Upon the care of husbandmen to provide
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
CHAP.
XVI .
Upon theCareofHufbandmen toprovide for Winter.
Your winterstore infummeryou provide:
To Chriftian prudence this must beapply'd.
OBSERVATIΟΝ.
OOD husbands are careful in fummer toprovideforwinter ; then they gather intheir winter ſtore: food and fewel for themselves, and fodder for their cattle. " He that gathers in fummer, is a wife fon: buthe that fleeps in har- " veſt, is a fon that cauſeth ſhame," Prov. x. 5. A well choſen ſeaſon is the greatest advantage to any action; which, as it is feldom found inhafte, ſo it is often loftby delay. "Tis a good proverb which the frugal Dutch have among them :
Bonus fervatius faciet bonum bonifacium; Agood faver, will makea good benefactor. And 'tis a good proverb of our own, he that neglects the occafion, the occafionwill neglect him.
Huſbandmen know that ſummer will nothold allthe year; neitherwill they truft to the hopes of a mild and favourable winter,but inſeaſon provide for the worst.
APPLICATIΟΝ.
Hat excellent Chriſtians shouldwebe,werewe but as What providentandthoughtful for ourfouls ? 'Tis doubtleſs a fingularpoint of Chiſtian wisdom, to forefee aday of ſpiritual ftraits and neceffities ; and, during the day of grace, to make provifion forit.
This great goſpel-truth is excellently ſhadowed forth in this natural obfervation,which Iſhallbranch out into theſe ſeven particulars.
1. Husbandmen know there is a changeand viciſſitude of feafons and weather; though it be pleaſant fummer weather now, yet winter will tread upon the heel offummer: frofts,
Inows, andgreat falls of rains must be expected.
This alternatecourſe offeafons, innature, is fettled by a firmlawofthe Godofnature, tothe end oftheworld,Gen. viii. 22." Whilſt
"the earth remaineth, feed-time, and harveft, coldandheat, "winter and fummer,day and night, fhall not ceaſe."
And Chriſtians know, that there are changes in the right. handofthe moſt High,in reference to their ſpiritual ſeaſons.
Ifthere be a spring-time ofthe goſpel, there willbe alſo an
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$30 Husbandry Spiritualized; or,
autumn; ifaday ofprosperity, it will fet in a night ofadverfity : " forGod hath ſet the one over against the other,
Eccleſ. vii. 14. Inheaventhere is aday of everlaſting ſerenity; inhell a night of perfect endleſs horror and darkness ; on earth, lightanddarkneſs take theirturns,profperity andadverfity, even to fouls as well as bodies, ſucceed each other.
If there be a goſpel-day, a day ofgracenow current, itwillhave its period anddetermination, Gen. iii. 6.
2. Common prudence and experience enable the husbandman, in the midst ofſummer, to foreſee awinter, and provide for itbefore he feel it; yea, natural inſtinct teaches this to the verybirds of the air, and beasts ofthe field.
•And ſpiritual wisdom ſhould teach Chriſtians to exerciſe their foreſeeing faculties, and not fuffer them to feel evil before they fear it.
But, oh! the ſtupifying nature of fin !
Though the ſtork in the heavens knows her appointed time, and the turtle, crane and swallowthe time of their coming, yet man, whomGod hath made wiſerthanthe fowls of the air, in this, acts quite below them, Jer. viii. 7.
3. The end ofGod's ordaining afummer ſeaſon,andfending warm and pleafant weather, is toripenthe fruits ofthe earth, andgive the husbandman fit opportunity togatherthem in.
AndGod's deſign ofgiving men a day ofgrace, is to furniſh them with an opportunity for the everlasting happineſs and falvationoftheir fouls; Rev. ii. 21. " Igave hera ſpace to re- " pent."
It is not a mere reprival of the foul, or only adelay ofthe execution ofthreatned wrath, thoughthere be much mercyinthat; butthe peculiar aim of this patienceand bounty ofGod, is to open for them a way to eſcape the wrath to come, "by leading them to repentance," Rom. ii. 4.
4. The husbandman doth not find all harvest-feafons alike favourable ; ſometimes they have much fair weather, and meet with nohindrance in their buſineſs ; othertimes it is a catchingharvest, but now andthen a fairday, and then they must be nimble, or all is loft..
There is alſo agreat difference in ſoul-ſeaſons ; fome have had a long and fair ſeaſon ofgrace ; ahundred and twenty years.didGodwait upon the oldworld, inthe miniſtry ofNoah.
Long didGod waiton the gainſaying Ifraelites, Ifa. xlii.
14. " Ihave a longtime heldmypeace;, I have been ſtill, and " refrained myſelf."
Others have a ſhort and catching ſeafon, all lies upon a day, upon a nick oftime, Acts xvii . 30.
5.Aproper ſeaſon neglected, and loft, is irrecoverable. Many things inhuſbandrymustbedone intheir ſeaſon, or cannec f.
TheHeavenlyUfe of EarthlyThings.
bedoneat all for that year: ifhe plow not, and fow not, in the proper ſeaſon, he lofes the harvest ofthat year.
It is even ſo as to ſpiritual-ſeaſons : Chriſt neglected, and gracedeſpiſed, in the ſeaſonwhenGod offers them, are irrecoverably loft,Prov.i. 28. " Then (thatis whentheſeaſon is over)
"they ſhall call uponme,but Iwill nothear." Oh ! there is a greatdeal oftimeina ſhort opportunity ; thatmaybe done, or prevented, in an hour rightlytimed, which cannotbedone,or prevented, in aman's life-timeafterwards.
There was one reſolved to killJulius Cæfar ſuch aday : the nightbefore afriend ſenthim aletter to acquaint him with it: but he being at ſupper, andbuſy in diſcourſe, ſaid, to-morrow is a new day; and indeed it was dies noviſſima, his last day to him.
Whence it became a proverb inGreece,To-morrow is anew day.
Our glaſs runs inheaven, andwe cannot ſeehowmuch or little of thefandofGod's patience isyet to rundown; but this is certain, whenthat glaſs is run, there isnothing tobedone for our ſouls, Luke xix. 42. "O that thou hadſt known, at least,
" in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace; but "now theyarehid fromthineeyes."
6. Thoſe huſbandmen that are careful and laborious in the ſummer, have the comfort and benefit of it in winter: he that thenprovides fewel, ſhall fit warm inhis habitation, whenothers blowtheir fingers. Hethat provides food for his family, and fodder for his cattle, in the harveſt, ſhall eat the fruit of it, andenjoythecomfort ofhis labours, when others ſhall be expoſed to ſhifts and ſtraits. Andhe that provides for eternity, and lays up for his foul a good foundation against the time tocome, ſhall eat when others are hungry, and fingwhen othershowl, Ifa. lxv. 13. Aday ofdeath will come, and that willbe aday of ſtraits to allnegligent ſouls; butthen thediligent Chriſtian ſhall enjoythe peace and comfort that ſhall flow inuponhisheart, fromhisholycare and fincere diligence induties ; as 2 Cor. i. 12. " This is our rejoicing, the teſti
"monyofourconfcience, that in ſincerityandgodly ſimpli- " city, wehave had ourconverſation inthisworld."
So Hezekiah, 2 Kings xx. 3. "Remember now, O Lord, how I " have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart."
Aday of judgment will come, and then foolish virgins, who neglectedthe ſeaſon ofgetting oil in their lamps, will be put to their ſhifts ; then theycome to the wife, and ſay, Give us ofyour oil, Matth. xxv. 8, 9. but theyhave none to ſpare, and theſeaſonofbuying is then over.
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, 7. Nowifehusbandmanwill neglect a fit opportunityofgarthering inhishayand corn, upon apreſumption ofmuchfair weatherto come : he will not ſay, The weather is fettted, and Ineed nottrouble myself; though my corn andhaybe fit for the houſe,yet Imayget itin another time as well as now.
Andnowife Chriſtian will loſe a preſent ſeaſon for hisfoul, uponthe hopes ofmuch more time,yet to come ; but will rather ſay, Now is mytime, and I know not what will be hereafter : hereafter. Imay wish to fee one of the days of theSonofman, andnot fee it, Luke xvii. 22.
Itis fad to hearhow cunning ſome menare to diſpute themselves out of heaven, asifthe devilhad hiredthem topleadagainst theirown fouls; fometimes urging the example of thoſe that were called at the eleventh hour,Mat. xx. 6. andſometimes that of the penitentthief: but,oh! tohowlittle purpoſe isthe formerpleaded? they thatwere called at the eleventh hourwere never calledbefore, as theſe havebeen; noman hadhired, that is, cal ledor invitedthem toChriſt ; and for the thief(as Mr. Fenner rightly obſerves) itwasa fingular and extraordinary example.
Itwas done when Chrift hangedon the croſs,and was to be inaugurated; then kings manifeſt ſuch bounty, and pardon ſuch crimes as are neverpardoned afterwards.
Besides,God was then in awayofworking miracles; then he rent the rocks, opened the graves, raiſed the dead, and converted this thief; butGod is now out of that way.
REFLECTION.
1. Ihave indeedbeenagoodhusband for The careless foul's theworld:withwhat careandprovidence reflection. have I looked outfor myself and family, toprovide food to nourish them, and cloathsto defend them against the aſperities of winter ? mean while, neglecting to make proviſion for eternity, or take care for my foul. O my deftitute foul ! how much have I flighted and undervalued thee ? Ihave takenmore care for an horſe, or an ox, than for thee: awell ſtoredbarn,but an empty foul.
Will it not ſhortly bewith me, as with that careleſs mother, who,when her houſe was on fire, buſilybeſtirred herself to ſave the goods, but forgot the child(though itwere favedby another hand)?
andthenminding her child,ranup and down like one diſtracted,wringingherhands, and crying, O my child! my child!
Ihave favedmy goods, and loſt my child! Such will be the cafeoftheemy foul, Matth. xvi. 26.
Befides, how eaſy will my convictionbe at the bar of Chriſt ? Willnotmyprovidence and care forthethings of thislife, leave me fpeechleſs and felf-
TheHeavenlyUse ofEarthly Things.
condemned inthat day? What ſhall I anſwer, whenthe Lord ſhall ſay, Thou couldeſt forefee awinter, and ſeaſonablyprovide for it ; yea, thou hadſt ſo much care of thy very beafts, to provide for their neceſſities : andwhy tookeft thou no care for thy foul ? Was that only not worth the caring for ?
2. Is it ſo dangerous to neglect a preſent. proper ſeaſon of grace ? What then have I. done, who have fufferedmany ſuch ſeaſons to die away in my hand, upon a groundleſs hope of future opportunities ? Ab deluded wretch ! what if that ſuppoſition fail ? Where am I then ? I The prefumptuousjoul's reflection. am not the lord of time, neither am I ſure, that he who is, willever vouchſafe an hour of grace in old age, to him that hath neglected many fuch hours inyouth ; neitherindeed is it ordinary for God ſo to do.
It is ſtoried ofCaius MariusVictorious, who lived about three hundredyears after Chriſt, and tohis old age continued a Pagan; but at laſt being convinced of the Chriſtiar. verity, he came to Simplicianus, and told him, hewould be a Chriſtian; butneither he, nor the church could believe it, it being ſo rare anexample for anytobeconverted at his age: but atlaſt, ſeeing it was real, there was a ſhouting and gladneſs, and finging ofpfalms in allchurches ; thepeople crying, Caius Marius Victorius is becomea Chriftian ! This was written for awonder: and what ground have I to think, that God will work fuch wonders for me,who have neglected his ordinarymeans of falvation ?
3. Bleſs the Lord,O my foul ! who gave The industrious thee a ſeaſon, aday for eternal life, which is foul's reflection. morethan he hath afforded for thousands ; yea,bleſs the Lord forgiving thee anheart to understand and improve that ſeaſon. I confess I have not improved it as I ought; yet this I can (through mercy) fay, that however it fare infuture times with my outward man, though I have no treaſures or ſtores laidup on earth, or if Ihave, they are but corruptible, yet Ihave a bleſſed hope laid up in heaven, Col. i.
5Ihavebags that wax not old.
Whilft worldlings rejoice intheirſtores and heaps, I rejoice in theſe eternal treaſures.
The POEM.
Ο Bſerve in ſummer's ſultryheat, How in the hottest day The husbandmandoth toil and fweat Abouthis corn andhay :
Ifthenhe ſhouldnot reap andmow, And gather in his ſtore,
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, How ſhould he live, when, for the ſnow, He can't move out of door ?
The little ants, and painful bees, By nature's inſtinct led, Theſehave their ſummer granaries For winter furnished.
Butthou, my foul, whoſe ſummer'sday Is almoſt paſt andgone; What foul-proviſiondoſt thou lay In ſtock toſpendupon ?
Ifnature teaches to prepare For temporal life, much rather Grace ſhould provoke to greater care, Soul-food intime togather.
Days of affliction anddiſtreſs Arehafting on apace ; Ifnow I live in careleſneſs, How ſad will be my caſe !
Unworthyofthename ofman, Who for that foul of thine, Wilt notdo that which others can Do for their very kine.
Think, frugal farmers, whenyou fee Your mows of corn and hay, What a conviction this will be To you anotherday :
Who ne'erwere up before the ſun, Nor break an hour's reſt For your poor fouls, as you have done So often for a beaſt.
Learn once to ſee the difference Betwixt eternal things, Andthoſe poortranfient things of ſenſe, That fly with eagle's wings.
CHAP .
XVII.
Upon reaping the ſame we fow.
Whenfrom tare-feeds youfee choice wheat togrow, Thenfrom your lufts may joy and comfortflow .
OBSERVATION.
OD gives to every feed its ownbody, 1 Cor. xv. 38. At firſthecreatedevery treeandherbofthe field,having
The HeavenlyUse ofEarthlyThings.
its feedinitſelf, for the conſervation oftheirſpecies, andthey all inviolablyobſerve the law of their creation.
All fruits naturallyriſe out ofthe feeds and roots proper to them : "Men " do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs ofthistles :" ſuch productions would be monstrous in nature ; and although the juiceor fapofthe earthbe the common matter of all kind of fruits,yet it is ſpecificated according to the different forts of plantsandfeeds it nourishes. Where wheat is ſown, it isturnedintowheat ; in an apple-tree, it becomes an apple; and fo inevery fort ofplants or feeds, it is concocted into fruitproper tothekind.
APPLICATION.
Ranſlate this into ſpirituals, and thepropoſition ſhadowT ed forth by it, isfully expreſſedby the apostle,Gal. vi.
What a man ſows, that shall he reap : They that fow to " the flesh, ſhall of the fleſh reap corruption ; and they that " ſow to the ſpirit, ſhall of the ſpirit reap life everlafting."
And as fure as the harvest follows the feed-time, ſoſure ſhall fuch fruits and effects reſult from the feeds of ſuch actions .
" He that foweth iniquity, ſhall reap vanity," Prov. xxii. 8.
" Andthey that now go forth weeping, and bearing precious " feed, ſhall doubtleſs come again rejoicing, bringing their
" ſheaves with them," Pfalm cxxvi. 6. The ſum ofall this is, that ourpreſent actions have the ſame reſpect and relation to future rewards andpunishments, as the feed we fow inour fields hath to the harvest we reap from it.
Every gracious action isthe feed ofjoy; and every finful action, the feedof anguiſh and forrowtothefoulthat soweth it. Twothings are ſenſibly preſented to us in this ſimilitude.
1. That as the feed ſown is preſently covered from our fightunder the clods, andfor ſome time after we ſeenomore ofit, andyet at laſt it appears again ; by which it is evident tous,that it is not finally loſt : So our preſent actions, though phyfically tranfient, and perhaps forgotten, yet are not loſt, butafteratime fhall appear again, in order to a retribution.
Ifthiswere not ſo, all good and holy actions would be to the loſs ofhim that performed them. All the ſelf-denial, ſpendingduties andſharp fufferingsofthepeopleofGod,would turn totheirdamage, though not in point ofhoneſty, yet in pointofperfonalutility; andthen alſo,whatdifferencewould there be betwixt the actions ofaman and a beaſt, with refpect tofuturegoodor evil ? Yea, manwould then be more feared and obeyed thanGod, and all foulsbe ſwayed in their motions, onlybytheinfluenceofpreſentthings : Andwherethenwould
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, religion be found in the world? It is an excellent note of * Drexellius ; Our works (faith he) donot paſs away as foon
⚫astheyaredone,but asfeed fown, ſhall, after a time, riſeup ⚫to all eternity : Whatever we think, ſpeak, or do, once
• fpoken, thought, or done, is eternal, and abides for ever."
What Zeuxes, thefamous limner faid of his work, maybe trulyfaidofall our works ; Aeternitatipingo,Ipaint for eternity. O, how carefulſhouldmen beofwhat they ſpeak anddo whilft theyare commanded ſo to ſpeak and ſo to do, as thoſe thatſhallbejudgedby the perfect law of liberty ! James ii. 12.
Whatmore tranfientthanavain word?Andyetfor fuchwords, men ſhallgive an account in the dayofjudgment, Matth. xii.
36.
That's the first thing : Actions, like feed, ſhall riseand appear again in order to a retribution.
2.The other thing heldforth inthis fimilitude is, that according tothenature of our actions now, will bethe fruit and rewardofthem then. Though the fruit or conſequence ofholy actions, for the preſent may ſeem bitter, and the fruit of finful actions, ſweet and pleasant ; yet there is nothing more certain, thanthat their future fruits ſhall be according to their preſent natureand quality, 2 Cor. v. 10. ThenDionyfius ſhall retract that ſaying, Ecce quam profpera navigatioa Deo datur facrilegis, BeholdhowGod favours ourfacrileges ! Sometimes indeed(thoughbut rarely)Godcauſes ſinners to reap, in this world, the fame that theyhave fown ; as hath beentheir fin, fuchhath beentheirpunishment.
Itwas openly confefſedby Adonibezek,Judg. i. 7."As I have done, ſohathGodrequit "ed me."
Socrates, in his church history, furnishes us with a pertinent paffage to this purpoſe, concerning Valens the Emperor, whowas anArian, and a bitter perfecutor ofthe Chriſtians :
Thisman,when eighty ofthe orthodox Chriſtians failed from ConſtantinopletoNicomedia,totreatwithhim aboutthepoints ofArianiſm, and to fettle the matter by wayof difpute; the Emperor hearing of their arrival, while they wereyet in the harbour, and not a man landed, cauſed the ſhips to be fired whereinthey were,and fo confumedthem all.
Not long after, in his wars against the Goths, he was overthrown ; and hiding himself ina littlecottage,the enemycoming by, burnt it and him together.
Thus this wretch reaped what he ſowed, burning for burning, the very fame inkind paid him again.
It is not always fo inthis world; butſo it ſhallbe in * Drexellius de aeternitatepropefinem.
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
thatto'come : The tables ſhall thenbe turned, andtheScene altered; for shallnotthe Judgeofalltheworlddorighteoufly?
* Diogenes was tempted tothink, thatGodhad caft offthe government oftheworld,whenhe saw the wickedprofper in theirwickedneſs. Onthefame groundmany havebeen tempted to Atheism ; but then the world ſhall fee diſtributive juſticeſhiningoutin itsglory, "Tribulation, anguiſh andwrath
" toevery foul of manthatdoth evil ; butglory, honour and " peace to every man thatworketh good," Rom. ii. 9, 10.
Then 'twill appear what feed we fowed,what lives we lived ; " ForGod ſhallbring everywork intojudgment,with every fecret thing, whether itbegoodor evil," Ecclef. xii. 14.
REFLECTION S.
1. This meditation maybe tomewhatthe hand-writing uponthewall was tothatproThe profane faneprince,Dan. v. 5, 6. anda like effect it person's reflec fhouldhaveuponme; for ifallthe actions of this lifebefeedfown for the next, Lord, what acrop,what a dreadful_harvest am I like tohave! How many oaths and curſes,lies andvainwords,haveI ſownwith mytongue !How have Iwronged, oppreffed, and over-reached inmydealings !
Ruſhed into all profaneneſs,drunkenneſs,uncleanneſs, ſabbathtion. breaking, &c. " as the horſe ruſheth intothe battle !" And whatthall Ireapfromfuch feed as this,butvengeanceandfury?
Theſe fins feemed pleaſant in thecommiffion, but, oh! how. bitter will it be in their account ? " What ſhall I do when
" God riſeth up; andwhenhe viſiteth, what ſhall I anſwer " him ?" Job xxxi. 14. Is it notreasonable andjust, O my foul! that thou ſhouldeſt eat the fruit of thine own planting, and reapwhat thouhast ſown ? I thought nothing but profit and pleaſure would ſpring from my luft ; butnow I fee it is a root bearing gall andwormwood,Deut. xxix. 18.
Wretchedfoul! what ſhall I do ? By theſe actions am I undone.
I have beenthe author of mine own ruin, twistedan halter with mine own fingers for the executionofmine own foulO! letme rather taftethebitterness offin,by repentancenow, than enjoy its preſentpleaſures, which betraythe foul to endless wrath !
2. How have Ialfo been deceived in this Themoralman's matter ? I verily thought that gloryand imreflection. mortalitywouldhavebeenthe fruit andpro- * Cum video mala fata bonis, ignoscite quæfo :
Sollicitor nulle, effe putareDeos. Ovid.
VOL . VE S
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, duct of my moral honesty and righteousness ; that joy and peacehadbeen feminallycontained in thoſeactions ; butnow
Iſee ſuchfruitcanſpring fromno other rootbut ſpecial grace.
Glory isdiſclofedfrom no other bud but holineſs. Alas ! all myplanting and fowing was to little purpoſe, becauſe I ſowed not the rightkindoffeed; thebest fruit Ican expect fromthis, is but a leffer degree ofdamnation.
Deluded foul! thy feed is no better than what the moral heathens fowed: And do I expect. better fruit than what they reaped ? Civility without Chriſt,, is but a freer ſlavery ; and Satanholds me as faſt in captivity by this, as he doth the prophaneby the pleaſure oftheir lufts : Either I must fow better feed, or look to reap bitter fruit.
3.Mean while, bleſs the Lord,Omy foul!
The holy foul's whoenabled thee to fow better feed; who reflection. keptthee watching, humbling thyſelf, and praying, whilſt others have been ſwearing,drinking and blafpheming: This willyieldthee fruit ofjoyin the world tocome, yea, it already yields preſent peace to thy confcience : Theſe revenues arebetterthan gold, ſweeter than the honey, and the honey-comb; not that ſuch fruits are meritorioufly contained in theſe actions ; I ſowto myself inrighteouſneſs, but I reap in mercy, Hof. x. 12.
This is the way inwhichGod will fave and glorify me. O then, let me be ever abounding in thework of the Lord,knowing thatmy labour ſhall notbe in vain in the Lord.
T The POEM.
Would be a strange and monſtrous thing, tofee Cherries orplumbs grow on. an apple-tree.
Who ever gather'd from the thiſtle,figs?
Or fruitful grapes from offthe worthleſs twigs Ofpricking thorns ? In nature stillwe find
All its productions anſwering totheirkind.
As are the plants we fet, or feeds we fow, Such is the fruit we shake, and corn we mow :
And canst thou think, that from corruption's root Thy foul ſhall pluck the ſweet and pleafant fruit
Of ſpiritual peace ! Whoever, that was wife, Abus'dhimſelf with ſuch abſurdities ?
Look what you fow, the very fame you'll reap, The fruitofwhat you plant, be ſure you'll eat.
How are they baffled by a fubtile devil, Whohope forheaven, whilft their ways areevil?