The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 92
Ʋpon fruit left on the trees after ſhaking.
92. Med.
IN the Autumn when fruit waxt ripe and the gathering time was come, when the trees were ſhak't, and the fruit gathered in, yet I beheld there was here and there an apple, pear or plum, or other fruit ſtill remaining on the trees, which ſtuck faſt notwithſtanding the ſhaking, and all the force and violence that had been uſed; but theſe were but a few, and thoſe commonly the ſoundeſt, and moſt durable: This brought to my minde the command of God in the time of the law, Lev. 19.9, 10. and 23.22. Deut. 24.9. &c. where God commands the Jews, when they reaped their fields, to leave ſome of the corners thereof ſtanding, and not to gather up the gleanings, but to leave them for the poor, and when they ſhak't their olives, and other fruit trees, to leave ſome cluſters remaining, and not to gather the fruit in clean, that ſo it might be for the poor and needy of the land, and for the ſtranger for meat: we ſee how the chief Landlord, the great husbandman, the Lord of the vineyard the chief proprietor, how he lets out his farms, and what conditions he puts into his leaſes, and how he takes care of the poor that they ſhould be fed, for they alſo are a part of his family, and at his finding, and he hath appointed where they ſhall have their meat, and hath commanded his ſtewards to give it them in due ſeaſon: he would have the full cups of the rich to overflow into their empty diſhes, and thoſe that dine the poor entertain Chriſt himſelf, at their table as a gueſt: I obſerved alſo how little this command of God was obſerved by hard-hearted man, in our days, how little they reſpect his will, and how few make good this condition in the grant they have of all they enjoy, and how juſt it is therefore for God to recal his eſtate into his own hands, and to take the forfeiture; for though we receive all from God, and that with this proviſo, and upon this condition, that the poor ſhall have their part, and their ſhare out of it, yet he that gives all, and requires but a little, cannot have it, yea, though he would borrow a little of his own, he is ofttimes denyed it; though he promiſes to repay it, yea, to repay it an hundred-fold, yet cannot be heard: where a man upon his bare word can borrow ten pounds, God cannot borrow ten pence, yea, of that which is his own, though never man made larger promiſes, and never man more faithfully fulfilled them; he hath told them, he that giveth to the poor, ſhall not lack, Pro. 28.27. but he that hides his eyes ſhall have many a curſe; curſes both from God, and man; yet few believe this is the way to get wealth, they will hardly take Gods word for a groat, they will uſe their wit to ſave their money, but will not uſe their eyes, to affect their hearts; God ſhews them many an altar, but they have no ſacrifice ready, but he that ſhuts his ears at the poor mans cry, ſhall cry himſelf and not be heard, Pro. 21.13. this was fulfil'd in Pharaoh, Haman and the rich glutton, 'Tis not getting but giving is the true way to wealth, Eleemoſyna ars omnium quaeſtuoſiſſima eſt, (ſaith Chryſoſtome) alms is the moſt gainful art, he ſhall have judgment without mercy that will ſhew no mercy, Jam. 2.13. he that hath pitty on the poor lendeth to the Lord, and he will repay him, Pro. 19.17. God accepts it both as a gift and a love, nay, foenerator Domino, God takes it upon uſury, and gives ſecurity for it under his hand, but thoſe that now will not take Gods word, it is not long but God will not take theirs: but require up his talents, and alſo an account of their ſtewardſhip, and give away their talents to thoſe that will better improve them, and give them a reward with the unprofitable ſervant, Mat. 25.28, 30. yea, ſentence them to everlaſting fire, together with the devil and his angels; for not feeding, cloathing, viſiting his hungry, naked, poor members, Mat. 25.41. &c. and ſuch worthleſs, uſeleſs, ſapleſs men, are not more miſſed (as one ſaith) when they are gone then the paring of the nails, as they live undeſired, ſo they die unlamented; but at judgement their ſentence breaths out nothing but fire, and brimſtone, ſtings and horrors, woes and torments without end, or paſt imagination, here the worm of grief gnaws as painfully as the fire burns; now they are ſandblinde, and cannot ſee Chriſt in his members, but then when too late, their eyes will be opened, to ſee their folly: The conſideration alſo of this little quantity of fruit left upon the trees, after the ſhaking, made me think this reſembled the godly, that ſtand faſt, and remain firm after all the ſhakings that they meet with, when others froſt bitten by affliction, or toſſed by perſecution fall as leaves before the winde in autumn: many are the profeſſors in a ſun-ſhine day, but few can abide in a ſtorm, though Iſrael be as the ſand of the ſea for multitude, yet but a remnant ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 9.27. all are not Iſrael that are of Iſrael, theſe are compared to the gleaning of the grapes after the vintage, Iſay. 17.6. here and there one, few in compariſon: or to the ſhaking of the olive tree, where two or three berries are left in the top of the utmoſt boughs, and four or five in the utmoſt branch, one of a tribe, and two of a family, Jer. 13.14. many ſhakings we have already had, and much unripe fruit is fallen, and when ſtronger windes ariſe we may imagine much more will down, but in the laſt ſhaking when Chriſt ſhall come like refiners fire and fullers ſoap, Mal. 3.3. all that is rotten at heart will be diſcovered, then the ſinners in Zion ſhall be afraid, fearfulneſs ſhall ſurprize the hearts of the hypocrites; oh my ſoul, take heed of being blown down, nay, take heed of being rotten, for then down thou wilt, it is better be alone then in ſuch a company, and better go to heaven alone, then to hell with company; to ſtand againſt the ſtorm, then to be blown down with the winde; improve thy talents to Gods glory, and he will never let thee fall: oh my God, let no ſun of perſecution wither me, nor no boiſterous ſtorm bear me down.