precious seed Shall the good things committed unto us produce such bad effects like unto the wheat that is sowne Infoelix lolium steriles dominantur avenae which in a barren yeere doth degenerate into darnell Far bee it from us to requite the Lord in this manner If hee call and wee refuse If hee stretch out his hand and wee regard not then hee will laugh at our calamity and wee shall call upon him but hee will not heare wee shall seeke him early but shall not find him but if wee doe hearken to his Word and obey his voice then our prayers shall come up as a memoriall before God and bee as seed sowne not in the earth beneath but in heaven above and shall cause a rich and plentifull increase of all heavenly blessings to come downe upon us that our soules may bee filled with good things Yea then our workes of charity and all godly actions shall be as seed which we cast abroad and sow to the Spirit Gal. 6.8 that of the Spirit wee may reap life everlasting 2 Cor. 9.6 Hee that soweth sparingly shall reape sparingly and hee that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully Pro. 11.25 The liberall soule shall bee made fat and he that watereth shall be also watered himselfe Dare wee trust the earth with our seed and dare wee not trust our faithfull Creatour in these workes of charity The earth hath no power nor sufficiencie in it felfe but only from his benediction Shall wee doubt of his goodnesse and mercy who is most just and righteous in himselfe and who doth give this fidelity and ability unto the earth that it may make an abundant returne of that wherewith it is trusted Are wee of such little faith And doe we thus feare in dispencing these outward commodities these transitory benefits Then how shall wee bee able to commend our spirit into the hands of our Father With what courage and comfort shall we commit our bodies to the earth being the last seed we doe sow which shall bee raised in power and great glory excelling that of the pure Lillie more than that doth the royaltie of Solomon Awake and sing yee that dwell in dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbes and the earth shall cast out the dead Isa 26.19 11.1 In illo loco Messias expresse vocatur Flos consentit Hieronymus Causabon Job 38.27 The Flower of the stemme of Jesse did spring up in a garden and our graves shall bee turned into garden-plots As the raine causeth the bud of the tender herbe to spring up so the Lord is able to raise us up unto eternall joy and felicity Yea in this first resurrection hee doth raise us up from the death of sinne to the life of grace I will bee as the dew unto Israel Hos 14.5 even as the cloud of dew in the heare of harvest Isa 18.4 God makes the small drops of water they powre downe raine according to the vapour thereof which the clouds doe drop and distill upon man aboundantly Job 36.27 to satisfie the desolate and waste ground In like manner he doth sendus the showers of his grace he gives us the increase of all spirituall gifts he doth refresh us with his favour and satisfie our thirsty soules with his loving kindnesse Apollo's watering is to small effect unlesse God gives his blessing Deut. 11.10 Although the seed we sow may grow when we water it with our foot yet the seed of grace in our hearts can never prosper unlesse the Sonne of man who began that good work doth likewise perfect the same When the sweet and comfortable showers doe fall upon the earth they doe not onely cherish the flowers and herbs but also doe occasion many offensive weeds readily to grow up so the good gifts that come downe from the Father of lights the gracious blessings that descend from above doe bring forth the acceptable fruit of praise and obedidience in the godly but the cursed weeds of rebellion and provocation in the wicked The goodnesse of God which as a gentle shower mollifying the drie earth doth leade the humble soule to repentance but doth harden the impenitent heart which is fully set to doe evill and to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath The Word of God in season like the former and out of season like the latter raine is the true bread that comes downe from heaven and doth refresh him that is weary and ready to faint and doth satisfie him that is hungry that he shall never hunger any more but it causeth loathing in the full soule As the Israelites did not find any sweetnesse or good relish in the spirituall meat the food of Angels 1 Cor. 10.3 â—s 78.24 25. the corne of heaven that God rained downe upon them Our soule is dried away there is nothing at all besides this Manna before our eyes Num. 11.6 Here is Manna and Manna and nothing but Manna they called it light bread Num. 21.5 and as lightly they esteemed of it Thus the naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.14 for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned hee cannot apprehend the lively power of the hidden Manna Rev. 2.17 he cannot discover the secret of the Lord which is revealed unto them that feare his name The tares that appeared in the field were suffered to grow unto the harvest Mat. 13.30 but the weeds that come up in the garden must bee taken away in the very beginning Our vices must be plucked up by the roots before they bee surely fixed by long continuance Abdolonymus hortum malas herbas eligens repurgabat Q. Curt. The Historian makes mention of a Gardiner who was found destroying of bad weeds when Alexander sent for him and advanced him to a kingdome So wee supplanting our corruptions and casting out the unfruitfull workes of darknesse shall attaine to a crowne of life As Adam was to dresse the Garden of Eden so wee are to keepe our soule and body blamelesse from the pollution of sinne and in the end when wee rest from our labour we shall enter into our Masters joy Christ saith to the good Theefe Luke 23.43 To day thou shalt bee with mee in Paradise Before God said to the rich man 12.20 This night thy soule shall bee required of thee There the night is mentioned death shall come suddenly upon him as an enemy as a theefe and finde him in greatest security in the dead sleep of sinne Hee delighted in workes of darknesse and shall bee cast into utter darknesse But here the day is named To day thou shalt bee with mee a day of salvation unto the good theefe the first day of his life and such a day as never had any end Christ is the true Light John 1.9 which lighteth every man comming into the world with
Sap. Vet. Victa cursu dum malis tribus colligendis retardata Nat. Com. pleasure and profit which are cast before us be stopped in our race and so lose an incorruptible Crowne an eternall weight of glory The commodities of this world may seem to be like the fruits about the dead sea delectable to the eye as Apples of gold but being touched they fall into ashes when we thinke to take surest hold of them they deceive us Wee are not like the Cadusians Plutar. who were a strong people and yet fed upon nothing but Apples and Peares and such like fruit from these we receive the least part of our nourishment So likewise all outward benefits doe not conduce to our true happinesse unlesse wee use them as we sometimes use our fruit to procure an appetite unto that which is more solid So we by tasting of the Lords bounty in these externall blessings should be excited to hunger after Righteousnesse and the spirituall food of our soules that we so we may be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of Gods house and may drinke of the river of his pleasures for evermore Now as the industrious Bee doth gather honey not only from the blossomes which are upon the trees but also from the flowers which grow upon the earth so wee having formerly laboured to receive instruction from the trees will now endeavour to take some permanent benefit from the fading flowers I will not insist upon the reproofe of them who are worthy to be blamed for their violent desire to exceed in all kind of strange novelties Quorum literae in Thraciam Graeciam Indiam discurrunt Lips whose letters are sent into remote parts of the world for some small seed or root which they cherish as the mother doth the childe Quib. aegrius fit florem aliquem novum mori quam c. Idem and grieve more for the death of a new flower than of an old friend Wee know that Adam in Paradise was foiled whereas Job sitting among the ashes did overcome the Tempter There is offence by vanity and superfluity when wee seeke wholly to please the outward senses of the body and doe never project how to strengthen the inward powers and faculties of the soule Which errour wee will now reforme hoping by our paines and diligence herein wee may recover some part of that excellent happinesse of our first estate rather than be driven further off from the comfortable fruition of true felicitie First then we doe admire and adore the wisedome and power of Almighty God whose hands have made all these things Who can behold the Sunne and Moone and all the Starres of light but he must with all reverence acknowledge the glory of God which is declared by them and who can view and observe the rare beauty and riches of the earth but he must confesse the excellent perfection that is seene in them There was no more spirit in the Queene of Sheba when shee beheld the state and pomp of Solomon 1 Kin. 10.5 and yet even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one Lily Matt. 6.29 That goodnesse and providence of God which doth shine forth in one flower doth exceed the greatest roialty of that most magnificent King Liliorum inscriptio vinetur aptissimè convenire c. Flamin The same word in the inscription of the Psalm is expounded either of the Lilies or of the Instruments of six strings As the sound of those Instruments so the sixe leaves of the Lilie may excite us to praise the name of the Lord. Immiscens varios natura colores Sincer. Parthica quae tantis variantur cingula gemmis Claudian If this one flower be arrayed in this manner then what incomparable lustre and splendour is in that rich wardrobe when it is brought forth With what wonderfull variety of colours is the earth enamelled What sumptuous robe of the most mighty Potentate may be compared to this raiment of divers colours wherewith this terrestriall globe is adorned Alba verecundis Lilia pinge Rosis Sincer. Lilia prato candida Propert. Et Rosa purpureo crescit rubicunda colore Virg. Sanguineo splendore Rosas Claud. The Lilies exceeding white as snow so as no Fuller on earth can white them the Roses of such an absolute and perfect red that the most exact imitation by art is no better than Josephs coat dipped in the bloud of the Kid if compared thereunto Et dulce Violas ferrugine pingit Claud. the Violet whose grave and stately colour doth surpasse the Purple of the rich man the Tulippa and many others whose yellow is to be preferred before the cloathing of Pharaoh's daughter which was made of wrought gold And besides this preheminence of the colour wherein there is great diversity in the same kinds let us consider the differing shapes and proportions in which they grow the times and seasons in which successively they blow and open themselves that wee may never want the aboundant choice of fragrant odours and sweet savours that most of them doe cast abroad Psal 104.24 And we cannot forbeare to say with David O Lord how manifold are thy workes in wisedome hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches If the eternall power and goodnesse of God be made manifest in these things that are of least continuance then how much more in the durable riches that are provided for us If such beauty be conferred upon a fading flower Cujus rei inveniri potest brevior aetas Quintil. then what unspeakeable glory is reserved in the heavenly Kingdome If such sweetnesse may be found in these things which spring out of the earth then what solace may be received by the good gifts that descend from above If such comforts here in this life what pleasures for evermore at the right hand of God If while the King sitteth at his table the Spouses spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof and he be unto her as a bundle of myrrhe Cant 1.12 and a cluster of Cypres If Christ being absent doth impart and communicate such blessings unto us now in our pilgrimage by the Word and Spirit then what fulnesse of joy will there be when we appeare with him in glory As we are delighted with the smell of sweet herbes and flowers when they are composed in one bundle so God is well pleased with the plenteous variety of sundry graces in a true beleever and then doe we offer up a sweet odour an acceptable sacrifice unto the Lord. In the Scripture flowers are frequently named to describe our fraile estate here in this world Job saith Job 14.2 Man commeth forth like a flower and is cut downe David saith As a flower of the field Psal 103.15 so man flourisheth the wind passeth over it and it is gone Saint James saith Jam. 1.11 The Sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat but the flower falleth and the grace of
of the Rose Vel mista rubent ubi Lilia multa Alba Rosa c. Virg. this of the Violet and that of the Lilie are esteemed the three chiefe ingredients in beauty Where there is shame for their former disobedience and other sinnes 2 Thes 3.14 whereof they have been guilty and true humility in the acknowledgement of their unworthinesse and imperfection Rom. 6.21 and an holy desire to keep themselves pure and without blemish for the time to come Those soules are all glorious within they are all faire like the Spouse Cant. 47. and there is no spot in them If wee could find a prescript how our bodies which are as the garments unto the soule in this our pilgrimage may endure in the prime beautie like the clothes of the Israelites in the wildernesse Deut. 29.5 which did not waxe old upon them how our youth might bee renewed like the Eagles Psal 103.5 and we may continue untill our latter end in perfect comelinesse not having our best forme obscured by the wrinkles of age there bee very many who would rejoyce herein more than he doth that finds a great treasure And such a Physician as could thus helpe them should bee liberally paid though they did endure many dayes torture to gaine this harme and losse Now which is much more here is evidently set before us an approved experiment Not how to retaine our former favour but how to increase more and more in divine beauty and excellent lovelinesse by washing in the bloud of that immaculate Lambe and by being adorned with the graces of the holy Spirit that wee may bee as the Sunne when hee goeth forth in his might Judg. 5.31 which doth not reveale its complete majestie when it first comes out at the doore of the Tabernacle but after ascends to great glory Though our beginnings bee weake yet we shall attaine unto a more perfect estate And as Moses eye was not dimme Neque aufugit Viror ejus Calvin Viriditas ejus Jun. nor his naturall force abated when hee died but was then as greene and flourishing as in former time so we in old age and in death it selfe shall still retaine the vigour of the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse And after our dissolution the soule shall appeare in glorie as the lamps in Gideons Army did then shine forth when the pitchers were broken Though for the present this divine Light bee eclipsed by the interposition of the body of the earth yet at the last day the body also shall become spirituall and we shall put on not rich robes and costly array not pearles and flowers and such like ornaments 1 Cor. 15.53 but Incorruption and Immortality Phil. 3.21 And our body shall be fashioned like the glorious bodie of Christ That is the last and lasting fashion the fashion that will follow all other Oh that all other would follow that fashion that we would labour for holinesse And so being espoused unto one husband 2 Cor. 11.2 we may be presented to Christ without spot or wrinkle Ephes 5.27 or any such thing As a chaste Virgin caring for the things of the Lord that shee may bee holy both in body and spirit 1 Cor. 7.34 I doe not deny that divers ornaments are tolerable and there may be some distinction and difference according to order and dignity The Crowne that is fit to bee set upon the head is not meet to bee placed upon any other part of the bodie But there must bee abstinence in some things Non tantum mediocritas colenda est sed etiam abstinentia Calv. and moderation in all Such as are captivated by their owne chaines such as are inthralled by fond affectation and notorious ostentation should breake those bands asunder and cast away their fetters from them Shall wee with the Pharisee looke only to the out-side which may bee like a painted Sepulchre Shall they that professe themselves to bee Gods servants bee of as little use in the Church as is commonly made of the Tulippa in the garden which is onely for shew And yet even by viewing of that various flower we may observe something that may bee helpfull unto us For as that falleth and the grace of it perisheth so shall the rich man clothed in goodly apparrell and fine linnen Jam. 1.11 fade away in his waies Yea so shall the fashion of this world passe away 1 Cor. 7.31 and the lust thereof but hee that doth the will of God abideth for ever 1 John 2.17 Hee shall live an eternall felicitie And may in that regard bee compared unto this flower which in Winter shrinkes low into the earth but in the Spring doth rise againe with great beauty so although for the present he may be cast downe in godly sorrow for his sinnes yet hee shall bee lifted up with comfort and consolation when the Sunne of Righteousnesse shall arise with healing in his wings and shine upon him with grace and favour Then let us learne of this and other flowers which doe open themselves Helotropium c. and turne towards the Sunne when it shines upon them that they may bee refreshed by the influence thereof to open unto Christ that he may enter into our soules to encline our eares unto his Word and our hearts to keep his Commandements And to turne unto the Lord with all our strength that wee may bee enlightened by his glorious truth and supported by his almighty power The Word of God is as seed sowne in our hearts it may be wee have for a long time been unprofitable hearers and the Word wee have received hath been as the seed of this flower before named which doth not satisfie our desire untill many yeeres after it is sowne Yet let it not for ever bee buried within us for then it will prove the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.16 but rather let it bee as the seed wee sow 1 Cor. 15.36 which first dies and then is quickened That seed which fell among stony places sprung up forthwith Matth. 13. and was as suddenly scorched If this seed hath for a great space been hid within us let it take the deeper root and at last bring forth an hundred fold Doth the earth bring forth herbes meet for them by whom it is dressed Heb. 6.7 Doth the garden cause the things that Isa 61.11 are sowne in it to spring forth And shall not man Terra nunquam recusat impâ—rium nec unquam sine usurâ reddit quod accepit c. Cicero who receives these blessings of the fatnesse of the earth become fruitfull himselfe that hee may likewise bee blessed with all heavenly blessings in spirituall places in Jesus Christ Gal. 6.7 Doth man for the most part Doth man for the most part reap whatsoever hee soweth and shall God reape nothing but tares having sowne such