Birds — Meditation 8

'TIs pretty to observe the structure and commodiousness of the habitations of these little architects, who though they act not by reason and counsel, but only by natural instinct, yet reason it self could hardly have contrived a neater building of such simple materials, How nea[•]ly has the Thrush ceiled of plaistered his nest, with admirable art and industry? how warmly has the Finch matted his? and both well fenced against the injury of the weather.

How comfortably has nature provided convenient habitations, for these weak and tender young ones, who have warm lodging, and varietie of provisions hourly brought them, without their care or pains? This trifling object suggests to my thoughts, a more excellent and serious contemplation, even the wonderful and unparallel'd abasement of Iesus Christ, who for my sake voluntarily submitted himself to a more destitute and neglected state, than these Birds of the Air; for Mat. 8. 20. he says, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests;but the Son of man has not where to lay his head.

Vulpibus in saltu rupes excisa latebras

Pruebet, & aereis avibus dat silua quietem:

Ast hominis Nato nullis succedere tectis

Est licitum—

The craggy rock to foxes holes affords,

The pleasant woods, a resting place to birds,

For Christ no fixed habitation's found

But what was borrowed, or the naked ground.

O melting consideration! that the glorious Son of God, Ioh, 1. 14. The Lord of glory, Iam. 2. I. The brightness of his fathers glory. Heb. 1. 3. Who was rich, 2 Cor. 8. 9. And it no robbery to be equal with God. Phil. 2. 8. who from all eternity was infinitely and ineff[•]bly delighting and rejoycing in the bosome of his father, Prov. 8. 30. That he, I say, should manifest himself in flesh, 2 Tim. 3. 16. yea, in the likeness of sinful flesh, Rom. 8. 3. that is in flesh, that had the marks and effects of sin upon it, as hunger, thirst, pain, weariness and mortality; and not only so, but to chuse such a state of outward meanness and poverty, never being poss[•]ssed of a house in this world; but living as a stranger in other mens houses, and stooping in this respect to a lower condition than the very birds of the Air, and all this for enemies. O let it work, both admiration and thankfulness in my soul! my body is better accommodated than the body of my Lord. Deal Iesus! by how much the viler you madest your self for me, by so much the dearer shalt you be to me.