The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 91
Ʋpon a fruit-tree pelted with ſtones.
91. Med.
WHen I beheld a fruit-bearing-tree; that was richly laden with the choiſeſt fruit, and perceiving that this tree above all the reſt was preyed upon by the paſſengers, for almoſt every one had a ſtick or ſtone, a ſtaff, or ſtake, to throw at it, when thoſe trees that were barren, and worthleſs, or brought forth fruit ſowr or unſavory, were let alone, and none moleſted them, when their better neighbours were rent and torn in pieces, for their fruit ſake; this Obſervation made me think theſe fruit-bearing trees did much reſemble a fruit-bearing Chriſtian, for none in the world are more liable to ſufferings then they are, and that for their fruits ſake: the more real fruit they bring forth, and the more ſavoury fruit they bear, the more danger they are in, and the more blows they bear, both from hand and tongue when others that are Chriſtians, graceleſs, fruitleſs, and worthleſs, eſcape ſcot-free, and not one moleſteth them: many a one that leads a lewd vicious and debaucht life, who makes a trade of ſin, and lives in the conſtant breach both of divine and humane laws, yet eſcapes all Courts of Judicature, civil and Eccleſiaſtical, and all other moleſtations, and perſecutions, when an holy humble Chriſtian is oft entangled in the briars, and fleeced by thoſe to whom he flys for ſuccour, yet here lyes the difference between a fruitful Chriſtian, and a fruitful tree, the tree is beaten for the fruits ſake, but it is for love to it, and ſo is robbed and pilled and beaten like a man that fals among thieves, and is ſtript of his ſubſtance, the other is beaten alſo for the fruit ſake, but it is in oppoſition to it, and hatred of it: in the one the paſſenger deſires to enjoy it, in the other to beat it down: The beſt of men have met with the greateſt oppoſition, and the more eminent Chriſtians have uſually the more eminent oppoſers; the devil will not ſuffer them to be quiet: Jeremiah which was a great prophet, and lived an upright and unblamable life, was not free, Jer. 20.7. I am in deriſion daily, every one mocketh me, I neither (ſaith he) lend upon uſury neither do men lend to me upon uſury, yet every one curſeth me, Jer. 15.10. and it was not only tongue-perſecution, but that of the hand alſo which he ſuffered, he was caſt into a miry dungeon, put into the ſtocks, hated by the Princes, and all his crime was, he ſpake the word of the Lord, what he had given him in charge to ſpeak; it was for his fruits ſake, that he was thus beaten: The like we reade of David a man after Gods own heart, he had more fruit then others and therefore had more ſtones thrown at him for his fruit ſake, Pſal. 69.18. they that ſit in the gate ſpeak againſt me, and I was a ſong to the drunkards, Pſal. 35.15. in mine adverſity they rejoyced, they gathered themſelves together, yea the abjects gathered themſelves together againſt me, and I knew it not, they did tear me and ceaſed not, with hypocritical mockers in feaſts, they gnaſhed upon me with their teeth: he met with hand perſecution alſo; for Saul ſought his life, and hunted him as a partrich upon the mountains: Holy Job the beſt man living in his age, by Gods own teſtimony, yet he was not free, he was accuſed by the devil, robbed by the Chaldeans and Sabeans, forſaken by his friends, diſdained by his enemies, tempted by his wife, and ſcorned by the abjects, Job. 30.1. but now they that are younger then I, have me in deriſion, whoſe fathers I would have diſdained to have ſet with the dogs of my ſtock, ver. 9. yet now I am their ſong, yea, I am their byword, they ahhor me,, they flee from me, and ſpare not to ſpit in my face, &c. Elijah, Eliſha, Amos do not eſcape, Joſeph, Daniel, and his fellows are hated for their fruit; yea, all the Prophets: The Apoſtles alſo were made a gazing ſtock, and ſuffered both reproaches, and affliction, Heb. 10.33. and thoſe Worthys of whom the world was not worthy, Heb. 11.35. &c. they had cruel mockings and ſcourgings, bonds and impriſonments, they were ſtoned, ſawn aſunder, tempted, &c. and it was for fruit that Stephen had ſtones caſt upon him, but the diſciple is not above his Maſter: Chriſt himſelf though never man ſpake like him, and never man did ſuch works as he did, yet never man did more unjuſtly ſuffer then he, never man ſo abuſed with hand and tongue, even to the taking away his precious life; he was hated by the world, and ſo ſhall all that bear his image: As bats fly from the light, ſo the blinde world cannot endure this ſun of righteouſneſs; as it is ſaid of ſome barbarous Nations under the Meridian, they curſe the ſun when it ariſeth for ſcorching them, ſo wicked men cannot abide to have the ſun ſhine too full in their faces, light is come into the world, but men love darkneſs, becauſe their works are evil; and though they agree not among themſelves, yet all join together againſt the power of godlineſs, like Herod and Pilate againſt Chriſt: though dogs worry one another, yet all ſet againſt the trembling hare, though Ephraim be againſt Manaſſeth, and Manaſſeth againſt Ephraim, yet both are againſt Judah: oh my ſoul, if thou bear any good fruit, expect ſome ſtick or ſtone, to be thrown at thee, and if thou meet with none, expect there is little fruit to be ſeen or found, or that it is not good nor ſavoury; if thou doſt ſuffer for well-doing rejoice that thou art accounted worthy, and conſider all thou canſt ſuffer for Chriſt, is but a chip or ſplinter of that croſs which he bore for thee; and leave not heavens road for a ſcoff or ſcorn, leſt in hell the devil deride thee for thy folly; is thy good name more precious then his? he was reprocht for thee, and he that will not ſuffer a mock for Chriſt will hardly ſuffer death; thoſe that are aſhamed of him here, he will not own hereafter: oh my God, let me never leave the way for fear of the croſs, let me not think my bloud too good to ſhed for Chriſt, that thought not his too good to ſhed for me.