The Weavers Pocket-Book, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
Exod. xxxv. 35.
Them hath he filled with wiſdom of heart, to work all manner of Work of the Ingraver,— and of the Weaver, &c.
The Meditations.
Sect.1. THE Work here in Hand was the making a Tabernacle, a moving Houſe for the Lord God of Iſrael: The VVorkmen are nominated by God himſelf, v. 30. The Lord hath called by Name Bezaleel the Son of Uri, the Son of Hur: and verſe 34. Aholiab the Son of Ahiſamach. (It is reaſonable the Master of the Houſe ſhould appoint his own Workmen.) Theſe he filled with his Spirit in Wiſdom, Ʋnderſtanding, Knowledge, and in all manner of Workmanſhip. God never ſends any to his VVork but he firſt furniſheth them with Tools fit to do it. Thoſe who are buſied at works for which they are not ſpirited and inabled, (whoever ſends them) are not ſent by God. As he fitted theſe workmen with wiſdom of Heart to work all work, ſo particularly it is ſaid, And of the Weaver.
Sect. 2. The Art of VVeaving then hath a Divine Original. Naamah the Siſter of Tubal-cain (mentioned Gen. 4.22. might be the firſt Spinstreſs or Weavereſs, (as Genebrard thinks,) the Scripture tells us her Brother was the firſt workman in Braſs and Iron) if She firſt learned others, yet 'tis certain God firſt taught her. If Closterus firſt made Spindles, his God firſt taught him that Diſcretion; and if Naamah firſt wrought in Looms, yet as the Prophet ſaith of the Threſhers diſcretion, Iſaiah 28.29. This alſo came from the Lord of Hoſts, who is wonderfull in counſel, and excellent in working: if weaving (as the Philoſopher thinks) were …earnt from the Spider, yet the Spider hath it from the Lord mighty in counſel. He that teacheth the Warriours hands to War, and his fingers to fight, teacheth the Weaver alſo to mix his Yarns, and to throw his Shuttle.
Sect. 3. The Weavers Trade then is Canonical. An imployment of which God is not aſhamed to be called the Father, as to which he is pleaſed to imploy his own Spirit. 'Tis good to be in a Calling as to which we can ſay, That God hath called us to it. Pious Parents may have a little too much Zeal, in refuſing all but Scripture-Names for their Children, (the Scripture it ſelf borrows Childrens Names from words ſignificant of Mercy and Duty.) But thoſe Parents are as much too careleſs, who think they may give their Children the Names of Pagan Idols, or otherwiſe fooliſh and inſignificant. There may be particular Imployments lawfull enough, which are not Canonized by holy writ, all things were not written, (what ſhould the world then have done with the Books!) Trades are for neceſſary Uſes, and every Imployment of that nature not ſerving to maintain wickedneſs, or meerly to debauch the World with Wantonneſs and Luxury, are doubtleſſe lawfull, whether we can derive them from Scripture or no: But certainly it is a ſatisfaction to a pious Tradeſman, when he can find the Name of his Trade written in that Book of Life. This you ſee the VVeaver may, if he cannot derive from Naamah, yet he may derive from Bezaleel and Aholiab, and they both derived from God.
Sect. 4. Theſe Weavers were working for the Tabernacle. Weaving then doth not only derive from God, but may be uſefull for God, and that in Services which in the firſt degree are acceptable to him. The excellency of a Trade derives from its uſef…lneſs; the Nobleneſs of it from the particular uſe to which it may be ſerviceable. A Trade can ſerve no higher uſe than that of the Tabernacle. This the Weavers Trade is here ſerviceable unto. Your Bodies (ſaith the Apoſtle) are the Temples of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6.19. The Temple and Tabernacle differeth not in their end, but in their Foundation only and Ornament. The Temple was fixed; the Tabernacle moving. The Tabernacle in a more travelling Habit than the Temple. Both Houſes for the Lord God of Iſrael. The Temple is made the Figure of Chriſt, Joh. 2. Weaving then may be ſerviceable unto the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: yea it is ſo ſerviceable. Let not the Eunuch ſay, I am a dry tree: let not the Weaver ſay, I am a poor mean Trade. He who in his Trade ſerves the higheſt Uſes, may contend with the nobleſt Tradeſman; let not the Weaver ſay then, that he is of a mean Trade in Iſrael, of a Family lightly esteemed of. Kings Servants have no contemptible Notion. The Dignity of a Trade is not beholden to the VVorld's eſtimate, but to its own uſefulneſs. He that can work for a Tabernacle, works for the higheſt end.
Sect. 5. But there is a difference yet betwixt working for the Tabernacle, and working in the Tabernacle; Bezaleel and Aholiab work for it, but Aaron and his Sons only must work in it; and No man taketh that honour to himſelf (ſaith the Apoſtle) but he who is called of God as Aaron was. Let every man (ſaith the Apoſtle) abide in the Calling to which God hath called him. When I conſider the compoſition of the Tabernacle, I find there no work for the Weaver, but in the making the fine linnen, in converting the Wooll offered of Blue, Purple and Scarlet, or working the Goats-hair offered into webs, making the Hangings for the Court and the Door of the Court, and the Clothes of Service, the Holy Garments for Aaron the Prieſt, and for his Sons to Miniſter in; yet is not this to be deſpiſed: he that makes but a Curtain for the Lords Tabernable, certainly hath as high an Office, as he who is but a Door-keeper in the Houſe of the Lord, which David preferred before a dwelling in the Tents of Wickedneſs. Surely it is better to make a Garment for Aaron, than a Shrine for Diana. The lowest Room in Heaven is Heaven (ſaith a grave Author) though it be but behind the Door. Ʋzzah muſt not touch the Ark, (though a Levite) nor Saul nor Ʋzzah offer Sacrifices though both great Princes. God's Church is like an Army which muſt march in Rank and File: God (ſaith the Apoſtle) is a God of Order and not of Confuſion. The Weaver ſhall have his wages working for the Tabernacle, though he wears not, but only weaves the Holy Garments; if he offers not a Bullock yet he offers a Turtle-Dove and young Pigeons, he ſerves the Lord Christ though it be not at the Altar, and doth any ſerve him for nothing?
Sect. 6. But the Houſe in Shiloh is pull'd down, and there is no more going up to Gibeon; yea there is not one ſtone left upon another, either in Solomons, or Zorobabels, or Herods Temple: the Curtains are rent in pieces, and the Holy Garments are worn out, Is then the Weavers Trade antiquated? Or, is the uſefulneſs of it for the Temple aboliſhed? Or, need we to deviſe New Holy Garments for Priests to intitle them to an Imployment for God? And muſt Hangings of Blue, Purple and Scarlet again be made neceſſary? No ſurely, Know you not (ſaith the Apoſtle to the Chriſtian Corinthians) that your Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost; Temples in which the Lord dwells, even he who dwells not in Temples made with hands. If the Weaver cannot yet ſee himſelf at work for God's Tabernacles, the fault is in his own Eyes, or in the luſt of his own Heart. He that works for the clothing of the Naked, is doubtleſs at work for God's Tabernacle, Nay, for that fixed Temple, which he hath ſet up amongſt the Sons of Men; (For the poor (ſaith our Lord) you have always with you.) The Weaver that made our Lords Seamleſs-Coat, underſtood not what he did, but had a noble Imployment: That Coat was to cover the Perſon who was the Eternal Son of God, but he never made more than that one for ſuch an uſe. Me (ſaith Chriſt) you have not alwayes: he who wore that was preſently to put on the Garments of Glory; but he that Weaves for his Members hath a more ſtanding work for GOD, and ſo ſeems to be more bleſſed in his Imployment. Our Saviour corrected the devout woman, that cried out, Luke 11.27. Bleſſed is the VVomb that bare thee, and the Papes which thou haſt Sucked: by adding verſe 28. Yea, rather bleſſed are they that hear the VVord of GOD and keep it. Doth any think, Bleſſed was that VVeaver which wore the Seamleſs-Coat for him who was his Saviour, who was an Inſtrument to cloth him with the Robe in which he was to appear before Pontius Pilate, who was to cloth all the Elect with that garment of Righteouſneſs in which they are to appear before their Father in Heaven? Surely we may ſay, yea rather Bleſſed are they, who are imployed not in making Coverings for the Temple that was Destroyed, and in three dayes raiſed up again, but for the living Temples of the Moſt High GOD; if indeed as they prepare clothing, ſo they alſo clothe the Naked: I was naked, and ye clothed Me, Mat. 25.36.
Sect. 7. But what is this? God filled them with Wiſdom of Heart, to do all manner of Work—of the Weaver. How doth the Eternal GOD humble himſelf to behold, not only the Things done in the Heavens, but upon the Earth? Who is like unto the Lord who dwelleth on High? (ſaith the Pſalmist upon this very Argument;) He clotheth the graſs of the Field, which to Day is, and to Morrow is caſt into the Oven: and all Fleſh is graſs (ſaith the Prophet;) this graſs he clotheth alſo. How low doth the lofty Eye deſcend? The wheel is turned upon the Cummin, and the Fitches are not threſhed out with a threſhing Inſtrument; but beaten out with a Staff. The bread Corn is bruiſed becauſe he will not be ever threſhing it, nor break it with the wheel of his Cart, nor bruiſe it with Horſemen. This alſo cometh from the Lord of Hoſts, Iſa. 28.28, 29. This? What? This Diſcretion, Verſe 26. His GOD doth inſtruct him to Diſcretion, and teach him. The VVeaver would not have known which way to have faſtened his VVarp, or ordered his VVoof, or directed his Shuttle, or mixed his Yarns, but for a Diſcretion taught him by the LORD of Hoſts. Bleſſed GOD! How great art thou in all things? And never greater than in the leaſt of things: How little do we know thee, or conſider thee, who yet art ever at our fingers ends? What a Meditation this is for a VVeaver at his Loom? Is it the LORD of Hoſts, that influenceth my hand even in this Moment to throw this Shuttle, and influenceth my Mind with Diſcretion to order theſe Threads, to move theſe ſeveral Utenſils of my Trade, ſo as they ſerve the end which I deſign: what a GOD do I ſerve? who is preſent with me while I ſit here at my poor contemptible Imployment, who humbleth himſelf to help me to work, and influenceth me to work better than my Neighbour: have I more Diſcretion than my Fellow-Labourer in the ſame Chamber? This alſo cometh from the LORD, who is mighty in Counſel and wonderful in Working.
Sect. 8. I am therefore (certainly) obliged to be Humble, If I can invent a New Stuff which another cannot (with all his Induſtry) hit upon, if I can better order my Yarns, my Colours, if I can better order my VVork, or throw my Shuttle more Nimbly, and bring a Piece quicker off the Loom; I have no reaſon to deſpiſe him that cannot be ſo quick, or ſagacious as my ſelf, for what have I which I have not received from him who is mighty in Counſel? To deſpiſe the diligent Perſon or my dull Companion, that is not Sottiſh, and willfully Negligent in his work, is but to reproach my Maker; and he was mine as well as his: I derived no more of my Soul than he did from his Mother, and they are the nimbler exerciſes of that, not of my terrene Earthlie part, which diſcovers this ingenuitie. But I have infinite Reaſon to be thankfull to that GOD who hath thus given me that Power to get Riches, which he that denied to him that works in the ſame Chamber with me. Certainly I ſtand obliged to do more than others, for that God who hath done more for me than for others of my own Trade. This common Gift obligeth me to ſpecial Duty, becauſe it is not common to me with all, though it be common to Me with others who never taſted ſpecial and diſtinguiſhing Grace.
Sect. 9. Now what ſhould the Weavers do more? doubtleſs, Love, Honour, ſerve that GOD more: but theſe are Generals. Of Old the firſt-fruits were to be offered unto the LORD: To do good and to distribute (ſaith the Apostle) forget not, for with ſuch Sacrifices GOD is well pleaſed. Diſtributions fall under the two Notions of feeding the Hungry, and clothing the Naked. The Latter of theſe directly referreth to the Weaver's Trade. I have heard that a late Learned Lawyer in this Nation, during his whole Life, would lay aſide every tenth Fee for pious and charitable Uſes. Our Law obligeth the Lawyer to give his pains to Him or Her that will plead in forma pauperis. If you can think of nothing elſe whereby to ſhew your Gratitude to GOD, yet this you cannot over-look becauſe ever in your Eye. This is to Honour GOD with your Subſtance, and with your Increaſe; your Increaſe lyeth in making Clothing for the Naked. Let your Friends when you are gone be able (as the Friends of Dorcas) to bring forth the Clothes which when alive She had made for the Poor. Let me tell you, that GOD is the beſt Merchant you can part with a Piece of Stuff to: he indeed ſometimes takes day to ſee if his Weavers can truſt him, but as he payes certainly, ſo he payes to the beſt Profit: He that caſts his Bread upon many VVaters, ſhall after many dayes find it; And ſo ſhall he that throws a Piece of Cloth, or Stuff there: He ſhall find it in that day when GOD ſhall ſay to them on his right Hand, I was Naked and you Clothed me.
Sect. 10. But if I muſt be filled with the VViſdom of GOD to work all manner of VVork of the VVeaver; if this cometh from the LORD, then much more to work any Spiritual VVork. If there muſt be a ſpecial influx of Providence, beyond what ordinary Souls of VVorkmen have, (poſſeſſed of an underſtanding and will of the ſame ſpecies with mine,) upon me to make me a better VVorkman, to invent a New Piece of Stuff, to judge of its acceptableneſs to People the next Year, better than another of the ſame Trade with me that hath the ſame underſtanding and will that I have; VVhat an influence of GOD muſt it require to perform a ſpiritual Service that ſhall be acceptable unto GOD? Cannot I mix my Colours as I would? and may I Repent or Believe if I will? It is not in my Power to make a Piece of Stuff of which I have the Patern which lyes before me, and for which I have the Materials? and is it in my Power to do an Action truly and ſpiritually good, though I have Paterns before me, though I have the ſame rational Soul, that he hath that doth it? He that denieth diſtinguiſhing ſpiritual Habits referring to truly Spiritual Acts, will be forced to acknowledge a diſtinguiſhing Common Gift given to one VVeaver and not to another: The one can invent, the other cannot; the one can judge better, whether a Piece of Stuff will next Year take; the one can do his work more neatly and acceptably to every Eye. Man hath not his will ſo far free, that though he hath learned his Trade, and would fain invent and judge, and mix his Colours, and work up, and off his ware as well as another; yea though he hath the ſame Yarns, he cannot do it: Let then the Arminian go and Diſpute with the VVeaver, and firſt make him believe that he may invent as happily as his Neighbour, and make as good work as he if he will; let him tell him that the reaſon why he doth it not, is not natural but moral impotency, becauſe he cannot prevail with himſelf to be willing to do it; will not the Experience of every poor induſtrious VVeaver confute him? ſurely the Experience of a Chriſtian, as to Actions truly Spiritually and formally good, will confute him much more.
Sect. 11. What an Argument alſo is this for contentation with the lot which GOD hath given us, and the Station in the VVorld which he hath willed us to take up. The VVorld is but a great Army, ſet in Rank and File, by the LORD, the LORD of Hoſts: What if one be a Lieutenant-General; others Collonels and Captains and Commiſſion-Officers in it; and others be but Milites gregarii, ordinary Common Souldiers; it is the Great General that hath ordered the one, and the other to their Stations, and hath fitted the one and the other for their VVorks. What if GOD will have the Princes, the Nobles, the Judges, to ſit all day on the Throne of Judgment, and to imploy themſelves in cutting out right to every Man, whiles he willeth me to ſit in my Loom and imploy my ſelf all the day in throwing the Shuttle; VVe both are influenced by the ſame Spirit. On them Reſts the Spirit of Wiſdom and Judgement; on me alſo (in my model) the Spirit of Wiſdom, from whence I work the Work of the Weaver. As I am influenced by GOD to my work as well as thoſe that take up higher Stations, and aſſiſted by GOD in it: So I have alſo an opportunity in it, to ſhew my ſelf ſerviceable to GOD, ſerviceable to my Generation. The Magiſtrates work is to defend; the Rich Mans work is to Feed; Mine is to Cloth the Naked. I can Pray for a Bleſſing upon my Loom, becauſe it works for the neceſſary Uſes of Mankind. Do I work in a lower Orb than ſome others do? yet I ſerve no lower Maſter; I work for no lower End than they do. Let not the Weaver ſay then, My Family is poor in Iſrael, my Trade is lightly eſteemed of. Fools rate things by appearance, and ſacrifice their Judgements to Vulgar applauſe: Wiſe Men judge according to Reality. Can that Trade be contemptible, which the wiſe GOD learneth us, in which the Spirit of GOD aſſiſteth us, and which ſerveth one of the greateſt Uſes of the Sons of Men? If therefore thou beeſt bred no higher than to be a Weaver, yet be therewith content. Paul had learnt to be ſo in every State. Let thy Mind abide in that Calling to which the LORD hath called you; ſay not, O if I had been a Merchant, if I had been a Draper, &c. They both derive from thee; and the Spirit of Wiſdom, to work all manner of Work, even that of the VVeaver, doth far more Viſiblie work in thee, than in the one or the other of them: There is far leſs Wiſdom exerciſed by them, in proportioning Piece, in contriving advantagious Tranſportations, than in thy invention of thy Stuff, mixing and contriving thy Yarns, &c. The Spider certainlie ſhews us more of GOD than the Butterfly. The Silkworm is a far greater Miracle of Divine Wiſdom than any other Inſect.
The Poem:
Then Reſt my Soul; thou haſt enough:
Thou ſerveſt GOD in VVeaving Stuff.
Shou ſerveſt, and may'ſt ſerve him more,
Clothing the good, but naked poor.
Thou ſerveſt men: and ſerv'ſt them in
Employment, where thou ſerv'ſt not ſin:
Thou ſerveſt not their Luxury,
But only their Neceſſity.
'Tis not my work to improve a mine,
Making Diana's Silver-ſhrine:
Nor to make Ribbands, no nor Lace,
Nor Patches for a Wanton's Face;
Nor any idle Inſtrument
Of Pride, which Men may better want.
(If Stuffs may be abuſed too.
That Taylors, and not Weavers do.
The Weaver is no low-born Trade,
Spiders by GOD at firſt were made.
'Tis GOD that giveth a wiſe Heart
To me, to work in the Weavers Art.
Bleſt LORD! let me a Weaver be,
So I may Weave a Piece for thee.