Front matter (continued, part 7)
Christ's precious truth conserved in their blood. For no less price those truths our fathers stood. They have transmitted, would not alienate From us, their children, such a fair estate. ^Ve eat what they did set : and shall truth Aiil
In our days ? Shall we cut off th" entail. Or end the line of honour .'' Nav, what's worse. Give future ages cause to hate, and curse Our memories .^ Like Naboth, may this age
Part with their blood sooner than heritage. Let pity move us, let us think upon
Our children's souls, when we are dead and gone : Shall they, poor souls, in darkness grojie, when we Put out the light, by which they else might see The way to glory ? Yea, what's worse, shall it Be said in time to come, Christ did commit A precious treasure, purchased by his blood. To us, fur ours, and tor our children's good I But we, like cowards, false, perfidious men,
M^t. * ^ JLJL
ITS HUSBANDRY SPlllITUALIZED ; OR,
CHAP. VI.
Upon the Husbandman's care to prove and preserve
Deeds Jbr our lands you provc^ and keep with i
O that Jbr heaven you hut as careful were !
OBSERVATIOX.
▼ T E generally find men are not more careful in tr^ in keeping it, than they are in examining tlieir deeds, an them ; these are virtually their whole estate, and ther cerns them to be careful of them : if they suspect a flaw or deed, they repair to the ablest council, submit it to h: make the worst of their cause, and query about all th danger with him. If he tell them their case is suspici zardous, how much are they perplexed and troubled neither eat, drink, nor sleep in peace, till they have a ment ; and willing they are to be at much cost and pains
APPLICATIOX.
X HESE cares and fears with which you are perplc cases, may give you a little glimpse of those troubles c which the people of God are perplexed about their eterns which, perhaps you have been hitherto unacquainted wit) fore slighted them, as fancies and whimsies : I say, yoi and troubles, if ever you were engaged by a cunning a adversary in a law-suit for your estate, may give you a 1 of spiritual troubles ; and indeed it is no more but s them : for, as the loss of an earthly, though fair inherii a trifle to the loss of God and the soul to eternity ; so but imagine, that the cares, fears, and solicitudes of these things, are much, very much, beyond yours. Let the cases, and see how they answer to each other.
1. You have evidences for your estate, and by thei what 3fou have in the world : They also have evidenc estate in Christ, and glory to come ; they hold all in ca
tue of their intermarriage with Jesus Christ; they come ted in that glorious inheritance contained in the covena You have their tenure in that scripture, 1 Cor. iii. 522, *' voiirs. fnr vp fliv> Christ's, anrl Christ is finH's." 1
THE HKAVEXLY USE OF EARTHLY TIUNGS. 1
J ills out w ith the people of God, who after their believing and sealii Mine, have doubts and scruples raised in them about their title. N
■ MT is more common, than for the devil, and their own unbelief, controversies, and niise strong objections against their interest Clirist, and the covenant of promises. These are cunning and pote adversaries, and do maintain long debates with the gracious soul, ai reason so cunningly and sophistically with it, that it can by no mea extricate and satisfy itself; always alleging, that their title is wor nothing, which they, poor souls, are but too apt to suspect.
0. All the while that a suit of law is depending about your titi vou have but little comfort or benefit from your estate ; you cann
ook upon it as your own, nor lay out monies in building or dressii or fear vou should lose all at last Just thus stands the case wi
'oubting Christians ; they have little comfort from the most comfoi hie promises, little benefit from the sweetest duties and ordinance Thev put off their own comforts, and say, if we were sure that i tliis were ours, we would then rejoice in them. But, alas ! our tit
IS dubious: Christ is a precious Christ ; the promises are comfoi able things ; but what, if they be none of ours ? Ah ! how little do the doubting Christian make of his large and rich inheritance ?
4, You dare not trust your own judgments in such cases, but sta our case to such as are learned in the laws, and are willing to g he ablest counsel you can to advise you. So are poor doubting Chri .ans ; they carry their cases from Christian to Christian, and fro
linister to minister, with such requests as these : Pray tell me, wh
V) you think of my condition .' Deal plainly and faithfully with me these be mv grounds of doubting, and these my grounds of hop O hide nothing from me ! And if they all agree that the case
. )od, yet thev cannot be satisfied till God say so too, and confir
le word of his servants; and therefore they carry the case oftt efore him in such words as those. Psalm cxxxix. 23, 21. '• Sean
•• me, O God, and know my heart ; try me, and know my thought
'• and see if there be any \ricked way in me.^
.5. You have little quiet in your spirits, till the case be resolvec your meat and drink doth you little good ; you cannot sleep in tl night, because these troubled thoughts are ever returning upon yoi:
^^ hat if I should be turned out of all at last ? So it is with gracioi <ouls ; their eyes are held Avaking in the night, by reason of tl
: roubles of their hearts. Psalm Ixxvii. 4. Such fears as these ai
reo^uently returning upon their hearts, what if I should be found elt-deceiver at last ? What if I but husr a phantasm instead (
180 HUSUAXDHY SPIJUTUALIZED ; OK,
(poor pensive souls) they make it much worse than i charge themselves with that which God never charged though this be neither their wisdom, nor their duty ; I of miscarrying make them suspect fraud in all they do
7. Lastly, When your title is cleared, your hearts are not only eased, but overjoyed ; thojugh not in that degr the same kind of joy with which the hearts of Christig flowed, when the Lord speaks peace to their souls. O sweet morning light, after a tedious night of darknes; can eat their bread with comfort, and drink their wine, but water, with a merry heart, Eccles. ix. 7.
KEFLECTIONS.
The careless souTs 1. O how hath my spirit been toss rejection. ried, when I have met with troubles £
about my estate ! But as for spiriti and those soul-perplexing cases, that Christians speak
stand but little of them. I never called my everlast
question, nor broke an hour's sleep upon any such ac my supine and careless soul ! little hast thou regarded stand in reference to eternity ! I have strongly conceite thoroughly examined the validity of my title to Christ, mises ; nor am I able to tell, if my own conscience sho whereupon my claim is grounded.
O my soul ! why art thou so unwilling to examine stand betM'ixl God and thee ? Art thou afraid to look : dition, lest by finding thine hypocrisy, thou shouldst lo or rather, thy security ? To what purpose will it be i eyes against the light of conviction, unless thou couldst a way to prevent thy condemnation ? Thou seest oth( attentively they wait under the word, for any thing thj to their condition. Doubtless thou hast heard, how fr( seriously they have stated their condition, and opened 1 the ministers of Christ. But thou, O my soul ! hast i to put, no doubts to be resolved ; thou wilt leave all to of the great day, and not trouble thyself about it now. will decide it ; but little to thy comfort.
mi J 1... 7, 2. I have heard how some have I The douotmsr soul s jit.- j • i^t
n ,. ° ed by litigious adversaries ; but 1 «^ * have been so tost with fears, and di doubts, as I have been about the state of my soul. Lor
T An? T Viavo r»ftpn mmpd mv dr»iil-»f<! »x\f\ efvnnlpc fi\ tliin
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THIXGS.
enjoy any good, whilst things are thus with me ; all my eartlilj joyments are dry and uncomfortable things; yea, which is n
worse, all mv duties and thine ordinances, prove so too, by re of the troubles of my heart : I am no ornament to ray profess
nay, I am a discouragement and stumbling-block to others.
" will hearken and hear what God the Lord will speak ;"" O th might be peace ! If thou do not speak it, none can ; and when i
dost, keep thy servant from returning again to folly, lest I e fresh work for an accusmg conscience, and give new matter tc adversary of my soul.
3. But thou, my soul, enjoy est a double mercy from The ass thy bountifid God, who hath not only given thee a Christie sound title, but also the clear evidence and knowledge reflcctim thereof. I am gathering, and daily feeding upon the full-ripe fruits of assurance, which grow upon the top bougl faith ; whilst many of my poor brethren drink their own tears, have their teeth broken with gravel stones. Lord, thou hast se
soul upon her high-places ; but let nie not exalt myself, because hast exalted me, nor grow wanton, because I walk at liberty ; for the abuse of such precious liberty, thou clap my old chains i me, and shut up my soul again in prison.
i-T-l-EN can't be quiet till they be assur'd That their estate is good, and well secur'd. To able counsel they their deeds submit,
Intreating them with care t' examine it : Fearing some clause an enemy may wrest, Or find a flav>' ; whereby he may divest Them and their children. O who can but s<?e How wise men in their generation be ! But do they equal cares and fears express About their everlasting happiness .''
In spiritual things 'twould grieve one's heart to see A\ hat careless fools these careful men can be. They act like men of common sense bereaven ;
Secure their lands, and they'll trust God for heaven. How many cases have you to submit
To lawyers' judgments i Ministers may sit From week to week, and yet not see the face Of one that brings a soul-concerning case. Yea, which is worse, bow spldnm An mn rrxr
182 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; Olt,
Corapai'd with yours ? Or is eternity A shorter term than yours, that you should ply The one so close, and totally neglect The other, as not worth your least respect.
Perhaps the devil, whose plot from you's concea Persuades your title's good, and firmly scaPd By God's own Spirit ; though you never found One act of saving grace to lay a ground For that persuasion. Soul, he hath thee fast, Tho' he'll not let thee know it till the last. Lord, waken sinners, make them understand,
'Twixt thee and them, how raAvly matters stand : Give them no quiet rest until they see Their souls secur'd better than lands can be.
Occasional Meditations upon Birds, Beasts,
Flowers, liivers, and other Objects.
MEDITATIONS ON BIRDS.
MEDITATION I.
Upon the singing of a Ntghtingale.
▼ T HO that hears such various, ravishing, and exqui would imagine the bird that makes it, to be of so sm tejnptible a body and feather ? Her charming voice e only mine attentive ear, but my feet also to make a near to that shady bush in which that excellent musician sat the nearer I came, the sweeter the melody still seemed when I had descried the bird herself, and found her bigger, and no better feathered than a sparrow, it gave r the occasion of this following application.
This bird seems to me the lively emblem of the forma (1.) In that she is more in sound than substance, a loud a voice, but a little despicable body ; and it recalled to my t story of Plutarch, who hearing a nightingale, desired to h ed to feed upon, not questioning but she would please t well as the ear : but when the nightingale was brought saw what a poor little creatiu'e it was. Truly, said he, th(
THE HEAVF.KT.Y USE OF EAllTHLY THIKGi?.
tliarm most sweellv, and set her spirits all on work, when sL ceives she hath engaged atttention ; so doth the hypocrite, who 1
and feeds upon the applause and commendation of his admn-ers, cares little for any of those duties which bring in no return praise from men : he is little pleased with a silent melody and
vate pleasure betwixt God and his own soul.
Scire tuum nihil est nln te scire lioc sciat alter.
Alas ! his knowledge is not worth a pin, If he proclaims not what he hath within. He is more for the theatre than the closet ; and of such Christ s:
" Verily they have their reward." (3.) Naturalists observe the n tingale to be an ambitious bird that cannot endure to be outvie< any : she will rather chuse to die than be excelled ; a notable stance whereof we have in the following pleasant poem, transl out of Starda, concerning the nightingale and a lutanist.
Now the declining sun did downward bend From higher heavens, and from his looks did send
A milder flame, when near to Tyber's flow, A lutanist allay'd his careful woe With sounding charms ; and in a greeny seat Of shady oak, took shelter from the heat ;
A nightingale o'erheard him, that did use To sojourn in the neighbour groves, the muse That fiird the place, the syren of the wood (Poor harmless syren !) stealing near, she stood Close lurking in the leaves attentively Recordinjj that unwonted melody :
She conn'd it to herself; and evVy strain His fingers play'd her throat returned again. The lutanist perceived an answer sent From tlf imitating bird, and was content To shew her play more fully : then in haste He tries his lute, and giving her a taste Of the ensuing quarrel, nimbly beats On all his strings : as nimbly she repeats ;
And wildly raging o^er a thousand keys, Sounds a shrill warning of her after-lays : With rolling hand the lutanist then plies The trembling threads, sometimes in scornful wise He brushes down the strings, and strikes them all
184 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR,
Sometimes as one iinexpert, and in doubt, How she might weild her voice, she draweth out Her tone at large, and doth at first prepare
A solemn strain, nor wear'd with winding air, But with an equal pitch, and constant throat, Makes clear the passage for her gliding note ; Tlien cross division diversly she plays. And loudly chanting out her quickest lays, Poises the sound, and, with a quivering voice. Falls back again. He Avondering how so choice. So various harmony could issue out From such a little throat, doth go about
Some harder lessons, and with wondVous art, Changing the strings, doth up the treble dart. And downward smite the base, with painful stroke He beats ; and as the trumpet doth provoke
Sluggards to fight, ev'n so his Avanton skill With mingled discord joins the hoarse and shrill.
The bird this also tunes : and whilst she cuts Sharp notes with melting voice, and mingled puts
Measures of middle sound, then suddenly She thunders deep, and jugs it inwardly With gentle murmur, clear and dull she sings By course, as when the martial warning rings.
Believ't the minstrel blusht, with angry mood : Inflam'd (quoth he) thou chantress of the wood. Either from thee I'll bear the prize away. Or vanquished break my lute without delay. Inimitable accents then he strains, His hands flies on the strings ; in one he chains Far different numbers, chasing here and there, And all the strings he labours every where ?
Both flat and sharp he strikes, and stately grows To prouder strains, and backward as he goes Doubly divides, and closing up his lays Like a full choii', a shiv'ring consort plays : Then pausing, stood in expectation Of his co-rival, nor durst answer on. But she, when practice long her throat had whet, Enduring not to yield, at once doth set TTor cT-»ivitc a]] tr» wnrt. anrJ all in vnm
THE HEAVEXLY USE OF KARTHLY THTN'GS,
She faints, she dies, falls on his instrument That conquerd her ! a fitting monument. How far ev'n little souls are driven on, Struck with a virtuous emulation.
And even as far are hypocrites driven on by their ambitioi pride, which is the spur that provokes thera in their religious d
MEDITATIOX II.
Upon the Sight of many small Birds chirping about a dead L
X J.EARING a whole choir of birds chirping and twinkling ther, it engaged my curiosity a little to enquire into the occasi that convocation, which mine eye quickly informed me of; for ceived a dead hawk in the bush, about which they made such a
seeming to triumph at the death of their enemy ; and I coul blame them to sing his knell, who, like a Cannibal, was wont t upon their living bodies, tearing thera limb from limb, and e< them with his frightful appearance. This bird, which living \^ formidable, being dead, the poorest wren or titmouse fears i
chirp, or hop over. This brings to my thoughts the base and ble ends of the greatest tyrants, and greedy ingrossers of the \
of whom, (whilst living) men were more afraid, than birds of a ! but dead, became objects of contempt and scorn. The death o tyrants is both inglorious and unlamented : " When the u
" perish, there is shouting,'' Prov. xi. 10. Which was exeni] to the life, at the death of Nero, of whom the poet thus sings
Cum mors crudehm rapuisset sceva Neroncrn, Credibile est multos Romam agitassejocos.
When cruel Nero dy'd th' historian tells, How Rome did mourn with bonfires, plays, and bells.
Remarkable for contempt and shame have the ends of many l tyrants been. So Pompey the Great, of whom Claudian the poet
Nudus pascit aves,Jacetne qui possidet orhem Exiguce telluris inops Birds eat his flesh. Lo, now he cannot have Who ruTd the world, a sjiace to make a grave.
186 HUSBANDRY SPlllITUALIZED ; 01*,
V orld, that I may live, when I am dead, in the ailectiong and leave an honourable testimony in the consciences o that I may oppress none, do good to all, and say when I Ambrose did, — I am neither asliamed to live, nor afrai(
MEDITATION III.
Upon the S'lghi of a Blackbird taking Sanctuary in a 1 pursuing Hazek.
?"? PIEN I saw how hardly the poor bird was put to it self from her enemy, who hovered just over the bush i was fluttering and squeaking, I could not but hasten to (pity and succour being a due debt to the distressed ;) a I had done, the bird would not depart from the bush, enemy were gone ; this act of kindness was abundantl this meditation, with which I returned to my walk : m this bird, was once distressed, pursued, yea, seized by had certainly made a prey of it, had not Jesus Christ beer to it in that hour of danger. How readily did I find hi my poor soul into his protection ? Then did he mak( sweet promise to my experience, Those that come unto no wise cast out. It called to mind that pretty and pei of the philosopher, who walking in the fields, a bird, p hawk, flew into his bosom ; he took her -out, and said,
* I will neither wrong thee, nor expose thee to thine e * thou earnest to me for refuge.' So tender, and more the Lord Jesus to distressed souls that come unto hli
Jesus ! how should I love and praise thee, glorify and i for that great salvation thou hast wrought for me ? If t fallen into the claws of her enemy, she had been torn t deed, and devoured, but then a few minutes had disp and ended all her pain and misery : but had my soul fa] hands of Satan, there had been no end of its misery.
Would not this scared bird be flushed out of the bush
her, though I had chased away her enemy ? And wilt I soul, ever be enticed or scared from Christ thy refuge ? ( ever engage thee to keep close to Christ, and make n Ezra, " And now, O Lord, since thou hast given m( *' liverance as this, should I again break thy command;
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS.
shining and various coloured feathers (like scarlet, richly laid gold and silver lace) are those ? How plainly clad, in a home-: country russet are these ? Fine feathers (saith our proverb) j proud birds ; and yet the feathers of the sparrow are as useful
beneficial, both for warmth and flight, though not so gay aifd (
mental, as the others ; and if both were stript out of their feat' the sparrow would prove the better bird of the two : by which ] that the greatest worth doth not always he under the finest clot And besides, God can make mean and homely garments as u and beneficial to poor and despised Christians, as the ruffling and ; ing garments of wanton gallants are to them : and when God strip men out of all external excellencies, these wdl be found t< eel their glittering neighl^ours in true worth and excellency.
Little would a man think such rich treasures of grace, \^is( humility, lay under some russet coats.
Scepe s^ub attrita latitat sapientia vesie.
Under poor garments more true worth may be Than under silks that whistle, who but he.
Whilst, on the other side, " the heart of the wicked (as Solo
" hath observed) is little worth," how much soever his clothe worth. Alas ! it falls out too frequently among us, as it doth men in the Indies, who walk over the rich veins of gold and which lie hid under a ragged and barren surface, and know it For my own part, I desire not to value any man by what isexti cal and worldly, but by that true internal excellency of gi which makes the face to shine in the eyes of God and good mei would contemn a vile person, though never so glorious in the of the world ; but lionour such as fear the Lord, how sordid despicable soever to appearance.
MEDIT. v.
Upon the sigfit of a Robin~red-breast picking up a Worm f re mole-Mil^ tJien rising,
v/BSERVING the mole working industriously beneath, and bird watching so intently above, I made a stand to observe the iss
188 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED : OR,
my pride, like the aspiring bird, watches for it above ; r ness, like the subterranean mole, digging for it beneath. What a sad dilemma art thou brought to ? If thou g( the caverns of this earth, there thou art a prey to thy c that hunts thee ; and if thou aspire, or but creep upwai pride waits to ensnare thee. Distressed soul ! whither vi Ascend thou mayest, not by vain elation, but by heave sation, beside which there is no way for thy preservation
*' of life is above to the wise," &c. Again, I could not but observe the accidental bene harmless bird obtained by the labour of the mole, who tentionally for herself, unburroughed and ferreted out for the bird, who, possibly, was hungry enough, and coi been relieved for this time, but by the mole, the fruit < bour she now feeds upon. Even thus the Lord oft-times his word to his people : " The wealth of the wicked is lai " just." And again, " The earth shall help the worn was fully exemplified in David, to whom Nabal, that chu
Avorm, speaks all in possessives : " Shall I take my bread, ♦' give it to one I know not whom P" And yet David rea] of all the pains and toils of Nabal at last. Let it never er to idleness, that God sometimes gives his people the fri; sweat, but if providence reduce me to necessity, and disa helping myself, I doubt not then, but it will provide ins GO it. The bird was an hungry, and could not dig.
MEDIT. VI.
Upon the shooting of two Finches Jighting in the
-OW soon hath death ended the quarrel betwixt th tie combatants ! had they agreed better, they might longer ; it was their own contention that gave both the ty and the provocation of their death ; and though living Hot, yet, being dead, they can lie quietly together in m^
Foolish birds, was it not enough that birds of prey wat vour them, but they must peck and scratch one another ? I seen the birds of paradise (saints I mean) tearing and each other, like so many birds of prey, and by their unch tests giving the occasion of their common ruin ; yea, ar
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS,
toorctlier, as if they had lovingly embraced each other, who fel gether by a duel : Quanta amicitia se hivicem amplectuntur,
mutua et implacabili inimicitia perierunt !
Embracing one another^ noxo they Ik,
Who by each othe?-^s bloody hands did die. Or, as he said, who observed how quietly and peaceably the and bones, even of enemies, did lie together in the grave ; Nan t vivipace conjuncti essetis ; you did not live together so peaceabl3
conscience of Christ's command will not, yet the consideratio common safety should powerfully persuade to unity and amity m
MEDIT. VII.
Upon the singing of a blind Jlnch by night.
DEAR friend, who was a great observer of the works of in nature, told me, that being entertained with a sight of man^
rities at a friend's house in London ; among other things his fri shewed him a. finch, whose eyes being put out, would frequently : even at midnight. This bird, in my opinion, is the lively eml of such careless and unconcerned persons as the prophet descr Amos vi. 4, 5, 6. who chant to the viol, when a dismal nigl trouble and affliction hath overshadowed the church. You w have thought it strange to have heard this bird sing in the n when all others are in a deep silence except the owl, an unclean 1 and the nightingale, which before we made the emblem of the pocrite. And as strange it is, that any, except the profane anc pociitical, should so unseasonably express their mirth and jol
that any of Sion's children should live in pleasure, whilst she he
lies in tears. The people of God, in Psalm cxxxvii. tell us in postures of sorrow they sat ; even like birds, with their heads u
their wings, during the night 6f their captivity. " How shall w«
" the Lord's songs in a strange land ?■" It is hke enough, such a sing and chant in the night of the church's trouble, have well fea ed their nests in the days of her prosperity ; however, let them k that God will turn their unseasonable mirth into a sadder note ; those that now sit sad and silent shall shortly sing for joy of h when "the winter is past, the rain over and gone, the flowers aj " again upon the earth, and the time of the singing of birds is cc
190 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OB,
reason and counsel, but only by natural instinct, yet n could hardly have contrived a neater building of such si rials. How neatly hath the thrush ceiled or plastered hi admirable art and industry ! how warmly hath the finch i And both well fenced against the injury of the weather.
How comfortably hath nature provided convenient hal these weak and tender young ones, who have Avarm Ic variety of provisions hourly brought them, Avithout th pains ? This trifling object suggests to my thoughts a mo and serious contemplation, even the wonderful and u abasement of Jesus Christ, who for my sake voluntarily himself to a more destitute and neglected state, than th( the air : For Matth. viii. 20. he saith, " The foxes havt ** tlie birds of the air have nests ; but tlic Son of ma
'* where to lay his head."
" The craggy rock to foxes holes afford, " The pleasant woods a resting-place to birds " For Chrisht no fixed habitation's found, " But what was borrowed, or the naked grour O melting consideration ! that the glorious Son of G
14. " The Lord of glory," James ii. 1. " The brightnes « ther's glory," Heb. i. 3. " Who was rich," 2 Cor. vi *' thought it not robbery to be equal with God," Phil from all eternity was infinitely and ineffably " delighting *' ing in the bosom of his Father," Prov. viii. 30. that he, I manifest himself in flesh, 2 Tim. iii 16. yea, " in thelikt
" ful flesh," Rom. viii. 3. that is, in flesh that had the effects of sin upon it, as hunger, thirst, pain, weariness, am and not only so, but to chuse such a state of outward m( poverty, never being possessed of a house in this world ; I
a stranger in other men's houses, and stooping in this lower condition than the very birds of the air, and all 1 mies. O let it work both admiration and thankfulness i my body is better accommodated than the body of my Lo:
*' Jesus ! by how much the viler thou madest thyself fc " much the dearer shalt thou be to rae."-)-
MEDIT. IX.
Upon the early singing of' birds.
THE HEAVKXEY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. J
with their cheerful and delightful warblings ! They set their li
spirits all a-work betimes, whilst my nobler spirits are bound v the bonds of soft and downy slumbers. For shame, my soul ! S fer not that publican sleep to seize so much of thy time, yea, best and freshest time ! reprove and chide thy sluggish body, ; good bishop once did, when, upon the same occasion, he said, & rexerunt passeres, et stertnunt pontlfices.
The early chirping sparroxvs may reprove Such lazy bishops as their beds do love.
Of many sluggards it may be said, as Tully said of Verres, dei5utv of Sicily, Quod nunquarn solem nee orientem, nee occiden
viderat : that he never saw the sun rising, being in bed after ; setting, being in bed before.
It is pity that Christians of all men, should suffer sleep to cut s
lai'ge thongs out of so narrow a hide as their time on earth is. alas ! it is not so much early rising, as a wise improving those fresh free hours with God that will enrich the soul ; else, as our pro\ saith, A man may be early up, and never the nearer ; yea, far bett( is to be found in bed sleeping, than to be up doing nothing, or 1 which is worse than nothing. O my soul ! learn to prepossess thy every morning with the thoughts of God, and suffer not those fi and sweet operations of thy mind to be prostituted to earthly thir
for that is experimentally true, which * one, in this case hath pe nently observed, that if the world get the start of religion in morning, it will be hard for religion to overtake it all the day ai K
MEDIT. X.
Upon the haltering of Birds iclth a grmn of Hair.
BSERVING, in a snowy season, how the poor hungry b were lialtered and drawn in by a grain of hair cunningly cast c their heads, whilst, poor creatures, they were busily feeding, suspected no danger ; and even whilst their companions were dr; away from them, one after another, all the interruption it gave
rest was only for a minute or two, w liilst they stood peeping into i hole through which their companions were drawn, and then fel their meat again as busily as before; I could not chuse but
192 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR^
" Death steps as swift, and yet no noise it makes ; " Its hand unseen, but yet most surely takes *." And even as the surviving birds for a little time seen affrighted, peeping after their companions, and then as to their meat again ; just so it fares with the eareless, ii world, who see others daily dropping into eternity round and for the present are a little startled, and will look in after their neighbours, and then fall as busily to their earl ments and pleasures again, as ever, till their own turn
I know, my God, that I must die as well as others ; 1 not die as others do, let me see death before I feel it, an before it kill me ; let it not come as an enemy upon n: rather let me meet it as a friend, half way. i)ie I mus lay up that good treasure before I go. Matt. vi. 19. Ci a good conscience when I go, 2 Tim. iv. 6, 7. and leav a good example when 1 am gone, and then let death coi come.
Meditations upon Beasts.
MEDIT. I.
Upon the cloggmg of a straying beast.
xIAD this bullock contented himself, and remained qi his own bounds, his owner had never put such an heat his neck ; b\it I see the prudent husbandman chuses ra him with this clog, than lose him for want of one. clog is to him, that is affliction and trouble to me ; had i close with God in liberty and prosperity, he would nev clogged me with adversity ; yea, and bappy were it might stray from God no more, who hath thus clog^ preventive afflictions. If, with David I might say, " J
" afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept thy w^ cxix. 67. O my soul ! it is better for thee to have thy p with poverty, thy ambition with reproach, thy carnal with constant disappointments, than to be at liberty God and duty.
It is true, I am sometimes as weary of these troubles I i !- .i-xi. _ -1 _. 1- - .1 _iv_.. 1,: I _i.v_.. ...• u ,
THE HiAVEXLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS.
the removal of it ; at last God removed it, but instead thereof was sorely exercised with the motions and temptations of lust, wl when he perceived, he as earnestly desired his head-ach again prevent a greater evil. Lord ! if my corruptions may be prevet by my afflictions, I refuse not to be clogged "snth them ; but soul rather desires thou wouldest hasten the time when I shal for ever freed from them both.
MEDIT. II.
Upon the love of a Dog to his Master.
X XO^V many a weary step, through mire and dirt, hath this ]
dog followed my horse's heels to day, and all this for a very j reward t for all he gets bv it at night, is but bones and blows,
will he not leave my companv, but is content upon such hard tei to travel with me from day to day.
O my soul ! what conviction and shame may this leave upon t who art oftentimes even weary of following thy master, Christ, w rewards and encouragements of obedience are so incomparably s' and sure ! I cannot beat back this dog from following me, but e inconsiderable trouble is enough to discourage me in the way oi duty. Ready I am to resolve as that scribe did, ]\Iatth. viii.
*' Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest ;^ but doth my heart faulter, when I must encounter with the difficulti the way ? Oh ! let me make a whole heart-choice of Christ foi
portion and happiness I and then 1 shall never leave him, nor back from following him, though the present difficulties were n more, and the present encouragements much less.
MEDIT. III.
upon the^ghting qf txco Rams.
A AKING notice how furiously these sheep, which by natur mild and gentle, did yet, like bulls, push each other, taking advantage by going back to meet with a greater rage and f methought I saw in this a plain emblem of the unchristian cor and animosities which fall out amongst them that call thems the people of God, who are in scripture also stiled sheep, for
194 nUSBAXDRY srilUTUALIZED ; OR,
Shall Christians one another wound and push, I/ike furious bulls, when they together rush ?
The fighting of these sheep doth in two respects nota with the sinful practices of contending Christians, 1. That they engage with their heads one against another : and w but those head-notions, or opposition of sciences falsely sc have made so many broils and uproars in the Christian what clashings have these heady opinions caused in th( First heads, and then hearts have clashed. Christians h tinguished betwixt adversarius litis, ct i^crsonce ; an i the opinion, and to the person ; but dipt their tongues vinegar and gall, shamefully aspersing and reproaching i because their understandings were not cast into one mou heads all of a bigness. But, 2. That which country-i from the fighting of sheep, That it presages foul and stof is much more certainly consequent upon the fighting of C:
Do these clash and push? Surely it is an iiifalUblc p an ensuing storm, Mai. iv. 6.
MEDIT. IV.
upon the Catching of an Horse in a fat Pastv
HEN this horse was kept in poor short leas, wl much .scope, but little grass, how gentle and tractable ^ He would not only stand quiet to be taken, but come to own accord, and follow me up and down the field for a en or handful of oats; but since I turned him into this fal comes no more to me, nor will suffer nie to come ne throws up his heels wantonly against me, and flies fron were rather his enemy than a benefactor. In this I bel riage of my own heart towards God, who the more he h me, the seldomer doth he hear from me ; in a low and ai how tractable is my heart to duty ? Then it comes Ic
God voluntarily. But in an exalted condition, how wil
heart run from God and duty .'' With this ungrateful r faulted his own people, Jer. iii. 31. teachable and trac wilderness, but when fatted in that rich pasture of Canj
*' we are lords, we will come no moi*e to thee." How God's former benefits forg-otten ? And now often is thai
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS.
But that is a bad tenant, that will maintain a suit at law against landlord with his own rent ; and a bad heart, that will fight aga God with his own mercies. I wish it may be with my heart, as reported to be with the waters in the kingdom of Congo, that never so sweet to the taste, as when the title is at the highest.
MEDIT. V.
Upon the hunting of a Deer.
HE full-mouthed cry of these dogs, whieh from the morn have hunted this poor tired deer, which is now po longer abl« stand before them, but is compassed round with them, who th for, and will presently suck her blood, brings to my thoughts the c dition and state of Jesus Christ, in the days of his flesh, who was tJ hunted from place to place by blood-thirsty enemies. Upon this ry account, the 22d Psalm, which treats of his death, is inscribed w
the title of Ajieleth Shahar, which signifies the h'md of the morjii and fully imports the same notion which this occasion presented with ; for look, as the hind or deer, which is intended to be run dc that day, is roused by the dogs early in the morning, so was Chr in the very morning of his infancy, by bloody Herod, and that or
pack confederated with him. Thus was he chased from place to pk till that was fulfilled which was prophetically written of him in ^
16. of the forecited Psalm : " For dogs have compassed me abc
*• the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me ; they pierced " hands and my feet."
And canst thou expect, O my soul ! to fare better than he did. escape the rage of bloody men ? Surely, if the Spirit of Christ dv in thee, if his holiness have favoured thee, these dogs will wind and give thee chase too : they go ujx)n the scent of holiness still, a would hunt to destruction everyone, in whom there is aUquidChrl any thing of Christ, if the gracious providence of the Lord did : sometimes rate them off: for it is no less a pleasure which some wi ed ones take in hunting the people of God, than what * Claud the poet observes men use to take in hunting wild beasts.
" Whilst every huntsman in the night do sleep, " Their fancies in the woods still hunting keep." Lord ! should I with the hypocrite decline the profession and pr tice of holiness, to escape the rage of persecuting enemies, at what ti
196 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED; 0R>
before pursuing enemies, than be dogged from day to guilty conscience.
3Ieditations upon Trees.
MEDIT. I.
Ujjon the fall of' Blossoms, nipt hy ajrosty morrt XSeHOLDING in an early spring, fruit-trees embosse( tiful blossoms of various colours, which breathed forth ous odours into the circumambient air, and adorned the which they grew, like so many rich jewels, or glitterin< and further observing, how these perfumed blossoms dro bitten with the frost, and discoloured all the ground, as \i snow had fallen ; I said within myself, these sweet and ea are not unlike my sweet and early affections to the Lore of my first acquaintance with him. O what fervent Ic desires, and heavenly delights beautified my soul in those
odoriferous scent of the sweetest blossoms, the mOrning I most fragrant flowers, hath not half that sweetness with
my first affections were enriched. O ! happy time, thi spring ! My soul hath it still in remembrance, and is hur me ; for these also were but blossoms which now are nif
that first flourish is gone ; my heart is like the winter's ea thy face, Lord, is to me like a winter sun. " Awake, O
*' and come, south wind, blow upon my garden, that the *' of may flow out, then let my beloved come into his
" eat his pleasant fruit !"
MEDIT. II.
Upon tJte knitting; or setting of Fruit.
HAVE often observed, that when the blossoms of a knit, though the flourish thereof be gone, and nothing rudiment of the expected fruit be left ; yet then the f better secured from the danger of frosts and winds, thai
mained in the flower or blossom ; for now it hath past critical periods, in which so many trees miscarry and los And methought this natural observation faii'ly led me t
TUE HEAVENLY CSE OF EARTHLY THINGS.
Spirit been thus knit and fixed in thee. Oh, how have mine i tions blown and budded under the warm beams of the gospel ! a chill blast from the cares, troubles and delights of the world ^ out, and the vanity and deadness of the heart within, have blastec my goodness hath been but as a morning-dew, or early cloud, vanisheth away. And even of divine ordinances, I may say
is said of human ordinances, " They have perished in the us A blossom is hxxl fiuctus imperfectus^ et ordinabilis, an impe thins in itself, and something in order to fruit ; a o-ood motion
holy purpose is but opus imperfectum, et ordinab'de, an impc work, in order to a complete work of the Spirit ; when that pr impetus^ those first motions were strong upon my heart, had I pursued them in the force and vigour of them, how many diffici might I have overcome ? Revive thy work, O Lord, and give e mv soul a miscarrving womb, or dry breasts.
MEDIT. III.
Upon t7i€ sight of a fair spreading Oak.
HAT a lofty flourishing tree is here .'' It seems rather tc little wood, than a single tree, every limb thereof having the di sions and branches of a tree in it ; and yet as great as it is, ii once but a little slip, which one might pull up with two fingers ; vast body was contained virtually and potentially in a small a Well then, I will never despise the day of small things, nor de of arriving to an eminency of grace, though at present it be b a bruised reed, and the things that are in me be ready to die. things in nature, so the things of the Spirit, grow up to their fu and perfection by slow and insensible degrees. The famous heroical acts of the most renowned believers were sOch as thems
could not once perform, or it may be think they ever should. ( things, both in nature and grace, come from small and contemj beginnings.
MEDIT. IV.
^poh the sight of man?/ siicJcs lodged in the branches of a c Fruit-tree. H, OW is this tree battered with stones, and loaded with s! that have been thrown at it, whilst those that srow about it, 1
1 ?)S HUSBANDRY SPlfilTUALIZED ; OK,
Eren thuB it fares in both respects with the best o1 more holy, the more envied and persecuted ; every one by will have a sling at them. Methinks I see how devils { men walk round about the people of God, whom he hath his arms of power, like so many boys about an orchard, water to have a sling at them. But God turns all the si proach into precious stones to his people ; they bear the being thus battered. And in them is that ancient * c verified.
" The palms and crowns of virtue thu3 increase;
" Thus persecution's turned into peace.'" Let me be but fruitful to God in holiness, and ever ab the work of the Lord, and then Avhilst devils and men are me, either by hand or tongue persecutions, I will sing ar all with the divine poet :
" What open force, or hidden charm, *' Cau blast my fruit, or bring me harm, " Whilst the inclosure is thine arm."" Herb. Poem
MEDIT. v.
Upoyi the gathering of choice Fruit from a scrubbed unpromi
T ▼ OULD any man think to find such rare delicious
such an unAvorthy tree to appearance as this is .'' I should r expected the most delicious fruit from the most handsome ishing trees; but I see I must neither judge the worth ( men by their external form and appearance. This is n< time I have been deceived in judging by that rule; und< promising outsides I have found nothing of worth ; an* deformed despicable bodies I have found precious and richb souls. The sap and juice of this scrubbed tree is concoctei and excellent fruits, whilst the juice and sap of some but barren trees, serves only to keep them from rotting, \ the use that many souls (which dwell in beautiful bodies) they have (as one saith) aniniCDa pro sale ; their souls ai to their bodies. Or thus.
The only use to which their souls do serve,
THE HEAVENLY USK OF EARTHLY THINGS.
beautiful, or not, yet let my soul be so : for as tlie esteem oi tree, so the esteem and true honour of every man, rises rather liis fruitfulness and usefulness, than from bis shape and form.
MEDIT. VI.
Uinm an excellent^ but irregular Tree.
►SEEING a tree grow somewhat irregulai-, in a very neat ore I told the owner it was pity that tree should stand there ; anc if it were mine I would root it up, and thereby reduce the on
to an exact uniformity. It was replied to this purpose, ' Th
' rather regarded the fruit than the form ;' and that this slig conveniency was abundantly preponderated by a more conside advantage. This tree, said he, which you would root up, yielded me more fruit than many of those trees which have no else to commend them but their regular situation. I could nc yield to the reason of this answer ; and jcould wish it had l^ei ken so loud, that all our uniformity-men had heard it, who wi stick to root up many hundred of the best bearers in the I orchard, because they stand not in an exact order with other conformable, but less beneficial trees, who pcrdunf substai propter accidentia^ destroy the fruit to preserve the form.
Not much unlike, such foolish men are those, That strive for shadows, and the substance lose.
Meditations upon a Garden.
MEDIT. I
Upon the neTC-modelUng' of a Garden.
-tL Gentlewoman who had lately seen a neat and curious gaj returns to her own with a greater dislike of it than ever; res
to new-model the whole plat, and reduce it to a better form, is now become so curious and neat, that not a weed or stone is fered in it, but all must lie in exquisite order; and whatever t
ment she had observed in her neighbour's, she is now restles she sees it in her own.
Happy were it, thought I, if in an holy emulation every one w
200 iiusBAKtiKY aPUinvAtiiET^ ; oh,
self-conviction and shame ; but few are sd liappy to be proA self-reformation by such rare patterns. I see it is much eas lip many weeds out of a garden, than one corruption o heart; and to procure an hundred flowers to adorn a I
one grace to beautify the soul. It is more natural to coi to envy, than to imitate the spiritual excellencies of other
MEDIT. II.
Upon tJie pulling up of a Leek.
A. WHITE head and a green tail ! How well doth this n old wanton lover, Avhose green youthful lusts are not exti though his Avhite head declares that nature is almost hairs should be always matched with grave deportments sins of youth should rather be the griefs than pleasures c It is sad when the sins of the soul, like the diseases of the h stronger, as nature grows weaker : and it recals to my ; ancient observation of * Menander :
" It is the worst of evils, to behold
*' Strong youthful lusts to rage in one that's old." It is a thousand pities, that those who have one foot in should live as if the other were in hell ! that their lusts sh
lively, when their bodies are three parts dead ! Such sinfu bring upon them more contempt and shame, than their ho
and reverend faces can procure them honour.
*' Gray hairs, and aged wrinkles, did of old *' Procure more reverence than bags of gold-f-." But alas ! how little respect or reverence can the hoar tain amongst wise men, except it be found in the way of riess .'* I think the lowest esteem is too much for an old the devil ; and the highest honour little enough for an a faithful servant of Christ.
MEDIT. III.
Upon a heedless tread in a curious Garden. ■o
THE HEAVEXLV USE OF EAETHLY TITIVfiS. S
I was very careful to shun these flowers, which indeed had no oil worth to commend them, but their exquisite colour; and un; visedly trod upon and spoiled an excellent choice herb, which, thou it grew obscurely, yet had rare physical virtues in it.
When I was made sensible of the involuntary trespass I hadcc mitted, I thought I could scarcely make the owner a better comp sation, than by telling him, that herein (though against my will] did but tread in the footsteps of the greatest part of the world v are very careful (as 1 was) to keep their due distance from splenc though worthless gallants, mean while trampling upon, and crush
under foot the obscure, but most precious servants of God in world. As little do they heed these most excellent persons, s did this precious herb.
Summa ingenia in occulto scepe latent, saith Plautus.
Rare wits, and herbs, sometimes do sculk and shrink In such blind holes, as one would little think.
For my own part, I desire to tread upon no man with the foo contempt and pride, much less upon any good man ; and that I r
not, it concerns me to look before I step ; I mean, to consider bel I censure: had I done so by this rare herb, I had never hurt il
MEDIT. IV.
Upon a mitJiered posy taken up in tite way.
Jr INDING in my walk, a posy of once sweet and fragrant, now dry and withered flowers, which I suppose to be thro^Ti a by one that had formerly worn it : thus, said I, doth the unfaitj world use its friends, when providence hath blasted and with< them; whilst they are rich and honourable, they will put them their bosoms, as the owner of this posy did, whilst it was fresh fragrant, and as easily throw them away as useless and wort! things, when thus they come to be withered. Such usage as tl
Petronius long since complained of.
** Are they in honour ? Then we smile like friends ;
*' And with their fortunes all our friendship ends."
But this loose and deceitful friend stinks so odiously in the ^ nostrils of nature, that a + heatJien poet severely taxes and conde it as most unworthyof a man.
SOS HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR,
" 'lis base to change wth fortune, and deny '• A faithful friend, because in poverty." And is this indeed the friendship of the world ? Doth them whom once it honoured ? Then, Lord ! let me ne friendship. O let me esteem the smiles and honours c and thy love and favour more ! thy love is indeed um being pure, free, and built upon nothing that is mutable ; servcst thy friends as the world doth its darlings.
ifMggggmam*
MEDIT. V.
Upon the sudden withering of a Rose.
>EING with my friend in a garden, we gathered < rose ; he handled his tenderly, sraelled to it but seldom, £ ly ; I always kept it to my nose, or squeezed it in my har in a very short time it lost both colour and sweetness, remained as sweet and fragrant as if it had been growi own root. These roses, said I, are the true emblems of sweetest creature-enjoyments in the world, which being and cautiously used and enjoyed, may for a long time ness to the possessor of them ; but if once the affectii greedily upon them, and squeeze them too hard, they qt in our hands, and we lose the comfort of them, and
through the soul's surfeiting upon them, or the Lord and just removal of them, because of the excess of our them ; earthly comforts, like pictures, shew best at a d
It was therefore a good saying of* Homer, 'A^og* 'i^mob'
" I like him not, who at the rate
" Of all his might doth love or hate." It is a point of excellent wisdom to keep the golden 1 deration upon all the affections we exercise upon earthl> never to slip those reins, unless when they move towj whose love there is no danger of excess.
MEDIT. VI.
Upon the sudden withering of beautiful Flow
r\fTir r i. i .J. Ji J ii-.
THE HEAVENLY CSE OF EAETHLY THINGS. SJi
round about them, but now are withered and shrivelled up, ai have neither any desirable beauty or savour hi them.
So vain a thing is the admired beauty of creatures, which so cap vates the heai'ts, and exercises a pleasing tyranny over the affectio of vain man, yet it is as suddenly blasted as the beauty of a flower
" How frail is beauty in how short a time
" It fades, like roses, which have past' their prime. « So wrinkled age the fairest face will plow, " And cast deep furrows on the smoothest brow. " Then where's that lovely tempting face ? Alas .' *' Yourselves would blush to view it in a glass." If then thou dellghtest in beauty, O my soul ! chuse that whi
iS lasting. There is a beauty which ne\'er fades, even the beauty holiness upon the inner man ; this abides fresh and orient for ev( and sparkles gloriously, when thy face (the seat of natural beaut
is become an abhori'ent and loathsome spectacle. Holiness enanK and sprinkles over the face of the soul with a beauty, upon whi Christ himself is enamoured ; even imperfect holiness on earth i« rose that breathes sweetly in the bud ; in heaven it will be full-blo\\ and abide in its prime to all eternity.
m MEDIT. Vll.
Uj)on the tenderness of some cJioice Flowers.
JLJ-OW much care is necessary to preserve the life of some flower they must be boxed up in the winter, others mu.st be covered wi glasses in their springing up, the finest and richest mould must
sifted about the roots, and assiduously watered, and all this lit enough, and sometimes too little to preserve them ; whilst oth common and worthless flowers grow without any help of ours : Y(
we have no less to do to rid our gai'dens of them, than we have make the former grow there.
Thus stands the case with our hearts, in reference to the motic
of grace and sin. Holy thoughts of God must be assiduously watt ed by prayer, earthed up by meditation, and defended by watchfi ness ; and yet all this is sometimes too little to preserve them alive
our souls. Alas ! the heart is a soil that agrees not >\-ith tliem, th
S04 HtSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR,
are tender things, and a small matter will nip and kiU this purpose is the complaint of the divine Poet :
so coy
Who would have thought a joy
To be offended so,
and go
So suddenly away ? Hereafter I had need
take heed.
Joys among other things have wings,
And watch their opportunities of flight, Converting in a moment, day to night. He
But vain thoughts, and unholy suggestions, these s selves and root deep in the heart ; tliey naturally ag soil : So that it is almost impossible, at any time, to be It is hard to forget what is our sin to remember.
MEDIT VIII.
Upon the strange means of preserving the life of \
A OBSERVE that plants and herbs are sometimes kil and yet without frosts they would neither live nor thri^ sometimes drowned with water, and yet without Avatei subsist : They are refreshed and cheered by the hea and yet that sun sometimes kills and scorches then lives my soul : Troubles and afflictions seem to kill all arid yet without these, its comforts could not live. T of prosperity sometimes refresh me, and yet those sunlikeliest way to wither me : By what seeming contrad life of my spirit preserved ! what a mystery, what a p life of a Christian ?
Welcome my health, this sickness makes me w
Medicines adieu. When with diseases I have list to dwell,
I'll wish for you.
tHE HEAVENLY UsE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 20i
AVhen I again grow greedy to be poor,
I'll wish for you. Welcome, my credit, this disgrace is glory,
Honours adieu.
When for renown and fame I shall be sorr}',
I'll wish for you. ^Velcome content, this sorrow is my joy.
Pleasures adieu. When I desire such griefs as may annoy,
I'll wish for you. Health, strength, and riches, credit and content. Are spared best sometimes when they are spent. Sickness and weakness, loss, disgrace and sorrow, Lend most sometimes, when most they seem to borrow.
And if by these contrary and improbable ways the Lord preserve our souls in Hfe, no marvel then we find such strange and seemingl; contradictory motions of our hearts, under the various dealings c God with us, and are still restless, in what condition soever he put us ; which restless frame was excellently expressed in that piou epigram of the reverend Gataker, made a Httle before his death.
I thirst for thirstiness, I weep for tears.
Well pleas'd I am to be displeased thus : The only thing I fear, is want of fears,
Suspecting I am not suspicious. I cannot chuse but Uve, because I die ; And when I am not dead, how glad am 1 1 Yet when I am thus glad for sense of pain,
And careful am, lest I should careless be; Then do I grieve for being glad again,
And fear, lest carefulness take care for me.
Amidst these restless thoughts this rest I find.
For those that rest not here, there's rest behind.
Jam tetigi portumy vakte.
NAVIGATION
SPIRITUALIZED:
Or, a New Compass for SEAMEN,
Consisting of XXXII Points;
{Pleasant OBSERVATIONS, Profitable APPLICATIONS, anu Serious REFLECTIONS.
All concluded with so man}^ Spiritual POE
What good might seamen get, if once they were
But heavenly minded? If' they coidd hut steer
The Christian'' s course , the soul might then enjc Sweet peace, they might liJce seas c^erjloxo tcithjc
Were God our all, hoxo woidd oiir comforts doub Upon us ! thus the seas of all our trouble
Would be divinely szveet : men should endeavow To see God now, and be with him for ever.
To all Masters, Mariners, and Seamen ; especially i
to tlie Borough of Cl'ifiofi, Dartmouth, and Ha, county of Devon.
SIRS,
J. FIND it storied of Anacharsis, that when one aske the living or the dead were more ? He returned this {
* must first tell me (saith he) in which number I must Intimating thereby, that seamen are, as it Avere, a thi eons, to be numbered neither with the living nor the de hanging continually in suspense before them. And it accounted the most desperate employment, and they lit
lost men that used the «eas. ' Through all my life (si
^ three things do especially repent me: 1. That eve * secret to a woman. 2. That ever I remained one
* will. 3. That ever I went to any place by sea, wl
' have gone by land.' * Nothing (saith another) is m * than to see a virtuous and worthy person upon the ;
THE EPISTLE BEDICATOHY. 20
to stich a frame, than the lively apprehensions of eternity do ; ani none have greater external advantages for that, than you have. Bui
■\\as ! for the generality, what sort of men are more ungodly, an<
uipidlv insensible of eternal concernments? living, for the n\ps pirt, as if they had made a covenant with death, and with hell wer at agreement. It was an ancient saying, Qui nescit orare, dUca
navig'cire^ He that knows not how to pray, let him go to sea. Bu we may say now, (alas ! that we may say so in times of greater light
e that would learn to be profane, to drink and swear, and dishonou God, let him go to sea. As for prayer, it is a rare thing amon -eamen, thev count that a needless business : they see the profan and vile delivered as well as others; and therefore what profit i
tiiere if they pray unto him ^ ^lal. iii. 4. As I remember, I hav read of a profane soldier, who was beard swearing, though he stoo< in a place of great danger ; and when one that stood by him wame
him, saying, * Fellow-soldier, do not swear, the bullets fly ;' he ar swered, ' They that swear come off as well as they that pray.' Soo after a shot hit him, and down he fell. Plato dihgently admonishe
all men to avoid the sea ; ' For (saith he) it is the schoolmaster c
* all vice and dishonestv.' Sirs ! it is a very sad consideration to me that you who float upon the great deeps, in whose bottom so man^ thousand poor miserable creatures lie, whose sins have sunk ther down, not only into the bottom of the sea, but of hell also, whithe divine vengeance hath pursued them : That you, I say, who dail float, and hover over them, and have the roaring waves and billow that swallowed them up, gaping for you as the next prev, should b no more affected with these things. Oh what a terrible voice dot!
God utter in the storms ! " It breaks the cedars, shakes the wilder
" ness, makes the hinds to calve,'' Psal. xxix. 5. And can it no shake your heaits t This voice of the Lord is full of majesty, bu his voice in the word is more efficacious and powerful, Heb. iv. IS to convince and rip up the heart. This word is exalted above a] his name, Psal. cxxxviii. 3. and if it cannot awaken you, it is n Wonder you remain secure and dead, when the Lord utters his voic in the most dreadful storms and tempests. But if neither the voic of God uttered in his dreadful works, or in his glorious gospel, ca: effectually awaken and rouse, there is an Euroclydon, a fearfu
-tonn coming, which will so awaken your souls, as that they sha^ never sleep any more, Psa!. xi. G. " Upon the wicked he shall rai
'• snares, fire and bi'imstone, and an horrible tempest : This is th " portion of their cup." You that have been at sea in the most vie IPnf ctr»ri11s! no^-ol" TtiltcuoVt o c*-«i-rr> r>e ♦Kit? OI1.-J r1->^ T r.^A m^mnt thr
11 ill
^^^ THE EHSTLE DEDlCATORV.
office above; but for the generality, alas ! they mi n( things. How many of you are coasting to and fro, fr( to another? But never think of that heavenly coun how you may get the merchandize thereof, which is 1 gold of Ophir. How oft do you tremble to see the dance about you, and Avash over you ? Yet consider ble it will be to have all the waves and billows of Go
over your souls, and that for ever. How glad are you been long tossed upon the ocean, to descry land ? An( eagerly do you look out for it, who yet never had your with the consideration of that joy which shall be am( when they arrive at the heavenly strand, and set foot of glory.
O Sirs ! I beg of you, if you have any regard to i immortal souls of yours, which are also imbarked for ther all winds blow them, and will quickly be at the ven or hell, that you will seriously mind these thing; steer your course to heaven, and improve all winds ( tunities and means) to waft you thither.
Here you venture life and libertv, run through m and dangers, and all to compass a perishing treasure; do you return disappointed in your design ? Or if not fading short-lived inheritance, which like the flowing ti covers the shore, and then returns, and leaves it naked ; and are not everlasting ti-easures worth venturing foi be wise for eternity : I here present you with the fruil hours, redeemed for your sakcs, from my other studie ments, which I have put into a new dress and mode, voured to clothe spiritual matters in your own dialcj that they might be the more intelligible to you ; an pious poems, with which the several chapters are com by all means to assault your several affections, and
speaks, " to catch you with guile." I can say nothing
It cannot be without its manifold imperfections, since^I of so many in myself; only this I will adventure to say defective or empty soever it be in other respects, yet it filled with much true love to, and earnest desires aftei and prosperity of your souls. And for the other defe(
It, I have only two things to offer, in way of excuse ; essay that I ever made in this kind, wherein I find ] and it was hastened for your sakes, too soon out of m
AN EPISTLE TO SEAMEN SAILIXC HEAVEN'WAED. 20
meditations to the conversion of any among you, you will be th jjainers, and my heart shall rejoice, even mine. How comfortabl should we shake hands with you, when you go abroad, were we pe; suaded your souls were interested in Christ, and secured from p
f ~'r nu. in the new covenant ? What life would it put into our prayei ; \ li. when vou are abroad, to consider that Jesus Christ is inte ceding for vou in heaven, whilst we are your remembrancers here c earth ? How quiet would our hearts be, when you are abroad i storms, did we know you had a special interest in him whom wim and seas obey ? To conclude, what joy would it be to your god] relations, to see you return new creatures? Doubtless more than you came home laden with the riches of both Indies.
Come Sirs ! set the heavenly Jerusalem upon the point of yoi nnc compass ; make all the sail you can for it ; and the Lord gii you a prosperous gale, and a safe arrival in that land of rest.
So prays
Your most affectionate friend to serve you
in soul-eoncernments,
JOHN FLAVEL.
To every SEAMAN sailiug Heaveuward.
Ingenious Seamen,
A HE art of Navigation, by which islands especially are cnriche and preserved in safety from foreign invasions ; and the wonderf works of God in the great deep, and foreign nations, are most deligl fully and fully beheld, Sec. is an art of exquisite excellency, ingenuit
rarity, and mirability ; but the art of' spiritual navigation is the a of arts. It is a gallant thing to be able to carry a ship richly ladi round the world; but it is much more gallant to carrv a soul (that rii loading, a pearl of more worth than all the merchandize of the worl in a body (tlial is as liable to leaks and bruises as anv sJiip is) throu^ the sea of this world (which is as unstable as water, and hath the sai brinish taste and salt gust which the waters of the sea hare) safe heaven (the best haven) so as to avoid splitting upon anv soul-sinkii rocks, or striking upon any soul-drowning sands. The art of natui navigation is a very great mystery ; but the art of spiritual navigatii