The Husbandmans Companion, Meditation 97
The world is not a reſting-place.
97. Med.
WHen I had been recreating my ſelf in the garden, tired with ſtudyes, and other employments, I found ſome divertiſement for a while among the various delights, that there offered themſelves to my ſences, and unbent the bow that was beginning to grow weak, through over-intent ſtudies, and other imployments: I paſſed the time for a ſeaſon in the viewing and obſerving of Natures garden, not without ſome delightful obſervations, but at laſt, night approached and my pleaſures began to vaniſh: The birds which before delighted my ears with their melodious harmony, were now gone to reſt, and thoſe herbs and flowers, which before delighted my ſences now diſappeared, and their various colours, forms and ſhapes could not be diſtinguiſhed, but were all died in one ſable colour, for univerſal darkneſs had ſpread her ſable mantle over all, and every thing was ſtained in the ſame die-fat, and I was left alone, though in the midſt of company, deprived of the delights which before I had, the cold air began to pierce me, and the croaking frogs and toads which all this while had hid themſelves from my ſight, were now crept forth and were like to be my bed-fellows, if I lodged there, and bats and owls, thoſe birds of the night, were my companions; this made me to conſider, how unpleaſant this place of delights, the greateſt recreation I had in the world for my body, would be to me at this time, had I no other habitation, and how unpleaſant the night would be to me: here I lay open to winde and weather, liable to be wet with the dew of heaven, and was like to have the air for my ſupper, and with Jacob a ſtone for my pillow; I conſidered now, though I too often forget it, the great goodneſs of God to the juſt and to the unjuſt, to cauſe his ſun to ſhine upon them, one ſun makes a day, but the moon and all the ſtars make but a night, but what a mercy is it then, when the ſun of righteouſneſs ariſeth with healing in his wings? The unpleaſantneſs of the preſent ſeaſon to me, made me pitty many poor creatures that are neceſſarily expoſed to theſe, and worſe then theſe hardſhips, as ſouldiers lodging in the fields, yea, many wandring people that in the winter-ſeaſon ſuffer much, as for thoſe that deſignedly endure this life, rather then expoſe themſelves to labour, are not to be pittied, correction is a fitter ſalve for their ſore: but there are many aged and impotent, lame, and unable, that ſhould be better cared for, and I fear God hath a controverſy with the nation upon this account; this conſideration driven up to the head, made me bleſs God this was not my condition, and to fear leſt my ſins and unthankfulneſs might provoke God to make it my condition: This raiſed my meditation a little higher, and I thought with myſelf, if this garden, this place of delights be no comfortable abiding-place for the body when night comes, ſure then the world is no reſting-place for the ſoul, for death will come: here in the day-time of life man may take ſome delight, but the night will come when no man can work, and when all theſe things ſhall vaniſh, I muſt ſeek out for ſome better ſhelter, ſome better lodging, ſome better reſting-place for my ſoul: when night comes, and the ſun is ſet upon me, all theſe delightful objects will be gone, will forſake me, and hide their heads, and they will yeeld no delight, no comfort or refreſhment; crowns and kingdoms, dirt and dung, will then be valued alike, and a piece of lead will be as good as a piece of gold, or an heap of diamonds; theſe outward things can afford neither food nor phyſick, neither lodging nor entertainment, neither pleaſures nor profit, to the weary ſoul; theſe earthly tabernacles ere long will be diſſolved, and theſe houſes of clay, will moulder into duſt, 2 Cor. 5.1. and what ſhall we then do, if we are no better provided? the ſoul here wears the body as a garment, which when it is worn out, the ſaints ſhall have a better ſuit, they ſhall be choathed with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt; death will not ſpare the beſt, there is no coming to paradice but under the flaming ſword of this guardian that ſtands at the porch, no wiping all tears from our eyes, but with our winding-ſheet; aſſurance of Gods love makes a man even willing to die, but the cook on the dunghill knows not the worth of this jewel; oh the blindneſs, madneſs, and ſtupidity of man, whoſe care is to lade himſelf with thick clay, and to take care what he ſhall eat, or what he ſhall drink, or wherewithall he ſhall be cloathed, and makes no proviſion for the ſoul, but depends upon that for comfort, that can do no good when moſt need is; they can provide in the day for the night, in the ſummer for the winter, on the market-day for the whole week, and at a Fair for the whole year, and yet make no proviſion in life for death, or in time for eternity: if a coeleſtial habitation be not provided againſt thoſe houſes of clay, our bodies, wherein the ſoul lodgeth as a tenant at will, be diſſolved, our lodging will be worſe then with toads and ſerpents, even with the devil and his angels, in endleſs, eaſeleſs, and remedileſs torments: oh my ſoul how fares it with thee, or what preparation haſt thou made? long it cannot be before night comes, where then will be thy lodging? the earth then will be to thee as the waters to Noahs dove, thou wilt finde no reſt here for the ſole of thy foot; it is in heaven that the weary be at reſt, Job. 3.17. oh my God, enable me to clear up my intereſt in Chriſt, who is the only ſanctuary for a troubled ſoul.