The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 56
Upon the gaudy Waſp.
56. Med.
OBſerving the waſp in her gaudy dreſs, what an enemy ſhe was to the pain…ul and laborious Bee, and was not content her ſelf to be idle, but robs alſo the Bees that do labour, and feeds upon that which this painful and induſtrious creature hath laid up againſt winter, and ſo ofttimes expoſes them to want and penury, yea, to death it ſelf, and if the poor bees make reſiſtance, kills them, and ſpoils their habitation; I obſerved alſo that this pernitious inſect, more hurtful then the drones before-mentioned, making no proviſion for winter before it comes, puts her head into a hole and dies: the conſideration of this occaſioned this following Meditation, I thought there were many ſuch waſps amongſt us, that is, ſuch as have the nature and diſpoſition of waſps, that are hurtful to many, helpful to none, that live an idle life, and live upon others labours, and not their own, and making no proviſion for death or eternity, are then utterly deſtitute of what is neceſſary here, with the rich man, Luk. 16.19. &c. they are cloathed in purple, and fine linnen, and fare deliciouſly every day, and at laſt would beg a drop of water to cool their tongues, but cannot obtain it, but ſhall have puniſhment without pitty, miſery without mercy, ſorrow without ſuccour, crying without compaſſion, miſchief without meaſure, torment without end, and paſt imagination. Among the reſt of theſe gaudy waſps, we may rank many griping Land-lords; ſome Land-lords are of a better complexion, but they are too few; but too many are guilty of grinding the faces of the poor, and the ſpoil of the poor is in their houſes, Eſay. 3.14, 15. they make their tenants ſerve in the very fire, and weary themſelves for very vanity, Hab. 2.13. and are like unto the Egyptian task-maſters, force the tale of their bricks, and not allow them ſtraw, they pluck not only the meat from their mouths, and the cloaths from their backs, but the very fleſh from their bones: they drink not only their tears, but their very ſweat and bloud, and all too little to ſatisfy their greedy humours, they ſqueeſe ſo many tears from them in their life time, that they have none left to ſhed for them at their death, they by racking their rents, and their cruel extortion draws many tears from their eyes, and ſobs from their hearts, but God will put thoſe tears into his bottle, and thoſe ſobs into his book, and will vindicate their wrongs: how oft may we ſee greedy Land-lords force their tenants to feed their dogs with what ſhould feed their own children, a barbarous cuſtome, which will riſe up in judgment againſt them another day: They deal with their tenants as they do with their horſes; when they have tired them or rid them out of breath, they call for a freſh one, and ſhew not ſo much mercy on them, as on their dogs, whom they cheriſh if weak or weary, but when the poor tenant with all his pains and diligence can no longer ſatisfy their greedy humours, they turn them out of doors, ſeize upon their eſtates, perhaps caſt them into priſon, till they have paid the utmoſt farthing, to the ruinating of their families, and expoſing them to beggery, and all this is to maintain their pride and luxury: theſe men act as if they were the ſole proprietors, and muſt never give an accompt to any other Maſter, but let ſuch remember the parable of the man that owed ten thouſand talents, and would not forgive his brother a hundred pence, but caſt him into priſon, Mat. 18.23. he himſelf was caſt in till he had paid the utmoſt farthing, thoſe ſhall have judgment without mercy, that have ſhewed no mercy, Jam. 2.13. thoſe that will not forgive others, ſhall not be forgiven themſelves; let ſuch remember the rich man, Luk. 16.19. who 'tis conceived, refuſing to give a bit of bread to Lazarus, was himſelf denied a drop of water by Abraham. But theſe are not all the gaudy waſps that trouble the laborious bees, there are many rich men that undo their poor neighbours, with unjuſt and vexatious Law-ſuits, that oppreſs them with wrongs, injuries, and unjuſt vexations, and make bold thus to do, becauſe they are too great for them to grapple with; theſe great flies break through the net, there being alſo too many of theſe waſps in places of Judicatory, civil and Eccleſiaſtical; I accuſe not all, and I think no wiſe man will juſtify all: many Lawyers to maintain their ſtate and garb, knowingly undo their clients, ſome by taking bribes, to prevent juſtice, ſome by unneceſſary delays, ſome for favour and friendſhip, they either break the neck of a good cauſe, or ſuck the clients dry before they tell them their cauſe is bad: Eccleſiaſtical Courts are not much better, ſome think far worſe, many officers there do as greedily prey upon the poor as ever a hungry fly did upon a galled horſe back, and many times make ſores where they finde none, and the greateſt offences are not always puniſhed with the hardeſt ſtroaks, but preaching and praying is eſteemed worſe then ſwearing and curſing; and that reformation of ſin is not intended though pretended, is apparent, when poor adulterers are let alone who are not able to pay the fees of the Court, when the richer are made offenders for a word, Iſa. 29.21. let not any that are not guilty apply this to themſelves: but there are alſo too many in the Miniſtry that may reade their character, Eſay 56.10. &c. but the time is coming theſe cauſes will be called over again, and then it will evidently appear, who are the troublers of Iſrael: oh my ſoul, is there ſuch oppreſſion, ſuch injuſtice in the world, take heed of having a heart or hand in any ſuch matter, come not into their ſecrets, and unto their aſſembly; the time is coming that thoſe that have been fed with ſin, will vomit up what they ſo greedily ſwallowed, and thoſe alſo that rob the poor will be found to reproach their maker, Pro. 14.31. God is the poor mans king, and he will defend him, deſtroy his enemies, and will not ſuffer the injuries offered them to be unpuniſhed; winter will come when theſe waſps will dye: oh my God, ſuffer me not now to feed upon thoſe morfels, that I muſt chew for ever in hell; if I have but little, let it not be with a curſe.