The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 93
Upon the many enemies fruit-trees have.
93. Med.
WHen I conſidered how many enemies fruit-bearing trees met withall, and the incumbrances that ofttimes hindred, and ſpoiled their fruit, I wondred that any brought forth fruit to maturity, for ſometimes they are planted in a bad ſoil, and then no wonder if they proſper not, ſometimes in too dry a place, and how then ſhould they proſper? ſometimes in too wet, and then are poiſoned, and rendred barren; ſometimes too high, and ſometimes too low, and both extremes are offenſive; ſometimes in too fat a place, and then they grow too luxuriant; often too lean and barren, when the earth cannot help them to bring forth their burthen, or yeild them ſap; ſometimes for want of good huſbandry, they are troubled and peſtered with ſuckers, that draw the ſap to themſelves, and rob the tree, and run up into aſpiring branches, which overtop and overſhade their fellows, and the whole tree by this means is rendred unfruitful: ſometimes for want of fence the bark is pil'd off by the beaſts of the field, hares, rabbets, and other vermine, which rends the bark from the the body, and endanger, yea, ſometimes procure the death, not only of the fruit, but the tree alſo: and ſometimes they are barkbound, which hinders their growth and thriving: ſometimes they are peſtered with moſs, canker and other obſtructions, to their no little dammages; and ſometimes moleſted by worms, moles, mice, ants, and ſuch like, whereby they are injured: ſometimes the winter proves unſeaſonable, and the ſpring unfavourable, that they never bloom, and ſometimes when they are bloſſomed, and give good ground of hopes; yet in a moment all our hopes are daſht, and they are ſudenly nipt with the froſt, or blaſted with lightning, or the Eaſt-winds; ſometimes they are rendred unfruitful by overmuch drought, and ſometimes by too much wet; for both may be injurious both to the tree and to the fruit and too much wet alſo is offenſive, and renders the fruit the worſe: if they paſs theſe dangers and are loaden with fruit, much of it is oft conſumed by waſps, hornets, and another inſects, yea, ſometimes not only the fruit, but alſo the leaves are eaten by locuſts, caterpillars, and ſuch like flys, and many times with worms: ſometimes for want of fence, they are undermined by ſwine, or broken, bruiſed or fed upon by other cattle, and oftentimes the unripe fruit is born down by a mighty ruſhing winde, and all our hopes thus ſudenly daſht which is no unuſual accident: as it is ſaid, Rev. 6.13. and the ſtars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree caſteth her untimely figs, when ſhe is ſhaken by a mighty winde; that is, violently and forcibly, and if they eſcape all theſe accidents, many prove barren, and many bring forth fruit that is ſowr, bitter, or unſavoury, and very little fruit that is good appears, and if it do, all the danger is not over, many a blow they endure, and many a ſtaff, and many a ſtone is caſt at them to unload, unburthen, and deprive them of their fruit; and there is ſcarce a paſſenger but hath ſomething or other to throw at them, and few go away empty-handed from them; and no wonder then the owners part is little and a ſmall pittance comes to be gathered in: The conſideration of this, made me to compare poor man to theſe trees of the field, and to conſider what is the reaſon ſo few bring forth fruit to maturity; many an obſtruction they meet with before the time of fruit comes, which hinders the moſt of men from fructifying; many are planted in the dry deſart heath, where they ſee not when good cometh, and that never heard of a ſaviour come into the world, or ever enjoyed one ſoul ſearching ſermon, and theſe are not like to bring forth good fruit; they are like to be barren, or their fruit to be wilde, yea many of thoſe that live within the pale of the Church are not much better, it is true, the ſeed is ſown amongſt them but much of it falls by the wayſide, and the fouls of the air pick it up, the devil ſteals it out of their hearts; this is that troubler of Iſrael, that maſter of miſrule, he is one at Church whoever is the other, he hath made a foot-path over the heart, that the word takes no more impreſſion then rain upon a rock; theſe muſt needs be barren, yea, ſome of it, fals among ſtones, where it hath no root, which though received with joy, and it ſprings up ſudenly, yet wanting root, muſt needs wither, the root of the matter is not in them, Job. 19.28. and ſome falls among thorns, and is choaked; theſe (ſaith Chriſt) are the cares of the world, and the deceitfulneſs of riches; and it is much ado to handle thoſe thorns, and not prick their fingers, and but a little fals in good ground, and that undergoes a thouſand dangers ere it come to maturity; many are the obſtructions a Chriſtian meets with, and many pul-backs the gracious ſoul hath, and the good ſeed ſown hath many enemies, ſometimes it is parcht with the ſun of proſperity, and ſometimes nipt with the froſt of adverſity; the devils temptations, and the worlds allurements; oft ſpoil the fruit; ſometimes it withers for want of the dew of heaven to refreſh it, ſometimes it is overwhelmed with the flouds of affliction, a thouſand, and ten thouſand are the dangers this ſeed of grace doth undergo before it comes to maturity; many trees in the orchard are not tranſplanted, and ingrafted into Chriſt, and many enemies thoſe meet with that are, and the little fruit that is brought forth to maturity, will have many a ſtick and many a ſtone caſt at it; oh my ſoul, haſt thou any ſtone caſt at thee, any reproach caſt upon thee, art thou perſecuted and hated for doing thy duty, deſpair not, it is a ſigne there is ſome fruit: the traveller ſeldome throws at the barren tree, and the devil ſeldome throws down his own fruit; haſt thou many enemies, Chriſt himſelf had not a few; live uprightly toward man, holily towards God, that they may have no juſt occaſion againſt thee, but for ſerving God, and let them throw and ſpare not: bring forth much fruit to God, and doubtleſs he will wall thee in, and defend thee: O my God, mine enemies are many and ſubtil, powerful and malicious, be thou my defender, and lot my fruit be pleaſant to thy taſte, and ſweet to thy ſmell.