Front matter (continued, part 6)
enough, not only to make all that are in him hving,
branches.
KEFLECTIOXS,
1. Is it so indeed betwixt Christ and my soul, as it ingraffed cyon and the stock ? Wha Four conifortable glory then hath Christ conferred re/lections for a poor unworthy creature ! What ! t( regenerate soul, with him, to be a living branch o
joined thus to the Lord ! Oh ! w ment is this ! It is but a little while since I was a wi
plant, growing in the wilderness amongst them that st cut down and faggotted up for hell ; for me to be taken them, and planted into Christ. O my soul ! fall dow] feet of free grace, that moved so freely towards so vil The dignities and honours of the kings and nobles of nothing to mine. It was truly confessed by one of thi greater honour to be a member of Christ, than the heac Do I say, a greater honour than is put upon the kings I might have said, it is a greater honour than is put uj of heaven : For " to whom of them said Christ, at ar
*' art bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh .? Behold *' of love is this!" 1 John iii. 1. 2. Look again upon the ingraffed cyons, O my soi shalt find, that when once they have taken hold of th live as long as there is any sap in the root ; and becai I shall live also, for my life is hid with Christ in Gc
The graff is preserved in the stock, and my soul is evei " in Christ Jesus !" Jude, ver. 1.
3. Am I joined to the Lord as a mystical part or bi How dear art thou then, O my soul, to the God and Lord Jesus Christ ! What ! a branch of his dear Sor
God with-hold from one so ingraffed ? Eph. i. 6. "
" (saith my God) for ye are Christ's, and Christ is G iii. 23.
TUE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 1'
at tlie very glory of Christ, tenderly touch and affect thee ? Yea, thou tenderly affected with all the reproaches that fall upon him fn abroad, but especiallv ^vath those that redound to him from thine 01 unfruitfulness. Oh! disgrace not the root that bears thee ! let never be said, that any evil fruit is found upon a branch that li\ and is fed by such a root.
V/H ! what considering serious man can see
The close conjunction of the graff and tree; And whilst he contemplates, he doth not find
This meditation graffed on his mind .'* I am the branch, and Christ the vine ;
Thy gracious hand did pluck Me from that native stock of mine,
That I his sap might suck. The bloody spear did in his heart
A deep incision make. That grace to me he might impart,
And I therefore partake. The Spirit and faith are that firm band
Which binds us fast together ; Thus we are clasped hand in hand,
And nothing can us sever. Bless'd be that hand which did remove
Me from my native place ! This was the wonder of thy love,
The triumph of thy grace I That I, a wild and cursed plant
Should thus preferred be. Who all those ornaments do want,
Thou may'st in others see. As long as e'er the root doth live, The branches are not dry ; Whilst Christ hath grace and life to ^ve.
My soul can never die. O blessed Saviour ! never could
A graff cleave to the tree More close than thy poor creature would United be with thee. My soul, dishonour not the root,
150 HUSBANDRY SPmiTUALIZED ; OR,
CHAP. III.
Upon the Gathering in of Fruits in Auti
When trees are shaJc'd, but little Jruit remah Just such a remnant to the Lord jyertains.
JLT is a pleasant sight in autumn to see the fruit
hanging full of clusters, which weigh the boughs to th
Aspice curvatos pomorum pondere ramos.
Ut sua quod peperit v'lxjerat arbor onus. Which I may thus English. O what a pleasant sight it is to see.
The fruitful clusters bowing down the But these laden branches are soon eased of their bu
soon as they are ripe, the husbandman ascends the tree, the limbs with all his might, causes a fruitful shower to stones upon the ground below ; which being gathered 1 carried to the pound, broken all to pieces in a trough, i to a dry lump in the press, whence all their juice and r into the fat. How few escape this fat of all those mu grow in the orchard.-* If you look upon the trees, you see here one, and there another, two or three upon the dies, but nothing in comparison to the vastnumber that£
APPLICATIOX.
jL HESE small remains of fruit, which are either h tree, or gathered in for an hoard, do well resemble tlu
ber of God's elect in the world, which free-grace hath of the general ruin of mankind. Four things are ex( dowed ibrtli to us by this similitude.
1. You see in a fruitful autumn, the trees even oppres laden with the weight of their own fruits, before the i comes, and then they are eased of their burden. Thi creation groans under the weight of their sins, who inh viii. 22. the creatures are in bondage, and by an elegant are said, both to groan and wait for deliverance. The ( man brought an original curse, which burdens the creat
17. " Cursed is the ground for thy sake; and the acti
1. 1
THE HEAVEXLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 1
with fruit. Thus it is with the world, that mystical tree, with i spect to men that inhabit it ; there is not a year, a day, or hour, which some drop not, as it were, of their own accord, by a natui death ; and sometimes wars and epidemical plagues blow down tho sands together into their graves ; these are as high winds in a fruitl orchard; but when the shaking time, the autumn of the wor]
comes, then all its inhabitants shall be shaken down together,' eith by death, or a translation equivalent thereunto.
3. When fruits are shaken down from their trees, then the hi bandraan separates them ; the far greater part for the pound, ai some few reserv ed for an hoard, which are brought to his table, a: eaten with pleasure. This excellently shadows forth that great i paration, which Christ will make in the end of the world, when sor
shall be cast into the wine-press of the Almighty's wrath, and oth( preserved for glory.
4. Those fruits which are preserv^ed on the tree, or in t hoard, are comparatively, but an handful to those that are broken the pound ; alas ! it is scarce one of a thousand, and such a sm renmant of elected souls hath God reserved for glory.
I look upon the world as a great tree, consisting of four large lim or branches ; this branch or division of it on which we grow, hal
doubtless, a greater number of God's elect upon it than the otli three ; and yet, when I look with a serious and considering eve up this fruitful European branch, and see how much rotten and wit ered fruit there grows upon it, it makes me say, as Chrysostom d of his populous Antioch ; Ah, how small a remnant hath Jesiis Chr among these vast numbers ! " Many indeed are called, but ah ! h( " few are chosen .?" Mat. xx. 16. Alas ! they are but as the glea ings when the vintage is done ; here and there one upon its utmc branches : to allude to that, Isa. xvii. 6. It was a sad observatii
which that searching scholar, Mr. Brerewood, long since made up the world ; that, dividing it into thirty equal parts, he found no \i than nineteen of them wholly overspread with idolatry and heatheni darkness ; and of the eleven remaining parts, no less than six a Mahometans ; so that there remains but five of thirty which profc the Christian religion at large ; and the far greater part of these i maining five are inveloped and drownied in popish darkness ! so th you see the reformed PrQtestant religion is confined to a small spot ground indeed. Now, if from these we subtract all the grossly ign rant, openly profane, merely civil, and secretly hypocritical, judge thi
in yourselves, how small a scantling of the world' falls to Christ's shai Wr>ll wTirrUt r'Vi^;>jf c-r>,r '\fr.^ „;; i/i cc xt ;~ *u_ -.
152 HUSBA^JDRY SPIKITUALIZED; OR,
and diamonds, whicli the Latins call Un'wncs. Quia nu reperiuntur, (saith Pliny) because nature gives them not one by one : how many pebbles to one pearl ! Suitable t(
is that complaint of the prophet, Mic. vii. 1, 2. " Wo
" am as when they have gathered the summer-fruits, a
*' gleanings of the vintage ; there is no cluster to eat ; *' sired the first ripe fruits ; the good man is perished out
*' and there is none, (i. e. none comparatively) upright The prophet alludes to a poor hungry man, that, after t time is past, comes into an orchard desiring some choic< but, alas ; he finds none ; there is no cluster ; possibly h one after the shaking time. True saints are the worh
UEFLECTIONS.
1. What then will be my lot, wh shaking time shall come, who have multitude, and gone with the tide o How, even when I have been presse( and singular diligence in the matters and told what a narrow way the way of life is, have I { this ? If it be so, then wo to thousands ! Ah, f(
A reflectlonforone thatjbllows the ex-
ample of the muliitude.
Thousands, and ten thousands shall be woful and misei
to all eternity ! W^ill it be any mitigation of my misery have thousands of miserable companions withmeinhel be admitted for a good plea at the judgment-seat, Lor( generality of my neighbours in the world did ; except and there a more precise person, I saw none but lived as foolish sinner ! is it not better to go to heaven alone, thf
company ? The worst courses have always the most in the road to destruction is thronged with passengers.
2. And how little better is my condition, who have ( the wickedness of my own heart,
couragement of mercy ? Thus hs
A reflectionjhr an abuser of mercy.
pleaded against strictness and du merciful God, and will not be so se world, to damn so many thousands as are in my conditic soul ! if God had damned the whole race of Adam, he h
no more wrong : yea, there is more mercy in saving but( there is of severity and rigour in damning all. How
ards and adulterers have lived and died with thy plea in
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY TfflXGS. 1
ti) should cast forth a line or plank to save me ! That when millions perish, I, with a ^qw more A reflectionfor
should escape that perdition ! Was it the Father's elect soul. good pleasure to bestow the kingdom upon a lit-
tle flock, and to make me one of that number ? What singular ol gations hath viercy put upon my soul ! The fewer are saved, them( cause have they that are to admire their salvation. If but one o thousand had been damned, yet my salvation would have been an of infinite grace ; but when scarce one of a thousand are saved, wl shall I call that grace that cast my lot among them !
XlE that with spiritual eyes in autumn sees The heaps of fruit which fall from shaken trees, Like storms of hail-stones, and can hardly find One of a thousand that remains behind ;
IMethinks this meditation should awake His soul, and make it like those trees to shake. Of all the clusters, which so lately grew
Upon those trees, how few can they now shew ? Here one, and there another ; two or three Upon the utmost branches of the tree. The greatest numbers to the pound are borne.
Squeezed in the trough, and all to pieces torn. This little handful's left, to shadow forth To me God's remnant in this peopfd earth. If o'er the whole terrestrial globe I look, The gospel \-isits but a little nook. The rest with horrid darkness overspread, Are fast asleep, yea, in transgression dead. Whole droves to hell the devil daily drives ; Not one amongst them once resists or strives.
And in this little heaven-enlight'ned spot How fast an interest hath Satan got .? But few of hohness profession make ; And if from those that do profess, I take The self-deluding hvpocrites, I fear To think how few'll remain that are sincere. O tax not mercy that it saves so few ; But rather wonder that the Lord should shew Mercy to any. Quarrel not with grace ;
« .t-.X
%tii HUSBANDRY SI'IUITITALIZED ; OJl^
Had the whole species perished in their sin. And not one individual sav'd been. Yet every tongue before him must be mute
Confess his righteousness, but not dispute. Or had the hand of mercy which is free.
Taken another, and passed over me ; I still must justify him, and my tongue Confess my Maker had done me no wrong. But if my name he please to let me see Enroird among those few that saved be. What admiration should such mercy move ! What thanks, and praise, and everlasting love I
CHAP. IV.
Upon the Cutting down of dead Trees
Dead barren trees ymcjor tliejire prepare In such a case alljruitless persons are.
_A-FTER many years patience, in the use of all mean! fruit-tree, if the husbandman see it be quite dead, and t be no more expectation of any fruit from it, he bring hews it down by the root ; and from the orchard it is fire, it being then fit for nothing else ; he reckons it : let such a useless tree abide in good ground, where an< planted in its room, that will better pay for the groun
I myself once saw a large orchard of fair but fruitless ti up, rived broad, and ricked up for the fire.
J. HITS deals the Lord by useless and barren profe
but cumber his ground, Matth. iii. 10. " And now also
" to the root of the trees ; therefore every tree that bri
" good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." Anc
" Then said the dresser of the vineyard. Behold, these *' came seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none ;
*' why cumbereth it the ground .''"" These three yean the time of his ministry, he being at that time entering
rrHE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 1
and empty professors under the gospel : and the resemblance clea holds in these followhig particulars :
1. The tree that is to be hewn do^-n for the fire, stands in the i chard among other flourishing ti'ees, where it hath enjoyed the 1 nefit of a good soil, a strong fence, and much culture ; but being b ren, these privileges secure it not from the fire. It is not our stai ing in the visible church by a powerless profession among real sai with whom we have been associated, and enjoyed the rich and exc lent waterings of ordinances, that can secure us from the wrath
God, ^Matth. iii, 8, 9- " Bring forth fruits meet for repentance, a *' think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our
*' then"' Neither Abraham, nor Abraham's God, will acknowlec
such degenerate children ; if Abraham's faith be not in your heai it will be no advantage that Abraham's blood runs in your veins, will be a poor plea for Judas, when he shall stand before Christ judgment, to say, Lord, I was one of thy family, I preached
thee ; I did eat and drink in thv presence. Let these scriptures consulted, Afatth. vii. 22. Matth. xxv. 11, 12. Rom. ii. 17, and J
2. The husbandman doth not presently cut down the tree becai it puts not forth as soon as other trees do ; but waits as Ion or as th(
is any hope, and then cuts it down. Thus doth God wait upon b ren dead-hearted persons, from sabbath to sabbath, and from vear year ; for the Lord is long-suffering to usward, not willing that a should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Pet. iii. Thus the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah up those dry trees, who are now smoking and flaming in hell, 1 Pet. 29. He waits long on sinners, but keeps exact accounts of every y« and day of his patience, Luke xiii. 7. " These three years." A Jer. xxv. 3. these twenty-three years.
3. When the time is come to cut it down, the dead tree cam possibly resist the stroke of the ax; but receives the blow, and fa before it. No more can the stoutest sinner resist the fatal stroke death, by which the Lord hews him down ; Eccl. viii. 8. " Then
*' no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit ; n *' ther hath he power in the day of death, and there is no dischar
'• in that war." When the pale horse comes, away you must into 1 land of darkness. Though thou cry vnth Adrian, O ray poor soi
whither art thou going? Die thou' must, thou barren professc though it were better for thee to do any thing else than to die. Wl
a dreadful shriek will thy conscience'give when it sees the ax at t root, and say to thee, as'it is Ezek. vii. 6. " An end is come t ic r»r»nf"io •
I i -i ^
UQ HTTSBAXDr.Y SPirvITUALIZED ; OR,
my life, I am able either by policy to get it, or by ric
Fie (quoth he) will not death be 'hired ? Will riches No, neither riches nor policy can then avail.
4. The side to which the tree leaned most while it st it will fall when it is cut down : and as it falls, so it li( the south or north, Eccl. xi. 3. So it fares with these r I mean fruitless professors : Had their hearts and affec and bended heavenward whilst they lived, that way, n had fallen at their death ; but as their hearts inclinec even bended to the world, so when God gives the fata must fall hell-ward and wrath-ward : And, how dreadl fall be !
5. When the dead tree is carried out of the orchard, be among the living trees of the orchard any more ; n grow among them, but now it shall never have a place And when the barren professor is carried out of the wc he shall never be associated with the saints any more :
say, farewell all ye saints, among whom I lived, and -w'l often heard, fasted, and prayed : I shall never see you Matth. viii. 11,12. "I say unto you, that many shall c " east, and west, and north, and south, and shall si
*' Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heav " children of the kingdom shall be cast forth into out " there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing ol
6. When the dead tree is carried out of the orchard, man cuts off its branches, and rives it asunder with his w
also is the lot of barren professors : " The Lord of tha
*' come in a day when he looketh not for him, find ^ " asunder ;" he shall be dissected, or cut abroad, Luk(
Now therefore " consider this, ye that forget God, le
" rend) you in pieces,"" Psalm 1. 22. O direful day ! wl hand that planted, pruned, and watered thee so long, a ]y, shall now strike mortal strokes at thee, and that w
" For, he that made them, will not have mercy on the
*' that formed them, will shew them no favour," Isa. xj the day of mercy is over ; and the day of his wrath is J
7. When this tree is cleaved abroad, then its rotten, h appears, which Mas the cause of its barrenness ; it lookf and sound-bodied tree, but now all may see how rottei heart ; so will God in that day, v/hen he shall dissect .professor, discover the rottenness of his heart, and uns
THE HEAVEXLY USE OF EARTHLY T1IIXC5. 1^
tVjere is no plant in Gocl''s vineyard, but he will have glory from i by bearing fruit ; or glory on it, by burning in the fire. In this fi
shall they lie " gnashing their teeth,"" Luke xiii. 38. and that both indignation against their saints, whom they shall see in glory ; ar against Jesus Christ, who would not save them ; and against thei
selves, for losing sofoolishly the opportunities of salvation. Do yc behold, when you sit by the fire, the froth that boils out of tho flaming logs ? O think of that foam and rage of those undone ere tures, foaming, and gnashing their teeth in that fire which is n quenched ! Mark ix. 14.
KEFLECTIONS.
A reflection for a -^^"^ often have I passed by such barren tree
Jbrnml hypocrite. ^'^ ^ ^^ ^^'^\^^^\^ 1^"^! ^^>f g t"' ^ '^^ a tree to be the emokm oi mvseli, as Nebucha
nezzar did, when he saw that tree in a dream, which represent* himself, and shadowed forth to him his ensuing misery, Dan. iv. 1 But, O my conscience ! my drowsy, sleepv conscience ! wert th( but tender, and faithful to me, diou wouldst make as round ai
terrible an application of such a spectacle to me as the faithful pr phet did to him, ver. 22. And thus wouldst thou, O my soul, b moan thy condition.
Poor wretch ! here I grow, for a little time, among the trees > righteousness, the plants of renown, but I am none of them ; I w;
never planted a right seed ; some green and flourisliing leaves of pr fession, indeed, I have, which deceive others, but God cannot 1 deceivecl ; he sees I am fruitless and rotten at the heart. Poor sou what will thine end be but burning t Behold, the ax Ueth by th
root .= and wonder it is, that there it should lie so long, and I y. standing ! Still mercy pleads for a fruitless creature : Lord, spare one year longer. Alas ! he need strike no great blow to ruin me
his verjbreath blows to destruction, Job iv. 9. A frown of his fa< can blast and ruin me, Psalm Ixxx. 6. He is daily solicited bv h
justice to hew me down, and yet I stand. Lord, 'cure my barrel
ne>s : I know thou hadst rather see fruit than fire upon me. THE POEM.
X F, after pains and patience, vou can see No hopes of fruit, down goes the barren tree. You ^-ill not suffer trees that are unsound, And barren too, to cumber useful ground. The fatal ax is laid unto the root :
158 HusBAXDJiY spiritualized; ou.
Think on it sadly, lay it close to heart. This is the case in which thou wast, or art. If so thou wast, but now dost live and grow, And bring forth fruit, what praise and thanks d( To that wise husbandman that made thee so ? O think, when justice lifted up its hand, How mercy did then interceding stand ! How pity did on thy behalf appear. To beg reprieval for another year. Stop, Lord ! forbear him : all hope is not past ; He can but be for fire at the last. Though many sermons, many a gracious call He hath resisted like a brazen wall, The next may win him ; when thy grace shall ra Unto itself a monument of praise. How should ^hh mediation thaw and melt
The heart of him that hath such mercy felt ? But, if thou still remain a barren tree.
Then here, as in a mirror, thou may'st see Thy wretched state, when justice, at a blow.
Requites God's patience in thine overthrow. And canst thou bear it ? Can thy heart endure
To think of everlasting burnings .'' Sure, This must thy lot, thy fearful portion be, If thou continue still a barren tree.
INTRODUCTION
To the Third Part of HUSBANDRY.
i^ OW, from the pleasant orchard let us walk A turn i' th' fields, and there converse and talk With cows and horses ; they can teach us some Choice lessons, though irrational and dumb.
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THIXCS.
CHAP. I.
Upon the Husbandman's Care for his Cattle.
More care for horse and oxen many taJce
Thanjbr their soulsj or dearest children" s sake,
OBSERVATION. M .ANY husbandmen are excessively careful about their catt
risinothemselves early, or causing their senants to rise betimes
provender and dress them. Much time is spent in some countri in trimming and adorning their horses with curious trappings a plumes of feathers ; and if at any time their beasts be sick, wl care is taken to recover and heal them: you will be sure th shall want nothing that is necessary for them ; yea, many ts chuse rather to want themselves, than suffer their horses so to d and take a great deal of comfort to see them thrive and prosj
under their hands.
W HAT one said of bloody Herod, who slew so many childr at Bethlehem, That it were better to be his swine tlian his s( may truly enough be applied to some parents and masters, who ta less care for the saving the souls of their children and senants, th they do for the bodies of those beasts which daily feed at their sta and cribs. Many there be who do in reference to their souls, as J cob did with respect to the preservation of their bodies, when he p all the herds of cattle before, and his wives and little ones behir
as he went to meet his brotlier Esau. It is a weighty saying oi
grave * author; ' It is vile ingratitude to rejoice when cattle multip'
* and repine when children increase ; it is heathenish distrustfulu<
' to fear that he who provides for your beasts, will not provide 1 * your children ; and it is no less than unnatural cruelty, to be carej * of the bodies of beasts, and careless of the souls of children.' I us but a little compare your care and diligence in both respects, ai see, in a few particulars, whether you do indeed value your own,
your children and servants' souls, as you do the life and health ol oeasL
1. Your care for your very horses is expressed early, whilst th are but colts, and not come to do vou any service ; you are willing
i. i -i ^
nv&BAT^miY spiritualized; ok.
ruption and wickedness, and not a rod of reproof i them oif it.
It is observed of the Persians,* that they put out th school, as soon as they can speak, and will not see them
after, lest their indulgence should do them hurt.
2. You keep your constant set times, morning and ev water, and dress your cattle, and will by no means ne but how many times have you neglected moiming scad, e in your families ? Yea, how manv be there, whose very pect of any. worship God hath there, do very little di
■very cribs and mangers at which their horses feed ? A are up in a morning, you are with your beasts beft been with your God. How little do such differ from happy were it, if they were no more accountable to G beasts are.
The end of your care, cost, and pains about your they may be strong for labour, and the more serviceable you comply with the end of their beings. But how rai to find these men as careful to fit their posterity to be u viceablc to God in their generations, which is the end of If you can make them rich, and provide good matches! reckon that, you have fully discharged the duty of par will learn to hold tlie plow, that you are willing to teacl vhcn did you spend an hour to teach them the way o
Now to convince such careless parents of the heinov sin, let these queries be solemnly considered.
Qu. 1 . Whether this be a sufficient discharge of thi wliich God hath laid upon Christian parents, in referen milies ? That God hath charged them with the souls ( lies, is undeniable, Deut. vi. 6, 7. Eph. vi. 4. If God ha ed you Avith his authority, to command them in the Avay he would never have charged them so strictly to yield y as he hath done, Eph. vi. 1. Col. iii. 20. Well, a gre; posed in you, look to your duty ; for, without dispute, swer for it.
Quest. 2. Whether it be likely, if the time of youth moulding age) be neglected, they will be wrought upon afterwards ? Husbamimen, let me put a sensible case to not see in your very horses, that whilst they are young, 3 them to any way ; but if once they have got a false st long custom it be grown natural to them, then there is
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EAKTHLT tniKCS. IC
¥ Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old h
i^ will not depart from it."" Qu. 3. AVliether if you neglect to instruct them in the way of in
ird, Satan, and their o\rn natural corruptions, will not instruct the! in the wav to hell ? Consider this, ye careless parents : if you will n< teach your children, the devU will teach them : if you shew them n( how to pray, he ^^ill diew them how to curse and swear, and tal the name of the Lord in vain ; if you grudge time and pains aho\ their souls, the devil dodi not Oh ! it is a sad consideradon, ths
'^^A)]
to manv children should be put to school to the de\-iL
Qu. 4. What comfort are you hke to have from them when th( are old, if vou bring them not up in the nurture and admonition i the Lord when they are young ? Many |)arents have hved to re^
in the'u" old age the fruit of their own folly and carelessness, in tl loose and vain education of their children. By Lycurgus's law, i parent was to be relieved by his children in age, if he gave them n good education in their youth ; and it is a law at this day among tl
Switzers, That if any child be condemned to die for a capital ofFenc the parents of that chUd are to be his executioners : these laws we made to provoke parents to look better to their charge. Beheve tl: as an undoubted truth, That that child which becomes through tl
default, an instrument to dishonour God, shall prove, sooner or latt a son or daughter of sorrow to thee.
1. God hath found out my sin this day. This hath been my practice ever since I had a family A reflection f
committed to my charge; I have spent more careless parents time and pains about tlie bodies of my beasts, than the souls of my children : beast that 1 am for so doing ! LitI have I considered the precious ness of m v own, or their iramorl
souls. How careful have I been to provide tbdder to preserve my a tie in the winter, whilst I leave my own and their souls to perish
eternity, and make no provision for them .' Surelv mv children w one day curse the time that ever they were bom unto such a cruel 1 ther, or of such a merciless modier. Should I bring home the plag in to my family, and live to see aU mv poor children lie dead bv t walls ; if I had not the heart of a tyger, such a sight would mi my heart : and yet the death of dieir souls, by the sin which I pi pagated to them, as I have done for a beast Uiat perisheth !
2. But, unhappy wretch that I am ! j ^ .. n .i j God cast a better lot for me ; 1 am the .^^r^^^f." >: '^^ ^ off-spring of religiousand tender parents, ^^^'^^^^ ''^''^ of a g;, -„i-_i ° 1 J 1 St ^ cious varent.
I f I «
162 IIL'SBANDKY SPIRITUALIZED ; 01?,
own practice before me ; many a time when I have sinn Lord, have they stood over me, with a rod in their ha in their eyes, using all means to reclaim me ; but like i wretch, I have slighted all their counsel, grieved the
imbittered their lives to them by my sinful courses. . thou art a degenerate plant ; better will it be with thi infidels than with thee, if repentance prevent not : noi family with them, but shortly I shall be separated froi as hell is from heaven ; they now tenderly pity my mis they shall approve and applaud the righteous sentence on me : so little privilege shall I then have from my rel that they shall be produced as witnesses against me, ar jected counsels, reproofs and examples, charged homt
the aggravations of my wickedness; and better it wi] shajl come to that, that I had been brought forth by sprung from the loins of such parents.
X OUR cattle in fat pastures thrive and grow.
There's nothing wanting that should make them so. The pampered horse commends his master's care. Who neither pains nor cost doth grudge or spare. But art not thou mean while the vilest fool,
That pamper'st beasts, and starves thy precious soul i 'Twere well if thou couldst die as well as live Like beasts, and had no more account to give. O that these hues your folly might detect !
Who both your own and children's souls neglect To care for beasts. O man I prepare to hear
The doleful'st language that e'er pierc'd thine ear ; When you your children once in hell shall meet,
And with such language their damn'd parents greet
" O cursed father ! wretched mother ! why " Was I your ofF-spring ? Would to God that I " Had sprung from tygers, who more tender be *' Unto their young than you have been to me. *' How did you spend your thoughs, time, care, an( *' About my body, whilst my soul was lost ? " Did you not know I had a soul, that must
*' Live, when this body was dissolv'd to dust .'' *' You could not chuse but understand if I,
THE HEAVEXLY l?Sl|:©»BAftTHLY THINCrS. 1
** Their child to endless torments. Now must 1
" With, and through you, in flames for ever lie." Let this make every parent tremble, lest He lose liis child, whilst caring for his beast : Or lest liis owti poor soul do stane and pine, M
Whilst he takes thought for horses, sheep and kinc "
Upon the hard Labour, and cruel Usage of Beasts.
When under loads yoiir beasts do groan^ think then
Hoio great a mercy "tis that you are men.
OBSERVATION. g0
X HOUGH some men be excessively careful and tender over th beasts, as was noted in the former chapter ; yet others are cruel a merciless towards them, not regarding now they ride or burden tlu Hgw often have I seen them fainting under then* loads, wrought their legs, and turned out with galled backs into the fields or hi< ways to shift for a little grass ; many times have I heard and pit them groaning under unreasonable burden?, and beaten on by m ciless drivers, till at last, by such cruel usage, they have been (
stroyed, and then cast into a ditcli for dog's meat.
UCH sights as these should make men thankful for the mercv their creation, and bless their bountiful Creator, that they were i made such creatures themselves. Some beasts are made ad csu
only for food, being no otherwise useful to men, as suine, &:c. Th are only fed for slaughter ; we kill and eat them, and regard i their cries and struo:glings when the knife is thrust to their v< .... hearts ! others are only ad usxiin^ for service whilst living, but i profitable when dead, as horses; these we make to drudge and t for us from day to day, but kill them not ; others are both ad esu et u^um, for food when dead, and service whilst alive, as the o these we make to plow our fields, draw our carriage?, and afterwai prepare them for the slaughter.
But man was made for nobler ends, created lord of the \ov
164 llUSBAXDIlY sriRlTUALlZED ; OB,
the lowest condition of creatures, and to bless God that any creature below themselves, give us a famous instanc lowing story : Two cardinals (saith he) riding in a great c to the council of Constance, by the way they heard a fields, weeping and wailing bitterly ; they rode to him him what he ailed ? Perceiving his eye intently fixed u toad, he told them that his heart melted with the con this mercy, that God had not made him such a deforme some creature, though he were formed out of the same Hoc est quod amarejieo^ said he, this is that which mal bitterly. Whereupon one of the cardinals cried out, W father, the unlearned will rise and take heaven, when
our learning shall be thrusti nto hell. That Avhicli mell of this poor man, snould melt every heart when we misery to which these poor creatures are subjected. A appear a mercy of no slight consideration, if we but dn rison betwixt ourselves and these irrational creatures, in
particulars.
1. Though they and we were made of the same mou yet how much better hath God dealt with us, even as to man ? The structure of our bodies is much more exo made other good creatures bv a word of command, 1 counsel ; it was not. Be thou, but. Let ns make man. have been made stones without sense, or beasts without re were made men. The noble structure and symmetry o invite our souls not only to thankfulness but admirati(
speaking of the curious frame of the body, saith, " I
*' fully made," Psal. cxxxix. 14. or, as the vulgar read as with a needle, like some rich piece of needlework ci broidered with nerves and veins. Was any part of 1 lump of clay thus fashioned ? Galen gave Epicurus an hi time to imagine a more commodious situation, configura position of any one part of a human body : and (as one the angels in heaven had studied to this day, they coi cast the body of man into a more curious mould.
2. How little ease or rest have they ? They live not and those they do are in bondage and misery, groanin effects of sin ; but God hath provided better for us, ev outward condition in the world ; we have the more r
they have so little. How many refreshments and comfoi Drovided for us. of which thev are incaoable .'' If we b(
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EAKTHLV T«IXGS.
end to : but how comprehensive are our souls in their capaciti
We are made in the image of God ; we can look beyond pres things, and are capable of the highest happiness, and that to eternity : the soiil of a beast is but a material form, wliich, \vh( depending upon, must needs die witli the body; but our souls a divine spark or blast ; and when the body dies, it dies not v it, but subsists even in its separated state.
AEFLECTIOKS.
1. How great a sin is ingratitude to God for A reflection Jbr such a common, but choice mercy of creation ivithunkful shin
and pro\-ision for me in this world ? There is no creature made worse by kindness, but man. There i kind of gratitude which I may observe, even in these brute beas
they do in their way acknowledge their benefactors ; " The
*' knows his owner, and the ass his master s crib." How ready they to ser\ e such as feed and cherish them ? But I have been b; imthankful and unserviceable to my Creator and Benefactor, tl hath done me good all my days; those poor creatures that sweat a groan under the load that I lay upon them, never sinned against G( nor transgressed the laws of their creation, as I have done ; and - God hath dealt Ijetter with me than with them. O that the boui
of G<xl, and his distinguishing mercy between me and the beasts tl
perish, might move and melt my heart into thankfulness ! O tha might consider seriously what the higher and more excellent end ray creation is, and might more endeavour to answer and live up it ! Or else, O my soul, it will be worse with thee than the beasi it is true, they are under bondage and misery ; but it is but foj little time ; death will end all their pains, and ease them of all th^ heavy loads ; but I shall groan to all eternity, under a heavier bi den than ever they felt ; they have no account to give, but so ha I. What comfort is it, that I have a larger capacity than a be; hath ? That God hath endowed me with reason, which is denied them ? Alas I this will but augment my misery, and enlarge me
take in a greater measure of anguish,
2. By how many steps, O my soul ! maycst iliou ascend in the praises of thy God, when thou A nficciionj considerest the mercies that God hath bestowed an elect soul upon thee ; not only in that he made thee not a stone or tree without sense, or an horse or dog without reason ; b that thou art not an infidel without light, or an unregenerate porst
166 HUSBANDRY SriRITLfALIZED ; OR,
sanctified have not ! O my soul ! how rich, how bountii God been to thee ! These are the overflowings of his who wast moulded out of the same lump with the heasti on earth, yea, with the damned that howl in hell : well that God hath been a good God to me !
W HEN I behold a tired jade put on With whip and spur till all his strength be gone ; See streams of sweat run down hig bleeding sides,
How little mercy ""s shewn by him that rides. If I more thankful to my God would prove Than such a rider merciless, 'twill move My soul to praise : For who sees this, and can But bless the Lord that he was made a man. And such a sight the rider ought to move This meditation duly to improve.
What hath this creature done, that he should b
Thus beaten, wounded, and tir'd out by me ? He is my fellow-creature ; 'tis mere grace I had not been in his, he in my case. Ungrateful, stupid man ! God might have raad( Me bear the saddle, as I see this jade.
He never sinn'd, but for my sin doth lie Subjected unto all this misery. Lord, make my heart relent, that I should be To thee more useless than my horse to me : He did his utmost, went as long as ever His legs could bear him ; but for me I never Thus spent my strength for God, but oft have Too prodigal thereof in ways of sin. Though he's the horse, and I the man, Hwill be Far better with my horse one, day than me : Unless thy grace prevent and superadd A new creation unto that I had. Could every reader fix a serious thought On such a subject, and hereby be taught To spiritualize it, and improve it thus ; How sweet would tedious journeys be to us i But such a task a graceless heart tires out,
THE HEAVEXLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS.
CHAP. III.
Upon the seeking of lost Cattle.
When seeking your lost cattle, keep in mind. That thus Christ Jesus seeks your souls tojind.
OBSERVATION. W HEN cattle are strayed away from your fields, you use
care and diligence to recover them again ; tracing their footst(
crying them in the market-to '.vns, sending your servants abrt and enquiring yourselves of all that you think can give news of th What care and pains men will take in such cases, was exemplifies Saul, 1 Sam. ix. -i, 5. who with his servant, passed through nic Ephraim to seek the asses that were strayed from his father,
through the land of Shalisha, and through the land of ShaUm, they were not there, and through the land of the Benjamites, found them not.
APPLICATIOX.
X HE care and pains you take to recover your lost cattle, car a sweet and lively representation of the love of Jesus Christ, in recovery of lost sinners. Jesus Christ came on purpose from ] ven upon a like errand, to seek and to save that which was 1 Mattb. xviii. 11. There are several particulars in which this g] ous design of Christ, in seeking and saving lost man, and the i and pains of husbandmen in recovering their lost cattle, do meet touch, though there be as many particulars also in which they dif all which I shall open under the following heads.
1. We sometimes find that cattle will break out of those very fii where they have been bred ; and where they want nothing th£ needful for them. Just thus lost man departed from his God, bt out of that pleasant enclosure where he was abundantly provided both as to soul and body ; yet then he brake over the hedge of command, and went astray, Eccles. vii. 29. '* Lo, this only ha^ " found, that God made man upright, but he sought out to him " many inventions:" He was not content and satisfied with blessed state God had put him into, but would be trying new i elusions, to the loss and ruin both of himself and his posterity.
2. Strayers are evermore sufferers for it ; all they get by it i be pined and poinded : and what did man get by departing from
* -Sw-.-Jt.-^ J. S~~» <Rs<iTr::»«">s««j^!.
168 HUSBANDRY SFIIIITUALIZED ; OH,
of sin ; he lost the liberty and freedom of his will to good jewel of inestimable value. This is a real misery incurred
though some have so far lost their understandings and 1 not to own it; he hath lost his God, his soul, his happin very bowels of compassion towards himself in this misera
^. When your cattle are strayed, yea, though it be bu flock or herd, you leave all the rest, and go after that w
So did Jesus Christ, who, in the forecited place, Matt compares himself to such a shepherd ; he left heaven iti the blessed angxds there, to come into this world to see O the precious esteem, and dear love that Christ had to
How did his bowels yearn towards us in our low state ! ' pity us in our misery ! As if he had said, poor creatures lost themselves, and are become a prey to the devil in state ; I will seekafter them, and save them. The so come to seek and to save.
4. You are glad when you have found your strayers, is Christ wlien he hath found a lost soul. O it is a great to him to see the fruit of the travail of his soul, Isa. liii. '*
" is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth
*' ninety-nine just persons that need no repentance." W strations of joy and gladness did the father of the pr when he had found his son that was lost ? Luke xv. 20.
5. When you have brought home your strayers, yoi clog them to prevent their wandering again, and stop i with thorns; and so doth God oftentimes by such souls vered and brought home to Christ; he hangs a clog of prevent their departure from God again, 2 Cor. xii, 7.
But then there are five particulars in which Christ's souls, and your seeking lost cattle differ.
1. Your cattle sometimes find the way home themsel turn to you of their own accord ; but lost man never ( do so ; he was his own destroyer, but can never be his o
it was possible for him not to have lost his God, but lost him, can never find him accam of himself Alas ! bent to backsliding, he hath no will to return. Hear
complains, John v. 40. " Ye will not come unto me."'' covery begins in God, not in himself.
2. Your servants can find, and bring back your lost (
as you ; but so cannot Chiist^s servants : Ministers m but cannot recover them : they daily see, but cannot
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THJTN'GS. J
creatures, and such as by nature were more excellent, that lost tli God and themselves : I mean, the apostate angels ; but he came ; to seek them : herein his singular love to man appears.
4. When you have recovered and brought home your lost cat you may lose them the second time, and never recover them aga
but so cannot Christ. Man once recovered is for ever secured
him. " All that thou hast given me, I have kept, and not one
*' them is lost but the son of perdition ;" and he was never saviuj found, John xvii. 12.
5. Though you prize your cattle, yet you will not venture y( life for the recovery of them ; rather let them go than regain th with such an hazard ; but Jesus Christ not only ventured, but actt ly laid down his life to recover and save lost man : he redeemed th at the price of his own blood ; he is that good shepherd that laid do his life for the sheej). O the surpassing love of Christ to lost sou
EEFLECTIOXS.
1. Lord, I am a lost creature ! an undone soul ! and herein lies : misery, that I have not only lost my God, but
have no heart to return to him : nay, I fly from A rcflectum Jb, Christ, who is come on purpose from heaven to lost soul. seek and to save me : his messengers are abroad, seeking for such as I am, but I avoid them, or at least refuse to ol their call and persuasions to return. Ah, what a miserable state I in ! Every step I go is a step towards hell ; my soul, with the p digal, is ready to perish in a strange country : but I have no mii with him, to return home. Wretched soul ! what will the end this be ? If God have lost thee : the devil hath found thee ; he ta
up all strayers from God : yea, death and hell will shoitlv find th if Christ do not ; and then thy recovery, O my soul ! will be i possible ! Why sit I here perishing and dying ? I am not yet irrecoverably lost as the damned are. O let me delay no long lest I be lost for ever !
2. O my soul ! for ever bless and admire the love of Jesus Chr who came from heaven to seek and save such a
lost soul as I was. Lord, how marvellous ! how A reflection j matchless is thy love ! I was lost, and am found : one that xvas Ic
I am found, and did not seek ; nay, I am found but isjbund. by him from whom I fled. Thy love, O my Sa-
\-iour ! was a preventing love, a wonderful love ; thou lovedst much more than I loved myself; I was cruel to my own soul, \ thou wast kind ; thou soughtest for me a lost sinner, and not for 1
170 IirSBANDllY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR,
shall I ever straggle again from thee ? O let it for ever be
to me, how I turn aside into the by-paths of sin any mor
▼ T HEN cattle from your fields are gone astray,
And you to seek them through the country ride ; Enquiring for them all along the way,
Tracking their footsteps where they turn'd aside ; One servant this way sent, another that,
Searching the fields and country round about ; This meditation now falls in so pat,
As if God sent it to enquire you out : My beasts are lost, and so am I by sin ;
JNIy wretched soul from God thus wandVing wen As I seek them, so was I sought by him,
Who from the Father's bosom forth was sent. Pursued by sermons, followed close by grace. And strong convictions, Christ hath sought for r Yea, though I shun him, still he gives me chase,
As if resolv'd 1 should not damned be. When angels lost themselves, it was not so ;
God did not seek, or once for them enquire ; But said, Let these apostate creatures go,
I'll plague them for it with eternal fire. Lord ! what am I, that thou should'st set thine ey< And still seek after such a wretch as I ? W hose matchless mercy, and rich grace ciespise,
As if, in spite thereof, resolv'd to die. Why should I shun thee.? Blessed Saviour, why Should I avoid thee thus ? Thou dost not chase My soul to slay it ; O that ever I
Should fly a Saviour that's so full of grace ! Long hast thou sought me. Lord, I now return,
O let thy bowels of compassion sound ; For my departure I sincerely mourn.
And let this day thy wand'ring sheep be found.
CHAP. IV.
Upon the Feeding of Fat Cattle.
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EAETHT.Y THDfGS.
rniquuntur: Oxen for use are daily yoked and kept short, whilst thos that are designed for the shambles, are let loose in green pastures t
feed at pleasure. Store beasts fare hard, and are kept lean and low feeding beasts are excused from the yoke, whilst others are laboure and wrought hard every day ; the one hath more than he can ea the other would eat more if he had it.
A HUS deals the Lord oft-times with his own elect, whom lie d
sio-ns for glory ; and with the wicked, who are preparing for tl day of wrath : thus are they filled with earthly prosperity and ere ture-enjoyments, like lusty and wanton beasts turned out at liber in a fat pasture, whilst poor saints are kept hard and short ; Amos J
1. " Hear this word, yekineof Bashan, that are in the mountains
" Samaria, which oppress the poor, crush the needy."' These mel phorical kine are the prosperous oppressors of the world, full fed, ai wanton, wicked men. It is true, heaven hath not all the poor, n hell all the rich ; but it is a verjcommon dispensation of provider
to bestow most of the things of this world upon them that have portion in heaven ; and to keep them short on earth, for whom tl kingdom is provided. Let me draw forth the similitude in a f
particulars.
1. The beasts of slaughter have the fattest pastures; so have 1
ungodly in the world ; " Their eyes stand out with fatness: they ht
" more than heart could wish,^ Psal. Ixxiii. 7. Their hearts are fat as grease, Psal. cxix. 70. These be they that fleet off the ere;
of earthly enjoyments, "whose bellies are filled withhidden treasure
Psal. xvii. 14. " The earth is given into the hand of the wicke Job ix. 24. O what full estates ! what an affluence of earthly ( lights hath God cast in upon some wicked men ! There is mi wantonness, but no want in their dwellings : some that know
which way to turn themselves in hell, once knew not where to stow their goods on earth.
2. Feeding beasts grow wanton in their full pastures ; there i shall see them tumble and frisk, and kick up their heels. The s£
effect hath the prosperity of the Avicked ; it makes them M'ant( their life is but a diversion from one pleasure to another, Job :
11, 12, 13. " They send forth their little ones like a flock, and tl " children dance : they take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at " sound of the organ : they spend their days in wealth, and :
" mompnt 0T> nnwn in thp rrravp " T'ht" c«im<:» nTinrnr-tor rlntVi
172 nuSBAXDKY SPIRITUALIZED ; 01?,
cattle : the sooner they are fatted, the sooner they are si and the prosperity of the wicked serves to the same end : rity of fools shall destroy them ; i. e. it shall be the me strument of heating and heightening their lusts, and the them for destruction ; their prosperity is food and fuel t ruptions. Many wicked men had not been so soon ripe f they not grown in the sunshine of prosperity.
4. Fatted beasts do not in the least understand the meaning of the husbandman, in allowing them such large i tures, which he denies to his other cattle; and as little i
wicked men understand the scope and end of God's pro\ casting prosperity and wealth upon them ; little do they tables are a snare, a gin, and a trap for their souls ; the beasts, mind what is before them, but do not at all und tendency and end of these their sensual delights.
5. Though the husbandman keeps his store-cattle in mons, yet he intends to preserve them : these shall remai when the others are driven to the slaughter.
Such a design of preservation is carried on in all tho straits, wants, and hardships which the Lord exposes hi; I confess, such dispensations, for the present, are very stu puzzling things, even to gracious and wise persons. To men, not only exempted from their troubles, but even with prosperity : to see a godly man in Avants and str
wicked man have more than his heart can wish, is a cast the wisest Christian, till he considers the designs and iss those providences, and then he acquiesces in the wisdom ordering it, Psal. Ixxiii. 5, 14, 18, 23.
JIEFLECTIONS.
1. Doth my prosperity fat me up for hell, and prep the day of slaughter.? Little cause have I then to glory in it, and lift up my heart upon these A reflet things. Indeed, God hath given (I cannot say voluptitoia blessed me with) a fulness of creature-enjoy-
ments ; upon these my carnal heart seizeth greedily an( not at all suspecting a snare lying in these things for the
soul. What are all these charming pleasures, but so mar
quiet my soul, whilst its-damnatlon steals insensibly upon are all my businesses and employments in the world, bi diversions from the business of life ? There are but two
THE HF.AVEXLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 1'
progperity, if I were taken captive by cruel cannibals, and fed wi the richest fare, but withal understood, that the design of it were
fat me up hke a beast for them to feed upon, how little stomach shou I have to their dainties ! O my soul ! it were much better for th to have a sanctified poverty, which is the portion of many sain than an ensnaring prosperity, set as a trap to ruin thee for ever.
2. The wisdom of my God hath allotted me j „ . but short commons here ; his providence feeds Ch. ' f me, but from hand to mouth ; but I am, and P^ w ell may be, contented with my present state ; that which sweete it is, that I am one of the Lords preserved. How much better vl morsel of bread and a draught of water here, ^vith an expectancy fflorv hereafter, than a fat pasture given in, and a fitting for t wrath to come ? Well, since the case stands thus, blessed be G( for my present lot ! Though I have but a little in hand, I have mui \\\ hope; my present troubles will serve to sweeten my future joy and the sorrows of this life will give a lustre to the glory of the nex that which is now hard to suffer, w*ill then be sweet to remembe my songs will then be louder than my groans now are.
A HOSE beasts which for the shambles are designed. In fragrant flow'rj' meadows you shall find. Where they abound with rich and plenteous fare. Whilst others graze in commons thin and bare : Those live a short and pleasant life, but these Protract their lives in dry and shorter leas. Thus hve the wicked; thus they do abound With earthly glory, and with honour crown d.
Their lofty heads unto the stars aspire, And radiant beams their shining brows attire.
The fattest portion's serv'd up in their dish ; Yea, they have more tlian their own hearts can wish.
Dissojv'd in pleasures, crowned with buds of May ; They, for a time, in these fat pastures play. Frisk, dance and leap, like full-fed beasts ; and even Turn up their wanton heels against the heaven ; Not understanding that this pleasant life. Serves but to fit them for the butcher's knife. In fragrant meads they tumbling are to-day. To-morrow to the slaughter led away.
174 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OB,
Cheer up, poor flock, although your fare be thin. Yet here is something to take comfort in : You here securely feed, and need not fear,
Th' infernal butcher can't approach you here. 'Tis somewhat that ; but, oh ! which far transcends. Your glorious shepherd's coming, who intends To lead you hence unto that fragrant hill. Where, with green pastures, he his flocks will fill ; Or which he from celestial casements pours
The sweetest dews, and constant gracious shovv'rs ; Along whose banks rivers of pleasures glide, There his bless'd flocks for ever shall abide, O envy not the worldlings present joys. Which to your future mercies are but toys.
Their pasture now is green, your's dry and burn'd. But then the scene is chang'd, the tables turn'd.
""tffgfffgltama. CHAP. V.
Upon the Husbandman's Care for Poster
Good husbands labour for posterity ;
To after-ages saints must have an eye.
Jl ROVIDENT and careful husbandmen do not on supply their own necessities, while living, but lay up sc their posterity when they are gone : they do not only 1( children what their progenitors left them, but they dcsi: improved and bettered. None but bad husbands and j are of the mind with that heathen emperor Tiberius, put all into such confusions in the empire, that it might the world would end with him ; yet pleased himself witl hension. That he should be out of the reach of it ; and say. When I am dead, let heaven and earth mingle ; : will but hold my time, let it break when I am gone, dent men look beyond their own time, and do very m themselves in the good or evil of their posterity.
THE HF.AVF.XLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 1
convey the truths of Grod to posterity : but since the sacred truth hi been consigned to writing, no such tradition (except fully consenti'
w-ith that written word) is to be received as authentic ; but the tru therein delivered to the saints, are, by verbal declarations^ open c fesswns, and constant sufferings, to be preserved and delivered fr age to age. This was the constant care of the whole cloud of witness
both ancient and motlern, who have kept the word of God's patien and would not accept their own lives, liberties, or estates, no, i the whole world in exchange for that invaluable treasure of trul
they have carefully practised Solomon's counsel, Prov. xxiii. " Buy the ti'utli, but sell it not ;" they would not alienate that 1 inheritance for all the inheritances on earth. Upon the same reas< that you refuse to part with, or imbezzle your estates, Christians a refuse to part with the truth of God.
1. You will not waste or alienate your inheritance, because ii precious, and of great value in your eyes ; but much more preci(
are God's truths to his people. Luther professed, he would not ti the whole icorld for one leaf of his Bible. Though some profj persons may say with Pilate, What is truth ? Yet know, that any (
truth of the gospel is more worth than all the inheritances u^
earth; they are the great things of God's law ; and he that sells th for the greatest things in this world, makes a soul-undoing barga
2. You wUl not waste or part with your inheritance, because v know your posterity will be much wronged by it. They that da or drink away an estate, drink the tears of their sad widows, and i very blood of their impoverished children. The people of God also consider, how much the generations to come are concerned the conservation of the truths of God for them : It cuts them to 1
heart, but to think that their children should be brought up worship dumb idols, and fall down before a wooden and breadenGi The very birds and beasts will expose their own bodies to appar. danger of death to presene their young. Religion doth much mi tender the hearts and bowels than nature doth.
S. You reckon it a foul disgrace to sell your estates, and becoi bankrupts ; it is a word that bears ill among you : and a Christi accounts it the highest reproach in the world, to be a traitor to, an apostate from the truths of God. When the primitive sail were strictly required to deliver up their Bibles, those that did i were justly branded, and hissed out of their company, under 1 odious title of traditores, or deliverers.
4. You are so loth to part with your estates, because you know ii
176 JlUSBANDRY SPIUiXUALIZKD; OR,
recovered, her Naphtalies ; for with great wrestlings she
led for them ; " earnestly contending for the faith once
" them," Jude 3.
5. To conclude ; rather than you will part with your will choose to suffer many wants and hardships all youi
will fare hard, and go bare, to preserve what you haposterity : but the people of God have put themselvi greater hardships than these to preserve truth ? they to suffer reproaches, poverty, prisons, death, and the
torments, rather than the loss of God's truth, all the ra will inform you what their sufferings have been, to ke
of God's patience ; they liave boldly told their enemit might pluck their hearts out of their bodies, but should the truth out dF their hearts.
REFLECTIONS.
1. Base unbelieving heart ! How have I flinched anc
A jj f f truth, when it hath been in danger.? I
•^ 77 "^7 chosen to leave it than my life, liberty, coxvaralu and ^ ,, tit a. ^\
■f ' 1 1 t il ^ P'^^y ^o ^"'^ enemy. 1 have lert trut *^ n' it is that the God of truth should leave
* *^ ■ ardiy soul ! that durst not make a st; truth : yea, rather bold and daring soul ! that would rat to look a wrathful God, than an angry man in the face, own and preserve the truth, and the God of truth will n
2 Tim. ii. 12. " If we deny him, he will deny us." 2. Lord ! unto me hast thou committed the precious t trust of truth ; and as I receivec A reflection for such desire to deliver it to the generatic as suffer Jbr truth. that the people which are yet u
praise the Lord. God forbid I part with such a fair inheritance, and thereby beggar n: thousands of souls ! Thou hast given me thy truth, an hates me ; I well know that it is the ground of the quari I but throw truth over the walls, how soon would a retreat
to all persecutors.'' But, Lord, thy truth is invaluabi What a vile thing is my blood, compared with the leas
truths .'' Thou hast charged me not to sell it ; and, in tl I resolve never to pass a fine, and cut off that golden h thy truths are entailed upon thy people from generatioi tion : my friends may go, my liberty may go, my bloc but as for thee, orecious truth, thou sluilt never ffo.
THE HEAVEXLV USE OF EARTHLY THTXGS. 1
souls, heated with the love of Christ, and care for our souk, ma many bold and brave adventures for it ; and yet at what a low n do we value what cost them so dear ? Like young heirs that ne^ knew the gettin<j of an estate, we spend it freely. Lord, help thankfully and diligently to improve thy truths, while we are quiet possession of tliem. Such intervals of peace and rest i usually of no long continuance with thy people.
-TjL PUBLIC spirit scorns to plant no root But such from which himself may gather fruit. For thus he reasons. If I reap the gains Of laborious predecessors pains. How equal is it, that posterity Should reap the fruits of present industry ? Should every age but serve its turn, and take No thought for future times, it soon will make A bankrupt world, and so entail a curse From age to age, as it grows worse and worse. Our Christian predecessors careful thus Have been to leave an heritage to us.