The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 79
Upon a fair but fruitleſs tree.
79. Med.
WHen I ſaw a fair and large ſpreading tree, that overtopt, and overlookt all the reſt, that had a flouriſhing head, and a promiſing ſhew, and gave great hopes of fruit to all the beholders, but drawing near, as Chriſt did to the leavy fig-tree, Mat. 21.19. expecting fruit, I found none; his whole ſtrength was ſpent in bringing forth leaves, when others that were leſs promiſing were richly laden with fruit: ſo apt are we to miſtake, if we judge at a diſtance; When I had ſeriouſly conſidered it, I thought this tree did fitly reſemble ſome high-flown profeſſor that makes a great ſhew in the world, and ſeems like Saul higher by the head then others are, and haply diſdains them, as not fit for their ſociety; for oftentimes hypocrites do ſo by their poor brethren called weak Chriſtians: Theſe you may frequently hear commending their own attainments and their own enjoyments, their knowledge gifts, and their communion with God, and ſpeaking of their holy raptures, their aſſurance, and ſuch like; and think they are not Chriſtians that have not indubitable evidenee of their ſalvation, when others ly under the hatches, under fears and doubts, complaining under the ſence of their ſin, the hardneſs of their hearts, under their wants and other ſpiritual diſtempers, the load of corruption that lyes upon them, their want of communion with God, and fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt, the want of aſſurance, and ſuch like; having the ſun of righteouſneſs often clouded and hid from their ſight: but when I have come a little nearer to them, and more heedfully obſerved their courſe of life, I ſaw that many of theſe great confidents, bear little more then leaves, and that where there was ſo much of the tongue, there ſeemed to be but little of the heart, and their religious duties, eſpecially in their family were cold enough, and anſwered not to their confident braggs; That thoſe doubting Chriſtians were more conſtant and ſpiritual in their performances; That their lives and converſations were more holy towards God, and more righteous towards men, then the others were, who bare more leaves, but leſs fruit: Upon this Obſervation, I thought theſe fitly reſembled the Phariſee and the Publican, Luk. 18.9. &c. the one brags of his worth, the other is aſhamed of his duties; the one comes with confidence into Gods preſence, but the other with fear, but Chriſt tells us, that the Publican was the better man, and better welcome; all is not gold that gliſters; hypocriſy may lodge in a ſelf-confident breaſt, and ſincerity under a thred-bare coat, amidſt many doubtings; neither is it always ſafe to judge of a mans integrity by his tongue, a confident bragger is not always to be believed, the emptieſt barrel, makes the greateſt ſound, and the worſt ſpoak in the cart we ſay creaks firſt: It is the aſpiring ear of corn that is moſt like to be blaſted, when thoſe that hang the head are uſually moſt fruitful, it is the humble ſelf-denying Chriſtian that bears moſt fruit to God, and is likelieſt to be moſt uſefull in his generation; God dwells in the high and holy heavens, with him alſo that is of a contrite heart, to revive the ſpirit of the humble: A hypocrite holds himſelf to be the whole piece, and all others but a remnant; he takes his poor counter, and ſets it down for a thouſand pound; he prizeth himſelf above the market, but he reckons without his hoſt, and therefore muſt reckon twice; the ſeed of grace ſeldom proſpers upon mountain tops, and high-grounds, but in low valleys, upon the ſtalk of ſelf-denyal: The more fruit is upon any tree, the more it inclines to the earth; and the more upright and aſpiring, the more barren; it is the valley and not the tops of mountains that bring forth the beſt corn and graſs, and other fruits; The greateſt braggers are not always the richeſt, wiſeſt, or the moſt learned men, many high flown profeſſors are like the nighingale (as one ſaith) vox & praeterea nihil, and thoſe that have leaſt, ſpeak oftentimes loudeſt; but it is not the beſt man that hath the beſt lungs, but the beſt heart; the ſtrongeſt Chriſtian is moſt ſenſible of his own wants and weakneſſes, as the wiſeſt Philoſopher could ſay, I know nothing but that I know nothing, but the bragadocia diſcovers his own ignorance; where the river runs quietly, the ford is deepeſt; but where it makes moſt noiſe, it is moſt ſhallow; I dare not then prefer an over-confident bragger before an humble Chriſtian; I had rather judge by their life then by their language; there are many that talk like Chriſtians, but I love to ſee men walk like Chriſtians; a parat may learn humane language, but not humane action; when the actions are ſo diſſonant to the words, I cannot think the heart and tongue agrees: oh my ſoul, rather be good then ſeem ſo, rather bear fruit then leaves; for it is fruit and not leaves, ſubſtance and not a ſhadow, thy Lord expects: it is good works as well as good words, intentions as well as pretences he requires; let another praiſe thee and not thy own mouth; a ſtranger and not thy own lips, Pro. 27.2. let a man do worthyly in Ephrata, and he will be famous in Bethelem; he need not be his own trumpeter: honour followeth vertue, as the ſhadow doth the ſubſtance; thoſe that honour God, God will honour, but thoſe that deſpiſe him, ſhall be lightly eſteemed: ſet the crown upon Gods head, and he will ſet the garland upon thine; let thy own works, but not thy own words praiſe thee, Pro. 31.31. do well and thou needſt not with Jehu proclaim thy own praiſes; if thy converſation give light, doubtleſs it will not be hid: Oh my God, let me ſtand approved in thy ſight, and I matter not what man ſaith of me: give me truth in the inward parts, make me ſound at the heart, give me ſincerity, and I ſhall then bear thee fruit.