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We may begin this with the saying of the blind Man in St. Mark; when Christ had open his eyes, he said, Video homines sicut arbores ambulantes; I see men walking as Trees. Many persons who are in esteem in the world, have no other Life but that of Plants; no other principle of their actions, than that of Trees. Behold a Merchant, who with care and diligence Travelleth by Sea and Land, coucheth late, riseth early; what is the principle of this Motion? why
doth he all this? to purchase a House, a Farm, a Possession, or the like; to e∣stablish himself on Earth, as a Tree which spreads its Roots on every side, to encrease and fix it self deeper and firmer in the Earth; and so, of a petty Mercer at the first, in time become a rich Mer∣chant; as a Plant, which of a petty Shrub at the first, grows up into a great Tree in time.
See here again, Parents of no great extraction, and of small revenue at the first, but so vigilant and active in managing their affairs, that they come to be a great Family, and Marry their Children to persons of honour and qua∣lity▪ One may say here, behold an ex∣cellent and fruitful Tree, which pro∣duceth so many fair graffs to propagate withal; what is this, but the life of a Plant? and in the mean time, have no more spirit in them, than a Plant, nay in some respect, far worse: See a Tree placed by a Wall, it doth not extend its branches on that side where the Wall casteth its shadow, but which is warmed
and heated most by the comfortable and cherishing beams of the Sun: You breed up, and dispose of your Children, which are your branches, Quorum filii sicut no∣vellae plantationes: [Psal. 144.] Whose Children as young Plants, amongst the Grandeurs of the world, which are but shadows of true greatness, and less re∣garded, and visited by the Sun of Justice, and gratious influence of Heaven, and not on the side of Humility and Vertue, which God most willingly respects; for which, many of them thrive so ill. The like Errour we may discover in multi∣tudes, whose aime and endeavour here, is only to advance themselves and their Families in worldly wealth and great∣ness; to extend and dilate themselves and their Posterity on Earth; do not Trees do the like? and can we esteem better of the life of such, than of that of Plants, which naturally covet a deeper root and greater growth in the Earth. Give me leave to say, that such are worse than Trees and Plants, which at last come to a term and stand in their growth
and extent: but these worldlings are without bounds and limits in their de∣sires and endeavours, never satisfied with the earth, till they be buryed in it. O Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the word of our Lord, as the Prophet Jeremy ad∣monisheth, [Jerem. 22. 29.] and fol∣low that advice of the Apostle, Seek and savour those things which are above, and not those things which are on Earth; for which you were not Created, nor have your being here.