Trees — Meditation 6

SEeing a Tree grow somewhat irregular, in a very neat Orchard, I told the Owner it was pity that Tree should stand there; and that if it were mine. I would root it up, and thereby reduce the Orchard to an exact uniformity. It was replyed to this purpose. that he rather regarded the fruit than the form; and that this slight inconveniency was abundantly preponderated by a more considerable advantage. This Tree said he, which you would root up, has yielded me more fruit than many of those Trees which have nothing else to commend them, but their regular scituation. I could not but yield to the reason of this answer, and could wish it had been spoken so loud, that all our Uniformity men had heard it, who will not stick to root up many hundred of the best bearers in the Lords Orchard, because they stand not in an exact order with other more conformable, but less beneficial Trees, who do perdere substanitiam propter accidentia, destroy the fruit, to preserve the form.

Not much unlike such foolish men are those

That strive for shadows, and the substance lose.