The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 19
Upon a Garden ſpoiled through bad fence.
19. Med.
WHen through bad fence, careleſly heeded, my garden was much ſpoiled, and waſted by ſwine, and other cattle, ſome cropping off the heads of tender buds and plants, ſome rooting up both root and branch, and alſo by their treading of it, much defaced the beauty of it, and that which even now ſeemed pleaſant, and amiable, ſuddenly ſeemed a rude indigeſted and deformed piece, ſo that not without much labour, pains and care, I ſecured the fence, made up the breaches, and all I could do, could not at preſent bring it to its former eſtate, and priſtine beauty; all which injury might have been prevented with a little foreſight, and pains-taking: how much better is it to prevent an injury, then remedy it, to prevent a diſeaſe then repell it; to keep out an enemy then drive him out? the cockatrice-egg is better broken while it is an egg, then deſtroyed when it is a ſerpent: ſin is better deſtroyed in the bud, then when it is ripe: The injury ſuſtained in my garden, was ſomething requited by this following Meditation: If a garden, a ſmall plot of ground, cannot be preſerved from danger, without care, and pains-taking, without a good fence about it, and an needfull eye upon it, becauſe it hath ſo many enemies, how then can the ſoul, a more curious garden, which is in a thouſand times greater danger, be kept ſafe without a fence, and watchful guard? here are more choiſe herbs and flowers then the other hath, of greater worth, beauty and vertue, more ſubject to injury, ſpoil and rapine, and theſe have greater, ſubtiller, and more malicious enemies that ſeek their deſtruction: the devil and his inſtruments, who goes about like a roaring Lion, ſeeking whom he may devour, 2 Pet. 5.8. if he finde the fence down, or the watch neglected, and the watchman either aſleep or careleſs, he will enter, deſtroy, and waſte; he envies our condition, that we ſhould enjoy that paradice that he left, the comforts he once had; he hath a ſpite and hatred againſt God and goodneſs, and oppoſes his image wherever he ſees it; this is the wilde boar out of the wood, and the wilde beaſt out of the forreſt that doth devour it, Pſal. 80.30. The devil and the world beſiege the fort of our ſouls; and our own heart, that inbred traitour, watches to ſurrender it into his hands; a thouſand ſnares, and nets are ſpread for this turtle, and ſhe is in continual danger, in every calling, in every condition, in every relation, in every creature we have to do with; in every duty; nay, in every action, ſome ſnare or other is laid to intrap us in youth, and old age, in ſickneſs and health, in proſperity and adverſity, in honour and diſgrace, all have their peculiar ſnares; our neareſt relations, oft times betray us into his hands: thus Eve betrays Adam; thus Jobs wife would have betrayed him; thus Lots daughters betrayed him; and Peter would have betrayed Chriſt himſelf; get thee behinde me ſatan, Mat. 26.23. he did his good will to hinder him in the courſe of his calling; we may many times diſcry a devil in our neareſt friends, he ſpeaks to us by them; we have enemies without, and enemies within, and many ſnares are laid for our feet; how warily then have we need to walk; many are the foxes that deſtroy theſe vines, Cant. 2.15. what care then need we to have of our ſouls when they are in ſo continuall danger, and ſo many ſnares laid for our feet, temptation without, and corruption within, ofttimes prevail againſt us, and we are ſnared by it: oh my ſoul, haſt thou ſo bloudy, and bloudy-thirſty an enemy to deal with, that is ſo malicious, ſo crafty, and politick: haſt thou ſo ſtrong and potent an enemy to deal with, that ſeeks thy ruine, and makes it his buſineſs to undo thee; oh what need then haſt thou to ſtand upon thy guard; if thou fall into his hands nothing but the everlaſting deſtruction of body and ſoul will ſatisfie him: quit thy ſelf therefore like a man, ſtand upon thy guard, reſiſt the devil and he will fly from thee: there is none but theſe throw down their weapon, and quit the field, that are vanquiſht by him; though others may be foiled: look to the main fort, the heart, if that be ſurprized thou art undone; lay in proviſion and ammunition there, for a ſiege; watch the five cinque-ports, the ſenſes, for oft times he ſails in with the tide; make a covenant with thy eyes; take heed to thy ears and other ſenſes; examine every paſſenger that comes in, leſt he prove treacherous, and every one that goes forth: to this end, ſet a watch over thy mouth, that thou offend not with thy tongue; get on the whole armour of God, mentioned Eph. 6.11, 12, 13. the ſword of the ſpirit, and the darts of prayer, are prevalent; thou art to fight with principalities and powers, theſe contended with the angell, for Moſes his body, but with thee for thy precious ſoul; no peace can be had with him, no truce can be obtained, but upon the condition of the everlaſting deſtruction of ſoul and body; whatever his promiſes are, hell will be his wages, a thouſand thouſand have been deceived by him, that took his word, look to thy affections, that they ſtraggle not, leſt like Dinah they be raviſhed by him; ſtand faſt, and thou wilt prevail, call in thy captain Chriſt to thine aſſiſtance, ſo ſhalt thou be the victor, and if thou overcome thou ſhalt reign with Chriſt: Oh my God, be thou my defender, I have no ſtrength againſt theſe potent enemies, neither know I what to do, only my eyes are up unto thee, O let no cruel beaſt devour thy turtle that is true; do thou watch over me or I ſhall wake in vain, teach me the uſe of the Chriſtian armour, rebuke the tempter, and chain him up, that he may not hurt me, keep me under the ſhadow of thy wings, hide me in the hollow of thy hand, preſerve me from the rage of this bloud-thirſty enemy, and keep me out of the ſnares that are laid for my feet, then ſhall I praiſe thee with an upright heart, and tell what God hath done for my ſoul.