The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 15
Upon worms in the garden.
15. Med.
WHen I was digging in the garden, I obſerved many worms and other inſects which divine providence had there diſpoſed to be fed and cheriſhed, but by what I know not: here, it is like, they had their birth, and firſt being, here they led their lives, and here (for ought I know) they will finiſh their courſe, and take their ends: I conſidered that the ſame providence that had appointed out my place and ſtation, where I ſhould be born, where I ſhould leade my life, and where I ſhould end my dayes, had appointed, the like for them; and when I had ſpent ſome time in this Conſideration, what a poor miſerable piece man is, by what names or titles ſoever dignified or diſtinguiſhed, that is ſo near a kin to theſe deſpicable creatures, theſe ſilly helpleſs worms, they have the ſame father, and the ſame mother, and were made of the ſame matter, by the hand of the ſame workman, and were made of duſt, and unto duſt they muſt return: we may ſay, to corruption, thou art my father, and to the worm, thou art my mother and my ſiſter, Job. 17.14. Holy David, a great man, both for worth and dignity, beloved of God, and King of Iſrael, yet remembers his original, and this made him humble, he cryes out Pſal. 22.6. I am a worm, and no man; what then are we, poor ſhrubs, that we ſhould have high thoughts of our ſelves, or entertain a proud conceit of our own worth: we may finde in Scripture man is frequently call'd a worm, from the ſimilitude that is between us and them, being poor, helpleſs, ſhiftleſs creatures, Job. 25.56. Behold, even to the moon and it ſhineth not, and the ſtars, are not pure in his ſight, how much leſs man that is a worm, and the ſon of man which is a worm, Eſay. 41.14. fear not thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Iſrael, I will help thee, &c. And truly as to the body, there is not much difference, but in the ſhape; they were made of the ſame matter, digged out of the ſame hole of the pit; were clay in the hand of the ſame potter, and ere long ſhall be reduced to their firſt original, and had God pleaſed, the man might have been the worm, and the worm the man; yea, the moſt of men have the very nature, and diſpoſition of worms; they moil, and toyl, and dig, and root in the earth, and bury themſelves in it, their affections grovell upon the ground, and aim at no higher an end, nor carry on no higher a deſigne then Scraping muck together, and minde no other happineſs but how to make proviſion for back and belly; fitly therefore do they bear the name of muckworms, and ere long they ſhall lodge together in the duſt, where man ſhall be made a feaſt for worms, Job. 24.19.20. as drought and heat conſume the ſnow-waters, ſo doth the grave thoſe which have ſinned, the womb ſhall forget him, the worm ſhall feed ſweetly on him, he ſhall be no more remembred, Eſay. 51.8. the moth ſhall eat them like a garment, &c. this is the portion of poor man, from which grace it ſelf cannot exempt him: Holy Job was not free, Job. 19.25.26. for I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the earth, and though after my skin worms deſtroy this body, yet in my fleſh ſhall I ſee God, &c. Oh that this were well minded by our dainty dames, that now plaiſter and paint, and ſpot their faces, to take their prey, and ſpend their time in wanton dalliance, and put far from them the evil day; Oh that they would conſider, it is not long before they ſhall dance after deaths pipe, down to the chambers of darkneſs, where they muſt make their bed in the duſt, and the worms ſhall make their neſts between their breaſts; and eat out theſe wanton windows of love, and meſſengers of luſt: Oh what an humbling conſideration might this be, if well thought on, to thoſe that now ſcarce think the ground good enough to tread upon, and muſt not have the winde to blow upon them, or the ſun to ſee them; and go in an antick dreſs, and ſtudy how to pamper worms meat, and go like petty angels, little thinking, they are ſo near akin to poor deſpicable worms: Oh my ſoul, waſt thou as clay in the hand of the potter, and made of the ſame mold with this poor worm, bleſs God that hath made the difference, it was in his power to have made thee the worm, and this worm the man, then hadſt thou lain liable to be daſht by every foot; but God hath made thee a rational creature, capable of Communion with himſelf, and enjoyment of him for ever; let the thoughts alſo of thy original, duſt thou art, and unto duſt thou ſhalt return, keep thee humble; have ſtill in thy minde the worm thy mother, and ſiſter: it is a ſin and ſhame for an angell to be proud, much more for a duſtheap, and one of theſe days, thou muſt make thy bed in the duſt, and this earthly tabernacle will be diſſolved; provide therefore a new habitation, a houſe not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens? Thou haſt a better part indewed with more noble faculties then theſe poor creatures have, which if not provided for, thou art a thouſand times in a worſe condition then they are; thou waſt made for an higher end, and fitted to do God better ſervice, but they never tranſgreſt their makers will nor Creators laws, as thou haſt done, and if thou art not regenerated and born again, thou hadſt better never have been born, or elſe made a dog, or toad, or poor crawling worm, whoſe miſery ends with life, when thine will begin at thy death; theſe ſerve God better in their kinde then thou haſt done; Oh my God, it was thy will there ſhould be a difference between me and theſe irrational creatures, thou haſt indewed me with more noble faculties, and didſt create me in thy own image, and madeſt me, Lord, over the work of thy hands; but oh how ſoon was this image loſt, and I diſabled for the work I was created for; I became as a loſt ſheep, O ſeek thy ſervant, that I may be found: I am the prodigal, incline my heart to come home to my fathers houſe; and open thy arms and heart to receive me; give me in thoſe qualifications that are neceſſary to thy ſervice, renew thine image in my ſoul, pardon my tranſgreſſions, and be favourable to my ſoul; mortifie my corruptions, then ſhall I be able to ſerve thee with chearfulneſs, and ſhall have occaſion to bleſe God that I was made a man, and not a worm.