The husbandmans companion containing one hundred occasional meditations reflections and ejaculations : especially suited to men of that employment : directing them how they may be heavenly-minded while about their ordinary calling / by Edward Bury.

Upon some despicable weeds, yet usefull.

32. Med.

WHen I saw some poor con∣temptible, despicable weeds, that usually grow in the fields, without la∣bour, pains or care of man, or are thrown out of the garden with contempt, as not fit to have a being there, but to be trod upon and despised, as not being, neither sweet for savour, nor beautifull to the eye; and yet when I beheld these very weeds gathered, and successfully used, by the greatest artists in physick and surgery, for the curing of great distempers, when the more glorious, gorgeous, and more estee∣med vegetables were disregarded, this made me consider, how deceitfull a thing it is to judge by the outward appearance, and that beauty and vertue are not alway linkt to∣gether, neither go they hand in hand; many have been deceived when they have pleased their eyes by beauty; the devil ma∣ny times baits his hook with a fair woman, and many have been undone by swallowing such a hook: many that have made beau∣ty their aim, have been matcht with foul

conditions: Samuel that man of God, was deceived by his eye, when he thought Eli∣ab, Davids elder brother, had been the Lords annointed, because he had a comely countenance, 1 Sam. 16.6. and it came to pass after they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, surely the Lords anointed is before him; but the Lord said to Samuel, look not on his countenance, or on the heighth of his stature, because I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord look∣eth on the heart. Many a man under a rus∣set coat carries more real worth, more true gentillity, yea, nobillity, then others do under their silks and sattins, velvets, and scarlets; many a worthless piece is drest puppet-like, with paint, and plaister, and ridiculous gewgaws, but could we but see the soul through the gayish dress of the body, it would appear leprous and de∣formed, nay, perhaps in the body it self there would appear visible marks of defor∣mity, as well as of infirmity; paint and plaister better become a mud-wall, then a marble pillar; true beauty needs no var∣nish; nor a diamond needs no painting; spotted faces often cover spotted souls; and their spot is not the spot of Gods people: there are many that like the Cinamon-tree, have the bark better then the body; but it is a

fool that buys a horse by the trappings, or chooseth a wife by her gaudy dress; or that esteems the better of himself, or ima∣gines that any wise man esteems the better of him, for a fine suit of cloathes; yet there was a disease amongst Christians in the Apostles time, and it is almost epi∣demical in our days, to respect the cloathes or outward ornaments of a man, more then his conditions and qualifications, Jam. 2.2, 3. if there come into your assemblies a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile rayment, and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay cloathing, and say unto him, fit thou here, in a good place, and say to the poor man, stand thou here, or sit here under my footstool; are you not then partial in your selves? &c. but however man may disrespect them, God hath chosen the poor, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom: A poor man though wise, yea, though by his wisdome he save the city, yet is not remembred, Eccl. 9.15. this is merces mundi, the worlds wages, many deal by such as men do by a fruit-tree, to which they run in a storm, and when it is done, beat him, and rob him of his fruit: many wise Ministers are heard with scorn, or at least with disregard, till men lie upon their death-bed, and then they are sent unto for counsel, or rather comfort. It is not al∣ways

those that can speak loudest, that speaks best, but he that speaks wisest; the empty barrel makes the greatest sound: that Sermon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not always best that hath most gaudy notions, and rhetorical flourishes, but that which savours most of Christ, and the divine Eloquence of his holy spirit: he is the best preacher that woos for Christ, and not for himself, and would set the crown upon his head, and not his own, it is not the best physitian that speaks most latine, greek, and hebrew, but he that gives the su∣rest and safest directions to recover health: it is not the tickling of the fancy, a preach∣er should so much minde, as to speak con∣vincingly to the conscience: oh my soul, judge not by the outward but the inward qualification, neither cover hypocrisy by a mask of seeming sincerity, for God will ere long pluck off such vizors; slight no man meerly upon the account of poverty, for God thinks never the worse of them; admire no man meerly for his riches, for God thinks never the better of him; this is but to wor∣ship a golden calf: the time is coming, that the king must leave his robes behinde him, and the beggar his rags, and it is the in∣ward qualifications that must distinguish between the one and the other: Dives and Lazarus when they come to stand on even ground, shall by these be tried, and so must

all, by what means or titles soever they have been dignifyed, distinguished or cal∣led: it is our works and worth, not our wealth will follow us; whereever t••ou seest Christ in any, own him; for God will own him; esteem grace in the soul more then money in the purse, and the robes of righ∣teousness above the most costly jewels, a drachm of grace is worth thousands of gold and silver; for thy councellors take the wisest not the wealthiest; for wisdom and wealth many times dwell not together in the same house; esteem that preacher best that speaks home to the heart, and conscience, not him that seeks to tickle the ear and please the fancy, he that woos for Christ and not for himself, and seeks to put the crown upon his head and not his own: e∣steem that Sermon best where thou findest most of Christ, and not that which is drest with gaudy notions, and rhetorical flou∣rishes, which serve to darken and not il∣lustrate the matter, and are as king James was wont to say, like red and blew flowers, fine to look upon, good for little, but pester the corn: a diseased man had rather have medicum sanantem quam eloquentem, one that will rather do well then speak well: oh my God, should I cover my prophanness or hy∣pocrisy with the vizor of seeming holiness, thou wilt soon discover it, and unmask me,

for thou searchest the heart, and triest the reins, and all things are open and apparent to thee: Lord, give me sincerity, and truth in the inward part, for this is thy gift; make me such as thy own soul delights in; let me not be deceived by my own deceitful heart, nor think to deceive others, for I cannot deceive thy all-seeing eye.