The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 7
Upon the diligence neceſſary to be uſed in a Garden.
7. Med.
VVHen I conſidered how much time and pains, ſweat and diligence is neceſſary to keep a garden in order, and make it that it may anſwer the expectation of the owner, what digging, delving and manuring, what planting, ſetting, ſowing, fencing, weeding, watering, &c. muſt be uſed, and all little enough, and perhaps too little to produce a good crop; This Obſervation made me to reflect upon my own ſoul, and to conſider whether ever I had taken ſo much time or pains, or been at ſo much coſt for it, the only garden God delights in, and the chiefeſt I ſhould look after, as I have been for a little ſpot of earth: here it is the herb of grace ſhould grow, and this ſhould be a garden of ſpices, Can. 4.10. This Conſideration made me bluſh at my own folly, when I conſidered how carefull I had been of a poor worthleſs piece of ground, and had beſtowed ſo much pains and coſt upon it, which yet yielded but a little pleaſure, and leſs profit, and in the mean time neglected the ſoul which is of ten thouſand times a greater concernment; and when alſo I had conſidered the fruitfulneſs of my garden, and the barrenneſs of my own heart, I concluded, had I beſtowed as much time and pains in planting, watering, and fencing that, as I have done in this garden, it would have yielded better fruit then I can expect thence: Well may I ſay with the Spouſe, Cant. 1.6. they made me keeper of the Vineyards, but my own Vineyard I have not kept: I have not taken Gods counſel, Ier. 4.3. break up the fallow ground of your hearts, and ſow not among thorns; and when I conſidered how unfruitful my heart was, I concluded it had not been ſufficiently humbled, but the ſeed was ſown among worldly cares and fears, and diſcontents, and thoſe thorns had choaked it, ſeeing no more fruit appears: I conſidered therefore how needfull it was for God to plow long and deep furrows on my back by affliction, that he might come to the root of the weeds; and this ſame thing quieted me under ſome dark diſpenſations of providence; I conſidered what a folly it was for a man that will not ſuffer a weed in his garden, and yet will ſuffer the weeds of ſin in his ſoul, though they are far more pernitious to the herb of grace there planted, then the moſt peſtiferous weeds in the world can be to the choiceſt flowers; and yet one reigning ſin is a greater deformity to the ſoul then a thouſand weeds can be to the faireſt garden: Oh my ſoul! why art thou ſo prodigall of time, and pains, of coſt, and care, of ſweat and induſtry for a very trifle, and in the mean time neglect thy greateſt concerns, thy ſelf, thy God, and thy eternall happineſs? when didſt thou take ſo much pains for heaven as thou haſt done for the earth? why art thou digging and delving in the earth, as if happineſs were hid under the clods, when thou mayeſt be ſolacing thy ſelf with thy God? God hath not been wanting, to thee, but thou haſt been wanting to thy ſelf, he gives thee time to run thy race, when thou leaveſt thy way to run after butterflies, which if thou take, they will but foul thy fingers: Thou haſt been pruned and dreſt by many choice gardiners, why yet art thou fruitleſs? lay thy hands to the work, tear up thoſe weeds that hinder the flowers: Doſt thou expect happineſs here below, why elſe doth thy affection grovell upon the ground? Will a handfull of herbs, or a boſome full of flowers give thee content? Oh what a poor happineſs doſt thou take up with! Is there no better to be had? ſerve a better maſter, and thou ſhalt have better wages: be a better husband, and thy gains will be the greater; and ſow in a better ſoil, and thou wilt have a better encreaſe. Oh my God! what anſwer ſhall I return for all the pains, and coſt, and time thou haſt beſtowed upon me: O Lord, how have I ſlighted thee! O heaven, how have I undervalued thee! how have I ſuffered the world to bewitch me, and ſteal away my heart from my God? divert my thoughts, rend my affection from theſe earthly vanities; let me ſee more excellency in Chriſt then the world affords, then ſhall I be as covetous for grace as others are for gold, and take as much pains for heaven as ever I did for earth, and be as zealous for God as others are for ſin, and improve my time for the ſpiritual advantage of my ſoul.