The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 64
Upon a ſmall bird feeding many young ones.
64. Med.
OBſerving a little wren one of the ſmalleſt of birds that had a dozen young ones lying upon her hands to maintain, to take care of, and make proviſion for; I heedfully attended to ſee what the event would be; I obſerved with what unwearied pains ſhe labours for their ſuſtenance, how chearfully ſhe imployed her little ſtrength to that end, even to the neglect of her own belly, how ſelf denyingly ſhe behaves her ſelf, ſparing that which ſhe ſhould have fed upon to ſuſtain them, and from morning till night buſieth her ſelf to feed them; but that which moſt put me to a ſtand was this, in her returns with meat they all ſtand with open mouth, to receive the new taken prey, which made me admire that ſuch a ſilly creature, void of reaſon, was able to diſtinguiſh between thoſe ſhe had fed, and thoſe ſhe had not, which might in ſuch a multitude have puzled a better head; I wondred that ſome of the moſt lively did not get all, and ſtarve the weaker, but that God hath put ſuch an inſtinct into them, thus to cheriſh their young, hath given them alſo ſo much knowledge as to fit them to do it: Having ſpent ſome time in this Obſervation unobſerved, I thought to try her affections to her young ones a little further, I approached the neſt as if I intended to rob her of her young, where I obſerved that poor creature naturally fearful and timerous, with what boldneſs, confidence, and undaunted courage ſhe oppoſed her ſelf to her ſmall power to have reſcued her young ones out of my hand, even to the hazard of her own life; this plainly diſcovered to me the divine providence of the great houſeholder that doth not only provide meat but alſo ſome one to give it in due ſeaſon, and to help thoſe that cannot help themſelves, and puts ſuch an inſtinct into ſuch poor deſpicable creatures, that they deny themſelves to help their young ones, and venture their lives for their ſafety, and never leave them till they are able to help themſelves, and then forſake them as if they knew them not, and that he gives ſuch a bleſſing to the labours of theſe two poor wretches, that ſuch a numerous brood ſhould be provided for, and no doubt brings the prey to them by his providence: this alſo may ſilence our Atheiſts, and may make him lay his hand upon his mouth, for what accidentall concurring of atomes can occaſion this, this made me alſo conſider how degenerate a piece poor man is, many of them having obliterated what the moſt ſavage animals have retained, viz. this natural affection to their young, ſo that we may take up that complaint againſt many in our times, more deſervedly then the Prophet doth againſt Iſrael, Lam. 4.3. even the ſea monſters draw out their breaſts, and give ſuck to their young ones, the daughter of my people is become cruel like the Oſtriches in the wilderneſs: theſe forſake their children through the extremity of famine, or for want of natural affection, Rom. 1.31. there are many refuſe to labour, to maintain their charge, the fouls of the air will riſe up in judgment againſt theſe, yea, many waſte and ſpend that riotouſly that is provided to their hands, when theſe poor creatures pinch their own bellies to feed their little ones; how many men and women endued with reaſon do ſo obliterate it, that they expoſe their children wilfully to want and penury, yea, to plain beggery, yea, when the very bruits ſeek what they can to preſerve their young, and many venture their lives in their quarrel, and ſet themſelves between them and danger, yet too many that bear the name of men and women, have ſo far obliterated thoſe principles nature hath imprinted in them, that they often lay violent hands upon their own children, and not only contrive their death, but alſo effect it; I would daily experience did not ſpeak out this truth too lowd, what aſſizes is there almoſt but ſome or other are tried for their lives upon this account? But though ſome have a care of their childrens bodies, there are but a few that make any proviſion for their ſouls, though that be their maſter piece, but ſuffer them to be eternally ruined: Oh the ſtupendious folly of the moſt of men, they train up their children as they do their horſes, teach them to drudge, and then they think they have given them ſufficient education; many if they can leave them an eſtate, though with a curſe intailed upon it, have their deſires; many are too tender of the body, that have little care of the ſoul, let that ſink or ſwim; but the time will come, that the ſoul will be found the choiſeſt jewel, and the loſs of that, the greateſt loſs: oh my ſoul be diligent in thy calling, make proviſion for thy relations, to thy power: he that provides not for his family, hath denyed the faith, and is worſe then an infidel, 1 Tim. 5.8. be not without natural affections; but that is not enough, be not without ſpiritual affections: ſee that they have mentem ſanam in corpore ſano, though the body muſt not be neglected, nor the things of the world ſlieghted, yet know, this is not the main; a little grace is worth a great deal of gold: keep a mean in earthly enjoyments, between coveteouſneſs & prodigality: fear not an extream in ſpirituals: oh my God, help me to regulate my life both to externals and internals, by the rule of thy word and ſpirit.