Meat out of the eater: or, Meditations concerning the necessity, end, and usefulness of afflictions unto Gods children. All tending to prepare them, for, and comfort them under the cross. / By Michael Wigglesworth.Meat out of the eater: or, Meditations concerning the necessity, end, and usefulness of afflictions unto Gods children. All tending to prepare them, for, and comfort them under the crosse. / By Michael Wigglesworth.
Michael Wigglesworth 1631–1705printed by S.G. Samuel Green for John Usher of Boston, 1670
208 p. ; (8vo) · 23k words · Evans 158 · Wing W2104
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Troub. Consc.
[1]
OH, but my weakness brings
Unserviceableness,
And takes me off from Christ's sweet work▪
Who can this grief express?
When as the Body fails
The Soul, and hindereth it
In all its motions, like a clog;
I am for nothing fit.
Rect. judgm.
[2]
If Christ disable thee
From doing as before,
He calls thee to some other work
That he approveth more.
Passive Obedience
More hard then Active is:
And Christ will own and honour that,
Who owns and crowneth this.
⟨p. 117⟩[3]
Thou still art serving Christ▪1
Though in another way:
And he thy Service will accept
And crown another day.
Thy Suffering is his work,2
After a short assay,
From Public Service; cease dispute,
And cheerfully obey.
Masters are pleased best,
When as their will is done,
Although a nobler work be left
To do a meaner one.
[5]
If he be pleased to make it
Thy business to sit still:
Thou pleasest him the best, by meek
Submission to his Will.
God hath no need of us,
Nor any work of our:
Yet for the deed he takes our will,
Where he denieth power.
⟨p. 118⟩
[6]
Although the work be small
Thou canst for him effect:
Yet if there be a willing mind
He doth the same accept.
For not by the outward bulk
Of what we do fulfil,
God doth esteem our services;
But by the Doers will.
[7]
For this he will reward thee
As richly at the last:
As if thou able wert to do
More work then ever thou wast.
Thou hast a gentle Master,
That sets no cruel task:
But when he deitly abate thy strength
He doth less service ask.
[8]
Do what thou canst, my Soul
For God no more expects:
God will be ser•'d with all our might,
Be 't more, or be it less.
••••
⟨p. 123⟩
[5]
He was a Rich Poor man,
Whose Poverty prepared him
For Heaven: But he a poor Rich man
Whose Worldly Wealth ensnared him.
That man is Poor indeed
Both when he lives and dies,
That hath some Treasure here on Earth,
But none above the skies.
[6]
He that enlarged his Barns
To treasure up his store,
Was fetched away to Hell that night,
And died worse then poor.
And so is every man,
That being worldly-wise
Provides for the outward man, but doth
The Heavenly wealth despise.
[7]
All Poor men are not Rich
('Twere happy if they were)
But such as Christ enriched hath,
And unto God brought near.
All Rich men are not Poor
(That were a woeful case)
But such as have no part in Christ,
Nor any saving grace.
⟨p. 124⟩
[8]
Let not the poorest Saint
Despond; for thou art rich:
Rect. judgm.
[2]
If Christ disable thee
From doing as before,
He calls thee to some other work
That he approveth more.
Passive Obedience
More hard then Active is:
And Christ will own and honour that,
Who owns and crowneth this.
⟨p. 117⟩[3]
Thou still art serving Christ▪1
Though in another way:
And he thy Service will accept
And crown another day.
Thy Suffering is his work,2
As well as Doing was:
Thy service in a suffering way
Christ rather chosen has.
[4]
If Christ hath call'd thee off,3
After a short assay,
From Publick Service; cease dispute,
And cheerfully obey.
Masters are pleased best,
When as their will is done,
Although a nobler work be left
To do a meaner one.
[5]
If he be pleas'd to make it
Thy business to sit still:
Thou pleasest him the best, by meek
Submission to his Will.
God hath no need of us,
Nor any work of our:
Yet for the deed he takes our will,
Where he denieth power.
⟨p. 118⟩[6]
Although the work be small
Thou canst for him effect:
4Yet if there be a willing minde
He doth the same accept.
For not by th'outward bulk
Of what we do fulfill,
God doth esteem our services;
But by the Doers will.
[7]
For this he will reward thee
As richly at the last:
As if thou able wert to do
More work then e're thou wast.
Thou hast a gentle Master,
That sets no cruel task:
But when he deitly abate thy strength
He doth less service ask.
[8]
Do what thou canst, my Soul
For God no more expects:
5Where much he gaves, he looks for much;
Where less, hevless accepts.
But make not this a cloak,
Vile Flesh, for Slothfulness:
6God will be ser•'d with all our might,
Be 't more, or be it less.
••••⟨p. 123⟩[5]
He was a Rich Poor man,
Whose Poverty prepar'd him
For Heav'n: But he a poor Rich man
Whose Worldly Wealth ensnar'd him.
That man is Poor indeed
Both when he lives and dies,
That hath some Treasure here on Earth,
But none above the skies.
[6]
He that enlarg'd his Barns7
To treasure up his store,
Was fetch'd away to Hell that night,
And died worse then poor.
And so is every man,
That being worldly-wise
Provides for th'outward man, but doth
The Heavenly wealth despise.
[7]
All Poor men are not Rich
('Twere happy if they were)
But such as Christ enriched hath,
And unto God brought neare.
All Rich men are not Poor
(That were a wofull case)
But such as have no part in Christ,
Nor any saving grace.
⟨p. 124⟩[8]
Let not the poorest Saint
Despond; for thou art rich:
Nor richest Worldling bless himself▪
For thou mayest be a wretch▪1But let both Rich and Poor
Endeavour to make sure
Of Heavenly Treasure, Spiritual Wealth▪
This only will ensure.
[9]
If others will be fools
And no true wisdom learn:
Yet what belongs unto my peace,
Lord, help me to discern.
2To have my Portion here
Oh let me never choose:
Nor for the sake of trifling Toys
Eternal Joys refuse.
[10]
My Soul craves better things
Then this World can afford:
3Thou art the Portion that I choose,
Give me thy self, O Lord.
I shall be richer then,
Then if I were possest
Of all the Riches, that are found
Both in the East and West.
Nor richest Worldling bless himself▪
For thou may'st be a wretch▪1But let both Rich and Poor
Endeavour to make sure
Of Heavenly Treasure, Spiritual Wealth▪
This onely will ensure.
[9]
If others will be fools
And no true wisdome learn:
Yet what belongs unto my peace,
Lord, help me to discern.
2To have my Portion here
Oh let me never chuse:
Nor for the sake of trifling Toyes
Eternal Joyes refuse.
[10]
My Soul craves better things
Then this World can afford:
3Thou art the Portion that I chuse,
Give me thy self, O Lord.
I shall be richer then,
Then if I were possest
Of all the Riches, that are found
Both in the East and West.
[1]
The World doth value men
According to their Wealth,
Without enquiring how 'tis got,
By Honesty, or Stealth.
What such a man is worth
They commonly declare
By telling what his yearly Rent
Or his Possessions are.
[1]
THe World doth value men
According to their Wealth,
Without enquiring how 'tis got,
By Honesty, or Stealth.
What such a man is worth
They commonly declare
By telling what his yearly Rent
Or his Possessions are.
[2]
But God doth more esteem
Mens Virtues then Estates;
And if they have small Grace, or none▪
Accordingly them rates.
When he Belshazzar weighed
With Babel at his back,1
Although he were an Emperor
He found him weight to lack.
[2]
But God doth more esteem
Mens Virtues then Estates;
And if they have small Grace, or none▪
Accordingly them rates.
When he Belshazzar weigh'd
With Babel at his back,1
Although he were an Emperour
He found him weight to lack.
[3]
I'll not envy the Rich,
Nor will I sleight the Poor:
But what God prizeth more then wealth▪
That I will value more.
For Poor men may be rich,
And Rich men may be poor;
If those have Heavenly wealth, and these
Have none but Earthly store.
[3]
I'le not envie the Rich,
Nor will I sleight the Poor:
But what God prizeth more then wealth▪
That I will value more.
For Poor men may be rich,
And Rich men may be poore;
If those have Heavenly wealth, and these
Have none but Earthly store.
[4]
1For Riches profit not
When as the day of Wrath
Is come; But Gospel-Righteousness
Delivereth from Death.
2The Upright man is better,
(Though in a Sheep-skin clad
And fed with Indian Bread and Water)
Then those whom Wealth makes mad.
[5]
Though Riches in the World
1Do make men honourable;
Though Poverty do bring contempt,
And render despicable:
Yet God oft-times bestows
2True Faith with Saving Grace,
And Heavenly Glory upon those,
Whom men account most base.
[6]
Weak, foolish, mean, obscure,1
And such as men despise,
Such are the Persons and the things
Whereon God sets his eyes.
Of such he maketh Sons,
Yea more then Sons,2 his Heirs
And Fellow-heirs with Christ, that so
The Kingdom may be theirs.
Unbelief.
[1]
Thou speakest slightly how
Of all these outward things:
But what, when Poverty thee wounds
With all her Poisoned Stings?
What if thy Weaknesses
Bring on distressing wants?
How wilt thou then behave thy self?
Or live without complaints?
Vnbelief.
[1]
THou speakest sleightly how
Of all these outward things:
But what, when Poverty thee wounds
With all her Pois'ned Stings?
What if thy Weaknesses
Bring on distressing wants?
How wilt thou then behave thy self?
Or live without complaints?
Faith.
[2]
Perhaps I may not live
Those future Months to see:
And then 'twere folly to take thought
For what shall never be.
But if the Lord see fit
That I on Earth abide
1A longer time, he can and will
[…] sustenance provide.
[3]
2If I have Meat and Drink,
Though neither of the best,
And Clothes that will but keep me warm,
I shall not be distressed.
Mean things give me content;
For God can mean things bless,
3More then their overflowing Cups
That greatest things possess.
[4]
Those that abound in wealth
May lose it in a night;
And be despoiled of all they have
Before the morning light:
And if they have no God
To help them in their need;
It matters not what once they were,
They'll then be poor indeed.
⟨p. 129⟩[5]
But he that hath the Lord4
Engaged by Covenant
To stand his Friend at every turn,
That man can never want,
My Soul be thankful then;
Thou hast a better lot,5
Although thy substance be but small,
Then worldly men have got.
[6]
Thou hast a gracious God
Who never will forsake thee,6
But here on Earth he'll do thee good,
And then to Heaven take thee.
A blessed Portion He
To all that on him trust:
Whose Souls and Bodies he will feed;
But he'll not feed their Lust.
[7]
Our Saviour teacheth us
For daily bread to pray;7
Not for a twelve-months Bread at once,
But for each present day:
That so we might on God
From time to time depend,
Believing that our present help
Will help us to the End.
⟨p. 130⟩[8]
Of present things, my Soul,
What present need requires
8Thou dost possess: here stay thy thoughts
And bridle thy desires.
Beware lest future things
Thy careful mind distract:
For carking care can nothing else
But guiltiness contract.
[9]
9Good reason hath the man
To be content with small things,
Who when he is at lowest ebb,
Yet still possesseth all things.
For God is All in all
10Through Christ his gracious Son,
The Ocean whence all streams proceed,
And into which they run.
[10]
He is a living Spring,
A Fountain never dry:
Though water in the Pitcher fail,
The Fountain can supply.
That man is not i'th'dark,
11That still enjoys the Sun:
Although his Fire be quite gone out,
And Candle ends be done.
Faith.
[2]
Perhaps I may not live
Those future Months to see:
And then 'twere folly to take thought
For what shall never be.
But if the Lord see fit
That I on Earth abide
1A longer time, he can and will
〈…〉 sustenance provide.
[3]
2If I have Meat and Drink,
Though neither of the best,
And Clothes that will but keep me warm,
I shall not be distrest.
Mean things give me content;
For God can mean things bless,
3More then their overflowing Cups
That greatest things possess.
[4]
Those that abound in wealth
May lose it in a night;
And be despoil'd of all they have
Before the morning light:
And if they have no God
To help them in their need;
It matters not what once they were,
They'll then be poor indeed.
⟨p. 129⟩[5]
But he that hath the Lord4
Engag'd by Covenant
To stand his Friend at every turn,
That man can never want,
My Soul be thankful then;
Thou hast a better lot,5
Although thy substance be but small,
Then worldly men have got.
[6]
Thou hast a gracious God
Who never will forsake thee,6
But here on Earth hee'll do thee good,
And then to Heaven take thee.
A blessed Portion He
To all that on him trust:
Whose Souls and Bodies he will feed;
But hee'll not feed their Lust.
[7]
Our Saviour teacheth us
For daily bread to pray;7
Not for a twelve-months Bread at once,
But for each present day:
That so we might on God
From time to time depend,
Believing that our present help
Will help us to the End.
⟨p. 130⟩[8]
Of present things, my Soul,
What present need requires
8Thou dost possess: here stay thy thoughts
And bridle thy desires.
Beware lest future things
Thy careful minde distract:
For carking care can nothing else
But guiltiness contract.
[9]
9
Through Christ his gracious Son,
The Ocean whence all streams proceed,
And into which they run.
[10]
He is a living Spring,
A Fountain never dry:
Though water in the Pitcher fail,
The Fountain can supply.
That man is not i'th'dark,
