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. VI.

Vpon an excellent, but irregular Tree.

SEeing a Tree grow somewhat irregular, in a very neat Orchard, I told the Owner it was pity that Tree should stand there; and that if it were mine. I would root it up, and thereby reduce the Orchard to an exact uniformity. It was replyed to this purpose. that he rather regarded the fruit than the form; and that this slight inconveniency was abun∣dantly preponderated by a more considerable advantage. This Tree said he, which you would root up, hath yielded me more fruit than many of those Trees which have nothing else to commend them, but their regular scituation. I could not but yield to the reason of this answer, and could wish it had been spoken so loud, that all our Uniformity men had heard it, who will not stick to root up many hundred of the best bearers in the Lords Orchard, because they stand not in an exact order with other more conformable, but less bene∣ficial Trees, who do perdere substanitiam propter accidentia, de∣stroy the fruit, to preserve the form.

Not much unlike such foolish men are those That strive for shadows, and the substance lose.