The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 17
Upon the Diligence of the ants.
17. Med.
UPon the former occaſion, when I had (as before was noted) diſturbed the ants, and put them into a confuſion, I obſerved what would be the iſſue, and ſaw when the preſent fear, and amazement was a little over, which put them into that diſorder, they unanimouſly with a joint conſent, applyed themſelves, with might and main, to order what I had diſordered with my foot, and to repair the breaches I had made in their Caſtle or ſtrong-hold, every one laying hold of ſomething, and carrying it to the common heap; methought, they did reſemble a well ordered, well governed commonwealth, where the whole community joyn heart and hand for the common intereſt, and lay out their ſtrength for the publick benefit; but alaſs! where is there ſuch a government, ſuch a ſociety to be found? what a happy thing were it to ſee the inhabitants of a Nation, of a City, of a Town, or Village, to have publike ſpirits, and every one to concern himſelf in the concerns of the whole, and unanimouſly minde the publique good, as well as their own private concerns: but alaſs! it is far otherwiſe, both in Nation, Town and Countrey, yea, publike perſons, that are in Authority, and to whom the welfare of the reſt is intruſted, too many of them have low baſe private ſpirits, and will go no further then their own private intereſt, gain, and advantage drives them; yea, if Chriſtians that make more then ordinary profeſſion of religion, were of publike ſpirits, and would ſympathize with each other, in weal or wo, and put to a helping-hand, and a willing-heart, and watch over each other, and aſſiſt one the other, upon all occaſions, and exigencies, for ſoul and for body, what a growing, thriving, ſweet communion would there be? the Pſalmiſt tels us, Pſal. 133.1. behold, how good, and how pleaſant it is, for men to dwell together in unity? it is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down to the beard, &c. yea, like the dew of hermon, and the dew that deſcendeth upon the mountains of Zion, &c. but ſuch unity is more to be wiſht for, then hoped for, in our days, wherein Chriſtians rather worry one another, then help and aſſiſt. The dilligence and induſtry of theſe poor creatures alſo brought to my minde the counſel of Solomon to the ſluggard, and oh that I could ſpeak it loud enough to my ſelf and others that are guilty, Pro. 6.6. go to the ant thou ſluggard, conſider her ways and be wiſe, which hath no guide, overſeer, nor ruler, yet provideth her meat in the ſummer, and gathereth her food in the harveſt. The Naturaliſts and others have written much of the induſtry of theſe creatures, not only that they gather their ſtore, but alſo draw it forth (ſay ſome) in a ſun-ſhine-day, to dry it, to keep it from putrefaction: Theſe inſects are (as one calls them) veri Laicorum libri, the true Lay-mans books, wherein they may learn their duty: Oh man, how art thou degenerated, that waſt made but a little lower then the angels, and waſt indued with reaſon to rule theſe inferiour Creatures, and not only, ad laborem natus, ſed & ratione ornatus; and yet now muſt be ſent to learn wiſdom, not only from the oxe and the aſſe, Iſay. 1.3. not only from the ſtork, the turtle, the crane, and the ſwallow, Jer. 8.1. but down to the loweſt form, the pooreſt inſects, the moſt deſpicable of all others, and that to learn wiſedom and diligence; theſe by an inſtinct of nature gather their food in ſummer for winter; and ſhall man that hath reaſon to foreſee the danger be careleſs? But how many, oh too many, (as if they had forgot that God had ſaid, In the ſweat of thy face ſhalt thou eat thy bread, Gen. 3.19.) live idly and cannot give account of one days work in a monethmonth; of this ſort are many of our Gentry, that eat and drink, and riſe up to play; but God never gave them their parts, and their Eſtates for this end, and an account will be required at the laſt, and they will know that they were not the only proprietors of what they enjoy, but the Stewards: But there are others no leſs faulty, perhaps more guilty, and thoſe are our idle drones, that make begging their calling, and follow no other employment though they are able; thoſe that content themſelves, in diem vivere, as the fowls of the air do; and ſome are not only idle, but prodigall alſo, and ſpend and conſume that waſtefully, that might refreſh their family handſomly; but (as one ſaith) care ſhould be taken, ne promus ſit fortior condo, that our layings out be not more then our layings up: But the greateſt ſlothfulneſs is in reference to the ſoul, how ſtrangely negligent are the moſt of men, though God rain manna about their tents, yet will they not gather it, but ſuffer the ſoul to ſtarve; they are like the fooliſh Virgins, they ſeek not for oyl, till their lamps are out, and the bridegroom be come; or like the wicked ſervant, bury their talents in a Napkin: Oh my ſoul, thou haſt a leſſon for thy inſtruction, or an example for thy imitation: theſe poor, yet diligent creatures juſtly reprove thee for ſloth and negligence; many of thy years are paſt, and little of thy work is done, thou haſt been playing in the duſt, and though called, neglected to come home to thy fathers houſe; thou haſt trifled out the morning, and now the ſhadows of the evening are ſtretched out, and the day far ſpent: beware of idleneſs, this will leave thee ſhort of heaven; double thy diligence, and amend thy pace; give diligence to make thy calling and election ſure; be diligent in Gods work, that when the devil comes to tempt, he may finde thee well employed; when Chriſt comes to judge thee, he may not finde thee idle; when death comes to call, thou maiſt be ready; when the bridegroom comes, thou maiſt have oil in thy veſſel, and a lamp ready trimmed in thy hand, and a wedding-garment on thy back; improve thy talents well, that Chriſt may ſay, well done, good and faithfull ſervant, enter into thy Maſters joy; when others only wiſh for heaven, do thou work for it: Oh my God, I have been one of theſe loitering truants, that am juſtly here reproved, and ſent again to ſchool to the meaneſt of thy creatures, their diligence ſhames my negligence, they have only an inſtinct of nature to guide them, I have reaſon, experience, Scripture, and example to put me on; they labour only for the body, I for the ſoul and body; they for the meat that periſheth, I for that which endureth to eternall life, they for a winter, I for eternity, yet are they diligent, and I negligent; Heaven and earth may ſtand amazed at my folly; Lord, pardon what is paſt, and incline my heart for the time to come, to give diligence to make my calling and election ſure; Let me ſo run, that I may obtain; ſo fight, that I may conquer; and be faithfull to the death, that I may receive the crown of life.