3. The Third Lesson the Husbandman learns in his Garden, is, from the Weeds therein. He finds a little Garden hath many weeds; many kinds, and many of every kind; and they come up without planting, and spring much faster then herb or flower. He sees if care be not taken, they will over-top the flowers and herbs; and that it will co• both observation, and industry to pluck them up; and when at length, the Garden is rid of them, and is clean and fair, yet they will peep up, and spring again, and renew his trouble over again; and this endless business he hath with it, only the winter helps him, and pinches these weeds at the roots: but yet in the spring they revive again, and give him the same trouble he had the year before. And this teaches him the Difficulty of a clean heart, and the industrious life of a serious Christian. He finds his Garden within, as bad as his Garden without. What variety of sinful motions and affections are rising there? Divers, that he knows not whence, nor how they come. How speedily have some Lusts got a head? His pride hath sprung faster, than his Humility, by the half. His passion is at a great height, in comparison of his Patience. He wonders at the strange growth of his Corruptions, he concludes that without a speedy and effectual course, his Garden will be a Wilderness: and therefore, he awakens watchfulness, and falls to serious mortification, repentance, and reformation of his spiritual ⟨p. 175⟩estate; he gets to his Knees, prays, and weeps over his evil desires, pursues them into every corner, and at length hath a clean heart created in him, & hopes now all is well: The old man is dead and gone; but ere long he descries that he was but asleep; his corruption returns and exerciseth im in the same trade, he was at before: Till some happy affliction comes, and that with Gods blessing, doth break its heart, and Death at length puts an end to this weary life. Faith is a Rose, that grows between two nettles, Presumption and Despair. And so Humility and Patience. Every Flower hath two weeds, two extremes about it, which are like to grow with them, but must not grow over them. And this is the good Husbandmans task. His Garden finds him work to weed as long as he lives.
3. The Third Lesson the Husbandman learns in his Garden, is, from the Weeds therein. He finds a little Garden hath many weeds; many kinds, and many of every kind; and they come up without planting, and spring much faster then herb or flower. He sees if care be not taken, they will over-top the flowers and herbs; and that it will co• both observation, and industry to pluck them up; and when at length, the Garden is rid of them, and is clean and fair, yet they will peep up, and spring again, and renew his trouble over again; and this endless business he hath with it, onely the winter helps him, and pinches these weeds at the roots: but yet in the spring they revive again, and give him the same trouble he had the year before. And this teaches him the Difficulty of a clean heart, and the industrious life of a serious Christian. He finds his Garden within, as bad as his Garden without. What variety of sinful motions and affections are rising there? Divers, that he knows not whence, nor how they come. How speedily have some Lusts got a head? His pride hath sprung faster, than his Humility, by the half. His passion is at a great height, in comparison of his Patience. He wonders at the strange growth of his Corruptions, he concludes that without a speedy and effectual course, his Garden will be a Wilderness: and therefore, he awakens watchfulness, and falls to serious mortification, repentance, and reformation of his spiritual ⟨p. 175⟩estate; he gets to his Knees, prayes, and weepes over his evil desires, pursues them into every corner, and at length hath a clean heart created in him, & hopes now all is well: The old man is dead and gone; but ere long he descryes that he was but asleep; his corruption returns and exercisesh im in the same trade, he was at before: Till some happy affliction comes, and that with Gods blessing, doth break its heart, and Death at length puts an end to this weary life. Faith is a Rose, that growes between two nettles, Presumption and Despair. And so Humility and Patience. Every Flower hath two weeds, two extreams about it, which are like to grow with them, but must not grow over them. And this is the good Husbandmans task. His Garden findes him work to weed as long as he lives.
