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.

Ʋpon fruit left on the trees after shaking.

92. Med.

IN the Autumn when fruit waxt ripe and the gathering time was come, when the trees were shak't, and the fruit gathered in, yet I beheld there was here and there an apple, pear or plum, or o∣ther fruit still remaining on the trees, which stuck fast notwithstanding the shaking, and all the force and violence that had been u∣sed; but these were but a few, and those commonly the soundest, and most durable: This brought to my minde the command

of God in the time of the law, Lev. 19.9, 10. and 23.22. Deut. 24.9. &c. where God commands the Jews, when they reaped their fields, to leave some of the corners thereof standing, and not to gather up the glean∣ings, but to leave them for the poor, and when they shak't their olives, and other fruit trees, to leave some clusters remain∣ing, and not to gather the fruit in clean, that so it might be for the poor and needy of the land, and for the stranger for meat: we see how the chief Landlord, the great husbandman, the Lord of the vineyard the chief proprietor, how he lets out his farms, and what conditions he puts into his leases, and how he takes care of the poor that they should be fed, for they also are a part of his family, and at his finding, and he hath appointed where they shall have their meat, and hath commanded his stewards to give it them in due season: he would have the full cups of the rich to overflow into their empty dishes, and those that dine the poor entertain Christ himself, at their ta∣ble as a guest: I observed also how little this command of God was observed by hard-hearted man, in our days, how little they respect his will, and how few make good this condition in the grant they have of all they enjoy, and how just it is there∣fore for God to recal his estate into his own

hands, and to take the forfeiture; for though we receive all from God, and that with this proviso, and upon this condition, that the poor shall have their part, and their share out of it, yet he that gives all, and requires but a little, cannot have it, yea, though he would borrow a little of his own, he is ofttimes denyed it; though he promises to repay it, yea, to repay it an hundred-fold, yet cannot be heard: where a man upon his bare word can borrow ten pounds, God cannot borrow ten pence, yea, of that which is his own, though never man made larger promises, and never man more faith∣fully fulfilled them; he hath told them, he that giveth to the poor, shall not lack, Pro. 28.27. but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse; curses both from God, and man; yet few believe this is the way to get wealth, they will hardly take Gods word for a groat, they will use their wit to save their money, but will not use their eyes, to affect their hearts; God shews them many an altar, but they have no sacrifice ready, but he that shuts his ears at the poor mans cry, shall cry himself and not be heard, Pro. 21.13. this was fulfil'd in Pharaoh, Haman and the rich glutton, 'Tis not getting but giving is the true way to wealth, Eleemosyna ars omnium quaestuosissima est, (saith Chrysostome) alms is the most gain∣ful art, he shall have judgment without mercy

that will shew no mercy, Jam. 2.13. he that hath pitty on the poor lendeth to the Lord, and he will repay him, Pro. 19.17. God accepts it both as a gift and a love, nay, foenerator Do∣mino, God takes it upon usury, and gives se∣curity for it under his hand, but those that now will not take Gods word, it is not long but God will not take theirs: but re∣quire up his talents, and also an account of their stewardship, and give away their ta∣lents to those that will better improve them, and give them a reward with the unprofi∣table servant, Mat. 25.28, 30. yea, sentence them to everlasting fire, together with the de∣vil and his angels; for not feeding, cloathing, visiting his hungry, naked, poor members, Mat. 25.41. &c. and such worthless, use∣less, sapless men, are not more missed (as one saith) when they are gone then the paring of the nails, as they live undesired, so they die unlamented; but at judgement their sentence breaths out nothing but fire, and brimstone, stings and horrors, woes and torments without end, or past imagina∣tion, here the worm of grief gnaws as pain∣fully as the fire burns; now they are sand∣blinde, and cannot see Christ in his mem∣bers, but then when too late, their eyes will be opened, to see their folly: The conside∣ration also of this little quantity of fruit left upon the trees, after the shaking, made

me think this resembled the godly, that stand fast, and remain firm after all the shakings that they meet with, when o∣thers frost bitten by affliction, or tossed by persecution fall as leaves before the winde in autumn: many are the professors in a sun-shine day, but few can abide in a storm, though Israel be as the sand of the sea for mul∣titude, yet but a remnant shall be saved, Rom. 9.27. all are not Israel that are of Israel, these are compared to the gleaning of the grapes after the vintage, Isay. 17.6. here and there one, few in comparison: or to the shaking of the olive tree, where two or three berries are left in the top of the utmost boughs, and four or five in the utmost branch, one of a tribe, and two of a family, Jer. 13.14. many shakings we have already had, and much unripe fruit is fallen, and when stronger windes arise we may imagine much more will down, but in the last shaking when Christ shall come like refiners fire and fullers soap, Mal. 3.3. all that is rotten at heart will be dis∣covered, then the sinners in Zion shall be a∣fraid, fearfulness shall surprize the hearts of the hypocrites; oh my soul, take heed of being blown down, nay, take heed of being rotten, for then down thou wilt, it is bet∣ter be alone then in such a company, and better go to heaven alone, then to hell with company; to stand against the storm,

then to be blown down with the winde; improve thy talents to Gods glory, and he will never let thee fall: oh my God, let no sun of persecution wither me, nor no boisterous storm bear me down.