The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 69
Upon a bird with a clogg at her foot.
69. Med.
WHen I beheld a poor bird that was taken priſoner, and her Jaylor the better to ſecure his priſoner had hanged a little clog at her foot, I took notice how when ſhe endevoured to mount up, ſhe was always hindred and pluckt back again, and all her endeavours proved vain, as priſoners that are in for flagitious offences, have fetters, ſhackles, and great ſtore of irons clapt upon them to prevent their eſcape, and hinder their flight, ſo it fared with this poor bird; ſhe had a weight that ſhe could not lift, I perceived ſhe had a will to be gone, but power was wanting, ſhe was not content with her ſlavery, …ut how to remedy it ſhe knew not: endeavours were not wanting but a wiſhed ſucceſs ſucceeded not: I thought this much reſembled the ſtate of the poor ſoul by nature, who was taken priſoner by ſatan at the fall, and ever ſince kept under reſtraint, and the devil leads her captive at his pleaſure, and he hath to ſecure his priſoner, ſhackled and fettered her ever ſince, for fear of an eſcape, from which ſhe cannot free her ſelf, but remains ſtill under bondage; nay, the unregenerate man is ſo fettered and clog'd, and as it were lockt to a poſt, that he cannot ſtir, or ſo much as lift up his eyes or heart to heaven, and ſo infatuated withall, that he cannot heartily deſire his liberry, or pray for it, Satan hath put ſuch a force upon him that he is content to have his ear bored, and to ſerve him for ever, he is ſo acquainted with his ſervice that he thinks there is no better Maſter, nor no better work; he is like a bruit beaſt, ſtill grovelling upon the earth, and thinks there is no greater happineſs; he is like Uliſſes his men, fabled, by Circes charmes to be turned into ſwine, and being put to their choiſe, were content ſo to remain, and not aſſume their human ſhape again; ſo theſe are ſo bewitcht by Satan, that they are unwilling to be Gods free men, they know no other happineſs then to have their ſwill, and to wallow in the mire, and are angry with them that would help them out, they finde more pleaſure in their drinking and drabbing, then ever they did in praying and hearing; upon theſe we may write, the Lord have mercy upon them, for they have a plague-ſore running upon them, they are ſick to death, and yet feel nothing ailing them; there is but one phyſitian in the world can cure them, and that muſt be with a plaiſter of his blood: but we paſs by theſe as yet wholly at the devils command, and in his power: But there are another ſort of men, that have this clog at the heel, and that is the regenerate, that have the skales of ignorance in ſome meaſure wiped from their eyes, and have a principle of life in them, yet are not free from this clog, though they are weary, and fain would be free, but cannot, and though their clog be lightned, and many of their ſhackles and bolts knockt off, yet cannot they mount up as they deſire, they cannot content themſelves with their earthly enjoyments, fain they would have a better portion, yet corruption hangs ſo faſt on, they have much ado to mount up to take a veiw of their heavenly manſion; they dare not eſpouſe their ſouls to any creature-comfort, and yet can maintain but little communion with their husband, Chriſt; if they do mount upon the wings …f contemplation, and get a Piſgah-ſight of heaven, and a veiw of thoſe inviſible things at Gods right hand, yet how ſoon are they down again, and much ado to get a glimps of Chriſt: they are like a man that is looking at a ſtar through an Optick-glaſs, held with a palſey hand, it is but now and then they can get a ſight, their corruption therefore, that remains unmortified makes them cry out with the Apoſtle: Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? Oh my ſoul? is not this thy condition? how comes it otherwiſe to paſs, that thou prayeſt ſo coldly, and heareſt ſo drowſily, praiſeſt God ſo faintly, and performeſt every duty ſo careleſly? is not heaven worth the having, and all the pains thou canſt beſtow about it? is not thy ſoul worth the ſaving, and eternity worth minding? canſt thou be zealous about trifles, and negligent in things of greateſt concernment? ſure there are heavy clogs lie upon thy heels, that thou runneſt no faſter: why art thou ſuch a ſtranger to divine Meditation? thou canſt think of the world without wearineſs, though it be from morning to night, why then are thy thoughts of heaven ſo few and forced? why art thou ſo ſoon tired in duty? ſo ſoon weary of ordinances, and ſo overly in them, that many times thou haſt ſcarce a glimps of Chriſt in a duty, and but little communion with him at beſt; why doſt thou feed upon the husks of duty, and content thy ſelf with the bare performance, though thou meet not with Chriſt in the duty? will this feed thee? will it make thee fat? how comes it to paſs ſo many vain thoughts, roving imaginations, impertinent wandrings are mixt with thy holieſt dutys, and moſt ſolemn ſervices? do not thoſe evidence to thy face, that corruption remains ſtrong in thee, and grace weak? and why contenteſt thou thy ſelf with theſe fetters, and ſtriveſt not, prayeſt not more againſt them? Oh my God, when ſhall I be freed from theſe? when wilt thou knock off theſe bolts, and free me from theſe fetters, and inlarge my feet, that I may run the ways of thy commandments? then will my ſoul mount up to thee with chearfulneſs, then ſhall I ſerve God without wearineſs or diſtraction; oh fit me for my change, and then, come Lord Jeſus, come quickly: give me oyl in my veſſel, grace in my heart, and the wedding-garment of ſincerity for my ſoul, and then come at what hour thou pleaſeſt.