The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 67
Upon a kite ſoaring aloft, yet minding her prey.
67. Med.
OBſerving the Kite that bird of prey, ſoaring aloft, towring on high, as if he meant to ſcale the clouds, and look into heaven, and with the Eagle to make his neſt among the ſtars, Obad. 4. And yet I obſerved he ſuddenly deſcended, fell upon his prey, and devoured it; This obſervation ſatisfyed me, that though he aimed at heaven, and ſeemed to ſcorn theſe inferiour things, yet his eye and minde was fixed here below, and grovelled on the ground; though the bodv were above, the heart was below, and his mounting aloft was but diſſimulation, and upon deſigne, like the fox in the fable, that pretended himſelf dead, to take his prey the better; ſo this kite to compaſs his ends, carry on his deſignes, and to take his unwary prey, uſeth this ſtratagem: I thought this was a lively Embleme of an hypocrite, who ſeems to be all for heaven, when he mindes nothing leſs; he is only minding his prey, driving on ſome carnal deſigne, and when he ſeems to be trading for heaven, and diſcourſing with God himſelf, yet his heart and affections are glued to the world, and he is carrying on ſome ſelf-intereſt, or fleſhly deſigne; and is like a waterman, he looks one way, and rows another: Thus the Phariſees thoſe noted hypocrites did, for under pretence of long prayers, they devoured widdows houſes, and fiſht for popular applauſe with their prayers, faſtings and almeſ-deeds Mat. 6.1, 2, 3, &c. their hearts were on earth, when their hands and eyes were lifted up to heaven: A hypocrite is moſt devout, when preferment, profit or applauſe is in ſight, but key-cold when there is no temptation; they are burning hot in the publike, lukewarm in their familyes, and key-cold in their cloſets; they are like a Cardinal I have read of, and doubtleſs there are many more of his minde, who being a poor fiſhermans ſon, was for his humility and other qualifications advanced to ſeveral degrees of honour, but always to minde him of his mean extraction, and to keep him humble, as he ſaid, he would have his Fathers Net in his dining-room, that he might not forget his deſcent, but at the laſt being made Pope, the net was laid aſide, being demanded the reaſon, he replyed, when the fiſh is caught what need is there of the net? This net and feigned humility was but to take the fiſh: and there are many in our times fiſh with ſuch a bait; ſome that depend upon ſome godly great man, or ſome religious Landlord, or great benefactor, counterfeit their colours, and pretend to wear their livery, the better to ingratiate themſelves into their favour and friendſhip, but when they have caught the fiſh, the net is thrown aſide; for when they have attained their end, or are fruſtrated of their expectation, they ſoon caſt off the ſheeps-skin, and appear in their own likeneſs, they make religion but a ſtalking-horſe to take their prey, and uſe it for no other end, and when that work is done, they lay it afide; they have a piece of work to do, and when one tool will not do it, they lay that aſide and take another; if profeſſion of religion fail them, they will turn perſecutors, and thoſe that now cry, hail maſter, will ſhortly cry, crucify him, they follow not Chriſt for love, but for loaves, and will be his ſervants ſo long, and no longer then they gain by him: they put their hands to the plow, and look back, and will have no more of religion then will do them good; while it will ſtand with their credit, profit, or worldly advantages they will be religious, when they muſt part with any thing, they will not buy heaven at ſo dear a rate; but let ſuch take heed of mocking God, that will not be mocked, or of playing with this candle, leſt they burn their wings, or approach too neer the ſun of righteouſneſs, leſt like Icarus they melt their waxen wings, and they deceive them: God can eaſily ſee through this thin vail of diſſimulation, and ſmell the filthy ſavour of an hypocrites rotten lungs; this fire will ſoon diſcover this paint, and without oyl in the veſſel, as well as a lamp in the hand, there is no entring into the bridechamber: it is not then a Lord, Lord, open to us, will ſerve turn, yea, often this rotten inſide will rot the outſide alſo, and thoſe ulcers at the heart will break forth in the life and converſation: oh my ſoul, beware of hypocryſy, that damning ſin, that ruines thouſands, and ſends them to hell, and unfits a man for any office or imployment in Church or ſtate; this will make thee hatefull both to God and man; man will hate thee for thy profeſſion, God will hate thee for counterfeiting his colours, and ſerving the devil in his livery: if religion be bad, why wilt thou profeſs it? if it be good, why wilt thou not practice it? Make the tree good, and his fruit good, or make the tree evill, and his fruit evill: be as thou ſeemeſt or ſeem as thou art, and do not diſhonour God by a great profeſſion, and an evil converſation, there is no deceiving God by a fained ſhew, who tryes the heart and ſearches the reins; he loves truth in the inward part, and the ſecreteſt thought of the heart cannot paſs by him undiſcovered; ſincerity is the true philoſophers ſtone that turns all things into gold, and makes weak performances acceptable, when hypocryſy turns all into droſs, glorious performances into guilded abomination: oh my God, my heart is deceitfull, and deſperately wicked, a neſt of unclean birds rooſts there, and this ſin as well as others lurks in it; Lord, thou knoweſt my condition, diſcover my ſelf to my ſelf, and let not my own heart deceive me: create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right ſpirit within me: what good will a ſhew do without a ſubſtance, or a profeſſion without the practice; whatever thou denyeſt me, deny me not ſincerity: what ſhall I do at the wedding without a wedding-garment, or what good will a lamp do without oyl, or a talent, if not improved.