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MEDITATION III.

UPON THE SIGHT OF A BLACKBIRD TAKING SANCTUARY IN A BUSH FROM A PURSUING HAWK.

WHEN I saw how hardly the poor bird was put to it to save herself from her enemy, who hovered just over the bush in which she was fluttering and squeaking, I could not but hasten to relieve her, pity and succour being a debt due to the distressed, which, when I had done, the bird would not depart from the bush, though her enemy was gone. This act of kindness was abundantly repaid by this meditation, with which I returned to my walk. My soul, like this bird, was once distressed, pursued, yea, seized by Satan, who had certainly made a prey of it, had not Jesus Christ been a sanctuary to it in that hour of danger. How ready did I find him to receive my poor soul into his protection! Then did he make good that sweet promise to my experience, Those that come unto me, I will in no wise cast out." It called to mind that pretty and pertinent story of the philosopher, who walking in the fields, a bird, pursued by a hawk, flew into his bosom; he took her out and said, "Poor bird, I will neither wrong thee, nor expose thee to thine enemy, since thou camest to me for refuge." So tender, and more than so, is the Lord Jesus to distressed souls that come unto him. Blessed Jesus! how should I love and praise thee, glorify and admire thee, for that great salvation thou hast wrought for me? If this bird had fallen into the claws of her enemy, she had been torn to pieces, indeed, and devoured, but then a few minutes had dispatched her, and ended all her pain and misery; but had

my soul fallen into the hand of Satan, there had been no end to my misery.

Would not this scared bird be flushed out of the bush that secured her, though I had chased away her enemy? And wilt thou, O my soul, ever be enticed or scared from Christ thy refuge? O let this for ever engage thee to keep close to Christ, and make me say, with Ezra, “And now, O Lord, since thou hast given me such a deliverance as this, should I again break thy commandments!"

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MEDITATION IV.

UPON THE SIGHT OF DIVERS GOLDFINCHES INTERMINGLING WITH A FLOCK OF SPARROWS.

METHINKS these birds do fitly resemble the gaudy courtiers, and the plain peasants; how spruce and richly adorned with shining and various colored feathers (like scarlet richly laid with gold and silver lace) are those? How plainly clad in a homespun country ruffet are these? Fine feathers, saith our proverb, make proud birds; and yet the feathers of the sparrow are as useful and beneficial, both for warmth and flight, though not so gay and or namental, as the others and if both were stript out of their feathers, the sparrow would prove the better bird of the two; by which I see that the greatest worth doth not always lie under the finest clothes; and besides, God can make mean and homely garments as useful and beneficial to poor and despised Christians, as the ruffling and shining garments of wanton gallants are to them; and when God shall strip men out of all external excellencies, these will be found to excel their glittering neighbors in true worth and excellency.

Little would a man think such rich treasures of grace, wisdom, humility, &c. lay under some russet coats.

Sæpa sub attrita latitat sapientia veste.

Under poor garments more true worth may be

Than under silks that whistle-who but he.

Whilst, on the side, the heart of the wicked, as Solomon hath observed, is little worth, how much soever his clothes be worth. Alas! it falls out too frequently among us, as it doth with men in the Indies, who walk over the rich veins of gold and silver ore, which lie hid under a ragged and barren surface and know it not. For my own part, I desire not to value any man by what is extrinsical and wordly, but by that true internal excellency of grace, which makes the face to shine in the eyes of God and good men: I would contemn a vile person, though never so glorious in the eye of the world, but honor such as fear the Lord, how sordid and despicable soever to appear

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MEDITATION V.

UPON THE SIGHT OF A ROBIN RED BREAST PICKING UP A WORM FROM A MOLE HILL THEN RISING.

OBSERVING the mole working industriously beneath, and the bird watching so intently above, I made a stand to observe the issue, when, in a little time, the bird decends, and seizes upon a worm, which I perceived was below that hunted her, crawling apace from the enemy but fell to the share of another, which, from above, wated for her. My thoughts presently suggested these medit

ations from that occasion.-Methought this poor worm seemed to be the emblem of my poor soul, which is more endangered by its own lusts of pride and covetousness, than this worm was by the mole and bird. My pride, like the aspiring bird, watches for it above; my covetousness, like this subterranean mole, digging for it beneath. Poor soul! what a sad dilemma art thou brought to? If thou go down into the caverns of this earth, there thou art a prey to thy covetousness that hunts thee; and if thou aspire, or but creep upwards, there pride waits to ensnare thee. Distressed soul! whither wilt thou go? Ascend thou mayest, not by vain elation, but by a heavenly conversation, beside which there is no way for thy preservation. "The way of life is above to the wise," &c.

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Again, I could not but observe the accidental benefit this poor harmless bird obtained by the labor of the mole, who, hunting intentionally for herself, unburroughed and ferreted out this worm for the bird, who possibly was hungry enough, and could not have been relieved for this time, but by the mole, the fruit of whose labor she now feeds upon. Even thus the Lord oft times makes good his word to his people. "The wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just."-And again, "The earth shall help. the woman.' This was fully exemplified in David, to whom Nabal, that churlish muck-worm, speaks all in possessives. "Shall I take my bread, &c. and give it to one I know not whom?" And yet David reaps the fruit of all the pains and toils of Nabal at last. Let it never encourage me to idleness, that God sometimes gives his people the fruit of other's sweat; but if providence reduce me to necessity, and disable me from helping myself, I doubt not then, but it will provide instruments to do it. The bird was hungry, and could not dig.

MEDITATION VI.

UPON THE SHOOTING OF TWO FINCHES FIGHTING IN THE AIR.

How soon hath death ended the quarrel betwixt these Ewo little combatants! Had they agreed better, they might have lived longer. It was their own contention that gave both the opportunity and provocation of their death and though living they could not, yet, being dead, they can lie quietly together in my hand.

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Foolish birds, was it not enough that birds of prey watched to devour them, but they must peck and scratch one another? Thus have I seen the birds of paradise (saints I mean) tearing and wounding each other, like so many birds of prey, and by their unchristian contests giving the occasion of their common ruin; yea, and that not only when at liberty, as these were, but when engaged also; and yet, as one well observes, if ever Christians will agree, it will either be in a prison or in heaven; for in a prison their quarrelsome lusts lie low, and in heaven they shall be utterly done away.

But O what pity is it, that those who shall agree so perfectly in heaven, should bite and devour each other upon earth! That it should be said of them, as one ingeniously observed, who saw their carcasses lie together, as if they had lovingly embraced each other, who fell together by a duel, Quanta amicitia se invicem amplectuntur, qui mutua et implacabiti inimicitia perierunt! Embracing one another, now they lie,

Who by each other's bloody hands did die.

Or, as he said, who observed how quietly and peaceably the dust and bones, even of enemies, did lie together in the grave, Non tanta vivi pace conjuncti esetis—you did

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