Upon the husbandman's care for posterity,
TheHeavenly Use of Earthly Things.
Chear up, poor flock, although your fare be thin, Yethere is ſomething to take comfortin:
You here ſecurely feed, and need not fear, Th' infernal butcher can't approach you here.
'Tisſomewhat that ; but,oh ! which far tranſcends, Your glorious ſhepherd's coming, who intends
Toleadyou hence unto that fragrant hill, Where, with green paſtures, he his flocks will fill ;
Orwhichhefrom celestial caſements pours The ſweeteft dews, and conftant gracious ſhow'rs ;
Along whoſebanks rivers ofpleaſures flide ; 'There his bleſs'd flocks for ever ſhall abide.
Oenvy not theworldlings preſent joys, Which toyour future mercies are buttoys :
Their paſture now is green, your's dry andburn'd; Butthen the ſcene is chang'd, the tables turn'd.
CHAP .
Upon the Huſbandman's Care for Poſterity.
Goodhusbands labourfor posterity ; To after-ages faints must have an eye.
OBSERVATION.
☑Rovident and careful husbandmendo not only labour to fomething for their pofterity when theyaregone : they do not onlyleave to their children what their progenitors left them, buttheydefire to leave it improved and bettered. Nonebut bad husbands and ſpend-thrifts areofthemind with thatheathen emperorTiberius,who having put all into ſuch confufions inthe empire, that it mightbe thought the world would end withhim ; yet pleaſed himselfwith this apprehenfion, Thathe ſhouldbe outofthe reach ofit ; and would often ſay, When I am dead, let heaven and earth mingle; ifthe world will but hold my time, let it breakwhen I am gone. But provident menlookbeyond their own time, and do very much concern themſelves inthe good or evil oftheir pofterity.
APPLICATION.
WHAT careful husbands do, with reſpect to the provifions they make for their children, that all prudent
Chriſtians are boundtodo,with reſpect to the truths committedtothem,andbythem tobetranſmitted to ſucceedingſaints.
VOL. VI.
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, Inthefirſt ages ofthe world, eventillthe lawwasgiven,faithfulmen were instead ofbooks and records ; they did, by oral tradition, conveythe truths ofGod topoſterity: but fince the facred truth hath beenconfignedtowriting, no ſuch tradition
(except full conſentiert with that written word) is tobe received as authentic; butthe truths thereindelivered tothe faints, are, by verbal declarations, open confeffions, and conftantfitfferings,tobe preſerved anddelivered from ageto age.
This wastheconſtantcare ofthe wholecloud ofwitneſffes, both ancient andmodern,who have keptthe word ofGod's patience, andwould not accept their own lives, liberties, or estates,no, nor thewhole world in exchange for that invaluable treaſure oftruth : theyhave carefullypractifed Solomon'scounfel,Prov. xxiii. 23. " Buy the truth,but fellit not;" theywould not alienate that fair inheritance for all the inheritances on earth.
Uponthe fame reasons that you refuſe to part with, or im-bezzle your eſtates, Chriſtiansalſo-refuſetopartwiththe truths ofGod.
1. You will notwaste or alienateyour inheritance, becauſe it is precious,and ofgreat valuein your eyes ; butmuchmore precious areGod's truths to his people. Luther profeſſed, he would not take the whole world for one leaf of his Bible.
Though some profane perſons may ſay with Pilate, What is truth ? Yet know, that any onetruth ofthegoſpel is more worth than all the inheritances upon earth ; they are the great things ofGod's law; andhe that fells them for the greatest things in thisworld, makes a foul-undoing bargain.
2. Youwill notwasteorpart withyour inheritance,becauſe you know your poſterity will be much wrongedby it.
They that baffle or drink away an estate,drink the tears oftheir fad widows, andtheverybloodoftheir impoverished children. The people ofGod do alſo conſider, how muchthe generations to come are concerned in the confervation ofthe truths of God for them: It cuts them to the heart, but to thinkthat their children fhouldbebrought up to worſhip dumb idols, and fall downbefore a wooden and breadenGod.
The very birds and beaſtswill expoſe their ownbodies to apparent dangerofdeath, to preſervetheir young. Religion doth much more intender thehearts and bowels than nature doth.
3. You reckon it a foul diſgrace to fell your eſtates, andbecome bankrupts ; it is a word that bears ill amongyou : anda
Chriſtian accounts itthe highest reproach inthe world, to be a traitor to, or an apoftate fromthe truths ofGod.
When the primitive ſaints were ſtrictly required todeliveruptheirBibles,
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
thoſethatdid fo, werejuſtlybranded, and huſhed out oftheir company, under the odious title oftraditores, or deliverers.
4. You are ſo loath topartwith your eſtates, becauſe you know it ishardrecovering an eſtate again,whenonce youhave loft it.
Chriſtians do alſo know, how difficult itwill be for the people ofGod, intimes to come, to recover the light of thegoſpel again, ifonceitbeextinguiſhed.
There is no truth ofGod recoveredout ofantichriſt'shands, withoutgreatwreſtlings, andmuch blood.
The churchmay call every point of reformeddoctrine and diſcipline ſo recovered, her Naphtalies ; forwithgreat wrestlings ſhehathwrestled forthem ; " earnestly
" contending forthe faith once delivered to them," Jude 3 .
5. To conclude ; ratherthanyou willpart withyour eſtates, youwill chuſe to fuffer manywants and hardſhips all your lives ; you will fare hard, and go bare, to preſerve whatyou have for your poſterity: butthe people ofGod have put themſelves upon far greater hardſhips than theſeto preſerve truth ; theyhavechoſen to ſuffer reproaches, poverty, priſons, death, andthe moſt cruel torments, ratherthan the loss ofGod's truth, allthe martyrologies will inform you what their ſufferings havebeen, tokeepthe word ofGod's patience; theyhaveboldlytoldtheirenemies, thattheymight plucktheir hearts out of their bodies, but ſhould neverpluck the truth out of their hearts .
REFLECTIONS.
1. Baſe unbelieving heart ! How have I Areflection for flinched and funk from truth, when it hath cowardly and faint-hearted profeffors. beenindanger ? I have rather choſen to leave it, thanmy life, liberty or estate, as aprey to the enemy.
I have left truth, and juſt it is that the God oftruth ſhould leave me.
Cowardly foul! that durſt not make a ſtand for the truth; yea, rather bold and daringfoul! that would rather ventureto look awrathful God, thanan angry man in the face.
I would notown and preſerve the truth, andtheGod oftruth will not own me ; 2 Tim . ii. 12. " Ifwedeny him, he will denyus."
A reflection fo fuch as fuffer 2. Lord! untome haſtthou committedthe precious treaſure and truſt oftruth ; and as I received it, ſodoIdefire todeliverit to the gefor truth. nerations to come, that the people which are yetunborn my praiſe the Lord. God forbid I ſhould never partwith ſuch a fair inheritance, and thereby beggarmy own andthousands offouls ! Thou hastgivenme thytruth, andthe
Bb2
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, worldhates me ; Iwellknow that it istheground ofthe quarrel.
Would I but throw truth over the walls, how foon would a retreat be founded to all perfecutors ? But, Lord, thy truth is invaluably precious. What a vile thing is myblood, comparedwith the least ofallthy truths ? Thou hastcharged me not to fell it; and, in thy ſtrength, I reſolvenevertopaſs afine, and cut offthat golden line,wherebythytruths are entailed upon thy people from generation to generation: my friends maygo, my liberty go, mybloodmay go; but as for thee, precious truth,thou shalt never go.
3. How dear hath this inheritance oftruth coſtſome Chriſtians ? Howlittle hathitcoftus?
We are entered intotheir labours ; we reap A reflection forfuchasare in peace, what theyfowed in tears, yea, in blood. O the grievous fufferings that they choſe toendure! Rather than todeprive usof fuch an inheritance,thoſe noble fouls,heated with the love of Chriſt, and care for our fouls, mademanybold andbrave adin quiet poffeffion oftruth. ventures for it; andyet atwhat a lowrate do wevalue what coftthem ſo dear? Like young heirs, that never knew the gettingofaneftate, we ſpend it freely.
Lord, help us thankfullyanddiligentlytoimprovethy truths,while we are in quier poffeffionofthem.
Suchintervals ofpeaceand reſt areusually ofnolong continuancewith thy people.
The POEM.
Public fpirit ſcorns to plantno root But fuch from which himselfmay gather fruit,
For thus he reasons, If I reap thegains Of laborious predeceſſors pains, How equal is it, that poſterity,
Should reap the fruits ofpreſent induſtry ?
Should every age but ſerve it's turn, and take No thought for future times, itfoon will make
Abankruptworld, and ſoentaila curſe From age to age, as itgrows worſe andworfe.
Our Chriſtian predeceſſors carefulthus Havebeen to leave anheritage to us.
Chriſt'sprecious truthconſervedintheirblood, Forno leſs price thoſe truths our fathers ſtood.
Theyhave tranfmitted,would not alienate From us, their children,ſuch a fair estate.
Weeatwhattheydid fet: and ſhall truth fail In ourdays? Shallwe cut offth' entail,
TheHeavenlyUse ofEarthly Things.
Or endthe line ofhonour ? Nay, what's worſe, Givefuture ages caufe to hate, and curfe
Our memories ? Like Naboth, may this age Part with their blood foorner than heritage.
Letpitymove us, let us think upon Ourchildrens foul, whenwe aredead andgone:
Shall they, poor fouls, in darkneſs grope, whenwe Put out the light, bywhich they elſe might fee
Theway toglory ? Yea, what's worſe, ſhall it Befaidintime to come, Chriftdid commit Aprecious treaſure,purchas'dby his blood,
Tous, for ours, and for our childrens good !
Butwe, like cowards, falſe, perfidious mén, For carnal eaſe loft it, ourſelves, and them.
O let us leave, to after ages, more Thanwe receiv'd from all that went before !
That thoſe to come,maybleſsthe Lord, and keep Ournames alive,whenwe induſt ſhall fleep.
CHAP.
VI .
UpontheHuſbandman'sCareto proveandpreſervehis Deeds .
Deedsforyour landsyou prove, andkeep with care ; Othatfor heavenyou but as carefulwere !
OBSERVATION.
E generally find menare not more careful in trying Wend orinkeeping it, thantheyare in examining their deeds, and preferving them: theſe are virtually their whole eſtate, andtherefore it concerns them to be careful of them: iftheyſuſpect aflawin their leaſe ordeed, they repair totheableſtcounſel,ſubmititto hisjudgment, make theworſt oftheir cauſe, and query about all the ſuppoſeable danger with him.
Ifhe tell them their cafe is ſuſpicious andhazardous,how much are they perplexed and troubled ? They can neither eat, drink, or ſleep inpeace, 'till theyhave a good fettlement ; and willing they are to be atmuch coſt and pains toobtainit.
APPLICATION.
HESE cares and fears with whichyou are perplexed in ſuch cafes, maygiveyoualittleglimpseofthoſetroubles of foul, with which the people of God are perplexed about theireternal condition ; which, perhaps,you have beenhitherto unacquaintedwith,andtherefore flighted them, as fancies and
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, whimſies: I ſay, your own fears andtroubles, ifever you were engaged by a cunning and powerful adverſary in a lawſuit for your eftate, maygive you a little glimpse of ſpiritual troubles ; and indeed it is no more but aglimpse ofit : for, as the loss of an earthly, though fair, inheritance, is but a trifle to the loſs ofGod and the foul to eternity ; ſo you cannot but imagine, that thecares, fears, and folicitudes of fouls about theſe things, are much, verymuch beyond yours.
Letus compare the caſes, and ſeehowthey anſwer to each other.
1. You have evidences for your eſtates, andby them you holdwhatyou have in the world : They alſo have evidences for their eftate in Chriſt, andglorytocome; theyhold all in capite, by virtueoftheirintermarriage with Jeſus Chriſt ; they come to be inſtated in that glorious inheritance contained in thecovenantofgrace. You havetheir tenure inthat ſcripture,
1Cor. iii. 22, 23. "All is yours, for ye are Chriſt's, andChriſt " isGod's." Faith unites them to him, and after theybelieve, theyareſealedbythe Spirit ofpromiſe, Eph. i. 13. Theycan layclaim tonopromiſe upon any other ground; this is their title toallthat they own as theirs.
2. Itoftenfalls out, that after the fealing andexecuting of yourdeeds, or leaſes, an adverſary finds ſome dubious claufe inthem, andthereuponcommences a fuit of law with you.
Thus it frequently falls out with thepeopleofGod, who after theirbelieving andſealingtime, havedoubts and ſcruples raiſed inthemabout theirtitle. Nothing is morecommon, than for thedevil, and their own unbelief, to ſtartcontroverfies, and raiſe ſtrong objections against their intereſt in Chriſt, and the covenantof promises.
These are cunning andpotent adverfaries, anddomaintainlong debates with thegracious foul,and reaſon ſo cunningly and ſophistically with it, that itcanby no means extricate and fatisfy itſelf; always alledging, that their title is worthnothing, which they, poor fouls, are but too aptto fuſpect.
3. Allthe whilethata ſuit of law isdependingabout your title, youhavebut little comfort,or benefit, from your eftate ; youcannot look upon it as yourown, nor lay out moneys in building or dreſſing, for fearyou ſhould loſe all at last.
Juſt thus ſtandsthecafe withdoubting Chriſtians; they have little comfort fromthe most comfortable promiſes, little benefit from the ſweeteſt duties, and ordinances: They put off their own comforts, and ſay, if we were fure that all this were ours, wewould then rejoice inthem: But, alas! our title is dubi
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
ous: Chrift is a precious Chrift ; the promises are comfortable things ; butwhat, ifthey be none of ours ? Ah ! how little doth thedoubting Chriſtianmake ofhis large andrich inheritance ?
4. You dare not trustyourown judgments infuch cafes, but ſtate your cafe toſuch as arelearned inthe laws, andare willingtogettheableſt counſelyou cantoadviſeyou. Soarepoor doubting Chriſtians; they carry their cafes from Chriſtian to Chriftian, andfrom miniſter to miniſter,with ſuch requeſtsas theſe: Pray tellme, what do you think of my condition?
Deal plainly and faithfully with me; theſebemygrounds of doubting, andtheſemy grounds ofhope. O hide nothing from me! And if they all agree that their caſe is good, yet they cannot beſatisfied 'tillGodſay ſotoo,and confirm the word ofhis ſervants; and therefore theycarry the cafeoften beforehim in ſuch words as thoſe, Pfalm exxxix. 23, 24.
" Search me,O God, and knowmyheart ; try me, andknow " my thoughts, andfee iftherebe anywickedway inme."
5.Youhavelittle quietinyour ſpirits,tillthecafebe refolved; your meat and drink,doth you little good; you cannot ſleep inthenight,becauſe theſe troubledthoughts are ever returninguponyou, what if I shouldbe turned out of all at laſt?
So it is withgracious fouls; their eyes are heldwaking inthe night, by reaſon ofthe troubles oftheirhearts, Pfalm lxxvii.
4. Such fears as theſe are frequently returning upon their hearts, what ifIshouldbe foundaſelf-deceiver at laſt ? What ifI but hug aphantaſm inſtead ofChrist ? How can this, or that, confift withgrace? Their meat and drink doth them little good: theirbodies are often maceratedby the troubles oftheir fouls.
6.You will not makethe beſtofyour condition,when you ſtate your cafe toa faithful counſellor; neitherwillthey, but oftentimes (poorpenfive fouls) theymake it much worſe than indeed it is ; charge themselves with that whichGod never chargedthem with ; though this be neither theirwisdom,nor theirduty; but the fears of miſcarrying make them ſuſpect fraud inall theydo orhave.
7. Lastly, When your title iscleared, your hearts are eafed; yea,not only eaſed, but overjoyed; though not in that degree, norwith the ſamekind ofjoythatthehearts ofchriftians are overflowed, when the Lord ſpeaks peace to their fouls. O welcome the fweet morning light, after a tedious nightofdarkness! now they caneat theirbreadwith comfort,
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, and drink their wine,yea, ifitbe butwater, with amerry heart, Ecclef. ix. 7.
REFLECTIONS.
1. O how hath myſpiritbeen toffedandharThecareless ried,when I have met with troubles and clafoui'sreflecmours aboutmy eſtate ! But as for fpiritualtroution: bles, and thoſe ſoul perplexing cafes, that Chrif tians ſpeak of, I understandbut little ofthem. I never called my everlasting ſtate in queſtion, nor broke an hour's ſleep upon any ſuch account. Ah, my fupine and careleſs ſoul! little haft thou regarded how matters ſtand in reference to eternity! I have ſtrongly conceited, but never thoroughly examined the validityofmytitle to Chriſt, and his promifes; nor am I able to tell, ifmyown confcience ſhould demand, whereupon myclaim is grounded.
Omy foul! why art thou ſo unwilling to examine how matters ſtand betwixt God and thee ? Art thou afraid to look intothycondition, leſtby findingthinehypocrify,thou ſhouldſt lofethypeace, or rather, thy fecurity ? To what purpoſe will itbeto ſhutthine eyes againstthe light of conviction, unleſs thou couldſt alſo findout a way to preventthy.condemnation ?
Thou feeft other fouls, how attentively they wait under the word, for anythingthat may ſpeaktotheir condition. Doubtleſs thou haftheard, how frequently and feriously they have ftatedtheir condition, and opened their cafes to the miniſters of Chrift.
But thou, Omy foul ! hast no ſuch cafes to put, nodoubts tobe refolved; thou wiltleave allto the deciſion of the great day, and not trouble thyfelf about itnow. Well,
Godwilldecideit; but little tothy comfort.
2. I have heard how fome have been The doubtingfoul's perplexed by litigious adverfaries ; hut I reflection. believe none have been ſo toſt with fears, and distracted withdoubts, asI havebeen aboutthe ſtateofmy foul.
Lord, what ſhall I do ? Ihave oftencarriedmy doubts and ſcruples to thine ordinances, waiting for fatisfaction tobe ſpokenthere. I have carriedthem to thoſe Ihave judged ſkilfulandfaithful, begging their reſolution andhelp,butnothing willstick. Still my fears are daily renewed. O my God, do thoudecidemy cafe! tell mehow the ſtate ſtands betwixt thee andme; mydays confume in trouble,Ican neither do nor enjoy anygood, whilst things are thus with me ; all my earthly enjoyments aredry and uncomfortable things; yea, which is much worſe, all myduties and thine ordinances, proveſotoo, byreaſon ofthe troubles ofmy heart: Iam no ornamentto
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
myprofeffion;nay, Iam adifcouragement and ſtumbling-block to others. " I will hearken and hear whatGod the Lord will
" ſpeak:" Othatit mightbe peace! Ifthoudo not ſpeak it, none can; andwhenthou doſt, keep thy ſervant from returning again tofolly, left I make freſh work for an accuſing confcience, and givenew matter tothe adverſary ofmy foul.
The affured Christian's re3. But thou, my foul, enjoyeſt adouble mercyfrom thybountifulGod,who hath not only giventheea found title, butalfo the clear eviflection. dence and knowledge thereof. I amgathering, anddaily feedingupon the full-ripe fruits ofaffurance, which grow upon the top boughs of faith ; whilst many of my poor brethren drink their own tears, and have their teeth broken with gravel ftones. Lord,thou haſtſet my foulupon her highplaces ; but let me not exalt myſelf, becauſe thouhast exalted me, norgrow wanton, becauſe I walk at liberty ; left for the abuſe of ſuch precious liberty, thou clap my old chains upon me, and ſhut up my soul againinprifon.
M The POEM.
EN can't be quiet tilltheybe affur'd That their estate is good, and well ſecur'd.
To able counſel they their deeds ſubmit, Intreating them with caret' examine it:
Fearingfome clauſe an enemymaywreſt, Or find a flaw, wherebyhe maydiveſt $ Them, and their children. O who can but fee
Howwifemenintheirgeneration,be !
Butdo they equal cares and fears expreſs About their everlasting happiness ?
In ſpiritualthings 'twould grieve one's heart to ſee What careleſs fools theſe careful men can be.
They act like men of common ſenſe bereaven; Secure their lands, and they'll trustGod forheaven.
Howmany caſes have you to fubmit To lawyersjudgments ? Ministers inay fit From week toweek, and yet not fee the face
Of onethatbrings a foul-concerning cafe.
Yea, which is worſe, how ſeldom do you cry To God for counſel ? Or beg him to try Yourhearts, and ſtricteſt inquifition make
Into your ſtate, diſcover your miſtake?
O ftupid fouls ! clouded with ignorance, Is Chriſt and heaven no fair inheritance,
VOL. VI.