Upon the husbandman's care for posterity,
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
Chear 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.
'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 sweetest dews, and constant gracious show'rs ;
Along whose banks rivers of pleasures slide ; 'There his bless'd flocks for ever shall abide.
Oenvy not theworldlings 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.
CHAP .
Upon the Husbandman's Care for Posterity.
Good husbands lab our for posterity ; To after-ages faints must have an eye.
OBSERVATION.
☑Rovident and careful husbandmendo not only labour to something for their posterity when theyaregone : they do not only leave to their children what their progenitors left them, buttheydefire to leave it improved and bettered. None but bad husbands and spend-thrifts areofthemind with that heathen emperorTiberius,who having put all into such confufions in the empire, that it might be thought the world would end with him ; yet pleased himself with this apprehension, That he should be out of the reach of it ; and would often say, When I am dead, let heaven and earth mingle; if the world will but hold my time, let it break when I am gone. But provident menlookbeyond their own time, and do very much concern themselves in the good or evil of their posterity.
APPLICATION.
WHAT careful husbands do, with respect to the provisions they make for their children, that all prudent
Christians are bound to do,with respect to the truths committedtothem,and by them to be transmitted to succeeding saints.
VOL. VI.
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, In the first ages of the world, eventillthe lawwasgiven,faithfulmen were instead of books and records ; they did, by oral tradition, convey the truths of God to posterity: but since the sacred truth hath beenconfignedtowriting, no such tradition
(except full consentiert with that written word) is to be received as authentic; but the truths therein delivered to the saints, are, by verbal declarations, open confessions, and conftantfitfferings,to be preserved and delivered from age to age.
This wastheconstantcare of the whole cloud ofwitnesffes, both ancient and modern,who have kept the word of God's patience, and would not accept their own lives, liberties, or estates,no, nor the whole world in exchange for that invaluable treasure of truth : they have carefullypractifed Solomon'scounfel,Prov. xxiii. 23. " Buy the truth,but fell it not;" they would not alienate that fair inheritance for all the inheritances on earth.
Upon the fame reasons that you refuse to part with, or im-bezzle your estates, Christians also-refusetopartwiththe truths of God.
1. You will not waste or alienate your inheritance, because it is precious,and of great value in your eyes ; butmuchmore precious are God'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 one truth of the gospel is more worth than all the inheritances upon earth ; they are the great things of God's law; and he that fells them for the greatest things in this world, makes a soul-undoing bargain.
2. You will notwasteorpart with your inheritance,because you know your posterity will be much wronged by it.
They that baffle or drink away an estate,drink the tears of their fad widows, andtheverybloodoftheir impoverished children. The people of God do also consider, how much the generations to come are concerned in the conservation of the truths of God for them: It cuts them to the heart, but to think that their children fhouldbebrought up to worship dumb idols, and fall down before a wooden and breadenGod.
The very birds and beasts will expose their own bodies to apparent dangerofdeath, to preserve their young. Religion doth much more in tender the hearts and bowels than nature doth.
3. You reckon it a soul disgrace to fell your estates, and become bankrupts ; it is a word that bears ill among you : and a
Christian accounts it the highest reproach in the world, to be a traitor to, or an apoftate from the truths of God.
When the primitive saints were strictly required todeliveruptheirBibles,
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
thosethatdid fo, werejustlybranded, and hushed out of their company, under the odious title oftraditores, or deliverers.
4. You are so loath to part with your estates, because you know it ishardrecovering an estate again,when once you have loft it.
Christians do also know, how difficult it will be for the people of God, in times to come, to recover the light of the gospel again, ifonceitbeextinguished.
There is no truth of God recovered out ofantichrist'shands, withoutgreatwresthngs, and much blood.
The church may call every point of reformed doctrine and discipline so recovered, her Naphtalies ; for with great wresthngs shehathwrestled for them ; " earnestly
" contending for the faith once delivered to them," Jude 3 .
5. To conclude ; ratherthanyou will part with your estates, you will chuse to suffer many wants and hardships all your lives ; you will fare hard, and go bare, to preserve what you have for your posterity: but the people of God have put themselves upon far greater hardships than these to preserve truth ; theyhavechosen to suffer reproaches, poverty, prisons, death, and the most cruel torments, rather than the loss of God's truth, all the martyrologies will inform you what their sufferings have been, to keep the word of God's patience; theyhaveboldlytoldtheirenemies, thattheymight pluck their hearts out of their bodies, but should never pluck the truth out of their hearts .
REFLECTIONS.
1. Base unbelieving heart ! How have I A reflection for flinched and funk from truth, when it hath cowardly and faint-hearted professors. beenindanger ? I have rather chosen to leave it, than my life, liberty or estate, as a prey to the enemy.
I have left truth, and just it is that the God of truth should leave me.
Cowardly foul! that durst not make a stand for the truth; yea, rather bold and daring foul! that would rather venture to look awrathful God, than an angry man in the face.
I would not own and preserve the truth, and the God of truth will not own me ; 2 Tim . ii. 12. " If we deny him, he will deny us."
A reflection fo such as suffer 2. Lord! unto me hast thou committed the precious treasure and trust of truth ; and as I received it, sodoIdefire to deliver it to the gefor truth. nerations to come, that the people which are yet unborn my praise the Lord. God forbid I should never part with such a fair inheritance, and thereby beggar my own and thousands offouls ! Thou hastgivenme thy truth, and the
Bb2
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, world hates me ; Iwellknow that it is the ground of the quarrel.
Would I but throw truth over the walls, how soon would a retreat be founded to all perfecutors ? But, Lord, thy truth is invaluably precious. What a vile thing is my blood, compared with the least of all thy truths ? Thou hast charged me not to fell it; and, in thy strength, I resolvenevertopass a fine, and cut off that 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 of truth cost some Christians ? How little hathitcoftus?
We are entered into their labours ; we reap A reflection forfuchasare in peace, what theyfowed in tears, yea, in blood. O the grievous sufferings that they chose to endure! Rather than to deprive us of such an inheritance,those noble fouls,heated with the love of Christ, and care for our souls, mademanybold and brave adin quiet possession of truth. ventures for it; and yet at what a low rate do we value 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.
Such intervals of peace and rest are usually of no long continuance with thy people.
The POEM.
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 it's turn, and take No thought for future times, it soon will make
Abankruptworld, 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.
Christ'sprecious truthconservedintheirblood, For no less price those truths our fathers stood.
They have transmitted,would not alienate From us, their children,such a fair estate.
Weeatwhattheydid set: and shall truth fail In our days? Shall we cut offth' entail,
TheHeavenlyUse of Earthly Things.
Or end the line ofhonour ? Nay, what's worse, Give future ages cause to hate, and curse
Our memories ? Like Naboth, may this age Part with their blood foorner than heritage.
Letpitymove us, let us think upon Ourchildrens foul, when we are dead and gone:
Shall they, poor souls, in darkness grope, when we Put out the light, by which they else might fee
The way to glory ? Yea, what's worse, shall it Befaidintime to come, Chriftdid commit A precious treasure,purchas'dby his blood,
To us, for ours, and for our childrens good !
But we, like cowards, false, perfidious mén, For carnal ease loft it, ourselves, and them.
O let us leave, to after ages, more Than we receiv'd from all that went before !
That those to come,mayblessthe Lord, and keep Our names alive,when we in dust shall sleep.
CHAP.
VI .
UpontheHusbandman'sCare to proveandpreservehis Deeds .
Deeds for your lands you prove, and keep with care ; Othatfor heaven you but as careful were !
OBSERVATION.
E generally find men are not more careful in trying Wend or in keeping it, thantheyare in examining their deeds, and preserving them: these are virtually their whole estate, and therefore it concerns them to be careful of them: iftheysuspect aflawin their lease or deed, they repair totheablestcounsel,submit it to his judgment, make the worst of their cause, and query about all the suppose able danger with him.
If he tell them their case is suspicious and hazardous,how much are they perplexed and troubled ? They can neither eat, drink, or sleep in peace, 'till they have a good settlement ; and willing they are to be at much cost and pains to obtain it.
APPLICATION.
HESE cares and fears with which you are perplexed in such cases, maygiveyoualittleglimpseofthosetroubles of foul, with which the people of God are perplexed about their eternal condition ; which, perhaps,you have been hitherto unacquaintedwith,and therefore flighted them, as fancies and
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, whimsies: I say, your own fears and troubles, i fever you were engaged by a cunning and powerful adversary in a lawsuit for your estate, may give you a little glimpse of spiritual troubles ; and indeed it is no more but a glimpse of it : for, as the loss of an earthly, though fair, inheritance, is but a trifle to the loss of God and the soul to eternity ; so you cannot but imagine, that the cares, fears, and folicitudes of fouls about these things, are much, very much beyond yours.
Let us compare the cases, and seehowthey answer to each other.
1. You have evidences for your estates, and by them you holdwhatyou have in the world : They also have evidences for their estate in Christ, andglorytocome; they hold all in capite, by virtueoftheirintermarriage with Jesus Christ ; they come to be instated in that glorious inheritance contained in thecovenantofgrace. You have their tenure in that scripture,
1Cor. iii. 22, 23. "All is yours, for ye are Christ's, and Christ " is God's." Faith unites them to him, and after they believe, theyaresealedbythe Spirit of promise, Eph. i. 13. They can lay claim to no promise upon any other ground; this is their title to all that they own as theirs.
2. Itoftenfalls out, that after the sealing and executing of your deeds, or leases, an adversary finds some dubious clause in them, andthereuponcommences a suit of law with you.
Thus it frequently falls out with thepeopleofGod, who after their believing andsealingtime, have doubts and scruples raised inthemabout their title. Nothing is more common, than for the devil, and their own unbelief, to startcontroverfies, and raise strong objections against their interest in Christ, and the covenant of promises.
These are cunning and potent adversaries, anddomaintainlong debates with the gracious foul,and reason so cunningly and sophistically with it, that it can by no means extricate and satisfy itself; always all edging, that their title is worth nothing, which they, poor souls, are but too aptto suspect.
3. All the while that a suit of law isdependingabout your title, you have but little comfort,or benefit, from your estate ; you cannot look upon it as your own, nor lay out moneys in building or dressing, for fear you should lose all at last.
Just thus standsthecafe with doubting Christians; they have little comfort from the most comfortable promises, little benefit from the sweetest duties, and ordinances: They put off their own comforts, and say, if we were sure that all this were ours, we would then rejoice in them: But, alas! our title is dubi
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
ous: Christ is a precious Christ ; the promises are comfortable things ; but what, if they be none of ours ? Ah ! how little doth the doubting Christian make of his large and rich inheritance ?
4. You dare not trustyourown judgments in such cases, but state your case to such as are learned in the laws, and are willingtogettheablest counsel you cantoadviseyou. So are poor doubting Christians; they carry their cases from Christian to Christian, and from minister to minister,with such requests as these: Pray tell me, what do you think of my condition?
Deal plainly and faithfully with me; thesebemygrounds of doubting, and these my grounds of hope. O hide nothing from me! And if they all agree that their case is good, yet they cannot be satisfied 'tillGodsay so too,and confirm the word of his servants; and therefore they carry the cafeoften before him in such words as those, Psalm exxxix. 23, 24.
" Search me,O God, and knowmyheart ; try me, and know " my thoughts, and fee if there be anywickedway in me."
5.Youhavelittle quiet in your spirits,tillthecafebe resolved; your meat and drink,doth you little good; you cannot sleep in the night,because these troubled thoughts are ever returninguponyou, what if I should be turned out of all at last?
So it is with gracious fouls; their eyes are held waking in the night, by reason of the troubles of their hearts, Psalm lxxvii.
4. Such fears as these are frequently returning upon their hearts, what ifIshouldbe foundaself-deceiver at last ? What ifI but hug aphantasm instead of Christ ? How can this, or that, consist with grace? Their meat and drink doth them little good: their bodies are often maceratedby the troubles of their souls.
6.You will not make the best of your condition,when you state your case toa faithful counsellor; neitherwillthey, but oftentimes (poorpenfive fouls) they make it much worse than indeed it is ; charge themselves with that which God never charged them with ; though this be neither their wisdom,nor their duty; but the fears of miscarrying make them suspect fraud in all they do or have.
7. Lastly, When your title is cleared, your hearts are eased; yea,not only eased, but overjoyed; though not in that degree, nor with the same kind ofjoythatthehearts of christians are overflowed, when the Lord speaks peace to their souls. O welcome the sweet morning light, after a tedious nightofdarkness! now they can eat their bread with comfort,
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, and drink their wine,yea, if it be but water, with a merry heart, Ecclef. ix. 7.
REFLECTIONS.
1. O how hath myspiritbeen toffedandharThecareless ried,when I have met with troubles and clafoui'sreflecmours about my estate ! But as for fpiritualtroution: bles, and those soul perplexing cases, that Chris tians speak of, I understand but little of them. 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 promises; nor am I able to tell, if my own conscience should demand, whereupon my claim 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 security ? To what purpose will it be to shut thine eyes against the light of conviction, unless thou couldst also find out a way to prevent thy.condemnation ?
Thou feeft other fouls, how attentively they wait under the word, for anything that may speak to their condition. Doubtless thou haftheard, how frequently and seriously they have ftatedtheir condition, and opened their cases to the ministers of Christ.
But thou, Omy foul ! hast no such cases to put, no doubts to be resolved; thou wiltleave all to the decision of the great day, and not trouble thyself about it now. Well,
Godwilldecideit; but little to thy comfort.
2. I have heard how some have been The doubting foul's perplexed by litigious adversaries ; hut I reflection. believe none have been so tost with fears, and distracted with doubts, asI have been about the state of my foul.
Lord, what shall I do ? I have oftencarriedmy doubts and scruples to thine ordinances, waiting for satisfaction to be spoken there. I have carried them to those I have judged skilfulandfaithful, begging their resolution and help,but nothing will stick. Still my fears are daily renewed. O my God, do thoudecidemy case! tell me how the state stands betwixt thee and me; my days consume in trouble,I can neither do nor enjoy any good, whilst things are thus with me ; all my earthly enjoyments are dry and uncomfortable things; yea, which is much worse, all my duties and thine ordinances, provesotoo, by reason of the troubles of my heart: I am no ornament to
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
myprofeffion;nay, I am adifcouragement and stumbling-block to others. " I will hearken and hear what God the Lord will
" speak:" Othatit might be peace! If thou do not speak it, none can; andwhenthou dost, keep thy servant from returning again tofolly, left I make fresh work for an accusing conscience, and give new matter to the adversary of my foul.
The assured Christian's re3. But thou, my soul, enjoyest a double mercy from thybountifulGod,who hath not only giventheea found title, butalfo the clear eviflection. dence and knowledge thereof. I am gathering, and daily feeding upon the full-ripe fruits of assurance, 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 stones. Lord,thou hast set my foul upon her high places ; but let me not exalt myself, because thou hast exalted me, nor grow 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, In treating them with caret' examine it:
Fearingfome clause an enemymaywrest, Or find a flaw, whereby he maydivest $ Them, and their children. O who can but fee
Howwifemenintheirgeneration,be !
But do they equal cares and fears express About their everlasting happiness ?
In spiritual things '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 trust God for heaven.
How many cases have you to submit To lawyers judgments ? Ministers inay fit From week to week, and yet not fee the face
Of onethatbrings a soul-concerning case.
Yea, which is worse, how seldom do you cry To God for counsel ? Or beg him to try Your hearts, and strictest inquisition make
Into your state, discover your mistake?
O stupid fouls ! clouded with ignorance, Is Christ and heaven no fair inheritance,
VOL. VI.