NOtwithstanding the Serenity and Promisingness of the Morning we came out in, we have already upon the Water had one proof of the unsettl’dness of the Weather, and now upon the Land we meet with another: For, by that time Lindamor was come somewhat near the end of his Discours, he was oblig’d to hasten to it, by the approach of a Cloud, whose Largeness and Blackness threatned us with an imminent Showr: Nor did it give us a false Alarm, for by that time we could recover the next Shelter, the Showr we fled from, began to fall violently enough upon the Trees, we were retir’d to. And this unwelcome accident reducing us all to look about us, we quickly saw, to our Grief, that not only the Rain but the Clouds were increas’d, and the Sky being almost every where over-cast, left us no way to escape the inconveniences it threatned us with, but the making with what haste we could towards the place, over which we perceiv’d smoke enough, to conclude there was some Village beneath it: And finding at our Arrival thither, as good an Inn, as we could reasonably expect in such a place, after we had a while dry’d our selves by the Fire, Eugenius (to whom Exercise and the time of the Day had given a good Stomach) mov’d the Company, that in spight of the meanness of the House, we might rest our selves there, till we had Drest the Fish we had taken, to make up the best Dinner the place would afford: This motion I did not alone readily assent to, but seconded it, by representing, that probably by that time we had Din’d, we should either recover some fair Weather, or lose the hopes of regaining it for that Day. To which I added other considerations to perswade the Company, though, That indeed which prevail’d with me, was, the expectation of having an opportunity while Dinner was providing, to retire, as I soon after did, into another Room, and set down in short hand, what I have hitherto been relating, least either delay should make the particulars vanish out of my Memory, or they should be confounded there by the accession of such new Reflections, as, in case a fair Afternoon should invite us to return to the River, Eusebius would probably meet with Occasions of presenting us. But before I could handsomely slink away, I happen’d to be entertain’d a while with some things of the like Nature with those I was about to set down: For this unwelcome change after so glorious and hopefull a Morning, did naturally suggest to all of us, some thoughts of the Mutability and Fickleness of Prosperity, and how easily, as well as quickly, we may be depriv’d of that we cannot easily part with. But whilst the rest of us were entertaining themselves with these thoughts, Eugenius, who was more concern’d than any other of us, for the sport he came for, having a good while look’d with melancholy Eyes upon this change, began to repine and murmur at the interruption, which the persisting Rain continued to give him in it: Whereupon Lindamor took occasion to say, for my part, if I could dissipate these Clouds with a wish, I should scruple at the Ridding my self of them, ev’n at so easie a Rate: For I see, that the Gaping clefts of the parched Ground do, as it were with so many Mouths, proclaim its need of the Rain you repine at. And I always (continues he) am ready to joyn with the Husbandman in his wishings, as well for Rainy as for fair Weather, and am so much a Common-wealths Man, that I had rather at any time not escape a Showr, than let him want it.
You are I confess, (says Eugenius) now I think a little better on it, in the right, and have more reason to be discontented at my Impatience, than I at the Weather; for we should, ev’n in these lesser Occasions, as well as on greater, Exercise self-denial, and prefer a publick good to our private conveniences: And indeed it were far better, that I should miss some Fishes, than that thousands of Families should miss of Bread.
Eusebius, that had hitherto listen’d to what was said, being unwilling, that his Friends Ingenuity should make him any longer accuse himself, told him, (to divert the Discourse) This accident, Eugenius, was suggesting to me, a thought, wherewith I shall not scruple to acquaint you, and the Company. For (continues he) as pleasant, and as much desir’d, as fair Weather is wont to be, and as much as we use to be discontented at a lowring and dropping sky, yet the one is no less necessary nor useful in its season, than the other. For too uninterrupted a course of Heat, and Sun-shine, would make the season fruitful in nothing, but in Caterpillars, (or such kind of Vermine) and in Diseases, and is far more proper to fill Graves, than Barns: Whereas seasonable vicissitudes of Clouds, and cloudy Weather, make both the Ground fruitful, and the Season healthful. Thus in our outward Condition, too long and constant a prosperity is wont to make the Soul Barren of all, but such Wantonnesses as ‘tis ill to be fruitful of, and the interposition of seasonable Afflictions is as necessary, and advantageous, as it can be unwelcome. But (persues Eusebius) the consideration that chiefly entertain’d me, was this, That as here, to make the Earth fruitful, the face of Heaven must be now and then obscur’d, and over-cast, we must be depriv’d of the welcome pleasure of the Sun to receive the fertilizing Benefit of the Rain; so such is our condition here below, that our perverseness makes it necessary, that God should often-times appear to frown upon us, to make us fruitful in those Works, to which he is pleas’d to vouchsafe his smiles. But, Oh! (concludes Eusebius, lifting up his eyes and hands towards Heaven) how happy shall we be in that glorious and everlasting Day, when our Condition shall be as blessed in not requiring Vicissitudes as in not being subject to them. When the Sun-shine alone shall perform all that is wont to be done here both by it, and by the Rain; and the Soul, like Aegypt, being fruitful without the assistance of the Clouds, we shall not need to have our joys Eclips’d, to have our Graces kept from being so, or to make our Light shine the brighter: But each blessed Soul shall be emblem’d by that Vision in the Revelations, where St. John saw an Angel standing in the Sun, we shall not then need to have our Love wean’d from inferiour or undue Objects, by any Experience of their Imperfections; since the clear Discovery that God will vouchsafe us of his own Excellencies will abundantly suffice to confine our Affections to them: And since the works wherein we are to be fruitful in Heaven will be but to admire and thank him, that is infinite in Beauty, and in goodness, the perfecter sight and fruition we shall have of his astonishing as well as ravishing Attributes, will but proportionably increase our Wonder, and our Praises, and will naturally make us as Grateful For such a state as happy In It.
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