The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 9
Upon refreſhing rain after a dry ſeaſon.
9. Med.
WHen I ſaw after a dry ſeaſon, wherein the fruits of the earth languiſhed for want of moiſture, that when a refreſhing ſhower of rain came, how they flourished, grew, and encreaſed, and how freſh and fragrant theſe were, which a little before hang'd the head, and droop't; I plainly then ſaw, that all the pains, and all the coſt, and all the care, which men were at, even about theſe earthly enjoyments, ſignifies nothing, if God deny his bleſſing, if the influences of heaven were but reſtrained, what would all our care and labour ſignify? we may riſe early, lie down late, and eat the bread of carefulneſs, and all to little purpoſe, but how few look up to the true cauſe of plenty or want; The moſt are like to hogs under the tree, that eat the crabs, or acorns, when they fall, but regard not whence they come; and murmure if they have them not; I conſidered the earth wanted the influences of heaven, and the heavens wanted a commiſſion from God, and till that was ſealed, the creatures could not be ſupplied; it was in vain to quarrel, the one or the other; nay, man had no cauſe to quarrel at any but himſelf where the obſtacle lay; for had not he ſin'd, the creatures had not ſuffered; This made me a little conſider the courſe of nature, and how one creature depends upon another, and every one ſeems to be made for another rather then for it ſelf; The Sun, the Moon, and Stars, thoſe glorious lamps, and beauty-ſpots of heaven, in their unceſſant and unerring courſes, powr out their heat and light and influence, upon the earth, and by this means the creatures are generated, and the earth refreſh't, without which influence it would be but a barren, dry, and unprofitable heap, and all things therein would languiſh, and die. The earth not ingrateful for received favours, conceiveth and produceth corn, and graſs, herbs and flowers, plants and trees, and other vegetables, both for the uſe of man and beaſt, whereby the vegetable and ſenſitive creatures are maintained, beaſts of the field, fouls of the air, fiſh of the Sea, and all creeping things are fed, and cheriſhed: theſe again offer themſelves for food or ſervice to man, their little Lord, and he alone is made capable of communion with his creator; and eſpecially fitted for his ſervice: When I had ſeriouſly conſidered this ſubordination among the creatures, and that every one ſeemed to minde anothers good rather then his own, this led me up to a firſt cauſe, to enquire who directed them to an end they knew not, and led them by a rule they underſtood not; and when I conſidered that all thoſe famous works were made, and thus ſubordinated each to other, and thus directed for the ſake of man, this made me break out with the Pſalmiſt upon the like occaſion: Lord, what is man, that thou art mindefull of him, or the ſon of man that thou regardeſt him; thou haſt made him a little lower then the angels, thou haſt crowned him with glory and dignity, Pſal. 8.4, 5. I conſidered that all this rule and dominion, glory and dignity, was given him, that he might ſerve, and honour his Creator, whoſe image he did in the Creation moſt lively repreſent, but above all ſublunary creatures, none have more deviated from the rule God hath given them, nor tranſgreſſed his laws, nor fruſtrated the ends of their creation, more then man, by whoſe fall the beauty of the newly burniſht world was ſoon ſtained, and the glory of it ſoon ecclipſed. This made me wonder, that God ſuffered ſuch enemies to live upon the face of the earth, to be lords over the works of his hands: Oh the patience, and long-forbearance of a merciful God! that ſuch rebels that have their life, and breath, and being from him, and are guilty of ſo many acts of treaſon, and rebellion againſt heaven, ſhould yet be preſerved and provided for as they are, and ſo many offers of mercy tendred to them: Oh my ſoul! hath God done ſo much for thee, was this glorious fabrick of the world made for thy ſake among others? are the creatures, yea, the angels themſelves ſet a work for thy good? and doth thy great benefactor only require the pepper-corn of homage, and the thankful acknowledgement of what thou haſt received, and obediential homage for the time to come? and doſt thou deny him that? art thou fed and cloathed, maintained and preſerved by his providence and care, and haſt thou any meat to eat, or drink to drink, or cloaths to put on, or health, or ſtrength, or limbs, or ſenſes, or peace, or plenty, or life, or breath, or any other enjoyment, but what he gives thee? and is a thankfull acknowledgment of theſe favours denyed by thee? he doth not need thee, neither canſt thou add any thing to his glory, yet he takes himſelf honoured by a thankfull obediential obſervation of his commands; but alas! how much time didſt thou ſpend, before thou diſt cordially yield any thanks to him for his benefits? and how much wanting art thou in it to this very day? he makes his ſun to ſhine upon thee, and his rain to fall upon thee, he gives thee fruitfull ſeaſons, and fills thy heart with food and gladneſs, 'tis doubtleſs then thy duty to devote thy ſelf wholly to his ſervice, and give up not only thy name, but thy heart to Chriſt; Oh my God! doſt thou expect ſervice from me, enable me to do it; I am by nature a ſenceleſs ſtock or ſtone, dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, put life into me, and I ſhall perform the actions of life, I cannot act without thy aſſiſtance; give me help from heaven, for vain is the help of man, open my lips then ſhall I ſhew forth thy praiſe; inlarge my heart, then ſhall I run the ways of thy commands, touch my tongue with a coal from thy altar then ſhall I trumpet out thy praiſe; ſeek thy ſervant, and I ſhall be found.