The Spiritual Chemist, Meditations · Meditation 49
Meditation XLIX. VponUpon a Spring in an high ground.
THe additional bleſſing, which Achſah ſought of Caleb her Father was Springs of water for her ſouth or dry land, who gave her the upper and the nether Springs: If the diſtinct recording of this particular in Scripture carry any thing of importance with it, is it not that he gave her ſome portion of Land that was well watered, as the low valleys for the moſt part are? And that he gave alſo ſuch Springs that by their high lying were apt to convey their ſtream to the enriching of other parts that ſtood in need of ſuch helps to make them fruitful. Now, what is it that can more commend a Spring, than a free diffuſion of its waters, and the ſpreading of its moiſture, not only to grounds that are near, but to ſuch as are at a diſtance from it, and what can more conduce unto this commodious uſefulneſs than the Springs riſe from ſome hill, or place of aſcent? Another Spring may haply ſerve to water ſome little ſpot of ground, to benefit ſome private Garden, but an upper Spring will greatly advantage a large Inheritance. Such a like difference methinks there is in the moral Well-ſprings of grace and holineſs, as is between the natural, according to the diverſity of ſubjects in which they are ſeated. Grace in a poor man is as a nether ſpring, which is not leſs uſeful through a defect of water, but through an incapacity to make any large communication of it, in regard of thoſe circumſtances in which he ſtands: His wants, his paucity of Friends, the little notice the world takes of him, the ſlightings that Poverty expoſeth moſt men unto, are all great obſtacles to the eternal diffuſions of his grace, though not to his intrinſecal fulneſs of it. But grace in a great Perſon is like an upper Spring, which may convey it ſelf far and near, becauſe of the many advantages which he hath above others: His Counſels will be ſooner harkened unto, his Reproofs will over-awe more, his Converſation will win more, his Example having the force of a Law. So willing have many been to make Greatneſs their pattern, as that they have imitated their infirmities. Dyoniſius his Courtiers affected to ſeem to be purblind, and juſtle one againſt another, that ſo they might be like their Prince. Alexanders Followers would imitate him in their geſture, and go as if their ſhoulders were one higher than the other, becauſe there was ſome inequality in his. Among the Perſians they were wont highly to eſteem a long and narrow head, and were induſtrious to faſhion the heads of their new-born Infants to ſuch a ſhape, becauſe ſome of their Kings heads were of that figure. O what pity is it then that greatneſs and goodneſs ſhould be ever out of Conjunction together, or be as Stars of a different Hemiſpheer, that are never ſeen ſhining at the ſame time? Yea, why ſhould not thoſe who are the higheſt among men affect alſo to be the beſt that ſo they might bring a beauty and ſhine into the world, that they might allure others not only to behold it, but alſo to imitate it, by conforming themſelves to their happy example? It is the ſaying of Plutarch, that rare Moraliſt, That God is angry with them that counterfeit his Thunder and Lightning; his Scepter, and his Trident, and his Thunderbolts he would not have any to meddle with: He loves not that any ſhould imitate him in abſolute Dominion and Soveraignty: But he delights to ſee them darting forth thoſe amiable and cheriſhing beams of Juſtice, Goodneſs, and Clemency. Without theſe things be conveyed down unto others by thoſe who have the reines of Power and Government in their hands, though they look upon themſelves as Gods on earth, yet they are as unlike to the God of heaven as a blazing Comet is to a bright and glorious Sun, or a deceitful Glow-worm to an heavenly Star. What low thoughts Solomon himſelf hath of Soveraignty when put into an ill hand, we may read in his Book of the Preacher, where he tells us, that better is a poor and a wiſe Child, than an old and fooliſh King who will not be inſtructed, to manage his power and authority for the good of thoſe that are under him. It is wiſdom that makes a mans face to ſhine, but moſt of all thoſe that are in higheſt places: Good in them is moſt conſpicuous, and both more applauded and Imitated than in others. What evil cannot a King forbid, whoſe wra… is as the roaring of a Lion? What good can he not encourage, whoſe favour is as a cloud of the latter rain, which promiſeth an harveſt of bleſſings? I cannot but wonder at the great changes which the Scripture reports to have been made by godly Princes, in the midſt of a general Apoſtacy, ſuch as Aſa, Jehoſhaphat, Ezekiah, Joſiah who purged the Land from a ſpreading Idolatry, and reſtored Sabbaths, Ordinances, and Temple-worſhip to their power and purity, who have bowed the hearts of the people towards them, like to the top of a fiſhers Angling rod, this way or that way as it pleaſeth them. Who but Princes that had grace in their hearts, and power in their hands, could have ever effected ſuch things as might well ſeem to be of inſuperable difficulty? O that I could therefore ſuggeſt ſuch Conſiderations that might prevail with all whoſe conditions God hath raiſed above others, to be accordingly inſtrumental in the doing of good to others that move in a lower ſpheer. Shall I ſay, God expects it from you? If I do, it is no other than what himſelf hath ſpoken, when he ſaith, He will get him up to the great men, for they have known the way of the Lord, and the Judgement of their God. Or ſhall I ſay, God ſignally commands it from you above others? Is it not to you that he particularly calls? Be wiſe now O ye Kings, be inſtructed, ye Judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling, kiſs the Son, leſt he be angry, and ye periſh from the way. Do you think, that greatneſs doth rather exempt from, than oblige to obedience, or that you ſhall have a more favourable Audit at the laſt Day, when every man muſt give an account of himſelf unto God? Be not deceived, God will enquire what you have done more for him above others, as he hath for you above thouſands, and woe be unto you if you be found too light. Your Exaltation in this life will ſerve only to make your caſting down to be the more diſmal in the other, and to confirm the truth of that Proverb, Inferni pavimentum fit ex magnatum galeis, Sacerdotum capitibus; That Hell is paved with the Corſlets of Noblemen, and the skulls of Prieſts.