The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 18
Upon the gorgeous dreſſe of Flowers.
18. Med.
WHen I ſeriouſly conſidered the various dreſs, the curious colours of the herbs and flowers which diapred the plot, I took ſome delight to conſider the power of God in them, and how far he condeſcended to pleaſe our fancies, and delight our ſences, when I ſaw how gorgeouſly they were attired, how beautiful they appeared, it led me up to the fountain-head, even to God who is beauty and comelineſs it ſelf; and the greateſt beauty that the world can brag of, is but a ſpark to this fire, a ray to this Sun, and a drop to this ocean; if the creature can be ſo beautiful, what is the Creator, end if earth be ſo pleaſant, what is heaven? but when I conſidered alſo the tranſitory, fading nature of theſe ſhort-lived flowers, how ſoon, when they were in their prime, they withered away and periſhed, this put me in minde of the vanity of man which is compared to a flower, which cometh up, and is cut down like a flower, and never continueth in one ſtay, and not only he but all earthly enjoyments are ſhort-lived, and ſoon periſh: But when I conſidered their beauty with their fading nature, it minded me of our Saviours words, Mat. 6.28. &c. Why take you thought for raiment? conſider the lillies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they ſpin, and yet I ſay unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory is not arayed like one of theſe; wherefore if God ſo clothe the graſs of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is caſt into the oven, ſhall he not much more clothe ye? O ye of little faith, &c. he ſends us in the former verſes to the ſparrows, which though they neither plough, nor ſow, reap nor mow, nor carry into barns, are yet fed by divine providence; ſo here he ſends to the graſs and flowers, who though frail vaniſhing things, are gorgeouſly attired by him, and all is to put us on to depend upon our fathers providence; for the force of the argument is thus; If God feed theſe worthleſs ſparrows, and not one falls to the ground without his providence, and ſo clothe the withering graſs, in ſuch a dreſs, doubtleſs he will not ſuffer his ſons and ſervants to want neceſſary food and rayment, which as they are better, ſo are a thouſand times dearer to him then the fowls or flowers: There is in every man by nature a conceit of ſelf-ſufficiency, as if by our own diligenee we could provide for our ſelves; and are ready to undertake Gods part of the work: Now this ſelf-confidence is the daughter of unbelief (as one ſaith), is the mother of carking care and carnal thoughtfullneſs: Our Saviour here by many arguments diſſwades us from theſe; there is a care of the head, not only lawfull but commendable, but there is a carking, diſtruſtfull, diffident care of the heart here condemned; when a man hath done his utmoſt endeavour in the uſe of lawfull means, yet vexeth himſelf about the event; what if this or that follow? I fear I ſhall die a beggar, &c. One day (ſaith David) I ſhall periſh by the hand of Saul: What ſhall I eat, or what ſhall I drink? &c. becauſe God will not let us know how we ſhall be provided for, therefore we are ready with Iſrael to queſtion, Can God provide a table in the wilderneſs? Pſa. 78.19. Oh my ſoul; how juſtly art thou reproved, and ſent to theſe poor creatures to ſchool? haſt thou not had diſtracting thoughts and diſtruſtfull fears? haſt thou not oft been queſtioning, What ſhall I eat, or what ſhall I drink, or wherewithall ſhall I be cloathed? what ſhall become of my wife and children when I am dead? &c. even contrary to the expreſs command of the great God; as if thou hadſt had no father to provide for thee, or no God to depend upon, or no promiſe to uphold thee, and though God hath ofttimes ſilenced thy fears, and huſht thy cares by an unexpected providence, yet upon the apprehenſion of new danger, new fears ariſe, like murmuring Iſrael, though they had ſeen Gods wonders in Egypt, at the Red Sea, in feeding them with Manna, yet cry out, Can he furniſh a table for us in the wilderneſs? Pſal. 78.19. yea, though thou haſt never wanted food, nor rayment nor any thing truly neceſſary, and haſt a promiſe, thou ſhalt never want any thing that is good, and though God hath bid, leave your fatherleſs children with me, and let thy widdows truſt in me, yet how hard is it to commit wife and children to him, if there be no viſible means for their ſubſiſtance, or to truſt him when means are out of ſight, and the world doth not paſs for payment; what if thy food be not ſo dainty, nor thy cloathes ſo fine, if the one nouriſh thee, and the other keep thee warm, it matters not: if thou do not fare deliciouſly every day, nor go in purple and fine linnen, thy betters have fared harder, and gone more meanly clad, reade Heb. 11.36. and be aſhamed of murmuring, others had trials of cruel mocking, and ſcourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and impriſonments, they were ſtoned, they were ſawn aſunder, were tempted, were ſlain with the ſword, they wandred about in ſheeps-skins and goats-skins, being deſtitute, afflicted, and tormented, of whom the world was not worthy; they wandred in deſarts and in mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth: what if thou haſt no certain dwelling-houſe, thy dear redeemer had not where to lay his head, and thoſe Worthys were worſe beſtead then ever thou waſt: Oh my God, charge not upon me thoſe diſtruſtful thoughts, but ſtrengthen my faith in thy promiſes: Lord I believe, help my unbelief; and let not this ſin have dominion over me: Enable me to ſay with Job, though he kill me, yet will I truſt in him, and with Ely, 'tis the Lord, let him do what ſeemeth him good; and with Paul, I am ready not only to be bound, but to die for Chriſt.