The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 100
Ʋpon cold winter-weather.
100. Med.
IN ſtormy cold and winter-weather, when the fields were unfit for action, and the husbandman was retired into his cell, as the Souldier into his winter-Gariſon, I conſidered how neceſſary, how deſirable, how delightful, a dry houſe, fire, food, cloathing, lodging, and other neceſſaries were, to cheriſh and nouriſh, and ſhelter us from the violence of the cold, and how unpleaſant it was for man or beaſt to be abroad in the fields, and how unſuitable for action there this ſeaſon was; then conſidered I the folly of thoſe that made not preparation for ſuch a ſeaſon, that thoſe ſluggiſhly paſs away the Summer-ſeaſon that is fit for action in the field, and made no preparation in the harveſt, and ſo are deſtitute of food, of fewel, and other neceſſaries, to make their lives comfortable in the winter; for thoſe the holy Ghoſt ſends to ſchool to the ant or piſmire, Pro. 6.6. go to the ant thou ſluggard, conſider her ways and be wiſe, which having no guide, overſeer or ruler, provideth her meat in the ſummer, and gathereth her food in the harveſt: poor man that was once captain in Gods ſchool is now turned down into the loweſt form, and to be taught by the meaneſt creatures; ſometimes to the birds, and to the lillies of the field, that depend upon divine providence, ſometimes to the oxe and to the aſs, to learn dependence, and here to the ant, to learn diligence: theſe poor creatures may be called lay-mens books, for in them they may learn their duty, and not as many do in diem vivere, as the fouls of the air do: we ſhould learn dependence of them, but a provident care muſt be had, as one ſaith, no promus ſit fortior condo, that our layings out be not more then our layings up; there is a care of the head lawful, but it is the care of the heart that is forbidden; a care of diligence there may be, a care of diffidence there muſt not be; but ſome fail on the one hand, ſome on the other, and it is hard to walk in the direct road: I alſo pitied thoſe that wanted the neceſſaries I enjoyed, and could not tell how to prepare them, when all their diligence and induſtry fell ſhort of neceſſaries; as there are too many poor families amongſt us, which ſhould be looked after, and I fear God will look after thoſe ſtewards he hath intruſted to feed them, and they neglect it; ſee Mat. 24.48. Mat. 25.41. I then called to minde the eſtate of poor Chriſtians in Ireland, in the beginning of the rebellion, that were ſuddenly ſtript of all, turned out naked and hungry, expoſed to winde and weather, to hunger and cold, to froſt and ſnow, to the loſs of many thouſands of their lives, and to very much hardſhip to thoſe that eſcaped; this example on the one ſide, diſcovered to me what injuries and wrongs, what hardſhip and miſeries poor creatures may be expoſed to; how uncertain theſe tranſitory enjoyments are, and how ſoon they may be loſt, and for ought I know this may be my own condition, how ſoon I know not, and what would I then give to be in ſuch a condition that I now am, although it be not altogether free from ſome troubles and hardſhip? it minded me alſo on the other ſide, of the cruelty of bloud-thirſty enemies, and what we may expect from them, if ever we fall into their hands, or lie at their mercy; and this made me admire Gods goodneſs to this nation in general, and to my ſelf in particular, that it is ſo well with us as it is, yea this conſideration made me more contented with my condition then before, and to bleſs God that he had made ſuch plentiful proviſion for me, that had deſerved ſo little at his hands; when he ſuffered thoſe Worthys of whom the world was not worthy, to have triall of cruell mockings and ſcourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and impriſonments, they were ſtoned, ſawn in ſunder, were tempted, were ſlain with the ſword, they wandred about in ſheep-skins, and goat-skins, being deſtitute, afflicted, and tormented, of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered in deſarts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth, Heb. 11.36. I conſidered that though the enjoyment of theſe things be no certain ſign of the love of God, yet are they great engagements to engage the heart to God; and they are much too blame, yea, ſhall give a ſevere account, that willfully waſte or abuſe them in drunkenneſs, idleneſs, pride; prodigality, gaming, whoring, or any other vicious courſes, yea, they are too blame that withhold good from the owners thereof, or detain the poors portion from them, to whom it is due; Theſe conſiderations had, I raiſed my Meditations a little higher, and conſidered, that if an earthly habitation be ſo neceſſary in winter for the body, to ſhelter it from the violence of the weather, how neceſſary then will an habitation for the ſoul be, againſt theſe houſes of clay be diſolved, to keep off the ſtorms of divine vengeance? for what will become of thoſe then that have nothing to ſhelter them, or as good as nothing, the garments of their own righteouſneſs, which are too ſhort to cover them, and too thin to defend them, and cannot ſhelter the ſoul from divine vengeance, no better then a ſpiders web can the body from a cannon-bullet, theſe doubtleſs are bad husbands for the ſoul, though they may have care enough of the body: oh my ſoul, what condition doſt thou ſtand in, in reference to eternity? thou haſt been often ſummoned by death, and ſometimes made to look it in the face, and yet thy days, with Hezekiahs are lengthened out, and God hath given thee more time to do thy work in; what preparation haſt thou made for it? haſt thou provided an habitation againſt thou ſhalt be turned out of this houſe of clay? haſt thou cleared up thy evidence for heaven and thy title to glory? if not, give thy ſelf no reſt till thy work be done, for then, and not till then, thou wilt be fit do dye: it is not a bare profeſſion that will ſerve thy turn, the root of the matter muſt be in thee, Job. 19.28. a profeſſion without practiſe will do thee no good; oh my God without thy divine aſſiſtance I ſhall miſcarry, and without a lamp lighted by thy holy ſpirit, I ſhall never finde out the deceits that are in my own heart; Lord, grant that theſe my Meditations may be beneficial to my ſelf and others, that they may never riſe up in judgment againſt me another day,
Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Edward Bury, The Husbandmans Companion (1677)