CHAPTER IV: Upon the Feeding of fat Cattle
But said, Let these apostate creatures go, I'll plague them for it with eternal fire.
Lord! what am I, that thou should'st set thine eyes, And still seek after such a wretch as I?
Whose matchless mercy, and rich grace despise, As if, in spite thereof, resolv'd to die.
Why should I shun thee? Blessed Saviour, why Should I avoid thee thus? Thou dost not chase
My soul to slay it; O that ever I Should fly a Saviour that's so full of grace!
Long hast thou sought me, Lord, I now return, O let thy bowels of compassion sound; For my departure I sincerely mourn, And let this day thy wand'ring sheep be found.
CHAPTER IV
Upon the Feeding of fat Cattle Fat beasts you kill, the lean you use to save:
God's dispensations some such meaning have.
OBSERVATION
IT is a good observation of a Father, and well applied; Vituli triturantes quotidie ligantur, vituli mactandi quotidie in pascuis libere relinquuntur: Oxen for use are daily yoked and kept short, whilst those that are designed for the shambles, are let loose in green pastures to feed at pleasure. Store beasts fare hard, and are kept lean and low; feeding beasts are excused from the yoke, whilst others are laboured and wrought hard every day; the one hath more than he can eat, the other would eat more if he had it.
APPLICATION
THUS deals the Lord oft-times with his own elect, whom he designs for glory; and with the wicked, who are preparing for the day of wrath: thus are they filled with earthly prosperity and creatureenjoyments, like lusty and wanton beasts turned out at liberty in a fat pasture, whilst poor saints are kept hard and short; Amos 4:1. "Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountains of Samaria, which oppress the poor, crush the needy." These metaphorical kine are the prosperous oppressors of the world, full fed, and wanton, wicked men. It is true, heaven hath not all the poor, nor hell all the rich; but it is a very common dispensation of providence to bestow most of the things of this world upon them that have no portion in heaven; and to keep them short on earth, for whom that kingdom is provided. Let me draw forth the similitude in a few particulars.
1. The beasts of slaughter have the fattest pastures; so have the ungodly in the world; "Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish," Psal. 73:7. Their hearts are as fat as grease, Psal. 119:70. These be they that fleet off the cream of earthly enjoyments, "whose bellies are filled with hidden treasures," Psal.
17:14. "The earth is given into the hand of the wicked," Job 9:24. O
what full estates! what an affluence of earthly delights hath God cast in upon some wicked men! There is much wantonness, but no want in their dwellings: some that know not which way to turn themselves in hell, once knew not where to bestow their goods on earth.
2. Feeding beasts grow wanton in their full pastures; there you shall see them tumble and frisk, and kick up their heels. The same effect hath the prosperity of the wicked; it makes them wanton; their life is but a diversion from one pleasure to another, Job 21:11, 12, 13. "They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance: they take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ: they spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave."
The same character doth the prophet Amos give of them, Amos 6:4, 5, 6. "They stretch themselves upon beds of ivory, drink wine in bowls," &c. and no sorrow goes to their hearts. These are they that live in pleasures upon earth, as a fish in the water, Jam. 5:5.
3. These fat pastures do but the sooner hasten the death of these cattle: the sooner they are fatted, the sooner they are slaughtered; and the prosperity of the wicked serves to the same end: the prosperity of fools shall destroy them; i.e. it shall be the means and instrument of heating and heightening their lusts, and thereby fitting them for destruction; their prosperity is food and fuel to their corruptions. Many wicked men had not been so soon ripe for hell, had they not grown in the sunshine of prosperity.
4. Fatted beasts do not in the least understand the intent and meaning of the husbandman, in allowing them such large and fat pastures, which he denies to his other cattle; and as little as beasts do wicked men understand the scope and end of God's providences, in casting prosperity and wealth upon them; little do they think their tables are a snare, a gin, and a trap for their souls; they only, like
beasts, mind what is before them, but do not at all understand the tendency and end of these their sensual delights.
5. Though the husbandman keeps his store-cattle in short commons, yet he intends to preserve them: these shall remain with him, when the others are driven to the slaughter.
Such a design of preservation is carried on in all those outward straits, wants, and hardships which the Lord exposes his people to. I confess, such dispensations, for the present, are very stumbling and puzzling things, even to gracious and wise persons. To see wicked men, not only exempted from their troubles, but even oppressed with prosperity: to see a godly man in wants and straits, and a wicked man have more than his heart can wish, is a case that poses the wisest Christian, till he considers the designs and issues of both those providences, and then he acquiesces in the wisdom of God so ordering it, Psal. 73:5, 14, 18, 23.
REFLECTIONS
1. Doth my prosperity fat me up for hell, and prepare me for the day of slaughter? Little cause have I then to glory in it, and lift up my heart upon these things. Indeed, God hath given (I cannot say blessed me with) a fulness of creature-enjoyments; upon these my carnal heart seizeth greedily and securely, not at all suspecting a snare lying in these things for the ruin of my soul. What are all these charming pleasures, but so many rattles to quiet my soul, whilst its damnation steals insensibly upon it? What are all my businesses and employments in the world, but so many diversions from the business of life? There are but two differences betwixt me and the poorest slave the devil hath on earth; such are whipped on to hell by outward miseries, and I am coached to hell in a little more pomp and honour; these will have a less, and I a greater account in the day of reckoning.
O that I had never known prosperity! I am now tumbling in a green pasture, and shortly shall be hanging up in the shambles of hell: if this be the best fruit of my prosperity, if I were taken captive by cruel cannibals, and fed with the richest fare, but withal understood, that the design of it were to fat me up like a beast for them to feed upon, how little stomach should I have to their dainties! O my soul! it were much better for thee to have a sanctified poverty, which is the portion of many saints, than an ensnaring prosperity, set as a trap to ruin thee for ever.
2. The wisdom of my God hath allotted me but short commons here; his providence feeds me, but from hand to mouth; but I am, and well may be, contented with my present state; that which sweetens it is, that I am one of the Lord's preserved. How much better is a morsel of bread and a draught of water here, with an expectancy of glory hereafter, than a fat pasture given in, and a fitting for the wrath to come? Well, since the case stands thus, blessed be God for my present lot! Though I have but a little in hand, I have much in hope; my present troubles will serve to sweeten my future joys; and the sorrows of this life will give a lustre to the glory of the next: that which is now hard to suffer, will then be sweet to remember; my songs will then be louder than my groans now are.
THE POEM THOSE beasts which for the shambles are design'd, In fragrant flow'ry meadows you shall find,
Where they abound with rich and plenteous fare, Whilst others graze in commons thin and bare:
Those live a short and pleasant life, but these Protract their lives in dry and shorter leas.
Thus live the wicked; thus they do abound With earthly glory, and with honour crown'd.
Their lofty heads unto the stars aspire, And radiant beams their shining brows attire.
The fattest portion's serv'd up in their dish; Yea, they have more than their own hearts can wish.
Dissolv'd in pleasures, crowned with buds of May; They, for a time, in these fat pastures play,
Frisk, dance and leap, like full-fed beasts; and even Turn up their wanton heels against the heaven;
Not understanding that this pleasant life, Serves but to fit them for the butcher's knife.
In fragrant meads they tumbling are to-day, To-morrow to the slaughter led away.
Their pleasure's gone, and vanish like a bubble, Which makes their future torments on them double.
Meanwhile God's little flock is poor and lean, Because the Lord did ne'er intend or mean
This for their portion; and besides doth know Their souls prove best, where shortest grass doth grow.
Cheer up, poor flock, although your fare be thin, Yet here is something to take comfort in:
You here securely feed, and need not fear, Th' infernal butcher can't approach you here.
'Tis somewhat that; but, oh! which far transcends, Your glorious shepherd's coming, who intends
To lead you hence unto that fragrant hill, Where, with green pastures, he his flocks will fill;
Or which he from celestial casements pours The sweetest dews, and constant gracious show'rs;
Along whose banks rivers of pleasures glide, There his bless'd flocks for ever shall abide,
O envy not the worldlings present joys.
Which to your future mercies are but toys,