Trees — Meditation 2

I Have often observed, that when the blossoms of a tree, set and knit, though the flourish thereof be gone, and nothing but the bare rudiment of the expected fruit be left; yet then the fruit is much better secured from the danger of frosts and winds, than while it remained in the flower or blossom; for now it has past one of those critical periods, in which so many trees miscarry and lose their fruit. And methought, this natual Observation fairly led me to this Theological Proposition. That good motions and holy purposes in the soul are never secured and past their most dangerous Crisis, till they be turned into fixed resolutions, and answerable execution, which is as the knitting and setting of them.

Upon this Proposition my melting thoughts thus dilated, Happy had it been for you, my soul! had all the blessed motions of the Spirit been thus knit and fixed in you. O, how have mine affections blown and budded under the warm beams of the Gospel! but a chill blast from the cares, troubles and delights of the world without, and the vanity and deadness of the heart within have blasted all; my goodness has been but as a morning dew, or early cloud that vanisheth away: And even of divine Ordinance I may say, what is said of humane Ordinances, They have perished in the using. A blossom is but fru[•]tus imperfectus, & ordinabilis, an imperfect thing in it self, and something in order to fruit; a good motion and holy purpose, is but opus imperfectum, & ordinabile, an imperfect work, in order to a compleat work of the Spirit, When that primus impetus, those first motions were strong upon my heart, had I then pursued them in the force and vigour of them, how many difficulties might I have overcome? Revive your work, O Lord! and give not to my soul a miscarrying womb, or dry breasts.