The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 44
Upon an adder lurking in the graſs.
44. Med.
WAlking in the garden, I had like to have trod upon an adder, lurking in the graſs, and ſo was in unexpected danger, where I leaſt dreaded it; the apprehenſions of it at preſent put me into amaze, which when it was ſomething abated, it made me conſider, what daily need we have of divine protection, and how dangerous it is to be from under the protecting hand of God: It made me alſo to conſider, that thus it is in all our earthly enjoyments, there is no ſecurity in any, much danger in all, anguis in herba latet, there is a little honey, and many ſtings, a little pleaſure and much pain: there is no age, no calling, no condition of life, free; riches are held by many to be the greateſt happineſs, and moſt men rather deſire gold then grace, and to be great rather then good, yet theſe are not without their ſnares, neither ſet men out of the reach of danger; they are called deceitfull riches, ſuch as choak the word, when it was ſown, Mat. 22.13. and well they may be ſo called, for they promiſe that they never pay; and always deceive thoſe that truſt them; they promiſe content, ſatisfaction and happineſs, when oftentimes (like ſtrong drink in a feaver) they do but inrage the diſeaſe, he that loveth ſilver, ſhall not be ſatisfied with ſilver, Eccles. 5.10. a man may as ſoon fill a cheſt with grace, an empty ſtomach with air, as a covetous heart with grace, pauperis eſt numerare pecus (ſaith the coveteous man) he had never enow cattle while they might be numbred: a ſhip may ſink under the burthen, that is not half full, and men may have riches enough to ſink them, when not half enough to ſatisfy them; non plus ſatiatur, cor auro, quam corpus aura: But this is not all their vanity neither, for as they are unſatisfying, ſo they are uncertain, they take themſelves wings and fly away, Pro. 23.5. they are never true to thoſe that truſt them, they are oft as tranſitory as a head-long torrent; but this is not all, they are golden fetters to chain the ſouls faſter in the devils clutches, and faſter in his ſervice; and many times the devil, buys mens ſouls, yea, their very profeſſion out of their hands for money; pleaſures have honey in the mouth but a ſting in the tail; they oft periſh in the budding; in the midſt of laughter, the heart is ſorrowfull, and the end of that mirth is heavineſs: favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, Pro. 31.30. and thoſe that truſt to them ſhall be deceived; favour will fail, and beauty will wither, and how will they deceive mens expectation? ſome men marry (ſaith one) by the eye, and ſome by their fingers ends, viz. for money, dos non Deus makes ſuch matches: Abſolom and his ſiſter found there was danger, truſting to their beauty, and many more beſides them, to whom it hath proved a temptation: honour is the emptieſt of all bubbles, courted by many, attained by few, and there is but a little diſtance between the higheſt round of the ladder and the loweſt ſtep; let Haman and Achitophel prove the point: Beauty many times is like a blazing ſtar, ominous to the beholders, and hurtfull to thoſe that enjoy it, and proves ofttimes the devils lime-twigs to catch his fowls: meat and drink are neceſſary, yet to many their table becomes their ſnare, and by a plentifull table they come to be guilty of gluttony and drunkenneſs; wine is a mocker, and ſtrong drink is raging, and he that is overtaken with it, is not wiſe; I fed them to the full (ſaith God) and they were as fed horſes, every one neighed after his neighbours wife; learning and great parts are lovely endowments, and many times it proves dangerous and deadly; the greateſt ſcholars oft prove the greateſt enemies to Chriſt, and the greateſt adverſaries to the power of godlineſs; In a word, thoſe that have moſt of the world, have frequently the leaſt of heaven: Son (ſaith Abraham) remember that thou in thy life time receivedſt thy good things, and likewiſe Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented, Luk. 16.25. Wealth many times ſwells men into a tympany, not eaſily cured, I know there are ſome that follow Chriſts counſell, and make to themſelves friends of this Mammon of unrighteouſneſs, but moſt do but encreaſe their account by them, and at the reckoning-day will prove bankrupts, and owe ten thouſand talents more then they are able to pay; earthly enjoyments uſually rock men in the cradle of ſecurity, and lull them aſleep that they never wake till hell fire flames about their ears; thus the rich man Luke. 12.16. and that alſo Luk. 16.19. &c. when the moon is at full, it is furtheſt diſtance from the ſun, and neareſt to an ecclips, and the world many times interpoſeth it ſelf between the full ſoul and the ſun of righteouſneſs: relations and carnal friends ofttimes prove ſnares, thus they were to Job, to Spira, and to many more; the things that are in themſelves lawfull bleſſings, yet abuſed, prove our licitis perimus omnes, immoderately uſed prove a ſin and a ſnare: oh my ſoul thou walkeſt in the midſt of dangers, ſnares are laid for thee in every creature, in every corner, truſt not therefore to any, the moſt innocent will betray thee, if not heedfully obſerved, and wiſely enjoyed, the moſt harmleſs, nay, the moſt neceſſary enjoyments are not free from ſnares, a ſerpent may lie under thy feet, poyſon may be in thy cup or diſh, many temptations are in poverty, more in plenty, pray therefore with Agar, not to have poverty, nor riches, but to be fed with food convenient, Pro. 30.8. as a ſhoe too big, or too little, ſuits not the foot, ſo an eſtate too big is troubleſome, and to little pinches; a ſtaff may help the paſſenger in his journey, but a burden of ſtaves will be his hinderance: oh my God, are there ſo many dangers that attend me, both in reference to my body, and my ſoul: oh what need have I of divine protection: Lord be thou my defender, keep me under the ſhadow of thy wings, O let not Satan, the world, or my own deceitful heart ever betray me, but let me be kept by the mighty power of God unto ſalvation.