The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 68
Upon a Bird in a cage.
68. Med.
UPon the obſervation of a bird in a cage, that was kept warm and ſecured from danger, fed to the full, and that without her care or pains, ſo that in my apprehenſion ſhe wanted nothing that might give content, or miniſter delight; ſhe neither felt want nor wo; yet it ſeems ſhe was not content, with this ſuppoſed reſtraint or impriſonment, for in proceſs of time ſhe gets looſe, fled away and refuſed to return, ſhe eſteemed her liberty more then all her enjoyments, and rather expoſed her ſelf to want and penury, yea, to danger and trouble, then to return to her eaſy confinement, and truſt her ſelf rather to the mercy of the mercileſs enemy, then to her greateſt benefactor: The thoughts of this raiſed my Meditation as high as our firſt parents Adam and Eve in paradice, they were placed in a place of pleaſure, provided for by God himſelf, wanted nothing for neceſſity or delight, and had only one little reſtraint laid upon them, to forbear the fruit of one tree, which haply had it not been forbidden, had not been deſired, but impatient of this reſtraint, they break the cage, and got looſe, and ſo were turned out into the wide world, and by this means brought want and miſery, danger and death upon all their poſterity, and expoſed themſelves and their off-ſpring to be a prey to the devouring vulture, ſatan: and this is the condition of their poſterity, they like not Gods cage, becauſe the devil promiſes more liberty, but brings them really into more ſlavery, they leave Gods ſervice which is perfect freedom for the devils drudgery, in hopes of more freedom, but really more ſlavery; they ſerve a worſe maſter, are ſet about worſe work, and ſhall receive worſe wages: loath they are to be under any reſtraint, and yet the devil keeps them in the moſt ſervile ſlavery: fain they would have their fill of ſin, and this will bring them in their fill of miſery; for ſuffering will follow ſin, as the ſhadow doth the ſubſtance; if ſin go before, miſery will follow after, and they will rue the time that ever they left their cage, changed their Maſter, or left his work: for when they come to receive their wages, they will be ſenſible of their folly; eternal deſtruction is the beſt wages the devil gives, but eternal life is Gods reward: But lets leave theſe doing their maſters work, and expecting his wages, and conſider man in his temporal concerns; and here alſo you will finde him a diſcontented creature, and though you follow him from the womb to the tomb, you will always finde him in a reſtleſs condition, never ſatisfied, never contented, in his infancy and childhood, never able to brook any cage, or endure any reſtraint, any thing but go to ſchool, and any book will pleaſe but that he is to learn in, any profeſſion but a ſcholler: in their youth any thing but ſervice or apprentiſhip, and any trade but what they are bound to, and any Maſter but their own; after any eſtate but a ſingle life, and when married they are ſoon weary of that: Many a ſervant that lived void of cares, that ſleeps ſoundly, feeds heartily, and hath all neceſſaries provided for him plentifully, and nothing lies upon him but a little moderate labour, to do his work, and receive his wages, when ofttimes the maſter works as hard as he all day, and ſpends his ſpirits, and at night breaks his ſleep with anxious cares and fears, and turmoiling thoughts, how he ſhall pay his rents, diſcharge his debts, provide for his family, meat, drink and cloathes, and other neceſſaries, how he ſhall pay ſcot and lot as they ſay, and bring both ends together, and all proves too little many times, yea, a thouſand things more run in his minde and break his brain, yet this ſervant not content with this condition, diſlikes his cage, leaves it, he cannot away with any reſtraint, he muſt needs be his own man, or rather his own Maſter, ſtand upon his own legs, be ruled by his own will, leaves his ſervice, alters his condition, marries and ſets up for himſelf, and now he thinks all will be well; but after awhile, when pincht with want, and miſery, and forc't to maintain a wife and children, and much ado to get them bread, he begins to wiſh, oh that I were in my cage again, I ſhould prize it better then I have done, and begins to think his ſervice was better then his freedom, and wiſhes when it is too late that he had better conſidered it, and look't before he leapt: and thus it is with men in all callings, eſtates and degrees, always diſcontent, if any reſtraint be laid upon their inſatiable mindes. Oh my ſoul, chooſe not another Maſter till thou art ſure of a better, that will mend thy work, and better thy wages; this cannot be ſatan, his wages is eternal deſtruction, when the gift of God is eternal life; break not Gods priſon for the worlds liberty, now thou art liberally provided for, and remaineſt under the wings of the Almighty, and no devouring vulture can moleſt thee, but if at the inſtigation of Satan thou break thy cage, and make an eſcape, a thouſand dangers will aſſault thee, and thy poor ſoul will be made a prey to this roaring lyon that ſeeks day and night to devour it, 1 Pet. 5.8. the devil that bloud-thirſty enemy will purſue thee to deſtruction, and nothing will ſatisfy him but thy ruine; oh my God, my ſtrength is in thee, and not in my ſelf, my enemies are many, politick and cunning, bloud-thirſty and cruel, treacherous and deceitfull, and my own heart like an inbred traitour ready to betray me into his hand; I have no ſtrength againſt this enemy, only mine eyes are up to thee: Lord, keep me under the ſhadow of thy wings, & let neither the temptations of ſatan, nor the frowns or ſmiles of the world draw me thence.