The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 85
Upon a great tree toſſed with the winde.
85. Med.
WHen I obſerved ſome tall ſpreading trees, ſtretching forth their branches on every ſide, and were grown top-heavy, how they were toſt and tumbled with the winde and ſtorms, when ſmaller ſhrubs and leſſer trees were more free and ſecure, becauſe they lay under the winde, or had but a little inconſiderable head: I ſaw and obſerved, that it often came to paſſe, that if theſe great trees bare any fruit, it was blown down before it came to maturity, and ſeldome came to good, nay, not only the fruit but the leaves alſo were forced off by the violent guſts, and windes, and ſtorms, and ſometimes the boughs and branches alſo, yea, the tree it ſelf is often born down, by the tempeſt, when thoſe that were leſs and lower were more ſecure, and brought their fruit to maturity with leſs danger and hazard: This Obſervation made me think that theſe trees fittly reſembled great men, that made ſome profeſſion of religion, but few of them bring their fruit to maturity, for theſe lye more open to temptations, and are more liable to dangers then others are, and the devil hath a greater ſpight at them then at others, for they may do him more miſchief, and therefore he is more unwilling they ſhould break priſon then others, and hangs more fetters and irons upon them: great Commanders are more narrowly watcht if they are priſoners, and more dearly ranſomed then private ſouldiers: hence it was, that Elymas the ſorcerer, by the devils inſtigation, ſought to turn away Surgius Paulus the deputy from the faith; Act. 13.8. as knowing he was like to be a leading man which way ever he took: If great men have but leaves, they are invyed for the leaves ſake, and few of them ever bring forth fruit to maturity, yea, the leaves themſelves, their very profeſſion are oft times born down by the ſtorm; I have ſeen ſome that I verily believed were well rooted and grounded, who yet upon approaching ſtorms have truckled under them, have hid their religion, diſſembled their profeſſion, and ſtole away from their colours, and all for fear of leaving, or loſing any part of their eſtates; This hath given me occaſion ſometimes to bleſs God, that hath freed me from ſome of thoſe temptations that others lie under, and hath given me Agars petition, neither poverty nor riches, but food convenient, and hath kept me almoſt all …hy days in a ſuffering condition: I conſidered I have the ſame nature as other men have, had I but the ſame temptations, I know not but I might have been as bad: a great eſtate as it hath many cares and cumbers ſo many temptations accompanying it, and ſome men cannot bear it, no more then ſome mens heads can much wine or ſtrong drink: it is not the cage that makes the bird ſing, nor it is not abundance always that makes the heart light; a ſtaff may help a traveller, but a bundle of ſtaves will be but a trouble; ſo may a great eſtate to a godly man; I might have, like that young man mentioned, Mat. 19.20. &c. parted with Chriſt for a trifle: had he had but a ſmall eſtate, who knows but he might have proved a true convert; he cheapens heaven, bids fair for it, but they diſagreed about the price: a great eſtate breaks the bargain, as in the world it breaks many a marriage; the perſons like and love, but the womans portion will not anſwer the mans eſtate: this occaſioned Chriſt to tell us, how hard a thing it was for a rich man to be ſaved, Mat. 19.24. it is eaſier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God: moſt mens honours change their manners, and they are the worſe for their wealth; if heaven be to be had upon no other terms, many will refuſe it; they would be gainers by their religion, however they reſolve to loſe nothing; many like Diana's Craftſmen, get their living by it; they will launch no further into the deep, then they may return ſafe to the ſhore: many come to Chriſt haſtily, as this young man, but return heavily, when they hear the rate: All men love Abrahams boſome but few men love Dives door; all men love the jewel, but few will go to the price; all men would have the crown, but they love not the croſs that leads to it: Moſt men (eſpecially great ones) will meddle with no more religion then will do them good, or boot their needs or ſerve their deſignes; they will lanch no further into the ſeas then they can ſee the ſhoar; pride breeds in wealth, as worms do in apples; and he is a rich man indeed, that thinks himſelf never the greater, or never the better for his wealth: oh world, how haſt thou deceived thoſe that truſt in thee, and how haſt thou bought their profeſſion out of their hands for a trifle, and haſt had their ſouls into the bargain: how many write themſelves happy when they are loaden with thick clay? alaſs! what will this do for them in their greateſt need? poor Spira was betrayed by thee, to the ſhipwrack of faith and a good conſcience; ſo were Judas, Demas, Ananias and Saphira, and a thoſand more: theſe knew not the worth of the ſoul, nor the vanity of the world, that let the devil have ſo cheap a penyworth; they graſp ſo greedily after gold, that they loſt their God, and loved their ſin more then their ſouls, but what good will it do them when they want a drop of water to cool their tongues? Luk. 16.24. oh my ſoul, bleſs God that hath freed thee from many temptations that others are overcome by: Covet not overmuch a proſperous condition, leſt God give it thee for thy portion: ſcorn with the Eagle to ſtoop ſo low as to ſeek thy meat upon a dunghill: undervalue not thy ſelf ſo much as to entertain ſo poor a ſuitor as the world is, when the ſun of God makes love to thee, who alone can pay thy debts and make thee happy: thou canſt not buy this gold too dear but the world thou maiſt, and moſt men do, when they purchaſe it with the bloud of their ſouls: thou canſt not overvalue this jewel, it is ten thouſand times better then thou canſt value it: oh my God, give me Chriſt and it ſufficeth, I need no other portion, I deſire no other happineſs, let me have him at any rate.