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
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
the houshold of faith Let our tongue be our glory in praising God And as the leaves of the tree of life were for the healing of the Nations so let our words be seasoned and tempered with wisdome and love that they may reforme what is evill and minister grace unto the hearers As there is some similitude in the shape and proportion of the tongue Fert folium linguae fert poma fimilima cordi De Persico pomo in Alciato and of the leaves of divers trees as also of very many herbs which therefore have their names given them from that part so there is some resemblance betweene them For as we can discerne what tree it is that we behold by the leafe although there be no fruit remaining upon it at that time so we can understand the disposition of the heart by the words of the mouth for out of the aboundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Yet because the tongue is a world of iniquity and an unruly evill we can distinguish more perfectly by workes than words As in the parable of the two Sonnes the first said he would not go into the Vineyard but afterward he went the second said I goe Sir and went not the younger did bear the broader leaves Mat. 21.29 but the elder had the goodliest fruit Words are soone uttered and many times rashly spoken like the leaves that in a short time come to their utmost extent whereas the fruit of action is more deliberate and requires much space and leisure to bring it to perfect maturity Although we should for want of that bridle which David speakes of Psal 39.1 sin with our tongue Junipero spina pro folio est Plin. Soc. and our words be like the leaves of the Juniper sharp and piercing as a thorne yet let not our deeds be like the fruit of the Pine Cadentibus ex alto fâ—uctibus si fortè feriatur saepe interficitur c. Imag. deor wounding or killing such as are under them when they fall Let not our anger by lying longin our hearts be as the kernell and seed of malice which will grow up into deadly hatred Where there is a faire promise of amendment and reformation there may be some forbearance The fig-tree was spared for a time Luke 13.7 in regard it was green and flourishing whereas if it had beene withered it should have beene cut downe in the first yeere and not suffered untill the fourth Uvae contra vehementisfimum solis ardorem muniantur Kecker Et contra pluviam et frigus Id. A gentle answer pacifieth wrath even as the leaves protect the fruit from the burning heat of the sun and as they cherish and defend it against stormes when it is young and tender so the truth of our word whereby we are engaged should be a strong motive to produce the reall and absolute performance Otherwise if we have a torrent of words and no actuall discharge of our fidelity if the showers of our deeds be not in some sort answerable to the mighty thunder of our voice we may be likened to that Indian fig-tree Peltae effigiem habet fructum integens crescere prohibiet Scaâ—exer the leafe whereof is as large as a buckler and the fruit no bigger than a beane The consideration of our weake condition may occasion us to bring forth that in our lives which was formerly conceived in our hearts and is come to the birth in our words While we have opportunity let us doe good The time is short the fashion of this world passeth away Esay 64.6 We all doe fade as a leafe and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away Job 13.25 Job compareth himselfe to a leafe driven to and fro Such is our feeble estate here upon earth if God doth blow upon us we are scattered if nipt with the frost of sicknesse Quam mult in sylvis autumni frigore primo lapfa cadunt folia Virg l. 6. Ut nunc canae frigora brumae nudent sylvas Sen. Hippol. or wasted with the winter of age we fall to the ground and yet how few there be that doe remember their latterend but rather in the fall of the leafe they hope for new strength and perfect recovery of former health and never thinke of the fall of the tree it selfe that before this winter be ended thou maist be brought downe to the pit The Lord give us wisdome to lay this to heart and to wait for our appointed change In the conclusion of the yeere behold thine own dissolution in the budding of the spring Terra viret rutilantque suis poma aurea ramis Bal Castil Redit ecce anni melioris origo Sincerus when the trees begin to be apparelled with a fresh beauty when the branches that lately seemed to be dead are again covered with their leaves and adorned with their fruit thou maist observe a strong proofe to confirme thee in thy hope of a glorious resurrection If all other things doe shoote forth for man then shall not man himselfe revive and spring up God who restored a vegetative life to Aarons rod when it was a drie sticke Numb 17. causing it to bring forth buds to bloome blossomes and to yeeld Almonds will much more raise Aaron himselfe from the dead Tamen abdita quaedam vitalis superat vis in radicibus imis et trunco exciso nova vere tepullulat arbos Vida We are joyned unto Christ who is the root in the winter of death our life is hid in him but when the time of refreshing is come we shall be raised to an estate of glory Awake and sing ye that dwell in dust Esay 26.19 for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast out the dead If we did looke unto the joy that is set before us and by the eye of faith did see that recompence of reward that is reserved for us at that day we would be more industrious in labouring to be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are by Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of God Eccles 11.1 As they that cast their bread upon the waters shall find it after many dayes so they that have brought much fruit unto God in this life shall have it restored unto them at the resurrection of the just Saint Paul speaks of having some fruit among the Romanes Rom. 1.13 not onely because he was an instrument to gather it but also in regard of that gaine and advantage it would bring unto himselfe at the latter end Nothing can deprive us of this best fruit The worme may destory our bodies and the fruit of them and may consume the fruit of the ground The worme of conscience wil torment such as brought forth fruit unto death by unfruitfull workes of darknes but this fruit is committed unto God who is faithfull and able to keepe it against that day 1 Tim. 6.19 Hereby we
partakers of the divine nature This is intended by the Apostle when he saith James 1. Receive with meekness the engraffed word When the heart is made lowly it will be more ready to receive the Word the Word will be more ready to incorporate into it Wee must not only lay aside our greatest sins our boasting that we could do mischiefe our delight in folly and wickednesse but also all confidence in our owne seeming vertues as of temperance liberality moderation and the like lest we be puffed up thereby See this in Saint Paul who saith Phil. 3.3 wee are the circumcision who have no confidence in the flesh and though he were blamelesse touching the righteousnesse that was in the law yet those things that were gain to him he counted losse for Christ Thus David saith His soule was even as a weaned childe and thus we should bee weaned and estranged from taking any contentment in our owne strength and ability and should put on as the Elect of God holy and beloved humbleness of mind meeknesse and lowlinesse In the next place there is an incision or wound made into the stocke by which it may be made capable and fitting to receive the cyons In like manner we must rend our hearts and open our selves that Christ may enter into our soules Our hearts must be broken and opened like the heart of Lydia that we may receive the Word of life Was Christ wounded for our transgressions and shall not wee be pricked to the heart with sorrow for our former provocations After this we put the cyons into that breach and division that is made in the stocke so after sorrow and humiliation God puts joy into our hearts and his law into our inward parts implanting his graces in our soules and rejoycing over us to doe us good Surculi vis ea est ut in tantillo corpusculo tamen praeponderet arboris viribus totius Non enim arboris prodit sed surculi fructus Scal. in Theoph. Bacon Cent. Although the Cyon be small in the beginning yet it groweth to be a great tree over-ruling the stocke and bringing forth fruit of its owne kind so although the beginning of grace be weak and little like a graine of mustard-seed yet there is a continuall increasing and growing unto more perfection when we yeeld our selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousnesse not living any longer in sinne but living by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved us and gave himselfe for us that hee might reconcile us who were sometimes alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked workes and delivering us from the power of darknesse might translate us into the Kingdome of his deare Sonne As after graffing the stocke being nigher unto the root than the cyons and still abiding in its proper place where it formerly did prosper is ready to send forth many young twigs that will arrest and anticipate that strength and vertue which should ascend for the nourishment of the cyons and are therefore diligently taken away to prevent that mischiefe So there is a combat betweene the flesh and the spirit the one lusting against the other there is the body of death and the old leaven of corruption remaining within us Our sins and infirmities are continually interposing and hindring us from apprehending the favour and love of God with that strength and fulnesse which wee doe desire and therefore wee must cut off these sprigs with pruning-hookes not suffering sinne to reigne in our mortall bodies and have dominion over us but mortifying the deeds of the body through the Spirit and casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ The Kingdome of God is compared to leaven hid in three measures of meale Luke 13.21 untill the whole were leavened A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump the grace begun should grow strong and powerfull within us the leaven of holiness should work out the leaven of malice If the tree doth not flourish we will impute the cause unto the barrennes of the ground or the want of a good root Crassitie suâ cortex obstat quo minus à terrae humore augeatur acinus non enim transmittitur Scal. in Theop. or the thicknesse of the bark that binds the stocke but not unto the graft it self which did grow very happily before it was converted to this use From whence is it that there is such imperfection weaknesse such backwardnesse in the good way and that our fruits rellish so much of the stocke so little of the graft Comes it not hence that our corruptions and lusts doe still warre in our members and we doe not labour to perfect holinesse in the feare of God O wretched men in whom the Crosse of Christ hath not yet worne out the bitter taste of that first tree The Cyon is taken from the tree of life Every good gift commeth downe from the Father of lights who giveth liberally and upbraideth not Oh that we were enlarged in apprehending and applying what is so freely offered If our hearts were opened wide in holy desires the Lord would fill them with spirituall blessings but wee are straitned in our owne bowels and being in this great strait we are as unable to free our selves as the Prophet was to deliver himselfe out of the belly of the Whale We cannot relieve our selves and vaine is the helpe of man who is subject to the same misery We may not trust to the arme of flesh or ascribe the praise to humane power as Adrian did who wrote over his Hospitall at Lovan Adr. 6. Trajectum me plantavit Lovanium me rigavit Caesar incrementum dedit Ergo Deus nihil fecit Utrecht planted Lovan watered Caesar gave the increase Whereunto it was fitly subscribed by another Therefore God had nothing to doe in this man We know that neither hee that planteth is any thing neither he that watereth but God who giveth the increase So Noah began to be an husbandman and planted a vineyard Gen. 9.20 He is the Husbandman saith our Saviour and we are his husbandry saith the Apostle both which places are to be understood of a Plantation as appeares by the context where it is said John 15.1 That Christ is the Vine and we the Branches whereof hee purgeth some and taketh away others Also there is frequent mention of planting watering 1 Cor. 39. which is some part of countrie labour And then the Apostle concludes We are Gods husbandry wee are Gods building and except the Lord build the house they labour in vaine that build it Except the Lord gives a blessing our paines and industry will be fruitlesse In demanding who built such an house or planted such an orchard we intend not the inferiour workmen but the chief owners at whose expence they
land yet Gods messengers who doe carry these clusters into the heavenly Canaan shall for ever enjoy the felicity of that better Country If we take the Church to be the Vineyard as it is oft-times called then we must consider every true beleever to be a Vine unto which he may well be likened Ut ex eâ fluat quod nimium est Scal. in Theop. For as in graffing of the Vine it was usuall to let the stocke in regard of the aboundant moisture to bleed divers dayes before the Cyons was fastened thereunto so there is a time of mourning before the Lord doth put joy into the heart We doe first lay apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse before we receive the ingraffed word This is the weakest of all plants and must be sustained by the sides of the house Psal 128.3 Jamjam contingit summum radice flagellum Catul. Qualiter aequaevo sociatam palmite vitem Ultuus amat Stati as David speaketh or by some wall or frame or such like stay or else be joyned to some tree so we being feeble and infirme in our selves are supported by the favour and goodnesse of God Such as make flesh their arme or trust to any outward help 2 Kin. 7.17 doe as Joram did who leaned upon the hand of that man which was soone trodden downe That shore and strength upon which they rested may suddenly be taken away from them Si quid attigerit ultrò amabit quidem viriosius amplexabitur c. Tertul. The Vine being thus weake in it selfe doth by the tendrels or small strings seeke to catch hold upon any thing it doth touch and to grasp it fast Ut se erigat claviculis suis quasi manibus c. Cicero Adeo ramos string it ut crasse scere prohibeat Scal. that it may be sustained thereby Thus we being sensible of our owne frailty should apprehend the gracious promises and rich mercies of Almighty God and adhere unto Christ by a lively faith Gen. 32.26 Jacob would not let the Angel goe except he blest him so we by applying the merits of our Redeemer unto our soules doe receive a blessing from the Lord. When wee doe tie our selves unto our Creatour by the cords of love which is the bond of perfectnesse as a Sacrifice unto the Altar we shall be kept from falling and the Serpent shall not have power to fold himselfe about us who are so neerely united to our heavenly Father The Vine-tree is not fit for any use but onely to beare fruit shall wood be taken thereof to doe any work or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessell thereon Ezek. 15.3 An unfruitfull Christian is the most unprofitable creature that is a heavie burthen to the earth a cumbrance to the ground no better than the wild gourds in the pot a vexation to the righteous soule and a stumbling block to the wicked Other trees may beare fruit upon the young sprigs that did shoot out in the former yeere but this doth exceed them all bringing forth grapes upon the new branches in the same yeere in which they did proceed from the body of the Vine thereby teaching us even in the very beginning of our profession to become fruitfull and profitable in our conversation running the waies of Gods Commandements Psa 119.32.60 and without delay making haste to keep his Statutes How can they that have neglected so great salvation and deferred to returne unto the Lord expect that he should heare them when in affliction they seeke him early seeming fervent in prayer when they first begin to call upon his Name and cry unto him O God make speed to save us O Lord make haste to help us whereas they during their whole life it may be these forty yeers long have grieved the good Spirit and erred in their hearts putting the evill day of Gods judgement and the good day of true repentance far from them But there is fruit of a better rellish to be gathered from the Vine if that be prevented by the frost Gelatione cohibita in sequenti anno duplum dabit Scal. in Theop. and hindred from bearing one yeere in the following yeere it will recompence that losse by a twofold restitution If we have been as trees without fruit we must not still persist in impiety and live to the lusts of men but labour to redeem the time by abounding alwaies in the worke of the Lord that as Ahimaaz over-ran Cushi 2 Sam. 18.23 who was sent before him so we may supply by our diligence and chearfull obedience what was wanting in time And as Saint Paul who was last called 2 Cor. 11.5 was not a whit behind the very chiefest Apostles so we in spirituall endowments and glorious reward may bee made equall unto them who entred the worke before our selves Where the fruit of this tree is most esteemed In agro Aureliano vina excellentissima Nulla vinea vetula sed c. Ibid. they doe not suffer any old Vines to grow but replenish the ground with new whose fruit is most acceptable thereby teaching us to put off the old man and to be renewed in our mind putting on the new man Ephes 4.23 which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse The Lord satisfieth our mouth with good things Psal 103.5 so that our youth is renewed like the Eagles And the Lord satisfieth our soule with his mercy so that his graces are revived and repaired in us by the worke of the quickning Spirit John 2.8 He turned the water into wine at the marriage of Cana in Galile and hee sends the comfortable showers Initia vini esse aquea Ibid. that doe moisten and cherish the roots of the Vine causing them to produce their fruit in which there is a blessing Hee turneth our sorrow into joy Isa 65.8 our weeping into rejoycing John 16.20 He maketh the barren woman to be a joyfull mother of children and hee maketh the barren heart to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit Psal 113. and giveth wisedome and all heavenly blessings liberally above that which wee can aske or thinke Our lot is falne to us in a good ground we are planted in a fertile soile we receive the best gifts from the open hand of a bountifull Father Now as the Vine doth draw much vertue and nourishment out of the earth Necesse est eam multum quoque trahere Ibid. that it may produce abundance of goodly clusters and great plenty of large leaves and long branches so we should derive much strength and power from that fulnesse which is in Christ that wee may bee complete and furnished unto every good worke being fitted to performe any holy duty being prepared to suffer any triall or affliction which the Lord shall be pleased to impose upon us As upon the Vine there be great store of grapes joyned together in