The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 57
Upon the painted Butterfly.
57. Med.
WHen I obſerved the curious gaudy dreſs of the painted butterfly, her various colours, and her ſpecious ſhew, and took notice how ſhe ſpent her time in paint and plaiſter, and all to adorn her ſelf and make her ſeem beautiful, when the laborious Bee improved her time to better ends and purpoſes, viz. to provide in ſummer for winter, and to gather her food in the harveſt: I conſidered alſo, that notwithſtanding all this paint, this proud creature was but a poor infect, nay, an unprofitable creature doing hurt but no good; and when I caught her to take a further view, ſhe did but foul my fingers; I conſidered alſo what would be the end of this ſo proud, ſo ſluggiſh, and ſo uſeleſs a creature, and found againſt winter ſhe put her head into a hole and died, and there was the end of all her bravery, when the painfull Bee, hath her life preſerved by her dilligence; this made me think, that this creature did much reſemble many of the Gallants of our times, eſpecially of the female ſex, though others may take it ill if they be excluded, which are good for little but to paint, and dreſs, and ſpend their time as vainly as ever the butterfly doth, theſe content not themſelves with their own native beauty, or with the form and faſhion God made them in, but caſt themſelves into another mould, and take upon them another ſhape then God made them; and it is to be feared God will never own them for his, when they are thus transformed, or rather deformed themſelves with their own hands, and what is the reaſon of all this paint and plaiſter, but to make traps to catch fools? their hair are ſnares to catch men, as the fiſher of his hairs makes lines to catch fiſh, or as the ſpiders web is to take flys, for if there be no wine in the cellar, why hangs the buſh? what doth this gaudy dreſs ſignifie but a laſcivious minde, and to let the world know in what ware they deal, and how welcome ſuch a motion that brings profit or pleaſure with it would be to them; and like the ſigne at the ale-houſe-door, promiſes entertainment for money: what doth this gawdy dreſs ſignify leſs then a laſcivious minde, when they ſpend great part of their time in attiring, painting, dreſſing, and ſpotting themſelves, this is their morning devotion; and their afternoon ſervice is not much unlike, for that is moſtly ſpent in ſports and merryments, in plays and interludes, in idle viſits, or perhaps worſe employments, the devil many times makes uſe of theſe gaudy flys to fiſh for ſouls, wherewith he baits his hooks, and many unwary youths are caught with theſe lime-twigs: Is it not a wonder that any of Adams ſons, or Eves daughters (and yet both ſexes are guilty) ſhould take more pains for hell, then others do for heaven, yea, and be at more coſt and care alſo; for pride is more coſtly then humility, yea, is it not a wonder to ſee perſons pride in that which is the fruit of ſin, and a cover to ſhame, viz. their cloaths, which uſually are but the excrements of beaſts or inſects, or at leaſt of as poor an original; this is a ſure ſigne of a worthleſs piece, to be like a bubbl…, or bladder, blown up with a little winde: how many are there that are like the Cinamon-tree, the bark is better then the body, yea, ſometimes the cloaths are better then all the eſtate beſides: Many that are aſhamed of their deformity, yet when their crooked ill-ſhap't bodies are covered, are proud of their beauty: but what will become of thoſe at death, that have ſpent their time in paint and ſpot, and neglected to adorn the ſoul? it were well with them if with the butterfly they could finde a hole to dye in, that they might never more be ſeen, but this will not be, they muſt be ſeen in their own colours, when all the varniſh will vaniſh; ſincerity will abide the fire: I fear others alſo are guilty of this paint and flouriſh, as ſome Miniſters, who paint their Sermons not to profit but to pleaſe, and preach not in that plain convincing way Chriſt and his Apoſtles did, but woo more for themſelves then for Chriſt, and fiſh not for ſouls but for popular applauſe, and ſeek not to ſet the crown upon Chriſts head, but their own: oh my ſoul, beware of theſe three grand enemies to thy ſalvation, pride, idleneſs, and hypocriſy; where theſe bear ſway, the ſoul never proſpers: pride is the maſter-pock, if it ſtrike to the heart it will ſurely kill thee: pride goes before deſtruction, and a haughty ſpirit before a fall; God reſiſteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Jam. 4.6. he defies thoſe that deify themſelves, witneſs Herod and Lucifer: grace grows not in high mountains, but in low vallies, the leaſt degree of pride ſets it ſelf againſt God, the higheſt degree ſets it ſelf above God, 2 Theſ. 2.4. and as pride, ſo idleneſs is a deadly ſin, pride, fulneſs of bread, and abundance of idleneſs were Sodoms ſin, and doubtleſs they are Englands ſins alſo, and make many thouſands fall ſhort of heaven, and the time is coming hypocriſy alſo will appear in its own colours, the paint will not abide the fire: oh my God, how many poor ſouls ſplit themſelves upon theſe rocks and make ſhipwrack of faith and a good conſcience: Lord, keep me humble, make me ſincere, and help me to be diligent, ſo ſhall I be happy for ever.