The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 48
Upon the dilligence of the ſpider.
48. Med.
OBſerving the induſtry, diligence, and painful labour of the ſpider, a contemptible creature, how buſy ſhe was in weaving her nets, how induſtriouſly ſhe plys her work, and though oftentimes ſhe meet with diſappointments, had her work ſpoiled, and her ſelf indangered, yet never a whit diſcouraged, or diſheartned, ſhe begins again; this is one of theſe four things that Solomon had obſerved in the earth, that were little but wiſe, &c. the ſpider that taketh hold with her hands, and is in Kings palaces, Pro. 30.24. &c. ſhe doth her work painfully, and curiouſly ſpins (ſaith one) a finer thred then a woman can do, builds a finer houſe then a man can do, in manner and form like an Emperours tent; ſhe draws her web out of her own bowels: When I had a while pleaſed my ſelf with the curioſity of the work, and commended the diligence of the workman, I began to conſider what her end might be of all this pains, or what benefit did accrue to her by this her diligence? I could gueſs at no other, or at leaſt no higher an end, then to make a net to catch flys, which I ſaw became her priſoners, when otherwiſe ſhe could not take them, and when they were in her power, ſhe proved their mortal enemy, few eſcaping her with life: I perceived that when the Bee laboureth to preſerve life, her work was to deſtroy; I thought when I had conſidered it, her work did much reſemble the devils, for he like the ſpider is ever buſy and never well employed, he goes about like a roaring lyon, ſeeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5.8. he envies man the happineſs that he loſt, he is that venimous ſpider that poyſons us, his very breath is infectious; the nets and ſnares are his temptations, and poor ſouls are the flys he hunts for, which fall faſter into his nets, then flys do into the ſpiders webs, and when they are at his mercy, nothing will ſerve, but their death and utter deſtruction; he like a cunning Fiſher, baits his hooks, and like a fowler ſpreds his nets to catch unwary ſouls, and ſpares none; high nor low, rich nor poor, young nor old, fair nor foul, but he hath one bait or other ſuited to their condition; he attemps all, Chriſt himſelf not excepted, for whom he prepared one of his choiſeſt, ſeldom failing baits; all this will I give thee, but all in vain, his wilde-fire fell upon wet tinder; although a thouſand times ten thouſand have been taken with it, yet like a great fly he broke through, and ſpoil'd the web, and by the ſtrength of the Captain, Chriſtian ſouldiers alſo break his nets, repell his temptations, and become more then conquerors; he yet infects a great part of the world with the poyſon of this temptation; and it is a rare man that eſcapes; ſometimes, yea, too frequently he baits his hooks with a beautifull woman, and is too ſucceſsful; thus he fiſht for a ſtrong Sampſon with a beautiful Dalilah; for a holy David, with a Bathſhebah; and wiſe Solomon was oft deceived by this bate, and ſwallowed this hook; ſometimes he catcheth men with a golden hook; thus he did Achan, Judas, Ananias and Saphira, with D…as, and many others: ſometimes he baits with honours, and then ambitious Herod will ſoon bite, as alſo Haman, Achitophel, and many more; ſometimes with pleaſures, and then the youth are in danger: A poor withering gourd is a temptation to Jonah, and makes him quarrel with God himſelf; friends and relations often prove ſore temptations, and dangerous ſnares to a man; a beloved husband, a dear wife, a cockered childe, a near and dear relation, ofttimes are made uſe of to undo thoſe to whom the greateſt love is pretended; Jobs wife though ſhe could not prevail to ruine him, yet ſhe proved a heavy burthen to him; but Spira's relations undid him, in making him to deny Chriſt: Peter that great Apoſtle was an offence to Chriſt himſelf, in adviſing him to ſpare himſelf and not to ſuffer, no doubt by the inſtigation of ſatan, but Chriſt anſwers him with indignation; get thee behinde me, ſatan, thou art an offence to me, for thou ſavoureſt not the things that be of God, but thoſe that be of men, Mat. 16.23. he eaſily ſaw the devil in a beloved friend, and many times ſatan ſpeaks to us by them; many times a profeſſed Chriſtian, yea, one good man is a ſnare to another, leading them into errours or factions; but of all the baits the devil uſes, riches, honours, and pleaſures are the ſureſt, and ſeldomeſt fail him; by this he often buys mens ſouls, and hath their profeſſion out of their hands into the bargain; meat and drink are neceſſaries, yet many mens tables becomes their ſnare: Cloathes are needful, but this alſo proves a temptation to pride; learning and parts alſo, which are great ornaments to the minde, become dangerous ſnares; yea, what can be named, but may be abuſed; and what enjoyment can we have, but the devil will fly-blow it, grace it ſelf is not free, nay, humility ſometimes proves an excitement to pride: O the ſubtilty of ſatan, that can thus cheat the ſoul and fly-blow all our duties: and oh the mercy of a merciful Saviour, that hath broke the nets of this cunning hunter, or otherwiſe none could ever have eſcaped out of his hands; oh my ſoul, beware of thoſe ſnares which are ſpread for thy feet in every place, in every company, in every enjoyment, and in every duty; walk as circumſpectly as thou wouldſt do amidſt ſnakes, and ſerpents, or enemies that ſought thy life; ſleep not in the cradle of ſecurity, liſten not to the Syren-ſongs of the inchanting world, taſte not, touch not, gaze not upon any forbidden fruit; the devil will deceive thee by it, as he did Eve: though it ſeem ſweet in the mouth it will be gravel in the ſtomack: be moderate in the uſe of lawfull things, or they will prove unlawful: drink not poyſon in a golden cup, ſet not thy affections upon any earthly enjoyment, they will prove like Dalilahs; to betray thee into thy enemies hands: oh my God, I walk among ſnares, and am apt to be taken in them, be thou my guide, and direct my ſteps, preſerve me from the ſnare of the fouler, he is too cunning for me, but thou knoweſt how to deliver me, and to preſerve my ſoul from ſinning, and my feet from falling.