Upon the industry of the husbandman,
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, you, as you find them in the following chapters. Read, confider, and apply; and the Lord make you good husbandmen for your own souls.
THE FIRST PART OF
HUSBANDRY
SPIRITUALIZED .
CHAP I.
Upon the Industry oftheHusbandman.
In thelaborious husbandman you fee What all true Christians are, or ought to be.
OBSERVATIΟΝ.
HE employment of the husbandman is by all acknow- ; business incumbent on him. The end of one work is but the beginning of another, every season of the year brings its proper work with it: sometimes you find him in his fields, dressing, plowing, sowing,harrowing, weeding, or reaping; and sometimes in his barn, threshing or winnowing ; sometiines in his orchard, planting, graffing, or pruning, his trees ; and sometimes among his cattle; so that he hath no time to be idle.
As he hath a multiplicity of business, so every part of it is full of toil, and spending labour: he eats not the bread of idleness, but earns it before he eats it; and, as it were, dips it in his own sweat, whereby it becomes the sweeter to him.
Though fin brought in the husbandman's sweat, Gen. iii. 19. yet now not to sweat would increase his fin, Ezek. xvi. 49.
APPLICATION.
Behold here the life of a serious Christian, shadowed forth
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
to the life. As the life ofahusbandman, so the life ofaChriftian isnoidlenoreasy life.
Theythattake up religion for oftentation, and not for an occupation, and those that place the bufinessofit in notions, and idle speculations, informs, gestures, and external observances, may think, and call it so : but such as devote themselves unto it, and make religion their business, will find it no easy work, to exercise themselves togodliness.
Many there are, that affect the reputation and sweet of it,who cannotendurethe labour and Sweat of it.
If men might be indulgedtodivide their heart betwixtGodandtheworld, or to culloutthe cheap and easy duties of it, and neglect the more difficultandcostly ones, it were an easything to be a Christian : but surely to have a respect to all God's commandments, to live the life, as well as speak the language ofa Christian ; to be holy in all manner of conversation, is not so easy. This will be evident,by comparing the life of a Christian, with the life of ahusbandman, in these five particulars ; wherein it will appear, that the work of a Christian, is by much the hardest work of the two.
1. The husbandmanhath much to do, many things to look after ; but the Christian more: if we respect the extensiveness of his work, he hath a large field indeed to labour in, Psalm cxix. 96. " Thy commandment is exceeding broad," of a vast extent and latitude, comprizing not only a multitudeofexternal acts and duties, and guiding the offices of the outward man about them, but also taking in every thought and motion of the inner-man within its compass.
You find in the word, a world of work cut out for Christians ; thereishearing-work, praying-work, reading, meditating, and self-examining-work; it puts him also upon a constant watch overall the corruptions of his heart. Oh, what a world of work hath a Christian about him ? For of them he may say, as the hiftoriandoth of Hannibal,they are never quiet, whether conquering or conquered. How many weak, languishing graces hath he to recover, improve, and strengthen ? There is a weak faith, a languishing love, dullandfaintdefires to be quickened, and invigorated. And when all this is done,what a multitude of work do his several relations exact from him ? He hath a world of business incumbent on him, as a parent, child, husband, wife, master, servant, or friend, yea,not only to friends, but enemies. And,besides all this,how many difficult things are there to be borne and suffered for Christ ? And yet God. will not allow his people to the neglect of any one of them : neither can hebe a Christian that hath not respect to every
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, command,and is not holy in all manner of conversation, Psalm cxix. 6. 2 Pet. iii. 11. every oneoftheseduties, like the several spokes in a wheel, come to bear, in the whole round ofa
Christian's conversation : so that he hath more work upon his hands than the husbandman.
2. Thehusbandman'swork is confessedtobespending work, but not like the Christians.
WhatAugustus said of the young Roman, is verified in the true Christian, Quicquid vult, valde vult.
Whatsoever he doth in religion, he doth to purpose.
Under the law, God rejected thesnailand the ass, Lev. xi.
30. Exod. xiii. 13. And under the gospel, he allows no sluggish, lazy professor, 1 Tim. v. 11 , 13. Sleepy duties are utterlyunsuitabletothe living God ; he will have the very spirits distilled and offered up to him in every duty, Johniv. 24. he bestows upon his people the very substance and kernel of mercies, and will not accept from them the shells and shadows of duties; not the skin, but the inwards, and the fat that covereth the inwards, was required under the law, Exod. xxix. 30.
And every sacrifice under the gospel, must befacrificium medullatum, a facrificefull of marrow; observe the manner in which their work is to be performed.
Rom. xii. 11. In fervingGod, fervent inspirit,orhissinghot.
2 Pet. i. 10. In securing salvation, diligent ; or doing it thoroughly, and enough.
1 Tim. iv. 7. In godliness, exercising or stripping themselves; as for a race.
Luke xiii. 24. In the pursuit of happiness, striving even to an agony.
Acts xxvi. 7. In prayer, serving God instantly ; or in a stretched out manner ; yea, pouring out their hearts before him, Psalm lxii. 8. as if the body were left like a dead corps upon the knees, whilst the spirit is departed from it, and ascended to God.
This is the manner of his work : judge then how much harder this work is, than to fpendthe sweat of the brow in manual labour.
3. The husbandmanfinds his work as he left it, he can begin one day where he left the other ; but it is not fowith the Christian, a bad heart, and a busy devil, disorder and spoil his work everyday.
The Christian finds no this heart in the morning, ashe left it at night; andevenwhen he is about his work, how many set-backs doth he meet with ? Satan stands at his right hand(the working hand) to resist him, Zech. iii. 1. when he would do good, evil (the evil of his own heart and nature) is perfent with him.
The Heavenly Use of Eearthly Things.
4. Thehusbandman hath some resting-days,when he throws aside all his work, and takes his recreation; but the Christian hath no resting-day,till his dying-day; and then he shall rest from his labours.
Religion allows no idle day, " but requires "him to be always abounding in the work of the Lord,"
1 Cor. xv. 18.
When one duty is done, another calls for him ; the Lord's day is a day of rest to the husbandman, but no day in the week so laborious to the Christian. O it is a spending day to him. When he hath gathered in the cropofoneduty, he is not to fit down satisfiedtherewith, or fay as that rich worldling did, Luke xii. 19. " Soul, take thine ease,thou hast
" goods laid up for many years ;" but must to plow again, and count it well if the vintage reach to the feed-time, Levit. xxvi. 5. I mean, if the strength, influence, and comfort of one duty, hold out to another duty; and that it may be so, and there be no room left for idleness,God hath appointed ejaculatoryprayer, to fill up the intervals, betwixt stated and the more solemn duties.
These are to keep in the fire, which kindled the morning sacrifice, to kindle the evening sacrifice. When can the Christian fit down and fay, Now all my work is ended,
I have nothing to do without doors, or within ?
Lastly, There is a time when the labour of the husbandman is ended; old age and weakness takes him off from all employment; they can look only upon theirlabourers,but cannot do a stroke of work themselves ; they can tell you whattheydid in theiryoungeryears,but now(faythey)we must leave ittoyoungerpeople: we cannot be young always; but the Christian is never fuperannuatedas to the work of religion ; yea, the longer he lives, the more his master expects from him.
When he is full of days, God expects he should be full of fruits, Psal xcii.
14." Theyshallbring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat " and flourishing."
REFLECTIONS .
1. How hard have Ilaboured for the meat that perifheth ? Prevented the dawning of the day, and labouredas in the very fire, and yetis the Christian's work harderthanmine ?
Surely, then, I never yet understood the work of Christianity.
Alas, my sleepy prayers, and formal duties, even all that ever Theworlding's reflection.
I performed in my life, never cost me that pains, that one hour at plow hath done. I have either wholly neglected, or, at best, so lazily performed religious duties, that I may truly say,
I offer toGodwhat cost me nothing. Wo is me, poor wretch !
How is the judgment of Korah spiritually executed upon me
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, The earthopenedher mouth, and swallowed up his body; but it hath opened its mouth and swallowed up my heart,my time, and all my affections. How far am I from the kingdom of God!
2. And how little better is my case, who have indeed professed religion, but never made it my business ? Will an empty (though splendid) professionsaveme?How many brave ships have perished in the storms, notwithstanding their fine names, the prosperous, the success, the happy return?
Afinenamecould not protect them from the rocks, nor will it The formalist's reflection. faveme from hell.
I have done by religion, as I should have done by the world; prayed, as ifI prayed not ; and heard, as ifI heard not.
I have given to God but the shadow of duty, and can never expect from him areal reward.
The reflections ofa 3. How unlike a Christian dost thou, Nothful Christian. also, O my soul, go about thy work ; though upright in the main, yet how little zeal and activity dost thou express inthyduties? awake love and zeal, seest thou not the toil and pains men take for the world? How do they prevent the dawning of the day ? And labour as in the very fire till night; and all this for a trifle!
Should not every drop off we at which I fee trickle from their brows, fetch (as it were) a drop of blood from my heart ? who am thus convinced and reproved of shameful laziness, by their indefatigable diligence. Do they pant after the dust of the earth ? Amos ii. 7. And shall I notpant after God, Psal. xlii. 1 .
Ah, my soul, it was not wont to be so with thee in the days of my firstprofeffion.
Should I have had no more communion with God in duties then, it would have broken my heart : I should have been weary of my life.
Is this a time for one to stand idle, who stands at the door of eternity ? What, now flack-handed, when so near to my everlasting rest, Rom. xiii.
11. or haftthou found the workofGod so unpleasant to thee ?
Prov. iii. 17. or the trade of godliness so unprofitable ? Psal. xix. 12.
Or knowest thou not, that millions now in hell perished for want offerious diligence in religion, Luke xiii. 34. nor doth my diligence for God, answer to that which Christ hath done and suffered, to purchase my happiness : or to the preparations he hath made in heaven for me ? Or dost thou forget that thy master's eye is always upon thee, whilst thou art lazying and loitering ? Or would the damned live at this rate as Ido, if their day ofgracemightbe recalled ? For shame, my soul, for shame ! rouze up thyself, and fall to thy work,
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
with a diligence answerable to the weight thereof; for it is no vain work concerning thee, it is thy life.
The POEM.
When advanc'd in pow'r, "
Twill make Menstrivewith all their might, And therein Find a fweetdelight.
If there were Nought besides that pay Christ-gives To cheer us in our way; Religion Will make you Husband every hour.
Should we not Do the best we can ?
For there's No such reward from man .
Shall others Their strength; Work, and not regard To get a small reward ?
Turn slugs, and loyter thus ?
Their zeal might quicken us !
Hands,and feet so flow, Whilst we Othat Why are our When we How can we Unto our businessgo?
Then Christ's pay expect, Christian's work reject ?
Also that embrace And yet the If this, then 'Them both ; If not, we both disgrace.
They could these two divide, Some if '
Twould But if they As good Rouse up Thee to thy Oftrive, Thepainthey But yet Please them well, with Christ to side !
May not, then it were Geafepleading, they'll not hear.
From sloth, my soul betake Work, no cavils make.
And try! Saints say that even, Take,hath much of heaven.
Their best wine's kept till last, Ease comes all fo fast.
Their rest,and CHAP .
Upon the Thriftiness of the Husbandman.
The hardest labrers are the thriving men :
If you'll have thrivingfouls, be active then.
OBSERVATION.
Ndustry and diligence is the way to thrive and grow rich in I the world.
The earth must be manured, or its increase is in vain expected; Qui fugit molam,fugitfarinam ; He that refuses the mill, refuses the meal,(faith the proverb.) "The VOL. VI, E
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or , " diligent foul shall be made fat." Solomon hath two proverbs concerning thriftiness and increase in the world.
In Prov. x. 4. he faith, " The hand of the diligent maketh rich." And in ver. 22. he faith, "The blessing of the Lord maketh rich."
These are not contradictory, but confirmatory each of other ; one speaks of the principal, the other of the instrumental cause.
Diligence without God's blessing will not do it ; and that blefling cannot be expected without diligence ; therefore hufbandmen ply their business with unwearied pains, they do even lodge in the midst of their labours as that good husband
Boaz did, Ruth ii. 3. They are parfimonious of their time, but prodigal of their sweat and strength, because they find this to be the thriving way.APPLICATION.
As nature opens her treasures to none but the diligent, so neither doth grace. He that will be rich, must be a painful
Christian; and whosoever will closelyply the trade ofgodliness, shall comfortably, and quickly find, " That in keeping
" God's commands, there is great reward," Psalm xix. 11.
God is a " bountiful rewarder offuch as diligently seek him,"
Heb. xi . 6. They must not indeed work for wages, * nor yet will God suffer their work togo unrewarded ; yea, it sufficiently rewards itself, 1 Tim. vi. 6. And its reward is twofold ; (1.)
Present, and in part ; (2.) Future, and in full, Mark x. 29, 30. Now in this time an hundred-fold, even from suffering, which seems the most unprofitable part of the work, and in the world to come life everlasting.
If you ask what present advantage Christians have by their diligence ? I answer, as much and more than the husbandman hath from all his toils, and labours.
Let us compare the particulars, and fee what thehusbandmangets that the christian gets not also. Compare your gains, and you will quickly fee the odds.
1. You get credit and reputation by your diligence ; it is a commendation and honourto you, to be active and stirring men: But how much more honour doth God put upon his loborious servants ? It is the highest honourof a creature, to be active and useful for its God.
Saints are called vessels ofhonour, as they are fitted for the master's use, 2Tim. ii. 21 .
Wherein consists the honour of angels but in this, that they areministring spirits, serviceable creatures ?And all the apostles gloried in the title of servants. The lowest office in which a man can serve God, even that ofNethinim, or door-keeper,
* Non mercenariifed operariis
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
which was the lowest order or rank of officers in the house of God, Ezek. xliv. 10, 11. is yet preferredbyDavid before the serviceofthegreatestprince on earth, Psalm lxxxiv. 10.
It is no smallhonour to be active for God.
2. You have this benefit by your labour, that thereby you avoid loose and evil company, which would draw you into mischief. By diligence for God, the Christian also is secured from temptation; "God is with them, while they are with " him," 2 Chron. xv. 2. Communion with God in the way of duty, is a great preservative against temptations.
TheSchoolmen put the question, how the angels and glorified saints become impeccant ? And resolve it thus: That they are secured from fin, by the beatificalvision ; and sure I am that the visions of God, not only in glory, but now also in duty, are marvellous defences against sin; and they who are most active for God, have the fullest and clearest visions of God, John xiv. 21.
3. You have this benefit by your labour, that it tends much to the health of your bodies.
The Christian hath this benefit by his labour, that it tends to a healthful state of foul ; " The "way of the Lord is strength to the upright," Prov. x. 29 .
As those that follow their daily labours in the field,have much more health than citizens that live idly, or scholars that live a sedentary life : So the active Christian enjoys more spiritual health, and is troubled with fewer complaints than others.
4. By diligence in your civil employments, you preserve your estates, and are kept from running behind-hand in the world.
Bailiffs trouble not such mens doors ; they usually have the forefoot of their neighbours. And by activity and diligence for God, fouls are kept from backsliding, and running back in their graces and comforts. Remissness and intermission in our duties, are the first steps and degrees by which afouldeclines and wastes as to his spiritual estate.
5. Your pains and diligence in the fields, make your bed sweet to you at night, Ecclef. v. 12. " Rest is sweet to a labour- " ingman, whether he eat little or much."
But the diligent life of a Christianmakesthe clods of the valley, his grave, sweet unto him, 2Cor. i. 12. 2 Kings xx. 3. " Remember now,O
" Lord, how I have walked before thee," &c.
Think Christian, howfweet it will be for thee, when thou comest to die, to fay then as thy Redeemer did, when nearhisdeath, John xvii.
4,5. " I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do; " and now,O Father, glorify me with thine own self."
E 2
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, 6. The expence of your sweat fills your purses, you get estates by your diligence and labour; but what are your gains to the gains of Christians ? Theycangetinanhour, that which they will not part with for all the gold and silver on earth,
Prov. iii. 14.
So that compare these labourers, as to all their advantages, and you shall fee, that there is no trade like that which the diligent Christian drives.
REFLECTIONS.
1. Blush then, Omy soul, at the confide Reflections of the ration of thy lasiness and sloth, which is at tended with fo many spiritual wants ! And can I wonder at it, when I refuse the painful way of duty, in which the precious fruits ofgodliness, are only to be found ? If the fruits lyupon the surface of duty, orcouldbehad with wishes, I should not want them; but to dig deep and take pains I cannot.
Mydefires, like those of the flothful man, kill me,because my hands refuse to labour,Prov. xxi . 25. Ifeveryduty were to be rewarded presently with gold, would I not have been more affiduous in them, than I have flothfulfoul. been ? And yet I know that a heart full of the grace and comfort of the Holy Ghost, is better than a house full of gold and silver. Owhat a composition of stupidity and sloth am I !
I have been all for the short cut to comfort, when constant experience teacheth, that the further way about, by painful duty, is the nearer way to it. What pains dohusbandmen take ? What perildo seamen run for a little gain ? O sluggish heart! wiltthou do nothing for eternal treasures ?
Secondly, If there be such great reward attending diligence in duty, then why art thou so apt, O my soul, to cast off duty, because thou findest not present comfort in it? How quickly am I discouraged, if I presently find not what I expect in duty ? Whereas the well is deep, and much pains must be taken to draw up those waters of joy, Ifa. xii. 3. There is a golden vein in the mount of duty, but it lies deep ; and because I meet not with it as soon as I expect, my lazy heart throws by the shovel, and cries, dig I cannot.
Thirdly, If this be indeed the rich and thriving trade, why do I puddle about the poor,
Theworldings reflection. low things of the world fo much, neglecting the rich trade of godliness for it ? O how much of my time and strength have these things devoured ?
Had I employed that time in communion with God, would it not have turned to a better account ? Thinkestthou in ear-
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
nest,Omy foul, thatGodhathendowed thee with such excellent faculties, capable of the most divine and heavenly employments, or that Jesus Christ hath shed his invaluable precious blood, or that he hath sent forth the glorious Spirit of holiness, and all this to fitmenforno higher nor nobler employments than these?
Is this the endofthy wonderful creation ? Doth God whirl about the heavens in endless revolutions, to begettimefor this ?
Or doth he not rather expect that the weightiest work should engross thy greatest strength, and choicest hours ? O that I couldonceconfider, what a good Master Christians serve, who will not only abundantly reward them at night, but brings them their food into the fields to encourage them in their labour ! What pity is it, that so good a Master should be so badly served as he hath been by me ! Harkhow he pleads to gainmyheart:
The POEM, by way ofDialoguebetwixt Christ and the World..
CHRIST.
Why so free of sweat and time, For what erelongwill not be thine?
Orifitmight, thou sell'ft to loss, A precious foul for laftingdross.
Those weary hands, and toiling brains, Might be employed for better gains.
Wouldst thou but work as hard for me, As for the world, which cozensthee ; Thy gains shall be a thousand fold:
For my revenue's more than gold.
WORLD.
Soul,I have always found thee willing, Rather by me to earn a shilling, Than trust uncertain things which lye Beyond thee in eternity.
Shall things unseen now tempt thee ? Tush, A bird in hand's worth two i' th' bush .
Ipaythywages down in hand, This thou canst feel, taste, understand, O let not such a vain pretence Prevail against thy very sense.
CHRIST.
Thus beasts are led, thus birds are snar'd,
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, Thus fouls for ruin are prepar'd.
What ! trust no farther than you fee, You'll trust a thief as far as me.
Deluded wretch ! Will nought but fight And sense convince thee? O how right, How just is God? whose direful scourge Such arguments in hell shall urge.
WORLD .
Christ threatens wrath to come,but I Do threaten theewithpoverty.
Andwhywiltthou thyself,and those That are so dear, to want expose!
Come fee, the saints, for all their brags, How well they thrive, they're cloath'd with rags..
CHRIST.
If my dear saints in ragsdogo, 'Tis not religion cloaths them so; But by such wants the Lord prepares Their souls against the killing snares:
They all are heirs, tho' under age, Expect ants of their heritage :
Kept short for present,yet contemn A change with those that scoffat them.
WORLD.
It is in vain to plead, for I With present things charm pow'rfully; Whate'er thou offer'st, they'lldespise, I hold them pris'ners by their eyes .
CHRIST.
If they will serve no other Lord, Then let it stand upon record, Against their souls, that they refus'd My wages, and my grace a bus'd.
Remember this when they shall fee All turn'dto ashes that's in thee.
ONE will deny but those are blessed pains Which are attended with the richest gains.
Grant this, and then most clearly 'tis inferr'd, Soul-work to all deserves to be preferr'd.
This is an unknown trade : O who can count To what the gains ofgodliness amount ?
For one poor shilling,Owhat risques some run ?
Some toiling, as i' th' fire, from fun to fun.