Birds — Meditation 4

ME thinks these Birds do fitly resemble the gaudy Gallant, and the plain peasants; how spruce and richly adorned with shining and various coloured feathers, (like scarlet, richly laid with gold and silver lace) are those? how plainly clad, in a home-spun countrey russet are these? Fine feathers (says 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 ornamental 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 does not alwayes lye under the finest cloaths. And besides, God can make mean and homely garments as useful and beneficial topoor 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 neighbours, in true worth and excellency.

Little would a man think such rich treasures of grace, wisdom, humility, &c. lay under some russet coats Saepe sub attrita latitat sapientia veste. Under poor garments more true worth may be, Than under silks that whistle, who but he?

While on the other side, the heart of the wicked (as Solomon has observed) is little worth, how much sover his cloaths be worth. Alas! it falls out two frequently among us, as it does with men in the Indies, who walk over the rich veins of gold and silver Oar, which lyes hid under a ragged and barren surface, and know it not. For my how p[•]rt, I desire not to value any man by what is extrinsecal and worldly, 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 honour such as fear the Lord, how sordid and despicable soever to appearance.