hast other work to do let thy greatest zeal be laid out on matters of greatest concernment maintain the vitalls of religion and that will maintain thee do not doat upon the brats of thy own brain neither censure those that differ from thee in cicumstantials love Christ whereever thou see him though in one of another judgement Lord make me upright in the main and to employ and improve all my strength for thee Upon a fair but fruitless tree 79. Med. WHen I saw a fair and large spreading tree that overtopt and overlookt all the rest that had a flourishing head and a promising shew and gave great hopes of fruit to all the beholders but drawing near as Christ did to the leavy fig-tree Mat. 21.19 expecting fruit I found none his whole strength was spent in bringing forth leaves when others that were less promising were richly laden with fruit so apt are we to mistake if we judge at a distance When I had seriously considered it I thought this tree did fitly resemble some high-flown professor that makes a great shew in the world and seems like Saul higher by the head then others are and haply disdains them as not fit for their society for oftentimes hypocrites do so by their poor brethren called weak Christians These you may frequently hear commending their own attainments and their own enjoyments their knowledge gifts and their communion with God and speaking of their holy raptures their assurance and such like and think they are not Christians that have not indubitable evidenee of their salvation when others ly under the hatches under fears and doubts complaining under the sence of their sin the hardness of their hearts under their wants and other spiritual distempers the load of corruption that lyes upon them their want of communion with God and fellowship with Jesus Christ the want of assurance and such like having the sun of righteousness often clouded and hid from their sight but when I have come a little nearer to them and more heedfully observed their course of life I saw that many of these great confidents bear little more then leaves and that where there was so much of the tongue there seemed to be but little of the heart and their religious duties especially in their family were cold enough and answered not to their confident braggs That those doubting Christians were more constant and spiritual in their performances That their lives and conversations were more holy towards God and more righteous towards men then the others were who bare more leaves but less fruit Upon this Observation I thought these fitly resembled the Pharisee and the Publican Luk. 18.9 c. the one brags of his worth the other is ashamed of his duties the one comes with confidence into Gods presence but the other with fear but Christ tells us that the Publican was the better man and better welcome all is not gold that glisters hypocrisy may lodge in a self-confident breast and sincerity under a thred-bare coat amidst many doubtings neither is it always safe to judge of a mans integrity by his tongue a confident bragger is not always to be believed the emptiest barrel makes the greatest sound and the worst spoak in the cart we say creaks first It is the aspiring ear of corn that is most like to be blasted when those that hang the head are usually most fruitful it is the humble self-denying Christian that bears most fruit to God and is likeliest to be most usefull in his generation God dwells in the high and holy heavens with him also that is of a contrite heart to revive the spirit of the humble A hypocrite holds himself to be the whole piece and all others but a remnant he takes his poor counter and sets it down for a thousand pound he prizeth himself above the market but he reckons without his host and therefore must reckon twice the seed of grace seldom prospers upon mountain tops and high-grounds but in low valleys upon the stalk of self-denyal The more fruit is upon any tree the more it inclines to the earth and the more upright and aspiring the more barren it is the valley and not the tops of mountains that bring forth the best corn and grass and other fruits The greatest braggers are not always the richest wisest or the most learned men many high flown professors are like the nighingale as one saith vox praeterea nihil and those that have least speak oftentimes loudest but it is not the best man that hath the best lungs but the best heart the strongest Christian is most sensible of his own wants and weaknesses as the wisest Philosopher could say I know nothing but that I know nothing but the bragadocia discovers his own ignorance where the river runs quietly the ford is deepest but where it makes most noise it is most shallow I dare not then prefer an over-confident bragger before an humble Christian I had rather judge by their life then by their language there are many that talk like Christians but I love to see men walk like Christians a parat may learn humane language but not humane action when the actions are so dissonant to the words I cannot think the heart and tongue agrees oh my soul rather be good then seem so rather bear fruit then leaves for it is fruit and not leaves substance and not a shadow thy Lord expects it is good works as well as good words intentions as well as pretences he requires let another praise thee and not thy own mouth a stranger and not thy own lips Pro. 27.2 let a man do worthyly in Ephrata and he will be famous in Bethelem he need not be his own trumpeter honour followeth vertue as the shadow doth the substance those that honour God God will honour but those that despise him shall be lightly esteemed set the crown upon Gods head and he will set the garland upon thine let thy own works but not thy own words praise thee Pro. 31.31 do well and thou needst not with Jehu proclaim thy own praises if thy conversation give light doubtless it will not be hid Oh my God let me stand approved in thy sight and I matter not what man saith of me give me truth in the inward parts make me sound at the heart give me sincerity and I shall then bear thee fruit Upon a great tree spoiling others under it 80. Med. WHen I considered the forementioned tree that made such a pompous and promising shew and was grown top-heavy and yet fruitless and worthless when many smaller shrubs yielded a plentiful encrease I considered it further and observed this was not all for I plainly saw that it was an enemy to all that grew near it and none prospered about it for in overshaddowing them or dropping upon them it rendred all that were within the reach of it either barren or at least not so fruitful as those that grew at a greater distance This Observation helpt me
dead soul to God though the unsavoury smell of it be not perceived by natural men for how can one dead man smell another you may as well expect good fruit from a dead tree as any good action from a dead man perhaps something good for the matter may be done by a natural man as prayer fasting and almes-deeds from the Pharisees but the manner or ends spoil all but he that can say to dry bones live can say to a dead soul live and he that at the first brought light out of darkness can enlighten a darkned understanding The soul can act nothing truly good or acceptable to God till it be taken off the stock of nature and planted into that generous vine Christ then will it bear good fruit when it is nourished with sap from this root it must needs germinate and bring forth but without this there is neither bud nor blossome the soul by nature brings forth briars and brambles thorns and thistles weeds and baggage for to these it is not dead but only to good works these other are the fruits of the curse and these will choak the good seed and render it unprofitable the heart is alive to those but dead to grace and holiness of natural men God saith their vine is the vine of Sodom and of the field of Gomorrha their grapes are grapes of gall and their clusters are bitter their wine is the poyson of dragons and the cruel venime of asps their works yea their best works are pernitious the vine is their corrupt nature and the grapes their evil works which proceed from this vine their spot is not the spot of Gods people Deut. 32.5 the saints have their spots but these are not like theirs they are not so deeply ingraven wicked mens spots are like the Leopards not only in the skin but in the flesh yea in the very heart and therefore can be cured by none but Christ the great Physitian they cannot be cured by the art of man or washt away by any water the sin of the saints is but like the viper on Pauls hand through Gods mercy they hurt him not how many of these dead trees may we observe among us yea how few that be alive and few bear so much as a leaf they make no profession of Religion at all but deform the place where they are and procure a curse upon it I fear it may be said of England in a spiritual sence as once it was said of Egypt there was not a family that there was not some dead person in it and I fear there are very few free amongst us nay are not most familyes all thus spiritually dead and it appears they are dead when after twenty years dressing pruning watering and manuring and that by the most skilfull husbandmen who have spent their time their strength and their lives in the work yet they do not bring forth one leaf much lesse any good fruit and there is none can cure them but he that can put life into them and say to a dead soul live and can transplant them from the stock of nature into that noble vine Christ that they are dead is apparent for their souls have all the symptoms of death upon them they have neither heat nor breath nor sence nor motion if God call they hear not if his hand be stretched out they observe it not if a load of sin ly upon them as heavy as a mountain of lead they feel it not nor the deep gashes sin makes in the soul present before a dead man the bloudiest spectacle that ever was beheld or the pleasantest sight that ever was seen all is one he sees neither the one nor the other the roaring cannon and the sweetest musick is all one the sweetest savour and the fulsomest stink he cannot difference the lightest feather and the heaviest mountain signify the same the sweetest meat and the rankest poyson and why because he is dead no more can a dead soul judge of spiritual things promises and threatnings are all alike he is moved neither with the one or with the other oh my soul this hath been thy case thou hast been spiritually dead dead in trespasses and sins thou hast been spiritually deaf and dumb and blinde and lame and if it be better with thee bless God for it for it was he and not thy self put life into thee bring forth now fruit sutable to a tree that hath life that is transplanted into Christ that hath had such planting dressing and manuring as thou hast had that Gods labour be not lost upon thee oh my God remove those obstructions that hinder me from bearing fruit and purge me that I may bring forth more fruit put life into me and I shall live Upon a tree seemingly dead in winter 84. Med. WHen I observed in the winter-season those trees formerly green and flourishing and richly laden not with leaves only but good fruit but now were stript of all and had neither leaf nor fruit but lookt withered dead and dry and no difference appeared between the fruitfull and the barren yea scarce any between the living and the dead yet in the spring following when the sun shone upon them with a more direct ray and warm beams and the rain from heaven watered them and refresht them they revived sprung again budded bloomed and bare fruit I thought this did lively resemble a poor deserted souls condition in her widowhood when her husband hath forsaken her and seems to give her a bill of divorce when the sun of righteousness is either set upon her clouded or ecclipst or at least very remote from her sight then with the Marigold she droops hangs the head and is contracted into her self it is then winter with her and little difference appears between her and a dead soul at least in her own apprehensions when God hides his face from the soul or any thing interposes between them that she cannot see him then is she in a languishing condition and crys out with the spouse did ye see him whom my soul loveth Cant. 3.3 she cannot hide this fire in her bosome or conceal this love but it will break out then she goes from one Ordinance to another from one Minister to another enquiring after her husband Christ every corner of the house can witness her moan for his absence nothing will satisfie nothing will content but him give me Christ or else I die never did hungry man more earnestly desire meat nor thirsty man desire drink or Rachel desire children then an hungry soul desires Christ But when the sun of righteousness doth arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 the soul that before was cold and chill now becomes lively and active these cherishing rays make her bud and bloom and bring forth what Job speaks of a tree seemingly dead and withered yet saith he through the scent of water it will bud and bring forth boughs like a plant Job 14.7 c. is really true of
the clouds that they rain no rain upon it Esay 5.5 6. and how gastly doth that place look which is thus fore-let and forsaken by God This consideration made me think it is time for England to look about them gray hairs are here and there upon us yet we consider it not Hosea 7.9 we may see many a withering branch and dying Christian amongst us fetching the last gasp that formerly seemed flourishing fat and in good liking when men employ not their talents well no wonder if God take from them that which they seemed to have this is verified in many that have had fresh and fragrant parts and gifts and have formerly excelled others but these parts are withered for want of use and the diligent Christian formerly below them now excels them and the unprofitable servant is reserved for utter darkness and how ill favoured do those look that are thus withered nay have we not great cause to fear God is leaving his garden in England seeing he hath transplanted so many of his choisest flowers into America and of late hath taken so many into his own bosome and there are so few left that really flourish and so many are on the dying hand and reall holiness and the power of godliness is so scarce oh my soul art not thou one of these dead or at least withering plants art thou fallen from thy first love where are the love of thy espousals or these affections and the zeal manifested in thy younger years hath thy age encreased thy wisdome and is that seen in growing more strange with thy God and more luke-warm in his service and in having less care of thy soul and in taking less pains for heaven time was thou wast more fresh and flourishing and like to a green bay-tree but now thou growest old and dry and little sap and vigour doth appear is this the fruit of all the pains God hath bestowed upon thee is it to make thee more dry and barren the trees of righteousness planted by the rivers of water should never want fruit nor leaf yea should bring forth fruit to old age yea thy fruit in age may be expected to be more and mellower ripened by age and a more mature judgment thou hast born the burthen and heat of the day and wilt thou now quit the vineyard or cease and slack thy work when thou shouldst come and receive thy wages if thou turn back Gods soul will have no pleasure in thee if thou put thy hand to the plow and look back thou art not fit for the kingdom of heaven neither will thy righteousness be remembred in thy sin thou shalt dye thou art ready to go off the Stage of the world and wilt act thy last scene worst and be hist at in the end wilt thou lose all the pains that ever thou hast taken in heavens way and at last remit thy zeal when thou shouldst double thy diligence is it not he that holds out to the end that shall be saved didst thou ever yet repent of any pains thou didst take for heaven and dost thou think thou shalt ever have cause to repent hereafter art thou affraid thy reward will be too great or thy crown of glory too heavy or that God will love thee too well or that thou shalt make heaven too sure if not why dost thou slack thy pace dost thou expect a better master or better work or better wages if not take heed by thy negligence lest thou force God to put thee out of his service oh my God keep my heart upright in thy service and direct my steps that I turn not aside keep me from the rage of satan that I be not captivated by him he seeks my soul to undo it and fain would make me lose my reward Lord make me faithfull to the death and then give me a crown of life Upon the unknown vertues of many vegetables 31. Med. WHen upon the strictest search and scrutiny that I could possibly make I could not finde out the natures properties vertues operations ends and uses of several vegetables and other simples nor indeed the full use vertue and benefit of any one of them and I suppose I have cause to think that the greatest artist in natures garden cannot do it nay if all pretenders to this art should join heart and hand in the work and combine themselves together and use their utmost diligence yet would they fall short of making a perfect discovery of it though I know every age makes some further progress in it then the preceding did yet very many things lie hid from the choisest wits this made me admire the wisdome of the Creator that hath made nothing in vain and hath put such admirable vertues into such despicable weeds that did we know their worth we should prize them at a higher rate that now we despise and if we cannot finde out the vertues and operation of those things which we are every day conversant with no wonder if we are ignorant of God of the Trinity of the Incarnation of Christ and those more abstruce points of Religion more remote from our sences and above our capacity he that cannot attain to know the nature of his own soul no wonder if he be ignorant of the nature of angels my thoughts upon this account roved further and I considered several small seeds so much resembling one another that my eye could scarcely difference them the one from the other and yet I saw when those were sown together in the same plot nourisht in the same mould refreshed with the same Sun and watered with the same showers they produced plants much differing in nature colour scent quantity quality vertue and operations this made me cry out the finger of God that hath put such vertues in so small despicable seeds it minded me also of the Apostles words God hath given to every seed his own body 1 Cor. 15.38 wheresoever these vegetables are sown planted or replanted still the species are continued neither do they degenerate into another kinde When I considered that such efficacy and vertue should be virtually included in so small a seed I thought it matter of admiration yea that so small a thing as a nut or acorn or the kernel of an apple or pear should produce so great a tree of so vast a bulk as the Oak the apple-tree or the pear-tree this made me to admire the wisdom power and providence of the great God which Christ himself seems to take notice of in the mustard seed which being so very small produceth a plant of such a bigness that the birds build their nests in the branches this minded me also of the nature of grace and sin which from small beginnings come to great perfection and whereever they are they become fruitful grace proceeds from a grain to a tree and as a little leaven leaveneth the lump so grace encreaseth till it makes a universal change in the whole man it makes a man
temptations physick sometimes is as necessary as food and conduceth more to our health the soul hath as much need of threshing and winnowing as the corn Solomon tels us Pro. 22.15 foolishness is bound up in the heart of a childe but the rod of correction will fetch it away old Ely for want of this brought up his sons to bring down his house a lesson set on with whipping is best remembred now this is true of men as well as children for corruption and folly remains in them also till God fetch it out sanctified affliction is the way to consume it It was good for me saith David that I was afflicted before I was afflicted I went astray but now I learn to keep thy Commandments Gods rod as well as his staff comforted him Psal 23.4 as corn must be threshed winnowed ground and baked before it is fit for use or good for food so by affliction men are fitted for Gods service here and for glory hereafter yet as some corn requires not so much threshing as others doth yet all must have some so some men need not so much affliction as others though some be necessary but he that gives man understanding in the one best knows what is necessary for the other Isay 28.24 doth the plowman plow all day to sow doth he open and break the clods of his ground when he hath made plain the face thereof doth he not cast abroad the fetches and scatter the cummin and the appointed barly and rye in their place for his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him for the fetches are not threshed with a threshing-instrument neither is a cart-wheel turned about upon the cummin but the fetches are beaten out with a staff and the cummin with a rod bread-corn is bruised c. he that gives man wisdom shall not he understand the great husbandman that instructs others will not lay on more stroaks or heavier then needs must the goldsmith suffers not his gold to lie in the furnace one hour longer then is requisite God observes when his work is done upon Mount-Zion and then will punish the stout heart of the King of Assiria Esay 10.12 we are apt to be playing in the dust and minde not our fathers house and till we are frightned or beaten we shall not return home but minde our sport the prodigal mindes not his father while he had any thing left to eat oh death how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that lives at ease in his possession and hath nothing to vex him but hath prosperity in all things Ecclus 41.1 physick as I said is sometimes as necessary as food and sickness as health and poverty as plenty we are apt to surfet on sweet-meats our heavenly father who is the best physitian knows best what is best for us were we to choose our food and our physick we should kill our selves sometimes he prepares a diet-drink for us and mixeth it with our tears Psal 42.3 my tears have been my meat day and night Psal 80.4 5. O Lord God of hosts how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people thou feedest them with the bread of tears and givest them tears to drink in great measure he also seasoneth it with their groans to many he prescribes also a spare diet for every man cannot bear a prosperous estate no more then every mans head can bear much wine oh my soul matter not though thou be thresht and winnowed and ground and bak't so thou maist be made bread for thy Masters table all Gods people have tasted of the cup of affliction and canst thou expect to go free Abel began the round and drank a health to all his followers which hitherto they have all pledged and some of them have drunk very deep and Christ himself drunk up the very dregs If God preserve thee no matter whether it be in salt or sugar If thou suffer for him thou shalt reign with him and these light afflictions which are but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory 2 Cor. 4.17 it is but winking said the Martyr and we shall be in heaven presently though thou maist lose something for Christ thou wilt lose nothing by him for every handful of muck thou partest with for his sake thou shalt have a handful of angels afflictions when once past are soon forgotten as a womans pangs in childe-bearing when a man-childe is born into the world John 16.21 to which a Christians sufferings are oft resembled Esay 26.17 Jer. 6.24 but many Christians mourn and overmourn for their losses and become like Mary Magdalen blear-eyed and cannot see Christ for their tears and think God cannot love them because he beats them see how these are mistaken Heb. 12.6 7 8. whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son that he receiveth if you endure chastening God dealeth with you as with sons for what son is he that the father chasteneth not but if you be without chastizements whereof all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons he hath learned little in Christianity that hath not learnt to suffer corrections are pledges of our adoption and badges of our sonship one son God had without sin but none without sorrow Luther thought the Pope was not Gods son quod sine cruce regnat oh my God whatever affliction lies upon me never let me have a revolting heart and if I suffer let it be for thee and not as an evil-doer if thou hast appointed suffering times for me Lord fit me for them with suffering graces and a suffering spirit fit the back before thou lay on the burthen Lord give me strength to bear it and then lay on what thou wilt and while thou wilt Upon the winnowing of the seed 41. Med. WHen the seed was thus thresht or beat out the next work was winnowing it whereby the chaff and refuse and lightest emptiest part was blown away with the winde but the solid substantiall weighty grain was not hurt by it but benefitted it was refined and purified I saw what the furnace was to mettle such is the fan to the corn that which seperateth purgeth and purifyeth it this made me compare temporal with spirituals and to consider that God hath many ways to purge and try his people sometimes he casts them into the furnace of affliction and trys them this way others had trials of cruell mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonments c. Heb. 11.36 and sometimes he trys them with the fan to see what solidity is in them the messenger of the Covenant shall come but who may abide the day of his comming or who shall stand when he appeareth for he is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver c. then many a guilded piece will be found counterfeit and many a glittering professor found to be but a
prayer and tear yet he cannot beget a godly childe but chaff and corruption adheres to them also nay inheres in them and they have as much need of refining as ever the father had for though a sinful man beget a sinful childe yet cannot a gracious man beget a gracious childe for he begets him as he is a man and of the sinful off-spring of fallen Adam and not as he is gracious and though God do more usually make choise of his people out of such families the covenant being with them and their seed and he hath respect to their prayers and gives a blessing to their education and exhortations yet this is not always so neither are they born thus for they are the children of wrath as well as others and though sin be hereditary grace is not Ah sin what woful work hast thou made in the world the most of men perish eternally by thee and those that escape are saved as by fire with a very great deal of pains and difficulty holy David begat a lascivious Amnon and a rebellious Absolom good Ely begat bad sons and holy Isaac a prophane Esau yea faithfull Abraham a scoffing Ishmael for as a learned man cannot beget a learned childe for learning is not a birth-priviledge but an acquired qualification so grace is not born with but freely given to them that God thinks fit to bestow it upon A rich mans childe comes into the world as naked destitute and miserably impotent and helpless as any other This as it may minde us of our miserable condition by the fall so also of our duty to our children that as we are carefull of their bodies so should we be much more carefull of their souls and as we are carefull that they get learning so should we be much more that they get grace an estate is not so needfull as an interest in Christ we should endeavour by instruction correction and good education to train them up in the fear of God and when we can do no more to go to him that is able to give it to beg grace for them for as we were instrumental in their ruine so we should endeavour their recovery But too many train them up no otherwise then they do their horses teach them to drudge and think they have done well especially if they can leave them an estate behinde them which oftentimes is so badly gotten that they entail also a curse upon them and their posterity and God doth in a visible manner punish their children to the third and fourth generation Oh my soul how stands the case with thee thou art a childe of wrath by nature as well as others is thy relation to thy God changed of an enemy art thou an adopted son t is well thou hadst dross is that consumed and the soul refined thou hadst chaff is that blown away hast thou the marks of adoption now upon thee that formerly hadst the marks of an enemy dost thou resemble thy father dost bear his image God hath no children but what have some resemblance to him he never adopts any but he changeth their nature and disposition as well as their relation he hath no unnatural children hath he made good that promise to thee 2 Cor. 6.18 I will be a father to them and they shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord almighty hath he performed the duty of a father in thy new birth in maintaining thee and giving the heavenly allowance in instructing and correcting thee and hast thou the nature disposition and priviledge of children hast thou communion with him doth he feed thee with bread from heaven cloath thee with the robes of righteousness and adorn thee with the jewels of his grace is there a through change wrought in thee and a new nature put into thee hast thou given up thy heart as well as thy name to Christ if it be so it is well if thou hast this priviledge for thy self seek it for thy children also as thou hast dedicated them to God do thy endeavour to make them Gods and that the work of grace may be timely wrought in their souls curb corruption while they are young a green twig will easily be bended but when old and dry the work is difficult many like the ape kill their young ones with embracing and they come to break their parents heart who thought a rod too heavy for them withhold not correction nor instruction and go to God for a blessing upon both Oh my God am I wilde by nature and hast thou planted me into the true olive hast thou taken me off my own stock and planted me into the true vine Lord what shall I render to thee for this Lord help me to give up my heart as well as my name to thee and live thanks as well as speak thanks hast thou made me a son Lord give me a son-like disposition and let me honour my God by a holy life and conversation And O that my children might live before thee Lord purge out the dross blow away their chaff make them thy sons and thy daughters Upon the pleasures of a garden 43. Med. BEing in a well contrived well-furnished well-ordered garden where there was what nature or art could bestow upon it various well-coloured well-sented flowers which chequered the knots and delighted both the sight and smell with various sorts of herbs and vegetables as well physicall as otherwise together with curious walks and shady bowers and other curious contrivances delightful delicacies and various curiosities that it seemed to me an earthly paradice a place of pelights and pleasures which when I had viewed and for a while solaced my self in it I took much pleasure in it and could contentedly have spent my time there my affections were much tickled with it and grew warm upon it and for a while I delighted my self in it but at last I began to call my self to an accompt and to check my self for it with such considerations as these oh my soul what art thou doing or whether art thou going art thou in heaven or upon the earth that thou art taking up thy station art thou like Shimei in seeking a servant dost thou lose thy self wilt thou by admiring the gift neglect the giver or court the maid before the mistress and take up with a handful of muck for a handful of angels is this a suitable portion for thee or rather a suitable match for the soul that thou art espousing thy self to it and letting out thy affections upon it will this serve thy turn or make thee happy or will it endure to eternity alas it will not when winter comes where are then thy delights nay when night comes it deprives thee of thy pleasure yea every shower of rain puts thee on to seek another happiness and a better shelter and security what then will become of thee at death or judgment if thou hast no better a refuge what good can these do thee in heaven or in
many times God by his providence doth thus dispose of the cruel enemies of his Church and those that thirst after the blood of his Saints they have had blood even their own blood to drink Rev. 16.6 so righteous is God in his judgments and so true in his word thus it was with Pharaoh that sought the destruction of Israel he and his army were overthrown in the Red-sea Adonibezek that had caused threescore and ten kings having their thumbs and their great toes cut off to gather meat under his table was requited in like manner by the men of Judah Judg. 6.7 thus it was with Haman he procured a decree to cut off aâ—â— the Jews and made a gallows fifty cubits high to hang Mordecai upon but he himself was hanged upon it and his own friends and relations were destroyed Thus it was with Daniels persecutors he was delivered out of the Lions den and they were cast in so the flames lickt up the men that threw the three Worthies into the fiery furnace but had no power upon them Phaleris perisht in his brazen Bull the work of his own hands invented to torment others thus Tomyris dealt by Cyrus and the Parthians by Crassus and the Romans by those Jews that cryed out his blood be upon us and upon our children and so God by his providence dealed with our gun-powder conspirators and so let thine implacable enemies perish oh God this Observation also brought to my minde what I had somewhere read and often heard by way of complaint of our English laws viz. that they were like unto spiders webs which hold the little flys but the great ones break through or like fishers nets rather where the little fishes creep through and the great ones break through and I thought the comparison not unfit the laws themselves I know would hold the greatest malefactor were not those that should execute them partiall ofttimes fear or favour makes them open the net and let go their prey how oft may we see partiality sit as judge in some courts of Judicature this is my friend that is my kinsman deal gently with the young man for my sake how oft have I seen a poor man stockt for swearing and drunkenness and well they deserved it but his worship or his honour guilty of the same crimes brake through the net and escaped scot free and was neither punished in person nor purse yea though they offended in the Magistrates presence but whether worshipful titles will bear them out also before the judgment-seat of God is worthy enquiry there is no such exceptions in Gods law let him suffer except he be a Gentleman nay it is an aggravation to the fault of such a one who may well be presumed to have better knowledge and better breeding then others or otherwise I know not what gentility signifies and he that knows his Masters will and doth it not should be beaten with many stripes I have read of a Gentleman being condemned to death for a flagitious crime and pleading for a mittigation of his punishment because he was a Gentleman the Judge yielded him but this favour that he should be hanged upon a higher gallows then the other were and I fear the Ecclesiastical Courts are not much better perhaps much worse poor ones are a prey not worth keeping great ones are too big to be held the middle sort of fish best suits the net and pleaseth the palat oh my soul think not to escape at the judgment-seat of God by any external priviledge the soul that sinneth it shall dye whether high or low rich or poor thou hast a righteous Judge to be tryed by that will not be corrupted by gold nor gain who will hear over again all the causes tryed in our Courts of Judicatory and parhaps pass another sentence if thy cause be good he will not condemn thee oh my God absolve me in thy Court and no matter if man condemn me but if thou condemn me there is none can acquit me Upon the worthlesness of a spiders web 50. Med. WHen I considered further the great diligence and the unwearied pains of the spider yea the fineness of the thread and the curiosity of the work and how she drew it out of her own bowels and yet notwithstanding how useless and unprofitable it was if a man should make a garment of it it would neither wear well nor keep warm or dry neither can it shelter from winde or storm if he make armour of it it cannot defend him if we lean upon it it cannot support us if we fall upon it it cannot bear us up neither can it stand before the besome but it is soon rent and spoiled and ofttimes the work and the workman the weaver and the web are cast both together into the fire I thought it resembled the world and the things of the world for of this it is the devil makes his net to catch souls which are the flys he hunts after which in it self considered is vain and transitory too poor a refuge to trust to either for temporal deliverance or eternal happiness yet many like the spider spend themselves to weave their web and even draw it out of their own bowels yea their very hearts goes along with it and if they meet with a prosperous success they like the rich man Luk. 12.16 c. sing a requiem to their souls and promise themselves a great deal of happiness when alas Gods besome of destruction sudenly comes and sweeps away both the work and the workman in a moment and casts both into the fire yet many spider-like put their trust in these webs of their own making and think they may eat drink and be merry c. right Epicures that make their gut their God and eat that on earth they must digest in hell their glass is run when they think it is but new turned then shall they finde though too late that their money will do nothing and death will not be hired but righteousness alone will deliver from death Solomon tells us Pro. 18.11 the rich mans wealth is his strong-hold and high walls in his own conceit but wealth is never true to those that trust it and cannot help in the evil day Zeph. 1.18 but if sin lie at the foundation though the walls be made never so high they will tumble down Jer. 17.5 cursed is man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the living God and truly of such refuges we may say as Job of the spiders web Job 8.13 14 15. if a man lean upon his house it shall not stand though he hold it fast it shall not endure most men like to a drowning man lay hold upon something to stay them and to bear up their heads above water but if it be not upon the Lord Jehovah it will do them no good but prove like to Egiptian reeds not only break but run into their hands should we trust in Princes
a gracious soul as it receives sap and vigour from Christ so it bears fruit to Christ and as it receives all from Christ so it will draw out all for him heart and hand and tongue and all shall be set a work for him whatever they do or whatever they suffer they can say propter te propter te Domine when others sacrifice to their own nets and burn incense to their drags because by them their portion is fat and their meat plenteous Hab. 1.16 a Christian crys out with the Church not unto us Lord not unto us but to thy name be the praise oh my soul what fruit dost thou bear is it good or bad sweet or sowr sound or rotten hast thou thy nourishment from Christ or from the stock of nature by their fruits saith Christ you shall know them and thus maist thou know thy self whether thou be in the true or the wilde vine are thy grapes sweet or sowr or art not thou barren after all this manuring if thou be barren expect the sentence cut him down why cumbers he the ground Luk. 13.7 trees that are not for fruit are for fire and if thy fruit be not good thou maist expect the like doom Mat. 3.10 it must be good quoad fontem proceeding from the spirit of God and quoad finem as aiming at the glory of God see what God intends to do with his vineyard that he had hedged in and manured when it brought forth wilde grapes Isay 5.2 c. he resolved to make it a desolation if thou bring not forth good fruit to maturity it will not be long before he will lay down his basket and take up his axe thou wilt be condemned as well for not using as for abusing thy talent oh my God am I implanted into Christ or no I may well fear I am yet upon the stock of nature I bear so little fruit and so bad Lord ingraft me into Christ if I be not if I be Lord purge me that I may bring forth more fruit Upon the pruning of a tree 77. Med. WHen I observed some suckers in a fruit-bearing tree which were not only fruitless themselves but robbed the tree of her nourishment and rendred it the less fruitful for what should have fed the rest of the branches fed those luxuriant boughs which shot up on high and with an aspiring top overlooked their more fruitful brethren methought these resembled a sort of professors in our times that spend themselves in leaves and shews and have proud aspiring thoughts of themselves and overtop and overtalk their fruitful brethren and brow-beat them as if not fit for their society and yet they are very barren of fruit but are best at words and shews upon this observation I caused these boughs to be taken away that the sap might return to its old course and sound afterwards when the tree was clensed and pruned from these and other unprofitable boughs and branches flourish better brought forth more and bigger fruit this put me in minde that the great husbandman deals thus by his trees Joh. 15 1.2.3 c. I am the vine my father is the husbandman every branch in me that beareth not fruit be taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit some luxuriant branches rotten boughs raw grapes must feel the knife and those that overshadow the rest and yield them less fruitfull some aspiring branches he takes away the gumm of pride and the moss of formality saith one but dresses supports shelters and secures those that bear fruit hypocrites are here said to be in Christ by profession or in their own judgment or the judgment of charity when they rather adhere to him then in here in him for those that are really in him shall never be cut off of all those that his father hath given him he will not lose one my father saith he is stronger then all and none can plack them out of my fathers hands but there are some as I said before that only adhere â—o Christ as the Ivy to the oak but stand upon their own legs grow upon their own root and bear their own fruit and only seek support and shelter here these shall be taken away and they may without deformity they only adhere to him as a wooden leg cleaves to the body but is no part of it receives neither life nor heat nor influence from the head or heart they are like a pole fastned in the earth but is not rooted or like a wen or ulcer or other excression that may be taken away without loss but as in fruit-bearing trees there is need of clensing from moss cankers and other hindrances and incumbrances so the best Christians as well as the best society had need of the pruning-hook yea of purging bleeding outting that they may bring forth more fruit there are in the best many warts or wens or deformed ulcers that may be taken away without dammage and the causes removed Christs vines must be trimmed dressed clensed and supported nothing requires more supporting more cutting then a vine that the sap nourish not superfluous branches and leaves and t is better bleed then burn and be cut then wither God will have nothing shade or hinder his fruit we see by this the benefit of affliction and that there is no cause to quarrel God if he do let us bloud or take away the cause of some excrescence all his pruning dressing cutting is little eenough and sometimes all will not do see it in his own vineyard Isay 5.1 2. c. what could I have done more for my vineyard that I have not done yet when I looked for grapes behold wilde grapes and thereupon he threatens to take away the fence lay them waste and break down the wall that it may be troden down and lay it waste that it shall neither be pruned nor digged but may bear briars and thorns and that he will command the clouds that they shall not rain any more upon it now this vineyard is there said to be the house of Israel and Judah was his pleasant plant I wish England that God hath so long watered and manured ly not under this severe threatning God hath done much for his vineyard and many vine-dressers he hath sent amongst them and many an unprofitable branch hath he cut off and yet great need there is of pruning still I know not that any nation under heaven hath been better manured nor any nation that hath brought forth worse fruit yet hath God at the intreatance of his vine-dressers forborn to out them down and oh how happy are that people that have such to intercede for them but God will not always be intreated his patience will be outworn they may provoke him so long till there will be no remedy there is a time when he will not hear yea that he will say pray not for this people for they are ripe for judgements then
house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God they shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing those that draw sap from Christ and are grafted into him must need bud and bloom and bring forth fruit these are the trees planted by the rivers of water that bring forth their fruit in their season Psal 1.3 for as ancient men so especially ancient Christians have their judgement ripened by their experience and mellowed by time others may be and usually are more heady rash and sensorious and have a more hot and burning zeal but it is not according to knowledge now zeal without knowledge as one saith is like mettle in a blinde horse which ofttimes serves but to break his own or the riders neck their zeal is like that of the Apostles James and John Luk. 9.54 who would have called for fire from heaven to consume the inhospitable Samaritans as Elijah did but this wilde fire was never kindled on Gods hearth as Elijahs was this became not a gospel frame of spirit but this younger fruit is not so pleasant to the taste we may say of this as Christ speaks of wine Luk. 5.39 no man having drunk old wine presently desireth new for saith he the old is better Now as age clarifies wine and ripens it so doth experience ripen mens judgements young professors make a great noise and a great shew in the world they bud and bloom and many of them bring forth fruit yet is not their fruit so pleasant till it be ripened by age and mellowed by experience they are more heady as I said and sensorious and apt to condemn those that cannot see with their eyes that differ from them though it be in circumstantials and things of small concerns yea perhaps disrobe them of their graces as if their hearts liks Jehu's were the touchstone of sincerity and their judgement the touchstone of truth but ancient Christians have learnt Christ better and studied their own hearts more and will yield a grain of allowance to others as knowing they need it themselves and where they see the vitals of Religion preserved they will reach out the right hand of fellowship though it be to men of a contrary perswasion in lesser matters yea they will love those better and value them more then they do those of their own perswasion where they cannot see such evident signes of grace but many times in young professors a little difference about circumstantialls casts such a mist before their eyes that they cannot see any grace at all in their antagonists a grown Christian owns Christ whereever he sees him yea though it be in one that hath wronged him and he verily thinks hates him or though it be in one that stands in his light or in his way to preferment there is honourable mention made of an old disciple Acts. 21.16 a gray-headed experienced Christian a father 1 Joh. 2.13 you are they saith Christ that have continued with me and I appoint unto you a kingdome as my father hath appointed unto me Luk. 22.28.29 God will reward those that are ancient servants especially Age should speak saith Elihu and multitude of years should shew wisdome Job 32.7 It was a duty commanded by God and yet is incumbent upon us to rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man Lev. 19.32 but then much more an old Christian the hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness Pro. 16.31 Naturalists observe the herb Cudweed which the Herbalists call herbam impiam whose younger branches still yeeld flowers to overtop the elder such weeds grow too rise among us but it is an ill soil that produceth them Rehoboam neglecting the milder and safer counsel of his grave Senators and following the harsher counsel of green wits ruined himself and lost ten of the twelve tribes who revolted from him we seldome finde an antient professor apostatize or run into errours or heresy but it is too frequently seen in younger men there are many take up Religion suddenly and in a few weeks are above their teachers yea above all the Ministers in the Countrey and some of them get above Ordinances yea run the whole circle of errors till they end in Athiesm or profaness the place where they set out the devil deals by them as Elisha did by the Syrians 2 King 6.19 he brings them to Samaria when they thought they had been going to Dothan he leads them to hell and perswades them it is the nearest way to heaven oh my soul let not the devil thus deceive thee but ask advice of the wisest counsellors own Christ whereever thou seest him and make not thy own judgement the test to try all other mens nor with Jehu thine own heart the touchstone to try others judge the tree by the fruit not by the leaves and professors not by their words but by their works grow in grace as thou growest in years so maist thou be an old disciple oh my God make me fruitful and let my fruit be pleasant to thy taste and let the last be bitterer then the first Upon a leavy yet barren tree 82. Med. FInding a tree that at a distance shew'd fair but at hand produced nothing but leaves when I expected better fruit it minded me of the fruitless figtree mentioned Mar. 11.12 c. that deceived even Christ himself for he being hungry and seeing a figtree a far off having leaves he came if haply he might finde any thing thereon and when he came to it he found nothing but leaves for the time of figs was not yet probably the time of ripe figs was not yet but in his necessity he would have contented himself with those that were green and being thus disappointed he said never fruit grow more upon thee and the figtree withered and dyed and his Disciples marvelled and well they might for no conjurer with all his skill could have done the like me thinks this barren tree resembles many in our times that have a form of godliness but deny the power of it 2 Tim. 3.5 they have leaves but no fruit a shadow but no substance those hollow professors are like an old tree tall but pithless sapless and unsound these men do as players in a Comedy in voice and gesture act divine duties but in heart deny them formality as one saith is like a bull-rush the colour fresh the skin smooth but within nothing but a spungeous substance they have a name to live but are dead Rev. 3.1 they cry the temple of the Lord when they matter not the Lord of the temple they content themselves with a bare name without the nature of Christians they draw near to God with their mouths and honour him with their lips when their heart is far from him Mat. 15.8 all their holiness is in externals and nothing else but a brainless head and soulless body they have leaves to shew but
our youthfull gallant no stage-plays for their divertisement no pleasant Comedies acted but a dismal Tragedy wherein they are like to be the miserable Actors but will never come off with applause there is no modish garb for our well-drest gallant no headtire but a flaming periwig here is no use for looking-glass nor tiring woman no use of patches powders paints or frisling irons all these are out of mode and fashion in those Territories here are no healths to pledge but that of damnation they so oft drunk in the days of their life but never knew what it was till now but now must pledge them to all eternity But this is not all their loss will be greater for they must lose the beatifical vision of God blessed for ever in whose presence there is joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore then must they be everlastingly separated from him who is the chiefest good Now they say to him depart from us we desire not the knowledge of thy ways Job 21.14 and then God will have none of their company but will say depart from me c. Mat. 7.22 and 25.41 oh direfull and dreadfull sentence such as may make their heart-strings crack and their hearts break in pieces it breaths out nothing but fire and brimstone stings and horrours wo and alass seas of vengeance the worm that never dies and the fire that never shall be quenched torments without end and past imagination in this life they cannot endure the company of the godly they are either the object of their scorn or malice but then they shall be eternally separated as far as heaven is from hell or Dives from Lazarus between whom there is a great gulph fixed Luk. 16.26 Then they shall lose their souls which is incomparably their richest jewel which they sold for a trifle and now it will be required and they must stand to their bargain not that they shall be annihilated that news is too good to be true neither shall they lose the faculties of them these shall be inlarged to their further torments but they lose their God which is the life of their souls and put them into the devils hands to be eternally tormented they shall lose their bodies also for whose sake they sold their souls in a word all their happiness and all their hopes and all they accounted dear shall then be stript away all these like leaves shall fly before the winde of death and in the room of these everlasting destruction of body and soul shall succeed oh death what a change wilt thou make at thy coming and how unwelcome wilt thou be to those that live at case in possession oh my soul remember the days of darkness for they are many Eccl. 11.8 provide against this time that this may not be thy case for ere long all these leaves will be blown down provide therefore treasures that neither man nor devil can strip from thee provide a mansion in heaven before this earthly tabernacle be dissolved Lord assist me in this work without thee my endeavours are vain Upon a tree green all the winter 87. Med. WHen I observed how green some trees were all the winter and how flourishing even in the frost and snow when others are stript naked and left bare and seem dead and withered and that neither the pinching frost nor blustring windes neither storms nor tempests could disroab them or change their summer-suit to winter colours that neither summers sun nor scorching heat could make them wither nor winter cold nor storms could make them cast their leaves nor turn their lusty green to any other colour I began to think these trees much resemble a Christian that had the life of grace within him and is planted into that generous vine Christ and sucks sap and nourishment from this root these also are green when others that stand upon their own root wither and decay But these trees of righteousness are planted by the rivers of water and bring forth their fruit in due season and their leaf also shall not wither but whatsoever they do it shall prosper Psal 1.3 c. when others are driven like chaff before the winde from the face of the earth yet the sun-shine of prosperity cannot wither those nor the winde of adversity blow them down or their fruit nor remove their leaves Job was one of these trees of righteousness green at all times winter and summer in his prosperity his leaf flourished for God himself gives as ample a testimony of him as ever he did of mortal man Job 1.8 Hast thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and upright man one that feareteh God and escheweth evill and when he was in adversity he still retains his integrity Job 27.5.6 till I die I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live and see what end God makes with him he crowns him and chronicles him for his sincerity and patience all his affliction could not make him lose one leaf Joseph when he was in prosperity fears God and when in adversity he fears him also when he was a bondslave in Potiphars house he resisteth the temptations of his mistriss with this consideration how shall I commit this great wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39.11 Joseph remains in Egypt like a pearl in a puddle he had set God at his right hand and would not be moved though Satan knock oft at the door there was none within to answer though the iron as the Psalmist saith entred into Josephs soul yet sin could not when the devil could not prevail against him by his hard bondage he trys to do it by a Dalilahs temptation he struck fire oft but it fell among wet tinder Joseph was semper idem when he was wrongfully cast into prison he keeps his integrity still and God owns him and gave him favour and after when he was advanc't to honour and made enter in Egypt he did not forget his God nor God did not forget him all the hot gleams of prosperity nor all the blustring storms of adversity could not shake down any of his fruit or stir any of his leaves it is true wicked men in their prosperity are said to be spreading themselves like a green bay-tree but this denotes the prosperity of the body not of the soul these leaves at death will drop as well as others and their prosperity and happiness will draw to an end and all their enjoyment will be but as a thin mist before the winde soon scattered but mark the upright and behold the just for the end of that man is peace Psal 37.37 I shall be saith the Psalmist as a green olive-tree in the house of God Psal 52.5 when those that trust not in the Lord shall be destroyed It was not banishment that could separate David from the stock
then I stood and considered it I looked upon it and received instruction yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth and thy want as an armed man viz. unexpectedly and irresistably sloth and idleness is the nurse of beggery the mother of misery and the forerunner of ruine Solomon makes some use of his observations a bee can suck honey out of every flower and weed but a fly cannot and a spiritual minde can extract good out of every object even out of other mens faults and follies he can gather grapes of thorns and figs of thistles and extract good out of evil This made me raise my meditations a little higher I considered if idleness be so great an hindrance to worldly advantages what is it then to spirituall profits if ground not manured brings forth briars and thorns weeds and thistles what will the soul bring forth if it be neglected this will soon abound with sins and vices lusts and corruptions and Solomon no doubt made this spirituall use of the miscarriages of his foolish neighbour a godly man as I said will gather honey with the bee where the wasp will not the fly cannot and the spider gathers poyson for a wicked mans example is often hurtful but to none but the wise profitable a wise man with Solomon will gather some good by others miscarriages and happy is he that other mens harms do make to beware the soul is more subject to the weeds of sin then any field or garden can be to briars or thorns or other noisome things and more diligence is required to keep it in order and there is more danger in the neglect briars and thorns are not more natural to the ground since the curse then sin and corruption to the soul since the fall and as in temporals so much more in spirituals much diligence is required to keep things in order and great is the advantage when it is done oh my soul refuse no pains neglect no labour heaven will make amends for all stub up thy sins by the root and content not thy self to lop off the branches regulate thy affection subdue thy headstrong passions bring under thy will and make it submit to Gods will set a watch over thy heart look well to thy words and thoughts as well as to thy actions set a guard over thy sences those cinque-ports otherwise the enemy will enter take heed of thy company for seldome good is gotten by ill companions beware of Satans temptations and the worlds allurements avoid all occasions to sin nay all appearances of evil and know that for all the pains thou canst take thou shalt be rewarded heaven will make thee amends but the sluggard is never like to come there Oh my God I have been this spiritual sluggard it is I have neglected my field and vineyard and hence are all those briars and brambles sprung up Lord help me to double my diligence and amend my pace and so run that I may obtain and so fight as to conquer Upon a great tree springing from a small kernel 75. Med. WHen I beheld some great fruit-trees grown to a large stature the persons being yet alive that set them of small kernels and that not very many years ago and yet are come to be trees of very great bulk and bigness the consideration whereof made me to contemplate the mighty power of God that from such contemptible beginings could produce so large a body and that of the small seeds of the cypress tree such a huge bulk should so soon proceed and that a slender akorn should bring forth so vast a tree as some oaks are carrying so many tun of timber and load of wood as some do this brought to my minde the parable of the mustard seed Mat. 13.31 where Christ tells us though it be the least of seeds that it grows up to a great tree and that suddenly that the fowls of of heaven lodge in the branches of it for though in our northern climats it arrive not to that bigness yet travellers speak much of the greatness of it in those hotter Countreys our Saviour Christs intention in this parable is to teach us that as from this small seed proceeds a great tree so is also the progress of the Gospel which though at first it seems contemptible yet it proves very efficatious it is quick and powerful and wonderfull in operation whither the fowls of heaven the elect resort in prosperity for shadow in adversity for defence In the promulgation of the Gospel from small beginnings a few poor unlearned fishermen the Gospel was carryed as on eagles wings to the end of the earth and in a short time subdued potent princes that set themselves against it to the admiration of all those angels came flying with the everlasting gospel and in the reformation how strangely was it carryed on Wickliff John Hus. and Jerome of Prague these paved a way and opened a door to Luther who with a few more withstood the whole popish interest and so prevailed against them that those locusts that came out of the bottomless pit were never able by their smoak to darken the light of the Gospel again but it brake forth more and more to the perfect day even to all mens admiration in many places it was carryed on against their princes consent yea contrary to his will in Holland France Germany Scotland and many more so wonderfully did this little grain spread and in this Nation by what unexpected means was the Reformation carryed on by a prince which writ against it and set himself against it and yet was instrumental in Gods hand to carry on the work God can make use of whom he pleaseth to do his work Heathen Cyrus must be his servant to carry on his designe in Athanasius his time how did God vindicate his truth by small means against a world of Arians and made him victorious against them all the word of God is powerfull as a two edged sword to divide between the joints and the marrow Heb. 4.12 By the growth of this mustard-seed is signifyed not only the spreading abroad of the Gospel in the first promulgation of it but also of the growth of grace in a Christians heart which though it have a small beginning yet it encreaseth wonderfully Job 8.7 the later end doth greatly encrease when the new creature grace is formed in the soul by the finger of God it groweth like the childe in the womb at the first it is an Embrio imperfect and unshaped but is perfected by the degrees the heart the brain the liver and vital parts and in process of time the bones sinews arteryes nerves and other parts covered with flesh and skin till it come to perfection and when it is born an infant it grows up to maturity till it comes to a perfect man when God speaks a word secretly and suddenly to the heart it
sticks close and never leaves till the work be done and the new creature grace be formed it makes a wonderful change in the man it is like Elijahs mantle when thrown upon Elisha which made him leave his oxen and run after him and desired only to kiss his father and mother and he would follow him the prophet said go back again what have I done to thee 1 Kin. 19.19 but he had done that which made him that he would not forsake him till he was taken up to heaven and remained a prophet to his dying day when God speaks home to the heart the work is done when Christ cals Peter and Andrew James and John they leave all to follow him Mat. 4.18 c. with his word there went forth a secret power inclining them to follow the woman of Samaria left her pitcher and Mathew his tole-book and Zacheus his Sicamore tree yea half of his goods at Christs call when God speaks to the heart it sticks close and never leaves till a through reformation be wrought it turns a man from a lion to a lamb and changes a persecuting Saul to a preaching Paul The smoaking flax shall not be quench't nor the bruised reed shall not be broken till he bring forth judgment into victory Mat. 12.20 it is not the strong oaks only but the bruised reeds Christ cherisheth he despiseth not the day of small things the lest spark of fire may be cherished into a flame and the least true grace will be growing the very pantings after Christ and unsatisfaction without him are highly accounted of by him the earthquake made such an heart-quake in the Jaylor that he crys out what shall I do to be saved and the preaching of Peter to those that put Christ to death reacht to their heart and nothing would serve till they knew how they should be saved so powerfull is the word when set on by God upon the heart oh my soul though the Church of God be brought low despair not yet it hath been so in former times yet recovered and Christ hath told thee the gates of hell shall never prevail against it God will yet say to these dry bones live and if thy graces be at an under despair not if it be true though but as a grain of mustard seed it will spring if thou art but smoaking flax thou shalt not be quenched if a bruised seed thou shalt not be broken oh my God blow upon that spark thou hast given me that it be not extinguished remove the ashes of corruption that it may appear Vpon a crab-tree afterwards grafted 76. Med. OBserving one tree in the orchard wilde by nature which though it had the same husbandry with the rest drest and pruned by the same hand digged and dunged as the others were though it grew in as fat a soil and was refresht with the same sun and watered with the same showers yet still it brought forth sowr and unpleasant fruit and neither art nor labour could alter it till I caused it to be grafted and so changed the nature of it and then the same means used made it answer our expectation this made me to consider that this was the very reason why there was so much difference between persons that live under the same means of grace under the same Ministry enjoying the same Ordinances sit in the same sear live in the same house yea he in the same bed yet some bare good fruits some bad some sweet and some sowr sure the fault is not in the means but in the men I have read of Melancthon that when he came to preach the gospel he preacht with such convincing arguments and so much Scripture light that he was perswaded that he could have convinc't any man but after long trial he found the contrary and was fain to confess that the old devil was too cunning for young Melancthon I have often wondred how drunkards swearers adulterers or other debauch't sinners could sit under the powerfull means of grace and have hell-fire flasht in their faces and never startle at it when both the Scripture and verse hath been quoted where they were excluded heaven and yet they sit as unconcerned but when I considered Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God that gives the encrease my wonder ceast man can but speak to the ear but God speaks to the heart the same fun when it shines upon a garden of herbs makes it smell more oderiferously but when it shines upon a dunghill it maks it smell more fulsomly the fault is not in the sun but in the dunghill the same sun softens wax and hardens clay when the sun shines and the rain fals upon a fruitful pasture it makes it more fruitfull but when upon the heath in the desart it is little the better The reason why one bears good fruit and another bad under the same enjoyment is the one is ingrafted into Christ another not but grows upon the stock of nature all the watering dunging and manuring in the world will not make a thorn bring forth grapes or a thistle figs Mat. 7.16 A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit nor a bad tree good so that the tree is known by his fruit I am the vine saith Christ and ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him shall bring forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing John 15.5 A Christian that is grafted into Christ is like the Aegyptian fig-tree that is said to bear fruit seven times in the year or like the lemmon-tree that ever and anon sendeth forth new lemmons When a man abides in the stock of nature he can bring forth no savoury fruit to God if the fountain be polluted the streams cannot be clear if the heart be bad the life cannot be good if the lungs be infected the breath will stink of such as these God saith their vine is the vine of Sodom and of the field of Gomorrha their grapes are grapes of gall and their clusters are bitter Deut. 32.32 vitis non vinifera saith one sed vene infera the vine is the evil nature and the grapes are the wicked works they hatch cockatrice-eggs and weave spiders webs Isa 59.5 But when they are ingrafted in the true vine they have sap and nourishment from the root then the buds of good desires and the blossomes of good resolutions spring forth and after that the fruit of good works other professors are but like the Ivy that adheres to and hath some shelter and support from the oak but they stand upon their own root and bear their own fruit unregenerate men are hammering out their own happiness and like the spider are climbing by a thread of their own spinning they live upon themselves trade for themselves and attribute all to themselves and have no higher end then themselves for water can ascend no higher then the fountain head but all this will fail them for it is not Christ but