much Planting of Fruit-trees p. 60 Cider the most wholsome drink especially of the bect Fruits p. 60 Section 17. Fruit-trees shew forth the glory of God p. 61 Fruit-trees are ingagements to obedience p. 62 All men act according to their Natures p. 63 Fruit-trees change not their Natures ibid. All mankind have changed their Natures once and some have a double change p. 64 Section 18. Heat of the Sun needfull for Fruits p. 65 Fruit-trees have a preception of the heate of the Sunn and are refreshed by it ibid. Believers that walke closest with God bring forth the best fruits p. 66 Section 19. The Scripture saith Fruit-trees were from the beginning and shall be to the End of the world p. 67 The excellencies of all Creatures are united in God and infinitely more then all p. 67 The Excellencies and vertues of the Creatures should leade us unto God and there to rest p. 68 Section 20. Young small Trees full of good Fruits p. 68 God calls some of his people in childhood and youth others afterwards p. 69 Section 21. Grosse ignorance reproved p. 73 Most people are ignorant both of Gods word and works p. 74 Vnlearned men may read in the Book of the Creatures Section 22. An invitation and incouragement to a conference with Fruit-trees p. 76 Many things in Fruit-trees occasion admiration p. 77. 1. Tender Fruits come forth with covers upon them the more hardy without p. 77 Section 23. 2. Different substances made of one substance p 79 Different Gifts and Graces wrought by the same Spirit ibid. Every gift ought to be improved for the profit of all p. 80 Section 24. 3. Grafts and Buds assimilate the Sap of the Stocks p. 81 Section 25. 4 Every small Bud contains the Nature of the whole Tree in it selfe p. 83 5. The properties of a tree are in every seed p. 84 The same flower seed brings forth variety p. 85 6. Many kinds of Fruits upon one tree p. 86 A DIALOGVE OR FAMILIAR DISCOURSE and conference between the Husbandman and Fruittrees in his Nurseries Orchards and Gardens Trees speak to Men. HVSBANDMAN I have read in Learned and Godly mens workes and the Scriptures also declare as much that yee Fruittrees can speake and discourse with men though not with an articulate distinct voice and sound of words to the outward sence of hearing for that is proper only to rationall Creatvres Yet it is knowne yee can speake very intelligibly and convincingly to the minds and consciences of men And can Answere their Questions and speak many things to their profit and edification And that yee alwaies speake the very truth and to the glory and praise of God What Language is it that yee speake is it English or Latin Greek or Hebrew or what other Language else wherein yee discourse with men The Language of Fruittrees FRVIT-TREES We can speake all Languages We can discourse with any People or Nation in any Language whatsoever according as people please to discourse with us so we Answer them every man in his owne Language HVSBANDMAN We in this Countrey are Natives of England we will therefore speake together in our English Tongue for that we best understand Tell me then first of all Of what age are yee of what duration I speake not of these individuall Trees here Planted but of Fruittrees in generall How Long have yee been in the world The Age of Fruittrees FRVITTREES We are of a very Great Age even from the beginning of the Creation which is now according to common computation 5676. yeares or thereabouts This thou maist understand by a Token that much concernes the For we were present stood by when thou and thy wife did both of you transgresse the Command of our Creator in the Garden of Eden in that yee did eate of the Forbidden Fruit Thou had'st liberty enough given thee which was to Eate of all our Fruits throughout the whole Garden Except only of one Tree to try thy Obedience and that as freely as thou wouldest why then didst thou breake the command of God which we never yet did nor ever shall though we are much inferior to mankind Mans fall Restoring and Establishing HVSBANDMAN Herein yee speake the truth and convincingly indeed for so it was which we must acknowledge to God and be humbled for it for it was a very great transgression we lost our glory and our Happiness by it but blessed be God for ever for his free Grace he hath shewed us a meanes and way of recovery to our former state of happinesse which he did not to the Angels that sinned but a little while before us God never spake one kind word to them since nor ever will O the justice and mercy of God towards them justice but towards us Mercy and free Grace in our restoring even all that he hath chosen Yea God hath not only restored and recovered us out of our fallen state but also hath so confirmed us in it as that now we can never fall from it any more as we then did But this is a Gloriouse mistery discovered to us in the word of the Gospell of Christ wherein yee have no skill neither can yee speake as to that matter Section 2. Sympathy and Antipathy in Vegetables HVSBANDMAN It hath been asserted by Learned men That there is a sympathy and Antipathy in Plants Trees and all Vegetables some kinds will not thrive together which they impute to Antipathy and some other kinds flourish and prosper vigorously growing together which they call Sympathy or a good agreement one with another What say yee of your selves as to this matter Sympathy and Antipathy of Plants duly stated We owne the Notion if it be but rightly understood and applyed for there is such a contrariety and heterogeneous quality in some trees and other Vegetables as men speake of And also a likenesse and agreement in Nature in some others But it hath been much mistaken by some writers who have said That there is an Antipathy betweene some Plants as the Vine and the Colewort because they will not thrive together but that is not an Antipathy but rather a Sympathy Lord Baron's Nat Hist pa 101. Exp 480. Because wee Vines love the same fatt and fertill soyle as the Colewort does and thence it is that wee turne our Rootes from it because it hath exhausted the soile and made it barren But there is a real Antipathy in Nature between some trees which are of Different species therefore they will never thrive together when joyned in Grafting As the Apple-tree grafted upon a Peerestock and so on the contrary Also the Plum on the Cherry and the Cherry on the Plum They may grow 2. or 3. yeares but will never thrive to perfection there is an Antipathy in Nature and they reject each other And therefore let men in grafting observe right species and kinds in joyning us together else no profit will accrue to the Husbandman Likenesse of Natures accord best
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
planted them here in England severall degrees Northward which though it will beare many kinds of good fruits to perfection and ripenesse such as are fitt for the Countries yet it will not beare good Orringes Lemons Pomegranates and such like Fruits of the South Countries Therefore they had better bestow their cost and paines about Fruit-trees that are knowne by long Experience to be profitable unto all that plant them Section 15. Redstraketrees formerly of little Account HVSBANDMAN Here are Redstraketrees full of lovely apples are these the true Redstrakes that makes the rare Cider in Herefordshire so much in esteeme amongst all men How come they to be so much in request now it s not long since they went by the name of Skidmores Crabs was not that a disparagement to the Trees and Fruits how come they now to be in so much request and esteeme every where Redstrake apples best for Cider FRVIT-TREES It 's true we grew and bore Fruits for many yeares and our Fruits were called Skidmores Crabs and were very much undervalued and in disparagement for many yeares but when our Natures were considered and tryed and men had Experience of us our Fruitt was found to be better then any other sort of Fruit for Cider and now we are every-where cryed up and in great esteeme amongst all men Comfort after trouble Joy after sorrow HVSBANDMAN I am very glad to heare it for the knowledge hereof is Profitable many waies the consideration of this may be of an higher use and shaddowes out unto us a truth evident to Experience thâ—… so it often happens to the people of God through his providence for their good They may and often fall under disgrace and reproch among many because of theiâ— Sin temptations and afflictions that God foâ— good Ends permitts them to fall into but yet upon their returne and restoring God in his own good time brings them out of all their troubles and disparagements and makes them in esteeme more then others which fell not as they did The Prodigall is an instance herein For when their Natures and Fruits are knowne and made manifest he will get them praise and fame in every place where they have beene put to shame Zeph. 3.19 Section 16. More Planting of late yeares then formerly HVSBANDMAN It is observed by many people that there hath been much Planting of Fruit-trees of late yeares more then formerly Men have Planted more Fruit-trees within 30 or 40. yeares last past then in severall hundreds of yeares in former ages as is manifest by Orchards that are planted What is the reason that Fruit-trees are so much in esteeme now and of late time more than in former times Reasons for much Planting of Fruit-trees FRVITTREES The Reason is evident Because men of late time have inquired and made search into the Nature of our Fruits And have found out the particuler Profitts and advantages that come by us in many respects not only as to the sale â—f the Fruits to those that buy them but also as to pleasant and wholesome Foode all the yeare long in the family And particulerly for Cider which is of late time concluded generally to be the most wholesome liquor in the world being found so to be by Experience Not only preventing diseases which other drinks do breed in the Body but also cures many already contracted And therefore no marvell Fruit-trees are in esteeme now more then formerly Cider the most wholsome drink especially of the best fruits HVSB It is undoubtedly true That Cider in generall is the most wholsome drink in refference both to health and Long life though made of ordinary and common Fruits But there are certaine peculiar Fruits now or late time found out and known which makeâ— Cider far beyond and better then the common Cider As the Redstrake the double Red-redstrake Gennet Moyles and some other kinds that might be named And so long as health and long life is in esteeme with men so long will Cider be in esteeme also as the cheif meanes to attaine these Ends Learned and judicious Physitians do also concurre therein and commend syrupum de Pomis vinum Pomaceum vinum Britanicum c see London dispensatory composed by a Colledge of Physitians pa 38 And a famous Physitian in his time gives it this commendation Julius Palmarius Lib de Morois p. 248. Pomaceum è succo Malorum dulcium quae maturitatem consequta sunt satis de faeâ—atum maturum tenue Subflavum melancholicis adeo salubre est omne potionis gemus bonitate vincat Section 17. Fruit-trees shew forth the glory of God HVSBANDMAN I undeâ—stand that yee Fruit-trees are Creatures that God hath made to manifest and shew forth his glory And that yee do it continually according to the Law of your Creation The wisdome Power goodnesse bounty care and love of God towards man is seen and clearely manifest in you evident to the Reason and understanding of men And therefore yee are worthy to be esteemed and commended and to be set before us as Examples and incentives to the like Obedience And there is reason we should exceed you in setting forth the glory of God as much as we do in our Natures we being created a higher rank of Creatures then yee and for whose sake use yee were created FRVIT-TREES Fruit-trees are ingagements to Obedience Thou hast said the truth and therefore see thou do and performe accordingly And that in a due proportion too answerable to thy degree as to thy created Nature above us else we shall one day be witnesses against thee for god our Creator as sure as we are now Examples Motives and Engagements to thee of obedience to God see that thou make the glory of God the cheif End of thy life in all the actions of thy life as we do All men act according to their Natures HVSBANDMAN This is indeed the End of mans Creation but men generally by reason of the corruption of Nature in all mankind do make themselves the End of their living in the world and all their thoughts words motions and waies in the world is for selfe that Idoll selfe is set up and worshiped by every man and woman Naturally untill God worke another Nature and Principle even a divine and spirituall Nature his own Nature And then we do as naturally worke and act for the glory of God and his interests in the world as before we did for our selves Fruit-trees change not their Natures FRVIT-TREES Thou tellest us now of a Mistery we perceive not any such thing in our selves as a change in our Natures what meanest thou by a change of Nature we never changed our Natures from the beginning of the world to this day but have kept and observed the Lawes of our Creation without the least violation and so we shall do to the end of the World All mankind have changed their Natures once and some have a double change HVSBANDMAN It s true yee never