Upon the ingraffing of fruit-trees,
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, Ourpath was pleafant; but iflength ofway Doweary thee, we'll flack our pace and ſtay:
Let's fit a while,underthe cooling ſhade Offragrant trees ; trees werefor ſhadowmade.
Lohere apleaſantgrove,whoſe ſhade is good ; Butmore than ſo, twill yield us fruit for food :
No dangerous fruits do on theſebranches grow, No ſnakes among the verdant graſs below ;
Here we'll repoſe a while, and then go view The pleaſant herds and flocks; and ſo adieu.
CHAP. 1.
Upon the Ingraffing of Fruit-trees :
Ungraffedtreescannever beargoodfruit ; Norwe, 'tillgraffed on a better root.
OBSERVATION.
Wild treenaturally ſpringing up inthewood orhedge, and never graffedor removed from its native foil,may beartome fruit, andthat fair andbeautiful to the eye; but it will giveyou no content at allin eating, being always barſh, four, andunpleaſantto the taſte; but iffuch a stockbe removed into a good foil, andgraffedwithabetterkind, itmaybecome agood tree, and yield ſtore of choiceand pleaſant fruit.
APPLICATION.
U Nregenerate men, who neverwereacquainted with the mysteryof ſpiritual union with Jeſus Chriſt, but ftill grow upon theirnatural root,oldAdam, may,by the force and power ofnatural principles,bring forth ſome fruit, which, like thewild hedge-fruit we ſpeakof, may, indeed,be fair andpleafant to the eyes ofmen,butGodtakes no pleaſure at all in it ; it is four, harsh, and diſtaſteful to him, becauſe it ſprings not from the Spirit ofChriſt, Ifa. i. 13. " I cannot awaywith it, it
" is iniquity," &c. Butthat I maynot entanglethe threadof mydiſcourſe, I ſhall (as inthe formerchapters) ſetbefore you a parallel betwixt the beſt fruits ofnatural men, and thoſe ofa wild ungraffed tree.
1. Theroot that bearsthis wild fruit is adegenerate root, and that is the cause ofall this fourneſs and harshneſs in the fruit it bears ; it is the feed ofſome better tree accidentally blown, or caſt into ſomewaſteand bad foil, where not being manuredand ordered aright, it isturnedwild:So allthe fruits
TheHeavenly Use ofEarthly Things.
ofunregeneratemen flow from the firſt Adam, acorrupt and degenerate root ; he was indeed plantedaright feed, but foon turned awild and degenerate plant; he being the root from whicheveryman naturally ſprings, corrupts all the fruit that anymanbears from him.
It is obſervedby Gregory, pertinent to mypreſent purpoſe, Genus humanum in parenteprimo, velut in radice putruit ; Mankind was putrifiedin the root of his firſt parent; Matth. vii. 18. " A corrupt tree cannot
<<bring forth good fruit."
2.This corrupt root ſpoils the fruit,bythe tranfmiffionofits fourandnaughty fap into all thebranches andfruits thatgrow on them; they fuck no other nourishment, butwhat the root affords them, andthat beingbad, ſpoils all: for the ſame cauſe and reaſon, no mere natural or unregenerate man can ever dooneholyor acceptable action, becauſe the corruption ofthe rootis inallthoſe actions. The neceffity ofour drawing corruption into all our actions, from this curſed root Adam, is expreffedby a quickandſmart interrogation,Jobxiv. 4. " Who "can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? Not one."
The ſenſe ofit is well delivered us (by Mr. Caryl in loc.) This question (faithhe) may undergo a twofold conftruction :
Firſt, thus, Who can bring amorally cleanperſonoutofaper fon originally unclean ? and fohe lays hishanduponhis birthfin.
Or, fecondly, which ſpeaks to my purpoſe, it may refer to the action ofthe fame man ; man being unclean, cannot bring forth a clean thing ; (i. e.) a clean or holy action ; thatwhich is originated is like its original. And that this four ſap ofthe firſt ſtock (I mean Adam's fin) is tranfmitted into all mankind,not only corrupting their fruit, but ruining and withering all the branches, the apostle ſhews us in that excellent parallel betwixt the two Adams, Rom. v. 12.
" Wherefore, as by oneman" [one,not only in individuo fed infpecie, one repreſenting the whole rootor ſtock,] " fin enter- "ed into the world :" not by imitation only, butby propagation; and this brought death and ruin upon allthe branches.
3.Although theſe wild hedge-fruits be unwholſome and unpleaſanttothe taſte, yet they are fair and beautiful to the eye ; amanthat looks upon them, and doth not know what fruit it is,wouldjudge itby its thew and colour, to be excellent fruit , for itmakes a fairer ſhew oftentimes than the best and moſt wholeſome fruitdoth: even ſo, theſe natural gifts and endowments whichfome unregenerate perſons have, ſeem exceeding fair to the eye, anda fruit to be deſired. What excellent
Huſtandry Spiritualized; or, qualities have ſome mere naturalmen andwomen! what i winning affability,humblecondeſcenſion,meekneſs,righteoutneſs, ingenuous tenderneſs, andſweetneſs ofnature! As itwas
(hyperbolically enough)ſaidofone, Inbochomine, nonpeccavit Adam; Adam never finned in this man; meaning that he excelled the generalityofAdam's children in ſweetness oftemper and natural endowments.
What curious phantaſies, nimble wits, ſolid judgments, tenacious memories, rare elocution, &c. are to be found among mere natural men! by whichthey are aſſiſtedindiſcourſing, praying, preaching and writing to the admiration ofſuch as know them.
But that which is highly esteemedofmen,isabominationtoGod,Luke xvi. 15. It finds no acceptancewith him, becauſe it ſprings from that curſed root ofnature, and is notthe production of his own fpirit.
4. Ifſuch aſtock wereremoved intoabetter foil, andgraffedwith abetterkind, itmight bring forth fruitpleasant and grateful tothe husbandman; and iffuch perſons (before deſcribed) werebut regenerated andchangedintheir ſpirits and principles,what excellent anduseful perfons would theybe inthe church ofGod? And then their fruits would be ſweet andacceptable tohim. One obſerves of Tertullian, Origen, andJerom, that theycame into Canaan laden with Egyptian gold, (i. e.) theycame into the church fullofexcellenthuman learning, which did Chriſtmuch ſervice.
5. When thehusbandman cutsdownhiswoodsor hedges, hecutsdown theſe crab ſtocks with the reſt,becauſe he values themnotanymorethan the thorns andbrambles among which theygrow; and as little willGod regardor ſpare theſe natural branches, how much ſoeverthey are laden with ſuch fruit.
Thethreatning is univerſal, John iii. 3. "Except you be rege- " nerate, andborn again,you cannotenter into the kingdom
" ofheaven." And again, Heb. xii. 14. " Without holiness, "no man (behis natural gifts never ſo excellent) ſhall fee
"God."
Imbelliſhed nature, is nature ſtill ; "That which is " born ofthe flesh, is but fleſh," however it be ſet off with advantage to the eye ofman.
REFLECTIONS.
1. Towhatpurpoſe thendo Iglory inmy natural accomplishments ? Though Ihavea better nature thanſome others have, yet it is a curſed nature ſtill.
Theſe ſweet qualities andexcellent gifts, do only hide, but not kill the corruption
A reflection for an accomplished naturalist. ofnature.
Iam but arottenpoſtgilded over, andall my du-
The Heavenly Ufe of Earthly Things.
tiesbut hedge-fruit, which God makes noaccountof. Ocutting thought! that the unlearned ſhall rife and take heaven, when Iwith all my excellent gifts ſhall deſcend into hell.
Heaven was not made for ſcholars, as ſuch, but for believers ; as one faid, whenthey comfortedhim uponhis death-bed, that he was a knowing man, a doctorofdivinity : Ofaidhe, I ſhall not appearbefore God as a doctor, but as a man ; I shall stand upon a level withthe moſt illiterate inthe day ofjudgment.
Whatdoth it avail me that I have a nimble wit, whilst I have none to do myſelf good ? Willmy judge be charmed with a thetorical tongue ? Things will not be carried in thatworld as they are in this.
If I could, with Berengarius, diſcourſe de omnifcibile, ofeverythingthat is knowable ; or withSolomon, unravel nature from the cedar to the hyffop, what would this advantage me, as long as I am ignorant of Chrift, and the mystery of regeneration ? My head hath often aked with ſtudy, butwhen did myheart ake for fin ? Methinks, O my foult thou trimmeſt up thyselfintheſe natural ornaments, to appear beforeGod,much as that delicate Agag did, whenhe was to come before Samuel, and fondly conceits that theſe things willprocure favour, or (at leaſt) pity from him , but yet think not, for allthat, the bitterness ofdeath is past : Say not within thyſelf, willGod caſt ſuch a one as I into hell? Shall aman ofſuch parts be damned ? Alas! justice will hew thee topieces, as Samuel didthat ſpruce king, and not abate thee the leaſt for theſe things ; many thouſand branches ofnature, as fair and fruitful as thyſelf, are nowblazinginhell,becauſenot tranſplantedbyregeneration intoChriſt; and ifhe ſparednot them, neither willhe ſpare thee.
( 2. Iama poordeſpiſed ſhrub,whichhave no beauty at all inme, andyet ſucha one haththe LordchofentotranſplantintoChrift, whilft he leftmany fragrant branches ſtandAreflectionfor atrue,butweak believer. ingontheirnative ſtock, to be fuel ofhiswrathto alleternity
Ograce! for ever to be admired ! Ah ! what cauſe have I to bethankfultofree grace, andfor ever towalk humblywithmy
God!the Lordhaththerefore choſen an unlikely, rugged,unpoliſhed creature as Iam, that pridemay for everbe hid from mine eyes,andthat Imay ever glory inhis prefence, 1Cor. i.
29.
Inow havethe advantage ofabetter rootand foil than anycarnal perfon hath ; it willtherefore bea greater ſhame to me, and a reproach to the root that bears me, if I should be outſtripped and excelledby them: yet, Lord, how often do I findit fo ? I fee fome ofthem meek and patient,whilft I am
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, rough and furly; generous and noble, whilstIam baſe and penurious.
Truly fuch abranch as I am, is nohonour tothe root thatbears it.
The POEM.
Am abranch ofthat fair Eden tree I Which tomankindGod hath ordain'dtobe Thecommonſtock; his fituation good, His branches many, ofhimselfa wood ; And like a cedar by the river fed,.
Untothe clouds his ample branches ſpread:
Sinſmote his root, then justice cuthim down, Andlevell'd with the earth his lofty crown.
Whathope ofbranches when the tree's o'erturn'd, But like dry faggots to be bound and burn'd ?
Ithadbeen fo,had not tranfcendent love, Which in a ſphere above our thoughts doth move,
Prepar'd a better ſtock toſave and nourish Tranſplanted twigs, which in him thrive and flourish .
InAdam all are curs'd; no ſaving fruit Shallever fpring from that fin-blasted root :
Yea, allthe branches that inhim are found, How flourishing foever, mustbe bound Andpil'd together (horrid news to tell !)
To make an everlasting blaze in hell.
God takes no pleaſure in the ſweetest bud Diſclos'dby nature; for the root's notgood.
Some boughs indeedrichly adorned are With natural fruits, which to the eye are fair;
Raregifts, ſweet diſpoſitions, which attract The love ofthousands, and from most exact
Honour and admiration .
You'll admire That ſuch as theſe are fewel for the fire.
Indeed, ten thousand pities 'tis to fee Such lovely creatures in this cafe tobe.
Didthey by true regeneration draw The ſap of lifefrom Jeffe's root, the law, Bywhich theynow towrath condemned are, Wouldceasetocurſe, andGodfuchbuds wouldſpare :
Butout ofhim there's none oftheſe canmove Hisunrelenting heart, or draw his love.
Thencutme off from this accurfed tree, Left I for everbe cutoff from thee.
The Heavenly Use ofEarthly Things.
CHAP.
II.
Upon the Union of the Graff with the Stock.
Whene'er you bud and graff, therein youfee, How Christ andfouls must bere united be.
OBSERVATIΟΝ .
HEN the husbandman hath prepared his graffs in the ſeaſon ofthe year, he carries them, with the tools that are neceſſary forthat work, to the tree or ſtock he intends to ingraff, and having cut off the top of the limb in ſome fmooth part, he cleaves it with his knife or chiſſel a little befide the pith, knocks in his wedge to keep it open, then(havingpreparedthe graff) he carefully fets itintothe cleft, joiningthe inner fide ofthe barks ofgraff and ſtocktogether (there being the main current ofthe ſap) then pulls out his wedge, binds both together (as in barking) and clays itup, to defend the tender graffandwounded ſtock from the injuries of the fun and rain.
Theſe tender cyons quicklytake hold ofthe ſtock, and having immediate coalition with it, drink in its ſap, concoct it into their ownnourishment, thrive better, and bear more and better fruits than everthey wouldhavedone upon their natural root ; yea, the ſmallest bud, being carefully inoculated and bound cloſe to the ſtock, will, in ſhorttime, become a flourishing and fruitful limb .
APPLICATION.
HIS carries a moſt ſweet andlivelyresemblance of the TH foul's union with Chriſt by faith ; and indeed there is nothing in nature thatſhadows forth this greatgoſpel-mystery like it : It is a thousand pities that any who are employed a bout, or are but ſpectators ofſuch an action, ſhould terminate theirthoughts (as too manydo) in that natural object, and not raiſeuptheir hearts to theſeheavenly meditations, which it ſo fairly offers them.
1.When a twig istobe ingraffed, or abud inoculated, it is firſt cut offby a keen knife from the treeonwhich it naturally grew.
Andwhenthe Lord intends tograff afoul intoChriſt, the firſt work about it, is cutting work, Acts ii. 37. their hearts werecutbyconviction, and deep compunction ; no cyon is in.
VOL. VI.
Husbandry Spiritualized; er, graffedwithoutcutting, no foul united with Chriſt, withouta cutting ſenſe of finandmifery, John xvi. 8, 9.
2. When the tender ſhoot is cut off from the tree, there are, ordinarily, many more left behindupon the ſame tree, ás promifing and vigorous as that which is taken; but it pleaſeth thehusbandman to chuſe this, and leave them .
Even ſo it is in the removing or tranſplanting ofa foul by converfion ; itleaves many behind it inthe ſtate of nature, as likely and promifing as itſelf; but ſo it pleaſethGod to take this foul, and leavemany others ; yea, often ſuch as grew upon the ſame root ; Imean,the immediate parent, Mal. i. 2. "Was
" not Efau Jacob's brother ? faith the Lord: yet I loved Ja- " cob, and I hated Efau."
3.Whenthegraffs
are cut off, in order to this work, ititisa critical ſeaſonwith them: if they fie too long before they are ingraffed, or take not with the ſtock, they die, and are never more to be recovered ; they may ſtand in the ſtock a while, but are no part of the tree.
Sowhen fouls are under a work of conviction, it is a critical timewith then ; many aone have I known then to miſcarry, and never recovered again: they have indeed for a time ſtood like dead graffs in the ſtoek, by an external dead-hearted profeffion, but never came to any thing; and as ſuch dead graffs , either fall off from the ſtock, or moulder awayupon it; ſodo theſe, 1 John ii. 19.
4. The husbandman, when he hath cut offgraffs, or tender buds, makes allthe convenient ſpeed he can to cloſe them with the ſtock; the fooner that's done, the better ; theyget no good byremaining as they are. And truly itconcerns the ſervants ofthe Lord, who are imployed in this work ofingraffingfouls into Chriſt, tomake allthe hafte they can tobring the convicted finnerto acloſure with Chriſt.
As soon as ever the trembling jailor cried, " What ſhall I do to be faved ?" Paul and Silas immediatelydirect him to Chriſt, Acts xvi. 30, 31. They do not ſay, it is too foon for thee to act faith on Chriſt, thou art not yet humbled enough, but" believe in the Lord Jeſus
" Chriſt, andthou shaltbe ſaved."
5. There must be an inciſion made in the ſtock before any bud canbe inoculated; or the ſtock must be cut and cleaved, beforethe cyon canbe ingraffed ; according to that inthepoet
Venerit infitio, fac ramum ramus adoptet ; (i. e.) To graffs no living fap theſtocks impart,
Unless you wound and cut them near the heart.
Such an incifion, or wound, was made upon Chriſt, in or-
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
derto ouringrafting intohim, John xix. 34. the opening of thatdeadlywoundgives lifeto the fouls of believers.
6. Thegraff is intimately united,and cloſelyconjoinedwith theſtock; the conjunction isſocloſe, that they become one tree.
There is alſo a most cloſe and intimate unionbetwixt Chrift andthefoul that believeth inhim. It is emphatically expreſſed by the apostle, 1 Cor. vi. 17. " Hethat isjoined to the Lord,
" is one ſpirit."
The word imports the nearest, cloſeſt and ſtricteſtunion. Chriſt andthe foul cleave together in a bleſſed oneneſs, as thoſe thingsdo that are glued one to another ; fo that look asthe graff is really in the ſtock, and the ſpirit or fap ofthe ſtock is reallyinthe graff; fo abeliever is really(though myſtically) inChriſt, and the ſpirit ofChriſt is really communicated toabeliever.." I live, (faith Paul)yetnot I, but Chrift
" liveth in me," Gal. ii. 20. " He that dwelleth'in love,dwel- " leth inGod, andGod inhim," 1 John iv. 16.
7. Graffs arebound to the ſtock by bands made of hay or flags ; theſe keep it ſteady, elſe the wind wouldloofe it out of the ſtock.
Thebelieving foul is alſo faſtenedtoChriſtbybands,which willſecure it from alldanger ofbeing loofed off from him any more.
There are two bands ofthis union; the Spirit onGod's part, this is the firm bond ofunion, without which he could neverbe made one with Chriſt, Rom. viii. 9. " Ifanyman
" have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none ofhis ;" andfaith on our part, Eph. iii. 17. " That Chriſtmay dwell in your
" hearts by faith."
Theſe hold ſtrongly.
8. Though the ſtockbe one andthe fame, yet all graffsdonot thrive and flourish alike in it ; fome outgrow the reft, and thoſe thatgrow not ſo well as theothersdo,thefault is in them, and not in the ſtock : fo it is with fouls really united to Chrift ; alldo not flouriſa alike in him, the faith ofſome grows exceedingly, 2 Thef. i.3. the things thatbe inothers, are ready todie, Rev. iii. 2. and fuch fouls muſtcharge the fault upon themſelves.
Chriſt ſends up living fap enough, not only to: make allthat are inhim living, but fruitful branches.
REFLECTIONS .
I. Is itſo indeed betwixt Chrift andmy foul, as it is betwixt the ingraffed cyon and the ſtock ? What honour and glory then hath Chrift conferreduponme, a poor unworthy creature ! What ! to be made one
Four comfortable: reflections for a regeneratefoul.
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, withhim, tobealiving branchofhim,tobejoined thus tothe
Lord ! Oh ! what a preferment is this ! It is but a little while fince Iwas a wildand curſed plant, growing inthe wilderneſs amongst them that ſhall ſhortly be cutdownand faggotted up for hell ; for me tobe takenfrom amongst them, and planted into Chriſt. O my soul! falldownand kiſs the feetoffree grace, thatmoved ſo freely towards fo vile a creature ! The dignities andhonours ofthe kings and nobles of the earth, are nothing tomine.
It was trulyconfefſed by one ofthem, that it isa greaterhonour to be amember ofChriſt, thanthe head of an empire. Do I ſay, a greater honour thanisputupon thekings ofthe earth ? I might have ſaid, itis agreater honour than is put uponthe angels ofheaven: For " to which ofthem faid
" Chriſt, at any time, thou artbone ofmybone, and fleſh of " myfleſh?Beholdwhatmanner oflove is this !" I John iii. 1.
2. Look again uponthe ingraffedcyons, Omy foul! and thou shalt find, thatwhen once they have taken hold ofthe ftock, they live as long as there is anyfap intheroot; andbecauſe he liveth, I ſhall live alſo, for my life is hid with Chrift in God, Col. iii. 3. The graff is preferved in the ſtock, and myfoul is even ſo " preſerved in Chriſt Jeſus!" Jude, ver. 1 .
3. Am I joined to the Lord as amyſtical part or branch of him ? How dear art thou then,O my soul,to theGod andFatherof my Lord Jesus Chriſt ! What! abranch of his dear
Son! What canGod with-hold from one ſo ingraffed ? Eph. i. 6. " All is yours, (faith myGod) forye are Chriſt's, and " Chriſt is God's," I Cor. iii. 23.
4. Once more, draw matter of inſtruction, aswell as comfort, from this ſweet obſervation: ſeeingGodhath put all this honour uponthee,by this moſt intimate unionwith his Chrift, look to it, my foul, that thou live and walk as becomes a foul: thus onewiththe Lord: be thou tender over hisglory: doth not thatwhich ſtrikes at the root, ſtrike atthe very life ofthe graff? And ſhall not that which ſtrikes at the very glory of Chrift, tenderly touch and affect thee ? Yea, be thoutenderly affectedwith all the reproaches that falluponhim from abroad, but eſpecially with thoſe that redound to him fromthine own unfruitfulneſs .
Oh ! diſgrace not the rootthat bears thee ! let it never be ſaid, that any evil fruit is foundupon abranch that lives and is fedby ſuch a root.
The POEM.
H! what confidering ſerious man can fee Thecloſeconjunction ofthe graffand tree ;
TheHeavenly Use ofEarthly Things.
Andwhilfthe contemplates,hedothnot find This meditationgraffedonhismind ?
Iam the branch, and Chrift thevine ; Thygracious handdidpluck Me from thatnative ſtock ofmine, :
That I his fap might fuck.
Thebloodyſpeardid inhisheart Adeepincifionmake, Thatgrace tomehemight impart, AndI thereofpartake.
The Spirit and faith isthat firm band Whichbindsus faſt together ; Thuswe are clafpedhand inhand, Andnothingcanusſever.
Bleſs'dbe thathand whichdid remove Me frommy native place !
Thiswas the wonder ofthy love, The triumph ofthy grace !
That I, awildand curſedplant, Shouldthus preferred be, Who all theſe ornaments do want, Thou may'ſt inothers ſee.
As long as e'er the rootdoth live, Thebranches are notdry; Whilft Chrift hath grace and lifetogive,
My foul cannever die.
Obleffſed Saviour ! never could Agraffcleavetothetree Morecloſe thanthypoorcreaturewould Unitedbe with thee.
My foul, diſhonour,not the root, 'Twill be a shame for thee To wantthe choiceftforts of fruit, Andyet thus graffedbe.
Thusyou may ſhakefrom graffs, beforetheyblow, More precious fruit thane'er on trees didgrow.