same spirit of wisdome to speake seasonably to weary soules and to speake in the cause of God when there is occasion and season This is to admonish every one to consider and observe the season Vse 1 the fittest season for every duty looking unto God for direction therein This will be much to the beauty and worth of them Every thing is beautifull in his season To every thing there is a season Eccl. 3.1 Circumstances commonly make or marre things and sometimes that which is a duty as to the substance and matter is turn'd into sin in respect of the manner and time of performance so that this is of very great consequence to observe a due season in duties Prov. 15.23 A word spoken in season how good is it
great duties of love and charity towards our fellow members what do we wher 's our Religion Pure Religion and undefiled before God even the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their afflictions c. James 1.27 See what our Saviour saies of these duties Matth. 25.36 Magistrater ought not only to restraine and punish what is to Gods dishonour but also to contrive stand for and uphold what is acceptable to him Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell in the publique congregation but also to take all occasions in private to exhort rebuke instruct and encourage the people in the things of God to be instant in season and out of season inquiring how the worke of grace goes on in the hearts of their people and to know their state which Paul so much enquired after in his owne person and by others that he might speak and write more sutable to their conditions Phil. 2.19 Col. 4.8 how Sathan works what dispensations they have from God and to learne experiences from them studying men as they study books by which course they may become wise and skillfull workmen and know those waies and workings of God of Sathan of Grace and Corruption which otherwise they can never know Pastors of congregations have a strict charge Acts 20.28 Take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Now to oversee the Church imports more than only to Preach in publique that is but a part of their worke A speciall care should be had of the different state of particular persons Vse This should put us upon Examination what works and duties God requires of us in our generall and particular Callings that knowing them we may observe one as well as another and have respect to all Gods Commands Let us not suffer one duty to justle out another which is frequent among Christians Many think if they are still doing what is good and about the worke of God they look not so much about them nor consider what is necessary besides or what is more necessary and profitable and so many times neglect the maine worke They let some branches of duties wither and dye while the sap and strength of the Tree presseth forth and spends it selfe in other branches lesse fruitfull The eightie fifth Observation in Nature WHile fruit-trees remaine ungrafted all the labour and culture the husbandman can bestow upon them will not make them bring forth good fruits though they grow in the best place of the Garden and be watred pruned and ordered never so well yet because they are ungrafted and wild trees they will beare sower and noughty fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That While persons remaine in an unregenerate state all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them Proposition shadowed Many make a profession who yet have nothing of the power of godlinesse they attend the Ordinances they heare the word pray have priviledges among the Saints yet bring forth no good fruit Judgments Mercies favours outward providences inward workings of the spirit by reproofes counsells inlightnings c. all is in vaine to them they cannot receive these things nor profit by them because not engrafted they reject the word Psal 50.17 Thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee And Heb. 4 2. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it And as they reject the word so also they resist the spirit Acts 7.51 Ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so do yee Yea Judgments and punishments are ineffectuall to them Esay 9.13 The people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seeke the Lord of Hosts Amos 4 9. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord I have sent amoung you pestilence and ye have not returned unto me And vers 11. I have overthrowne some of you c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord. So we see all that God doth for or against persons out of Christ all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them they neglect the mercies of God reject the word spirit Judgments of God and all the reproofes admonitions Counsels Exhortations and Examples of his people Hence we see the miserable condition of persons out of Christ Vse 1 seeing nothing will do good upon them would it not be accompted a heavy curse if the Lands of some men should bring forth nothing but bryers thorns and weeds with all the good husbandry that could be bestowed on them with raine sunne and dewes when by the same meanes other mens grounds are made fruitfull this spirituall curse upon the soules of unregenerate persons is infinitely greater such without Repentance are nigh unto cursing and everlasting burnings Heb. 6.8 Labour then with all thy might to get this evidence of Regeneration Vse 2 even to thrive and profit by the meanes of grace The eightie sixt Observation in Nature FRuit-trees when they prosper well and grow in a decent comly forme and bring forth much good fruit as they do profit many so also hereby they credit the husbandman they bring some reputation to him who orders them but if they grow poorely and bring forth little they discredit their keeper This teacheth us this Lesson That Christians by walking holily and fruitfully Proposition shadowed they bring much honour to God but if otherwise dishonour Every one of the people of God that professeth Christ is as a City upon a hill as our Saviour said of his disciples and therefore their waies are seen and observed by all sorts of persons so that if they walke wisely circumspectly and fruitfully they bring honour to God and credit to their profession Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven And againe 1 Pet. 2.12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles c. they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation But if on the contrary professors walke loosely and negligently these things reflect upon God to his dishonour As a servant to a great person if he behave himselfe licentiously by drunkenesse swearing and the like it reflects in some sort upon his Master who keeps such a person in his house So it is betweene God and his people if they walke circumspectly in a holy and fruitfull conversation they glorifie the name of God to whom they have relation but if they walke vainely and loosely if they walke in pride minding earthly things the two grand sins of many professours in our times scraping and holding together the trash of the world as though there were no better things to be had in the waies of God then they cause the name of God to be
through patience comfort of the Scriptures might have hope this is one cause why the faults and sins of the Saints of old are recorded Take heed of too much admiring the best men there is drosse Vse 4 mixed with their purest mettles It is an error therefore in some persons who take all for granted that some whom they admire deliver in their Sermons or otherwise and that follow their Judgments and Examples because theirs Let us tryall things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.2 The eightie ninth Observation in Nature WE see materiall fruit-trees that are ungrafted wild trees as forward to bring forth their sower and naughty fruits as the grafted trees are to bring forth their good fruits Crab-trees and others of the worst kinds are as forward in the spring in blossoming and shooting forth as grafted trees of the best kinds This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition which also concurrs with the word and Experience That Carnall persons are as forward and zealous in the waies of sin as usually the godly are in the waies of holinesse Proposition shadowed All people are carried on in those waies that are sutable to their Principles whether spirituall or carnall Papists other superstitious persons are as zealous in their waies as usually men fearing God are in Gods waies The Idolatrous people mentioned Jer. 44. were very zealous and earnest in worshiping their false gods insomuch that when the Prophet from God told them the danger thereof and that it would be no lesse than destruction to them if they continued so to provoke God their spirits rose against him they answered him boldly and stoutly with one consent vers 16.17 The word that thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord we will not heare it of thee but wee will doe whatsoever commeth out of our owne mouth as to burne incense to the Queene of heaven and to powre out drinke offerings unto her as wee have done both wee and our fathers our Kings and our Princes So were the worshipers of Baal earnest and forward in calling upon their Idoll cutting and lancing themselves And the people of Ephesus Acts 19. how earnest were they for upholding their Diana vers 28. They were full of wrath and cryed out saying great is Diana of the Ephesians and the whole City was full of confusion and they rushed into the Common place with one consent c. So vers 24. How vehemently earnest have we seene carnall persons for upholding the booke of Common-prayer receiving the Lords Supper at Easter c Wherein they will not be hindred an experiment whereof we had lately of some grosly ignorant persons who were prevented at one place from receiving the sacrament of the supper from the hand of a profane Minister they went after him the same day to another place wading through the waters which then by reason of great raine overflowed the banks to come to him out of their blind zeale not knowing what they did and for all superstitious customes feastings may-games merry meetings and such like who amongst the godly are more forward and ready in the waies of God than these kind of persons are in these waies of sin Now the reason of this is because the waies of sin are agreeable and sutable to the Nature of carnall persons and Secondly because Sathan workes mightily in the spirits of such persons to stirre them up and to carry them on in carnall courses especially in any thing which hath in it but the least shew of good Vse 1 The consideration of this should make regenerate persons to take shame to themselves That they who have the Commands of God Divine Principles the holy spirit the glory of God the welfare of others an eternall inheritance c. to carry them on and encourage them should yet be no more forward and zealous in the the waies of God then ungodly ones are in the waies of sin O it should humble us g eatly that we are so dull cold and formall that we have no more zeale spirit and life in the pleasant and holy waies of God that we are no more forward to bring forth sweete wholsome and pleasant fruits to God than wicked men are to bring forth poysonous and deadly fruits It is an intollerable shame to some professors especially to see them so likewarme and unactive in the waies of God when power is in their hand to act for God and his people they move slowly and feebly in his cause wicked men are commonly more zealous and active in the service of Sathan and their lusts then Gods people are in the service of the living and true God This is a thing greatly to be bewailed by us The ninetieth Observation in Nature THere is great difference in the dimensions or bignesse of fruit-trees some are very high and large trees others but low and small some are huge strong trees others but weake and slender some growing upon poore barren grounds they can never attaine that bignesse as others that grow upon strong fertill grounds yet the husbandman ordereth and preservethall of them This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That The conditions of the people of God are much different yet God careth for them all Proposition shadowed The state of the children of God is very various whether we consider them in Naturall civill morall and spirituall respects some are young some old some of weake some of strong constitutions of body some but of weake and low naturall parts and abilities of mind others of eminent gifts and endowments some of poor and meane estates and live much upon contribution others are rich and great in the world some are low and weake in grace babes in Christ others are strong men fathers c. yet God careth and provideth for them all his love is towards all Rich Abraham and poore Lazarus are both beloved of God some are in great esteeme and reputation generally among the people as Cornelius Acts 10.22 A man of good report among all the Nation of the Jewes others lie in contempt and dishonour some have great measures of grace as the woman of Canaan Matth. 13.28 O woman great is thy faith so the Centurion Luk. 7.9 I have not found so great faith no not in Israel Others have but a weake faith Matth. 8.26 O ye of little faith So Matth. 16.8 O ye of little faith So Rom. 14.1 in some grace is but as a graine of Mustard-seede in some others it is growen high and strong Stephen was a man full of faith Acts 6.5 So of Love and other graces some have much others but little Simon mentioned Luk. 7.40 had but a little love to our Saviour but Mary loved much so of knowledg zeale c. We see the state of Gods people is very different in all respects yet the care
of God is for all 1 Pet. 5.7 Cast all your care upon him for he careth for you And againe speaking of his Vineyard the Church Esay 27.3 I the Lord do keepe it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keepe it night and day Now God careth for one as well as the another because all cost a like price the pretious blood of Christ and all are Members of his sonne a man cares for and cherisheth all his Members so Christ Vse 1 This is a ground of great Consolation to all the people of God though meane in the world though sick in body of low esteeme poore in estate though weake in Gifts and graces yet be not discouraged at all these for being within the wall or pale of the Church the orchard or Vineyard of God he preserveth them the same skilfull and carefull hand that pruneth watereth and ordereth the strongest and greatest trees does the same really to the least Yea his care is especially to his weake plants because they are most liable to hurt and danger Secondly such as differ from their brethren in being more eminent Vse 2 in Naturall morall or spirituall endowments if they have many Talents let such often consider who made them to differ and beware of despising or neglecting the lower Saints and beare with the infirmities of the weake Rom. 15.1 and be ready to distribute willing to communicate in temporals and spirituals as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God 1 Pet. 4.10 and be therein like unto their heavenly Father in caring for the lowest and meanest The ninetie first Observation in Nature THe husbandman frequently walks among his fruit-trees and viewes and considers them he takes notice how it is with particulars If any of them be weake and diseased and thrive not as others he considers the cause and sets himselfe to the cure As it is with them he applyes himselfe accordingly towards them This shadowes out unto us That True and faithfull Ministers of the Gospell do diligently looke into the state of their people and deale with them accordingly Proposition shadowed Ministers of the Gospell are imployed by God about his husbandry which is his Church and people 1 Cor. 3.9 ye are Gods husbandry And the Apostle saies we are laborers together with God in this worke Now carefull husbandmen are still looking into the state of their worke how it is in this and that and the other particular that so they may diligently apply themselves so doe faithfull Ministers towards their people They are also Shepheards and it is the duty of Shepheards to watch over their flocks and to consider and diligently to observe how it is with particular sheepe and to apply themselves accordingly so do true and faithfull Ministers according to that in Prov. 27.23 Be diligent to know the state of thy flockes and looke well to thy heards God gives a very strict charge to Ministers of the Gospell Acts 20.28 Take heede unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers c. To take heed to the flock and to Oversee it implyes a speciall care to looke into and to examine and consider the state and condition of particulars as well as to have an eye over them in the generall So the Apostle useth the same word thrice in one Chapter Heb. 13.7 them that have the Oversight of you and vers 17. them that have the Oversight of you and againe vers 24. them that have the Oversight of you Though another translation hath it them that have the rule over you but his seemes to carry in it that Lordly power and dominion which Christ will not allow any of his Ministers over his people he hath not set them as Lords over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 But Overseers and Examples to the flocke which is also agreeable to the words of the holy Ghost in Acts 20.28 the holy ghost hath made them Overseers which carries in it more of care and labour than of authority and rule according to that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.5 Our selves your servants for Jesus sake This is also further confirmed by the same word which the Apostle Peter useth 1 Pet. 5.2 Feede the flocke of God which is among you taking the Oversight thereof Now certainely this word so often used carries more in it than only to Preach the Gospell And this is also more confirmed by the Example of the Apostle Paul fully set forth in many places who did not only preach and write to the Churches but also did often enquire and send to know their state yea he went himselfe to particular Churches and families and Persons to whom he had preached to see and consider and know how it was with them 1 Thes 3.5 I could no longer forbeare I sent to know your faith c. And when he heard they stood fast in the faith it was matter of great consolation to him and of many thanksgivings unto God on their behalfe vers 9. and Col. 4.8 he sent Tychicus to know their state So also he sent Timothy for the same purpose Phil. 2.19 That I also may be of good comfort when I know your state He calls upon Barnabas to goe with him to visit poore soules Acts 15.36 Let us go againe and visit our brethren in every Citty where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they doe Yea Paul earnestly prayed for opportunities to performe this duty he longed to see and conferre with the Saints to whom he had preached Rom. 1.9 10 11. Rom. 15.23 24 without ceasing I make mention alwaies in my Prayers making request to come unto you for I long to see you c. Now the Reasons why Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell but also to consider See Mr Baxsters exhortations unto this duty discorse of true happiness p. 320. 321. and Mr Fener also to same purpose and enquire into the spirituall states and conditions of their People First That so they may be instructed more perfectly in the deepe Mysteries of the kingdome of God they may hereby come to be acquainted with the various methods waies and workings of the spirit of God in the hearts of his people the wiles depthes of Sathan with the nature of grace and corruption Ministers should study men as they study books although they may come to know the generall Nature of these things from the Scriptures Books their owne particular experiences yet unlesse they take in this also to converse frequently with others and looke into their states they can never be so able to deale with soules as they should be Many content themselves with some few particular Cases and Instances mentioned in scripture concerning Job David Human and some others and scarce looke further measuring all others most commonly by these as not being indeed acquainted with the various and different dealings of God
truth Bodily exercise profiteth little 1 Tim. 4.8 any thing whatsoever wherein the body is exercised is of little or small accompt in respect of spirituall worship it is the acting of the spirit soule exercise that God looks after and stands upon he values but little bodily exercise any thing whatsoever that is externall in his worship Now the reason why God stands not upon externals in his worship or the same customes and orders among all the Saints is because he is a spirit and spirituall worship is sutable unto him let it be clothed with this or that forme it is accepted if it be in sincerity and truth Secondly because Christ hath set his people free from the yokes of bondage Gal. 5.1 Not only from Circumcision and legall Ceremonies and formes but also from all other Rules and precepts of men which his word hath not laid downe It is true indeede in time of the Law for 2000 yeares together the Church was under formes and set praescript Rules for the externall part of worship but when Christ came he set his people free not only from sin as before his comming in the flesh but also from all those Methods and Formes Rites and Ceremonies commanded by Moses from the mouth of God Ephe. 2.15 He abolished the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances that is the old externall administrations about the worship of God that so all his people as well Gentiles now as Jewes might worship God in spirit and in truth but no more in this or that externall forme and no other And accordingly the Church of Christ hath beene at liberty in respect of formes in the Apostles and primitive times and for many ages together afterwards untill of latter times externall Vniformitie was earnestly pressed in the Churches which Luther and other Good men opposed The Essence of the Kingdome of God is not any externall thing but righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost faith love holinesse walking with God in these things Vse 1 From what hath beene said we may conclude That to stand for Vniformity or onenesse in the externall part of the worship of God in the Ordinances or Government of Churches and for want thereof to breake off unity love and Communion with the people of God it is of the flesh and not of the spirit This hath beene and is the great sin and mistake even of many of the people of God the ground of whose differences lies in such externall things circumstances and formes as the word hath not determined or prescribed to be either so or so though men would be thought to prove their opinions in particular things as to the forme of worship and Church Government by the Scriptures The Godly of the Episcopall and Presbyterian Judgment the Independent and Rebaptized Churches and others differing from them what do they differ about Not the Essentials of Religion or worship but meerely in Ceremonies formes and Externall things which are not clearely held forth neither in the Doctrine of the Gospell nor in any constant practise of the Saints For we cannot find in all the Acts of the Apostles or primitive Christians any constant Methods and Formes in the worship of God or in Goverment of Churches but they varied in the formes and externall Acts as occasion was offered Paul preached sometimes on the Jewes Sabbath sometimes on the first day yea as occasion was every day and sometimes in the night sometimes he prayed and taught in the house sometimes in a ship sometimes by a River side sometimes in a Temple To the Iewes he became as a Jew to the Greeks as a Greeke to the strong as strong to the weake as weake he became all things to all that he might winne some he stood not upon externall formes in worship but upon the substance and Essence of it which is spirituall Our Saviour Christ sometimes he prayed long all night sometimes he was breife sometimes he stood and lift up his eyes to heaven sometimes being prostrate on the ground sometimes he taught in the Temple sometimes in a private house sometimes in a ship sometimes on the shore sometimes standing sometimes sitting The disciples of John they fasted often but Christs Disciples tooke more liberty in the use of the Creatures Christ administred the Sacrament of the supper in the evening Paul at midnight some in the Morning others at noone some Churches receive it sitting others kneeling some take the Elements from the Ministers hand others sit about the table and take the bread and wine themselves some partake of this Ordinance every weeke others every moneth some twice in a moneth others twice in the yeare or as oft as they please And as there is a liberty in the Churches to vary and no Vniformity in these Ordinances so also the Customes have beene various in respect of Baptisme some Churches Baptize with dipping others by sprinkling some Churches Baptize Infants of believing Parents others only those persons who can give an accompt of their faith and hence now ariseth the great controversie and contention amongst brethren who fall out by the way and break peace love and Communion one with another about the shadow the signe the forme though both have and hold the substance Many Members of both Churches are Baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire as Iohn 1.5 are baptized into one body by the spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 yea and have beene baptized with water also though there be not a Vniformity in their practise perhaps the difference will prove when throughly understood but a circumstantiall difference and doubtlesse no sufficient ground to breake off Communion amongst the Members of Christ Surely Jesus Christ will not take it well at their hands who refuse Communion and fellowship with those with whom he himselfe delights to have Communion and who are ashamed to call them brethren whom Christ himselfe is not ashamed to call brethren Heb 2.11 All believers are brethren not by a conformity or Vniformity in any Ceremony or externall observation but by faith in Christ All have the priviledge to be the sonnes and daughters of God who believe on his name John 1.12 all are the Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus John 3.26 Now therefore for men to refuse or neglect Communion and fellowship with their fellow Members and brethren for want of Vniformity in a Ceremony in the signe though they have the substance is it not carnall do not such walke as men Vse 2 Let us maintaine unity love and fellowship with all the Godly though they differ from us in Judgment or practise in the way and manner of administrations in the worship of God or particular practises in Government for the ground of the Churches Vnity is not Vniformity in any externall things but it is their having all but one head The Apostle most earnestly beseecheth them to maintaine Vnity upon a sevenfold ground but in them all not a word of Vniformity Ephes 4.4 There is one
body and one spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Here we see 1. All believers though multitudes of Members yet are but one body 2. That one body hath but one spirit As one soule animates and sets on worke all the Members of the Naturall body so does this one spirit in the mysticall body 3. There is also one hope All believeâ—s have an expectation of the enjoyment of God in glory for ever 4. They have all one Lord are fellow servants under one Lord Iesus Christ 5. So also have they but one faith believers in all ages of the world have but one faith in the same God and Saviour 6. They have but one Baptisme not baptisme of the signe but of the substance all believers are baptized with the baptisme of the spirit Iewes and Gentiles in all ages 1 Cor. 12.13 By one spirit we are all baptised into one body whether we be Jewes or Greeks 7. Believers have but one God and Father they are all borne of God are brethren in the Lord sonnes and daughters alike to the Lord Almighty Heires together of one Inheritance and Kingdome So then Here are strong bonds of Vnity and love among the Saints though Vniformity in outward things be wanting here 's no mention at all of Vniformity though they differ in their opinions in waies and formes of worship and Government yet being all one body having all one spirit one hope one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father these are sufficient grounds of their Vnion and love one with and to another These are the things that God stands upon having Vnity here in these things whereby they worship him in spirit and truth though they vary in many externall parts of worship and outward administrations they are dispensed withall as we see Rom. 14.18 he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men and vers 3. God hath received him or approved of him Let not men therefore disowne their brethren for differing from them in the forme in outward administrations of worship or Government when yet they worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth which if they doe it is from the carnall part and to be mortified The ninetie fifth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman often makes a hedg or fence about his Orchard and Garden with wild plants unfruitful trees or such as beare naughty unpleasant fruits as Crabtrees Thornes Bryers Okes Ashes Elmes or any such like which serve well for a mound or fence about his fruitfull Trees and preserve them from anoyances and hurts that else they are subject unto by Cattle and otherwise in many respects This shadowes out unto us That God many times makes use of wicked Proposition shadowed and unregenerate persons for the preservation and good of his owne Children Many Kings and Magistrates though wicked and carnall have beene set up for the defence of the Godly very many carnall persons though they have but only generall convictions a forme of Godlinesse common Gifts and graces yet they owne the true Religion and the professors of it notwithstanding they have no true nor cordiall love to either God makes such as an outward common fence against the breakings in of Tyrannicall and savage persons who might otherwise anoy the Church of God Yea many Morall persons are not only a meanes of defence to the Godly but they are also helpers many waies by their Gifts and Talents and outward good things which God hath given them The spirit of God doth convince the world of unregenerate persons upon this Accompt even for the good of his owne people giving to them some common light and graces and apprehensions of the things of God that so he may take off their fiercenesse and bitternesse that otherwise would naturally break out against the Godly and not only so but that also they may be helpfull and profitable to his owne people Pharaoh was convinced that God was with Ioseph and so became his freind yea and to all his brethren and his fathers house and preserved them and nourished them with the best things of the Land of Egypt Gen. 40. Laban entertained and preserved Iacob above 20 yeares together Gen. 29. c. Pharaohs daughter nourished Moses the whole Court was his freind many yeares King Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that God was with Daniel preserved and promoted Daniel so did Belshazzar And King Darius afterwards Dan. 6.3 Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not only preserved but advanced in the Province of Babylon by King Nabuchadnezzer a heathen king There is abundant Experience of this truth in all ages especially in these times of the Gospell multitudes having common convictions of the things of God and entertaining the forme of Godlinesse though they want the power They generally if they have power preserve the people of God and Religion from overthrowes and destructions which otherwise Tyrants and barbarous enemies would bring upon them Yea and God makes them many waies usefull and helpfull to his people by their Gifts and Common graces in Naturall and Morall things Vse This discovers the speciall care and love of God the power wisdome goodnesse of God towards his owne people who maketh even their enemies to become freinds to them Enemies indeed in their Principles Natures but freinds through the overruling power of God The world all the creatures in it are ruled ordered for the good of the people of God All things are yours saith the Apostle 1 Co. 3.21.22 the world life death things present things to come all are yours God useth overruleth and ordereth all things for the advantage of them that feare him The ninetie sixth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman in Ordering of his fruit-trees observes the seasons some works are to be done at such a time of the yeare The spring is the season for Grafting the sommer for Inoculating Autumne and winter for Transplanting pruning and other workes he carefully observes the seasons for particular works This shadowes out unto us this Proposition Proposition shadowed That God in his infinite wisdome and goodnesse observes the fittest times in all his dispensations towards his people The great husbandman of his Vineyard and Garden enclosed as he gives discretion to men to order their works of husbandry Esay 28.26 doth with infinite more wisdome order his owne husbandry in respect of the matter manner and seasons of his worke Ier. 30.11 When he correcteth his people as he does it in measure so also in season when it is most likely to prevaile and take effect and when his spirit reproves the soule it is alwaies in season When he speakes to comfort and refresh the soule it is in season Esay 50.4 That I should know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary he gives his