Husbandry spiritualized, or, The heavenly use of earthly things consisting of many pleasant observations, pertinent applications, and serious reflections and each chapter concluded with a divine and suitable poem : directing husband-men to the most excellent improvements of their common imployments : whereunto is added ... several choice occasional meditations / by John Flavell.

MEDIT. III.

Vpon the sight of a Black-bird taking sanctuary in a bush from a pursuing Hawk.

VVHen I saw how hardly the poor Bird was put to it to save her self from her enemy, who hover'd just over the bush in which she was fluttering and squeeking, I could not but hasten to relieve her, (pity and succour being a due debt to the distressed) which when I had done, the bird would not depart from the bush, though her enemy were gone; this act of kindness was abundantly repaid by this Meditation, with which I returned to my walk. My soul, like this Bird, was once distressed, pursued, yea, seized by Satan, who had certainly made a prey of it, had not Iesus Christ been a sanctu∣ary to it in that hour of danger. How ready did I find him to receive my poor soul into his protection? then did he make good that sweet promise to my experience, Those that

come unto me, I will in no wise cast out. It call'd to mind that pretty and pertinent story of the Philosopher, who walking in the fields a Bird pursued by a Hawk, flew into his bosom; her took her out, and said, Poor bird, I will nei∣ther wrong thee, nor expose thee to thine enemy, since thou camest unto me for refuge. So tender, and more than so, is the Lord Iesus to distressed souls, that come unto him. Blessed Iesus! how should I love and praise thee? glorifie and admire thee, for that great salvation thou hast wrought for me. If this Bird had faln into the claws of her enemy, she had been torn to pieces indeed, and devoured, but then a few minutes had dispatcht her, and ended all her pain and misery; but had my soul fallen into the hand of Satan, there had been no end of its misery.

Would not this scared Bird be flusht out of the Bush that secured her, though I had chased away her enemy? and wilt thou (my soul) ever be enticed or scared from Christ thy re∣fuge? O let this for ever ingage thee to keep close to Christ, and make me say with Ezra; and now, O Lord! since thou hast given me such a deliverance as this, should I again break thy commandments?