Third Part — Chapter 4
Fat beasts you kill, the lean you use to save
God's dispensations, some such meaning have.
OBSERVATION.
IT is a good Observation of a Father, and well applied▪Vituli triturantes quotidie ligantur, vituli mactandi quotidie in pascuis libere relinquntur. Oxen for use are daily yoaked and kept short, while those that are designed for the shambles, are let loose in green pastures, to fed at pleasure. Store beasts fare hard, and are kept lean and low; feeding beasts are excused from the yoak, while others are laboured and wrought hard every day; the one has more than he can eat, the other would eat more if he had it.
APPLICATION.
THus deals the Lord oft-times with his own elect, whom he designs for glory; and with the wicked, who are preparing for the day of wrath. Thus are they filled with earthly prosperity, and creature-enjoyments, like res[•]y and wanton beasts turned out at liberty in a fat pasture, while poor Saints are kept hard and short, Amos. 1. 4. Hear this word you kine of Bashan, that are in the mountains of[〈◊〉]▪which oppress the poor, and crush the needy. These metaphorical kine are the prosperous oppressors of the world, full fed, and wanton wicked men. 'This true, heaven has not all the poor, nor hell all the rich; but its a very common dispensation of providence, to b[•]stow most of the things of this world upon them that have no portion in heaven; and to keep them short on earth, for whom that kingdom is provided. Let me draw forth the similitude in a few particulars.
The beasts of slaughter have the f[•]ttest pastures; so have the ungodly in the world; Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish, Psal. 73. 7. their hearts are as fat as grease, Psal. 119. 7. These be they that fleet off the cream of earthly enjoyments, whose bellies are filled with hidden treasures, Psal. 17. 14. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, Iob 9. 24. O, what full estates? what an affluence of earthly delights has God cast in upon some wicked men? there is much wantonness, but no want in their dwellings: Some that now know not which way to turn themselves in hell, once knew not where to bestow their goods on earth.
Feeding beasts grow wanton in their full pastures; there you shall see them tumble and frisk? and kick up their heels. The same effect has the prosperity of the wicked, it makes them wanton; their life is but a diversion from one pleasure to another. Iob. 21. 11, 12, 13. They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance; they take the timbrel, and harp, and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ; they spend their dayes in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. The same character does the Prophet Amos give of them, Amos 6. 4, 5, 6. They stretch themselves upon beds of Ivory drink Wine in bowls, &c. and no sorrow goes to their hearts. These are they that live in pleasures upon earth, as a fish in the water, Iam. 5. 5.
These fat pastures do but the sooner hasten the death of these cattle; the sooner they are fatted, the sooner they are slaughtered; and the prosperity of the wicked serves to the same end. The prosperity of fools shall destroy them (i. e.) it shall be the means and instruments of heating and hightening their lusts, and thereby fitting them for destruction; their prosperity is [•]ood and fewel to their corruptions. Many wicked men had not been so soon ripe for hell, had they not grown in the Sun-shine of prosperity.
Fatted beasts do not in the least understand the intent and meaning of the Husbandman, in allowing them such large and fat pastures, which he denyes to his other cattle; and as little as beasts, do wicked men understand the scope and end of Gods providences, in casting prosperity and wealth upon them; little do they think their tables are a snare, a gin, and a trap for their souls; they only (like beasts) mind what is before them, but do not at all understand the tendency and end of these their sensual delights.
Though the Husbandman keep his store cattle in short commons, yet he intends to preserve them; these shall remain with him, when the others are driven to the slaughter.
Such a design of preservation is carried on in all those outward straits, wants and hardships which the Lord exposes his people to. I confess, such dispensations, for present, are very stumbling and puzling things, even to gracious and wise persons. To see wicked men, not only exempted from their troubles, but even oppressed with prosperity; to see a godly man in wants and straits, and a wicked man have more than his heart can wish, is a case that poses the wisest Christian, till he consider the design and issues of both those providences, and then he acquiesces in the wisdom of God so ordering it, Psal. 73. 5, 14, 18, 23.
REFLECTIONS.
Does my prosperity fat me up for hell, and prepare me for the day of slaughter? little cause have I then to glory in it, and lift up my heart upon these things. Indeed, God has given, (I cannot say-blessed me with) a fulness of creature-enjoyments; upon these my carnal heart seizeth greedily and securely, not at all suspecting a snare lying in these things, for the ruin of my soul. What are all these charming pleasures, but so many rattles to quiet my soul, while its damnation steals insensibly upon it? What are all my busin[•••]es and imployments in the world, but so many diversions from the business of life? There are but two differences between me, and the poorest slave the devil has on earth; such are whipt on to hell by outward miseries, and I am coached to hell in a little more pomp and honour; these will have a less, and I a greater account in the day of reckoning. O that I had never known prosperity! I am now trumbling in a green pasture, and shortly shall be hanging up in the shambles in hell; if this be the best fruit of my prosperity, if I were taken capitive by cruel Canibals, and fed with the richest fare, but withal understood, that the design of it were, to [•]at me up like a beast for them to feed upon; how little stomack should I have to their dainties? O my soul! it were much better for you to have a sanctified poverty, which is the portion of many Saints, than an ensnaring prosperity, set as a trap to ruin you for ever.
The wisdom of my God has allotted me but short commons here, his providence feeds me, but from hand to mouth; but I am (and well may be) contended with my present state; that which sweetens it, is, that I am one of the Lords preserved. How much better is a morsel of bread, and a draught of water here, with an expectancy of glory hereafter, than a fat pasture given in, and fitting for the wrath to come? Well, since the case stands thus, blessed be God for my present lot; though I have but little in hand, I have much in hope; my present troubles will serve to sweeten my future joyes? and the sorrows of this life will give a lustre to the glory of the next; that which is now hard to suffer, will them be sweet to remember; my songs then will be louder than my groans now.
The POEM.
THose beasts which for the shambles are design'd.
In fragrant flowry Meadows you shall find;
Where they abound with rich and plenteous fare;
While others graze in commons thin and bare,
Those live a short and pleasant life; but these
Protract their lives, in dry, and shorter leas.
Thus live the wicked, thus they do abound,
With earthly glory, and with honour crown'd.
Their lofty heads to the stars aspire,
And radiant beams, their shining brows attire.
The fattest portion's serv'd up in their dish,
Yea they have more than their own hearts can wish.
Dissolv'd in pleasures, crown'd with buds of May;
They for a time, in these fat pastures play;
Frisk, dance and leap, like full fed beasts; and even
Turn up their wanton heels against the heaven.
Not understanding that this pleasant life
Serves but to fit them for the Butchers knife.
In fragrant Meads, they tumbling are to day,
Tomorrow to the slaughter led away.
Their pleasure's gone, and vanish'd like a bubble
Which makes their future torments on them double.
Mean while, Gods little flock is poor and lean;
Because the Lord did ner'e intend, or mean
This for their portion: and besides does know
Their souls prove best, where shortest grass does grow.
Cheer up poor flock although your fare be thin
Yet here is something to take comfort in:
You here securely feed, and need not fear
Th'infernal butcher can't approach you here.
'Tis somewhat that, but O, which far transcends!
Your glorious Shepher'ds coming; who intends
To lead you hence, to that fragrant hill
Where with green pastures he his flocks will fill.
On which he from celestial casements pours
The sweetest dews, and constant gracious s[•]owres.
Along whose banks, rivers of pleasures slide
There his bless'd flocks, for ever shall abide.
O envy not the worldlings present joys
Which to your future mercies are but toyes.
Their pasture now is green, your's dry, and burn'd:
But then the Scene is chang'd, the tables turn'd.
