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HAd this Bullock contented himself, and remained qui∣etly within his own bounds, his Owner had never put such an heavy clog upon his neck; but I see the prudent Hus∣bandman chuses rather to keep him with his clog, than lose him for want of one What this clog is to him, that is affli∣ction and trouble to me; had my soul kept close with God in liberty and prosperity, he would never thus have clogged
me with adversity; yea, and happy were it for me, if I might stray from God no more, who hath thus clogged me with pre∣ventive afflictions. If with David I might say, Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept thy word, Psal. 119. 67. O my soul! 'tis better for thee, to have thy pride clogged with poverty, thy ambition with reproach, thy canal ex∣pectancies with constant disappointments, than to be at liber∣ty to run from God and duty.
'Tis true, I am sometimes as weary of these, troubles, as this poor Beast is of the clog he draws after him, and often wish my self rid of them; but yet, if God should take them off, for ought I know I might have cause to wish them on again, to prevent a greater mischief. 'Tis storied of Basil, that for many years he was sorely afflicted with an inveterate head-ach, (that was his clog) he often prayed for the removal of it, al last God removed it; but instead thereof he was sorely exercised with the motions and temptations of lust, which when he perceived, he as earnestly desired his head∣ach again, to prevent a greater evil. Lord! if my corrup∣tions may be prevented by my affliction, I refuse not to be clogged with them; but my soul rather desires thou wouldst hasten the time when I shall be for ever freed from them both.
HOw many a weary step through mire and dirt hath this poor Dog followed my horse to day? and all this for a very poor reward, for all be gets by it at night, is but bones and blows, yet will he not leave my company, but is content upon such hard terms, to travel with me from day to day.
O my soul! what conviction and shame may this leave upon thee? who art often times even weary of following thy Master Christ, whose rewards and incourage ments of obe∣dience
are so incomparably sweet and sure. I cannot beat back this dog from following me, but every inconsiderable trouble is enough to discourage me in the way of my duty. Ready I am to resolve as that Scribe did, Mat. 8. 19. Ma∣ster, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest; but how doth my heart faulter when I must encounter with the difficulties of the way? O! let me make a whole heart-choice of Christ, for my portion and happiness! and then I shall never leave him, nor turn back from following him, though the present difficulties were much more, and the present incouragments much less.
TAking notice how furiously these Sheep which by nature are mild and gentle, did yet like bulls push each other taking their advantage by going back to meet with a greater rage and fury. Methought I saw in this a plain Emblem of the unchristian contests and animosities which fall out amongst them that call themselves the people of God, who in Scripture are also stiled Sheep; for their meekness and in∣noceny; and yet, through the remaining corruptions that are in them, thus do they push each other; (as one long since complained) non secus ac.
Cum duo conversis inimica in praelia tauri, Frontibus incurrunt— Shall Christians one another wound and push, Like furious Bulls, when they together rush?The fighting of these sheep doth in two respects, notably comport with the sinful practises of contending Christians, (1) That in this fight they ingage with their heads one against another; and what are they but those head-notions
or opposition of Sciences, falsly so called, that have made so ma∣ny broyls and uproars inthe Christian world? O! What clashings have these heady opinions caused in the Churches? first heads, and then hearts have clashed. Christians have not distinguished betwixt adversarius litis, & personae; an adver∣sary to the opinion, and to the person; but dipt their tongues and pens in vinegar and gall, shamefully aspersing and re∣proaching one another because their understandings were not cast into one mould, and their heads all of a bigness. But (2) that which Countrey-men observe from the fighting of Sheep, That is presages soul and stormy weather, is much more certainly consequent upon the fighting of Christs Sheep. Do these clash and push? Surely it is an infallible prognos••ick of an ensuing storm, Mal. 4. 6.
WHen this Horse was kept in poor short leas, where he had much scope, but little grass how gentle and tractable was he then? he would not only stand quiet to be taken, but come to hand of his own accord, and follow me up and down the field for a crust of bread, or handful of Oa••s; but since I turned him into this fat pasture, he comes no more to me, nor will suffer me to come neer him; but throws up his heels wantonly against me, and flies from me, as if I were rather his enemy than Benefactor. In his I behold the carriage of my own heart towards God, who the more he hath done for me, the seldomer doth he hear from me, in a low and afflicted state, how tractable is my heart to duty? Then i•• comes to the foot of God voluntarily; but in an exalted con∣dition, how wildly doth my heart run from God and duty? With this ungrateful requital God faulted his own people, Ier. 2. 31. teachable and tractable in the wilderness, but when fatted in that rich pasture Canaan, then, we are Lords
we will come no more to thee. How soon are all Gods former benefits forgotten? and how often is that antient observation verified, even in his own people?
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Post munera cito consenescit gratia. No sooner do we gifts on some bestow, But presently our gifts gray headed grow.But that's a bad Tenant, that will maintain a Suit at Law against his Landlord, with his own rent; and a bad heart that will fight against God, with his own mercies, I wish it may be with my heart, as it is reported to be with the wa∣ters in the Kingdom of Congo, that are never so sweet to the taste, as when the tide is at the highest.
THe full-mouthed cry of these Dogs, which from the morning have nunted this poor tired Deer, which is now no longer able to stand before them, but is compassed round with them, who thirst for, and will presently such her blood; brings to my thoughts the condition and state of Ie∣sus Christ, in the dayes of his flesh, who was thus hunted from place to place by blood-thirsty enemies. Upon this very ac∣count, the 22. Psal. which treats of his death, is inscribed with the title of Aijeleth Shahar, which signifies the Hind of the morning and fully imports the same notion, which this occasion presented me with; for look, as the Hind or Deer which is intended to be run down that day, is rouzed by the Dogs early in the morning. So was Christ, in the very morn∣ing of his infancy, by bloudy Herod, and that cruel pack confederated with him. Thus was he chased from place to place, till that was fulfilled which was prophetically writ∣ten of him in ver. 16. of the forecited Psalm; For Dogs have
compassed me about, the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me; they pierced my hands and my feet.
And canst thou expect, O my soul! to fare better than he did, or escape the rage off bloudy men? Surely, if the Spirit of Christ dwell in thee; if his holiness have ••avoured thee, these Dogs will wind it and give thee chase too; they go upon the scent of holiness still, and would hunt to destructi∣on every one, in whom there is aliquid Christi, any thing of Christ, if the gracious providence of the Lord did not some∣times rate them off: For it is no less a pleasure, which some wicked ones take in hunting the people of God, than what Claudian the Poet observes men use to take, in hunting wild beasts.
Venator defessa thoro quum membra reponit Mens tamen ad Sylvas,& sua lustra redit. Whilst weary Huntsmen in the night do sleep, Their fancies in the woods; still hunting keep.Lord! should I with the hypocrite decling the profession and practise of holiness, to escape the rage of persecuting enemies, at what time they cease, my own conscience would begin to hunt me like a Blood-hound; let me rather chuse to be chased by men than God, to flee before pursuing ene∣mies, than be dogged from day to day with a guilty consci∣ence.