The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 29
Meditation XXIX. VponUpon the Balſam Tree.
SOme faces are by the Painter drawn with leſs difficulty than others, the lineaments and features of them being ſuch, as are more eaſie for his eye to obſerve, and for his hand alſo happily to expreſs. And ſo it is with ſome Subjects of meditation above others, which with leſs labour of the mind are by the Pencill of the thoughts formed into lively reſemblances of heavenly things, and thereby bearing a proportion to our Senſes, do convey ſpiritual myſteries in a facile and delightful manner to our underſtanding. Such a ſubject is this Balſam Tree, which while I think of the place of its growth, the way of obtaining its Juyce, and the ſoveraign vertue that it hath to effect ſtrange cures, and to heal Inveterate diſeaſes, it carries forthwith my thoughts to my bleſſed Saviour, who is the only repoſitory in which God hath laid up all his invaluable treaſures of healing Balſams. It readily ſuggeſts to me ſuch moving Conſiderations as ſerve to exalt Chriſts Excellency in my heart, and to endeare him to me in all the ties of choyceſt affections; And that it may do ſo to others, I will draw the parallel between this Tree and Chriſt, that others may ſee what a ſweet repreſentation it is of him, who, as David ſaith, forgiveth all our iniquities, who healeth all our diſeaſes. Firſt, the ſole place of this trees growth is in Emanuels Land. It is Plinies obſervation, Balſamum uni terrarum Judeae conceſſum eſt; it is a ſpecial grant beſtowed by God upon Judea: the Country which is renouned for Chriſts Birth is alſo only celebrated for this Balm, all other Nations wholly wanted it, or at leaſt had none like it. Moſes tells us, that it was anciently one of the Iſ…maelites Commodities which they carried from Gilead to Egypt. And Ezekiel ſaith it was Iſraels and Judahs Merchandiſe to Tyrus. Doth it not then genuinely poynt out unto us, that the whole world muſt be beholding to Chriſt for Salvation and healing? Doth it not as a ſpiritual Hierogliphick, aſſert that weighty Doctrine of Peters, That there is no name under heaven given amongſt men, whereby we muſt be ſaved, but by the name of Chriſt? Why then do men lay out their money for that which is not Balm, Why do they take hold ſometimes on one Creature, and ſometimes one another, ſaying, Be thou our healer, let this ruin be under thy hand? Is it not one of thoſe glorious Appellations which God in Scripture is pleaſed to take unto himſelf, Ego Jehovah curator tuus; I am the Lord that healeth thee? Take heed then, O Chriſtian, when thou art under any diſtreſs, or under any malady to cheat thy ſelf with falſe remedies, to uſe Fig leaves inſtead of Figs themſelves. Adam took the one, which did only hide his nakedneſs, but not cure it; but to reſtore Hezekiah, God took the other. Uſe what God hath appointed, not what thou fancieſt.
Secondly, This Balſ…me tree drops and weeps forth its Balm to heal their wounds, that cut and mangle it, and did not our bleſſed Saviour do thus? What a ſtrange requital did this great innocent and holy perſon make unto thoſe from whom he ſuffered? They mock and revile him hanging upon the Croſs, and he prayes, and begs forgiveneſs for them. They ſhed his bloud, and he makes it a precious Medicine to heal their putred ſores. They ſmite and pierce him to the heart with a Spear, and he erects in his heart a fountain to waſh them from their ſin and uncleanneſs. Was it ever heard, that a Phyſician would ſweat and bleed for his ſurfeited Patient? Or that an offended Prince would expiate the foul Treaſons of his Subjects with his own life? Surely well might the Apoſtle ſay, that God commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet ſinners, Chriſt died for us. Be aſtoniſhed, O ye Angels of Heaven, who delight to pry into Goſpel myſteries at this Abyſs of divine love, from which Seraphims themſelves cannot but detract if they ſhould in the leaſt conceive, that they could either fathom with their knowledge, or expreſs in their praiſes. And be ye melted, O rocky hearts of ſinners, with the ardency and ſtrength of ſuch love, which is ſtronger than death it ſelf. It was his love which held him upon the Croſs to finiſh your ſalvation when death could not hold him in the grave. Let this love of Chriſt conſtrain you henceforth not to live unto your ſelves, but unto him that died for you.
Thirdly, This Balm which diſtills from this wounded tree is of ſuch vertue and efficacy, as that it is Medicina omni morbia; Phyſick to cure all diſeaſes, being applied inwardly or outwardly. It allayeth the Headach, it reſtoreth thy eye-ſight, helpeth the Aſtmah, purgeth Ulcers, cureth the poyſonful Sting of Serpents, healeth all kind of wounds. Is not then this Balm in the Letter an apt Emblem of the Balm in the myſtery of the bloud of Chriſt? Which is of an unlimited power and excellency. What is the evil that can befall any, for which this is not a certain Cure? Oh when taken inwardly, as in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, it is both Food and Phyſick, it enlightens the dark mind, it heals the broken in heart, it fills the hungry with good things. When ſprinkled outwardly, as in Baptiſme, it is effectual to ſtop the Leproſie of Sin, to cure the venome and rage of Luſts, to mollifie the ſtony heart, and to make fruitful the Barren? Be then of good chear, O ye drooping and afflicted ſouls, let me ſay to you, as Paul to thoſe in the tempeſt, The lives of none of you ſhall be loſt. If you complain, No ſins like yours; let me adde, There is no Salvation like Chriſts. If you ſay, you are a Syſteme, a fardle of ſins and luſts, hear what the Apoſtle ſaith, The blo…d of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth us from all ſin. No man ever miſcarried for being a great ſinner, but only for being an impenitent ſinner. Be not in love with your ſins, as Beggars are with their ſores, that will not part with them, and then doubt not of your Phyſicians skill, or care. It is his peculiar glory, that never any Patient miſcarried under his hand, though ſuch was their condition, that they were all utterly incurable by any other.