by this little Creature Deus maximus in minimis God is seen in the least of his Creatures yea go to the Oxe and the Asse thou brutish sensual man or woman consider and learn of them They know and own serve and obey their Master him that feedeth them Isay 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel hath not known Me saith the Lord. but thou as thou wantest grace so also thou wantest the good Nature that these poor Creatures have and shew forth to him that keeps them Thou art fed and clothed dayly and hast all things convenient for life from the hand of God and yet thou ownest him not but servest thy self and rebellest against God therefore these dull Beasts shall condemn thee Let not men make light of these things of learning from Fruit-trees and other Creatures they shall find one day and that shortly too they shall be called to an Account and be judged by the Creatures as well as by the word Therefore it concernes every one to learn their speech and language and to be instructed thereby in order to their own Duty and the glory of God O the loud cry and voyce of Naâ—ure from these very Creatures of â—he infinite wisdome Power and bounty â—f God towards Man how is it heard plainly and distinctly not only in the infinite number and kinds of Fruit-trees Flowers and vegetables in Orchards and Gardens but also in every individuall and particular Tree Consider only but one large Appleâ—ree some of them bearing many Bushels of Fruits in one year Every â—articular Fruit hath severall seeds or â—ernels in it and every seed though â—any thousands from one Tree hath â—…e Nature of the whole Tree in it â—…lf and that exacty Potentially the whole tree in that small substance many of them lesse then a graine of Wheat it hath in it the innate intrinsicall forme and vertue of the VVhole Tree that huge and vast body that we see above ground and will if sowen produce the same in kind And not only so but likewise every small Twigg of the Tree yea the least bud of the least twigg hath also virtually the whole tree in it self and produceth the same if inoculated according to Art St Austen takes notice of these things and admires God in them Gen ad lit ch 15. and exhorts all men to study them and learn from them Ex ipsis operibus dei indagare conemur consideremus ergo cujuslibet Arboris pulcritudinem in robore ramis frondibus Pomis c. illud germen ex semine in semine ergo illa omnia fuerunt primitus non mole corporeae magnitudinis sed vipotentiaque causaliter in exiguo grano mirabilior prostantior que vis est quia valuit adiacens humor commixtus terrae quid enim ex arbore illâ surgit aut pendet quod non ex quodam occulto Thesauro seminis illius extractum atque depromptum est Job exhorts us to learn from these and all Creatures Chap. 12.7 8.9 c. Aske now the Beasts and they shall teach thee and the Foules of the Air and they shall tell thee Or speake to the earth and it shall teach thee or as it is translated speake to every Twigg or Tree that growes upon the Earth and it shall teach thee And the Fishes of the Sea shall declare unto thee Here we see are many Masters and Teachers for the instruction of Man in his duty to God Christians that have not only Reason but grace may learn from Creatures that have neither Reason nor sence Grace in the heart of a Christian improves common earthly Objects to spiritual uses and holy Ends it is spiritually the Phylosophers stone that turnes Earth into Heaven Naturall Objects into Spiritual As faith sees him that is invisible and things that are not seen so sence shewes us him that is inisible i. e. God in his workes Being as a prospective Glasse through which we may see the lively species of infinit excellencies in God First All Creatures yeild ready Obedience to God for they obey the Law of their Creation Fire and Haile Snow and vapors Stormy winds and Tempests fulfilling his word Ps 148.8 Secondly And as Creatures teach us Obedience to God in observing the Law of their Creation so also they teach us dependance upon God as we see Hose 2.21 God having betrothed Israel his people in righteousnesse in judgment in loving kindnesse in mercies in Faithfulnesse and that for ever from that time all the Creatures do strive to do them good but yet in a Chain of dependance Every one confessing their inability without help from God Israel had need of the Creatures to nourish them They cry to God for Corne VVine and Oyle These are ready and willing to nourish Israel but then the Earth must bring them forth therefore these cry to the Earth to give them rooting and nourishment the Earth would do this willingly for Israels sake but cannot except the Heavens do water it with Rain and Dewes therefore the Earth cryes to the Heavens but the Heavens though willing can give no Rain nor refreshing until God command them to do it therefore the Heavens cry unto God that he would give them Commission to water the Earth As we see Hose 2.2 I will hear saith the Lord I will hear the heavens and they shall hear the Earth and the Earth shall hear the Corne and the VVine and the Oyle and they shall heare Israel So God commanding the heavens the heavens feed the Earth and the Earth feeds the Corn VVine and Oyl and these feed Israel The eyes of all Creatures waite upon God and he giveth them their meate in due season Ps 145.15 he feedeth the young Ravens that call upon Him Ps 147.9 The Lyons roaring after their Prey do seeke their Meate of God So they all teach us the same Lesson of dependance upon God for all necessaries The Apostle Paul shewes us That there is somewhat even in inanimate Creatures that puts forth an Act of Expectation yea of Earnest Expectation for deliveraâ—ce from the bondage that the sin of man hath brought them under Rom. 8.19 The earnest expectation of the Creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God and ver 22. The whole Creation growneth and travelleth in pain together until now Thirdly We may also learn this Lesson from the Creatures even from irrationall and lifelesse Creatures not only as was said 1 Obedience to God and 2 dependance upon him but likewise 3ly to desire and long for a full freedome and deliverance from the bondage of Corruption and to attain the Glorious liberty of the sons of God for shall inanimate Creatures do this and shall not Rational and Spiritual Christians do it much more Now if any one ask this Question how may we speake to Fruit-trees or any other Creatures that are without Reason or sence that we may receive Instructions from them This Question long
A DIALOGVâ— OR FAMILIAR DISCOURSâ— and conference betweene the HVSBANDMAN and FRVIT-TREES in his Nurseries Orchards and Gardens Wherein are discovered many usefull and profitable Observations and Experriments in Nature in the Ordering of FRVIT-TREES for temporall profitt Improving also the same to higher ends and uses in Spirituall things for the Good and profitt of all both in the Church and of the World Whereby the Wisdome Power Bounty and goodnesse of God to his Glory are clearely seen and read in this Volume of the Creatures And all men instructed by thâ—m in their Duty towards God in order to their Comfort Edification and Salvation By RA AVSTEN Practiser 50 years in the Art of Planting FRVIT-TREES Cant. 2.3 As the Appletree among the Trees of the wood so is my beloved among the Sonnes I sate downe under his shaddow with great delight And his Fruit was sweete to my tast Hose 12.10 I have used similitudes by the Ministrie of the Prophets Aquin. Tunc homo creaturas interrogat quando â—…s dilgenter considerat sed tunc interrogatae respondent cum â—…mo perspicit quod tanta ordinatio esse non possit nisi ab â—…qua superiore sapientia dispensante OXFORD Printed by Hen Hall for Thomas Bowman 167â— THE EPISTLE to the READER GOD hath given to man two great Books to read and study viz His workes and his word whereby we may come to know God and learn our Duty to him The Creatures of God do all of them speake out the Praises of God and are not only Examples to us of Obedience but also do call aloude unto Man and instruct and teach him what he ought to do And that as plainly and convincingly to the mind and conscience as words do to the eare The Prophet saith Ps 19.1 2. c. The heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy worke ver 2. Day unto Day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge ver 3. There is no speech nor Language Where their voice is not heard ver 4. Their line is gon out through all the Earth and their words to the Ends of the world The Apostle Paul recites words to the same purpose Rom 10 18 shewing that all men have instructions to know God even by his works Have they not heard saith he Yes verily their sound went into all the Earth and their words to the Ends of the world We see here inanimate creatures can speake to the praise of God and instruction of man The excellencies and infinite perfections of God are plainly seen and read perspeculum creaturarum even in the Creatures which he hath made And men that are illiterate and cannot read a line in any printed Book may yet read distinctly and plainly in this Book of the Creatures if they will but set their Reason and understanding on work and learn their Language and the manner of Discourse with them Inanimate creatures such as are but bare And naked substances without life or sence as the heavens the Sun Moon and Starrs yet even these do declare knowledge and wisdome to Man they have a speech a voice their words go the ends of the world to every Nation and Language And men who have not the Scriptures nor any other Books or writings of men they shall not be excused in their ignorance of God and of their dutie to him if they learne not from his creatures if they understand not their speech and Language and learn not from them And this is plain from Rom 1 20. St Paul speaking of the heathen reproving them for their ignorance and disobedience he tells them much of God may be seen and known in and by the Creatures The invisible things of God from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternall Power and Godhead so that they are left without excuse The Attributes of God his wisdom Power goodnesse love and bounty towards mankind are clearly seene read and understood by the things that he hath made And let not men think that because they are not Learned in any School Learning therefore they shall be excused Though they are ignorant of God and of their duty to him for the Prophet tells such what they shall find if they are of the number of those sottish children that have no understanding he that made them will not have Mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no Favour Isay 27 11 So that it highly concernes every one to learn the Language of the Creatures and how to conferre and discourse with them for their profitt and edification And among the Creatures with Fruit-trees the subject of the Ensuing Dialogue Shall men plant Orchards and Gardens of Fruit-trees and only take their Pleasures and Profits from them from year to year This is no more than the Beasts and the Birds do They sitt under their shade in the heate of Sommer and eat of their Fruits The Swine gathers and eates the Fruits that fall under the Trees and goes his way but understands not whence they are but men that are endued with Reason and understanding especially if a Principle of supernaturall grace and the Spirit of God be dwelling and ruling in them must look higher and make another use of Fruit-trees than meerly for temporall Profit and Pleasures Men must discourse with Fruit-trees having learned to understand their Language which though it be nor Articulate and distinct to the outward sence of hearing in the sound of words yet they speake plainly and distinctly to the inward sence the understanding The soul hath its sences as well as the body the soul doth really hear see c. as well as the body so that we may learn from Fruit-trees many good lessons and usefull instructions they being Creatures that are alwaies speaking and alwaies speake the truth both for the glory of God and the good of men Every Creature speakes this aloude to every man qui fecit me propter te fecit te propter se he that made me for thee made thee for himselfe Mr Caryl in his exposition upon Job Chap. 12. speakes much to this purpose All Creatures as he there saies have a teaching voyce they read us divinity Lectures of Divine Providence Seculum est Speculum The world below is a Glass wherein we may see the world above they who cannot read other Books may yet run and read this Book of the Creatures written in great and plain Letters and Characters Non est ullum animalculum tam exiguum in quo non plus discere possimus quam in omnibus sculptis pictis aut simulachris Lauac The idle slothfull man is sent to the Pismire to learn and be instructed Pro 6.6 Go to the Ant thou sluggard consider her wayes and be wise she getteth her meat in the Summer c such as provide not in summer for Winter in youth for old age in this life for the next are condemned
forgett God least if yee neglect this day of grace yee shortly prove these things to be true by woofull experience in remediles Miseries â—kilfull ordering of Fruittrees produceth Fruitfulnesse HVSBANDMAN But yet I see some few of these great Trees even in this rich soyle who by some skill and extraordinary industry of the Husbandman do bring forth very good Fruits and plentifully too from yeare to yeare how glad should I be were yee all so Fruitfull I should then have a greater revenue of Profitts yearely then I have Remove the Cause and the Effect ceaseth FRVITTREES Thou knowest by Experience that immoderation and excesse in any thing is hurtfull and dangerouse so when thou knowest the Cause of a mischiefe or inconvenience thou hast best remove it if thou can'st that so the effect also may cease as this in Nature so also in Morall or Spirituall things sublatâ Causâ tollitur effectvs HVSBANDMAN This also is of higher and further use in reference to the great on 's in the world A due Commendation of the Pious and Religious Gentrie Although great Revenues high Titles Dignities Honours Riches and Pleasures of the world are great snares and Temptations unto those who have them yet through the mighty and powerfull operations of the spirit of God in the carefull and diligent use of the meanes of grace which some of the great Persons do exercise themselves in their minds and hearts are inlightned and changed from a state of Nature to a state of Grace who are famous Examples unto others in their generations and have a great influence upon all round about them being Patterns of Piety great Charity and Vertue And so are truly Noble as being Borne from above Sones and Daughters to the Lord God Almighty Though according both to * 1 Cor. 1.26 Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many Noble are called Scripture Experience and Observation of inlightned spirituall minds the greatest part of such walke in the broad way and enter into the wide gate that leadeth to destruction the eyes of their minds being blinded not only by Corruption and Sathan as all sorts by Nature are but also dazelled by the glittering shew and splendor of these Pompous gaudy Vanities Profitts and Pleasures of this world and so their state is thereby the more dangerous Then what infinite grace is shewed forth in chusing and calling some of them Notwithstanding these impediments and plucking them as Brands out of the Burning making them as rich Diamonds and Pearles among Pebbles and common stones These persons then lye under the greatest Bonds and Obligations that can be to returne answerable Obedience Duty and Thankfullnesse unto God for his rich and free Grace to them in Jesus Christ Not only in saving them from the wrath to come but also estating them in an inheritance immortall invisible and that fadetâ— not away reserved in Heaven for them Section 8. HVSBANDMAN Omnia fâ—orebunt prospiciente Deo Methinks yee swagger and are very brave this May-morning iâ— your beautifull blossomes and greenâ— leaves whence had yee all this Gallantrieâ— The Voice of all Creatures to Man FRVIT-TREES It pleased our bountifull Creator to bestow it upon us but iâ— is for thee and for the sake of mankind which ingageth thee and all men to acknowledge it And to serve him and praisâ— him with more chearefullnesse This is ouâ— Language and Lesson to all Men which every particuler tree among us does dailâ— speake aloud qui fecit me propter te fecit te propter se He that made me for thee made thee for himselfe HVSBANDMAN But I have seene you meanely clothed sometimes in the yeare I perceive yee change your Garments now and then have yee severall suits of Apparell Fruit-trees receive and loose their beauty once a yeare FRVIT-TREES Yea we are diversly clothed we weare out a new shuite every yeare Our bountifull Lord and Master puts upon us a fresh new Garment every spring of the yeare and we are very beautifull to looke upon all the spring and Summer with various coloured blossomes leaves and Fruits but towards Autumne this brave clothing looseth its fresh colour because the Sun the efficient Cause of our Springing growth and flourishing withdraws from us and is gone towards the South parts And as cold weather coms on these our beautifull Garments of Leaves â—nd Fruits fade and fall from us by litâ—le and little till we are quite Naked and â—hen for a season we are in a melancholy posture The state of all things here below changeable HVSBANDMAN Vicissitude and change is the state of all visible Creatures from Riches to Poverty from Poverty to Riches sometimes prosperity sometimes adversity sometimes health sometimes sicknesse sometimes honour sometimes disgrace good Report and evill Report turnes and changes of providence which we ought to be fitted for that in every state we may be therewith content by getting a well grounded confidence and assurance of the love of God in Christ which never changeth as all created things do but is the same for ever without variablenesse or shaddow of change There is evidently a very great change and alteration concerning you betweene Sommer and Winter as hath been said but how is it with you in the cold sharp Winter in frost and snow stormes of Haile Raine strong and boisterouse Wind and sometimes blasting killing Winds and Aires have yeâ— any reliefe or nourishment then to feedâ— upon how do yee to live and hold out iâ— the time of all these difficulties yee shew forth no effects of life either by growthbuds blossomes or leaves how do yee find your selves to be during that sharp time Fruit-trees are pincht and endure difficulties in Winter Fruit-trees in the spring revive FRVIT-TREES It 's true indeed There is a very great alteration in us betweene Sommer and Winter our beauty and ornaments being taken from us and we are left naked and bare and seem during all that time as if we were quite dead so that some unskilfull persons judg us so to be indeed yet we have a conserving sap existing in us all that time which keeps us alive though we cannot exert it then because the Sun which is the efficient Cause of our growth is at that time farr remote from us But when it returnes again in the spring time and daily draws neerer to us then by its warmth and influence we begin to be a little refreshed for though we have not sence yet we have perception which is to us insteed of sence and we shew it by the effects for thou seest we then begin to plump our buds which by little and little do open and brake forth into Blossomes Leaves and shootes And by degrees as the Sunne draws neerer and neerer and it 's heare and influence is stronger and stronger upon us we are more and more refreshed by it our blossome Buds turn into Fruits and we shoote forth uigorously and strongly and bring forth