The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 58
Upon a gnat playing with the candle.
58. Med.
WHen I obſerved a gnat play ſo long with the candle, that at length ſhe burnt her wings, was taken priſoner, ſuffered for her folly, paid dear for pleaſure, and was expoſed to a cruel death, even to end her life in the flames; I thought this reſembled poor man that ſo long dallies with ſin, and plays with the devils temptations, that at laſt he is ſnared in his limetwigs, and fettered in his gins, and led captive by him at his pleaſure, 2 Tim. 2.26. thoſe that he thus takes in his ſnares he uſeth worſe then Sampſon was uſed by the Philiſtins, he puts out their eyes, and then makes them grinde in his mill: poor man is like a fiſh nibling ſo long at the bait, till at laſt he ſwallows the hook, or like the unwary bird, ſo eagerly falls upon the prey, that they are taken in the net: the devil like a cunning fowler holds out the bait, covers the hook, and hides himſelf behind the buſh, ſo that they ſee not the hand that holds it; he doth not uſually appear in his colours, he takes not the drunkard and thruſts him into the Ale-houſe by the head and ſhoulders, this were the way to fright him, and make him know his maſter, and leave his ſervice, but he hides himſelf, and ſhews the bait, and ſets a companion to call him, and ſo he ſwallows the hook, while he obſerves not the hand that holds it; and the oftener he is taken, the bolder he grows, till at laſt he ſits down in the chair of the ſcorner, makes a mock of ſin, grows incorrigible; and then let all the men in the world, nay, let God himſelf ſay what he will to the contrary, he doth ſin, and will ſin, and ſo he hath plaied ſo long with the candle, that his wings are burnt, and he is taken priſoner, and which is worſe, like Ʋliſſes men, when by Circes charms they were turned into ſwine, and were content thus to be, and would not reaſſume their former ſhape, ſo theſe delight ſo in husks and ſwill, that they know not, deſire not any other happineſs: Oh how good had it been for many, if they had taken Solomons counſel, Pro. 23.31. look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its colour in the cup, when it moveth it ſelf aright, at the laſt it biteth like a ſerpent, and ſtingeth like an adder; many men die with the wound in the eye; it is not unlawful to look, but by looking comes luſting, for ſin is oft let in at the window of the eye, or by the door of the ear: Peter truſting too much to his own ſtrength, thruſt himſelf upon the temptation of wicked company, till he was ſnared▪ ſinners by cuſtome grow bold in ſin, and come at laſt to dare God to ſtrike them, and God ſometimes accepts of the challenge, and by his immediate hand vindicates himſelf and ſhews them their folly; thus he dealt by the old world, thus by Sodom and Gomorrah; thus by Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, by Ananias and Saphira, Herod and many others; There are many that like the bird gaze at the bough, till they are fetcht down with the bolt; they give their eyes leave to wander, and their hearts to contemplate wickedneſs, and ſo long nibble at the bait of beauty, that they at laſt ſwallow the hook: they are like the young man void of underſtanding taken in the ſtrumpets ſnares, Pro. 7.7, 8. &c. the devil feels which way their pulſe beats, and ſuits his temptations accordingly, provides them of Mates, and ſets one Dalilah or other to binde them, fit lettice for ſuch lips, a fit helve for ſuch a hatchet; how good is Solomons counſel, Pro. 6.25. luſt not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eye-lids, for by means of a whoriſh woman a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adultereſs wlll hunt for the precious life: yet many like Solomons harlot before-mentioned are grown audacious, and even glory in their ſin, and pleade that adultery is but a trick of youth, but let them know, it is ſuch a trick that turned Sodom and Gomorrah into aſhes, and ſent twenty four thouſand Iſraelites at once to their graves, and many thouſands to hell, 1. Cor. 6.9.10. For heaven that ſpewed out the fallen angels, will not lick up again the unrighteous: ſuch therefore that play with this candle, let them beware they be not burnt in the flame: if they do eſcape a fire in their bones, they are like to meet with a fire in their conſciences, which (if not quenched with the tears of true repentance) will never out, nor the worm never die: it is not long before we all ſhall dance after deaths pipe down to the chambers of darkneſs, and we ſhall make our bed in the duſt, and then the ſport will be over, and a reckoning time will come, when an account will be required: But what Solomon obſerved in his time is true in ours, Eccl. 8.11. becauſe ſentence againſt an evil doer is not ſpeedily executed, therefore the hearts of the ſons of men are wholely ſet in them to do wickedly: but ſuch will know, forbearance is no acquittance; when the meal is ended, the reckoning will be required: the ſleeping of vengeance cauſeth the overflowing of ſin, but judgment will be awakned at length, Eſay. 3.12. wo to the wicked, it ſhall go ill with him, the reward of his hands ſhall be given him: oh my ſoul, beware of the devils temptations, how fair and ſpecious ſoever they may ſeem, they are indeed but bitter pils, guilded over, or rather poyſon offered in a golden cup; if thou ſee the bait, look at the hook, and obſerve the hand that holds it; make no peace with ſin, this will certainly break thy peace with God, and thy own conſcience; the devil let him promiſe never ſo fair, never intends thy good; take heed therefore of the occaſions of ſin, cruſh the cockatrice-egge ere it break forth into a ſerpent; daſh Babilons children while they are young; give not entertainment to a ſinful-thought, come not near the door of the harlots houſe; foſter not any of the devils brats, nor keep his counſel: oh my God, except thou watch over me, I cannot be ſafe: Lord, be thou my protector, and defend me from my ſpiritual enemies.