Upon the chearfulness of the husbandman,
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
Whereasonehour spent with God brings in Such heav'nlytreasures,that poor souls have been
Enrich'd for ever. Even as you fee A prince's favourite, upon the knee, Can in an hour's time more wealth obtain,
Than all your lives by labour you can gain.
Pray'r-gains are great, and quick returns are made, Sure then the Christian drives the richest trade.
"Tis true, the hypocrite that never drove Aferious trade for heav'n, may bankrupt prove :
But holy fouls, which mind,and closely ply Their bus'ness, greatly are enrich'dthereby;
The diss'rence 'twixt the one, and t' other's best By such a fimile as this, exprest :
As in a summer's day you often fee Thewantonbutterfly, and painful bee; On fragrant flowers fix, whence one doth strive
To bear his precious burden to the hive ; The other's pains no profit with it brings,
His time is spent in painting of his wings .
When winter comes,thebeehath full supplies, The other creeps into an hole,and dies.
Like different events shall be betwixt The painful faint, and lazy notionist.
CHAP.
Upon the chearfulness of the Husbandman.
Theplowmanfings, and whistles, though he sweat, Shall Christians droop, because their work is great?
OBSERVATION.
HOUGH the laboursofhusbandmen are very great, and T toilsome, yet with whatchearfulness do they go through them? It is verydelightfultohear the melody they make, by whisthng, as they follow the plow ; yea, the very horses have their bells, which make a pleasant noise.
Horses (faithMr.
Fuller) will do more for a whistle than a whip ; and their bells do, as it were, gingle away their weariness.
I have been oftendelightedwith this country music, whereby they sweeten their hard labours with an innocent pleasure,and verify the saying of the poet' ; Tempus in agrorum cultu confumeredulce eft. Ovid.
Altho' theyplow from morning until night,
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, Time steals away with pleasure and delight.
APPLICATION.
BUR UThow much greater cause have the people of God to address themselves unto his work with all chearfulness of spirit ? And, indeed, fo far as the heart is spiritual, it delights in its duties. "Tis true, the work ofa Christian is painful,and much more spending,than the husbandman's (as was opened chap. 1.)butthenitas much exceeds in the delights and pleasures that attend it.
What is the Christian's work, but " with joy to draw water out of the wells offalvation ?" Ifa. xii. 3.
You may fee what a pleasant path the path of duty is, by the chearfulness of those that have walked in them, Psal. cxix. 14. " I have rejoiced in the way of thy judgments,
" as much as in all riches." And by the promises that are made to such, Psal. cxxxviii. 5. " Yea,they shallfing in the "ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord." And again, " You shall have a song as in the night, when an " holy solemnity is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one
" goeth with a pipe, to come to the mountain of the Lord, to " the mightyone of Israel," Ifa. xxx. 29.
And, lastly, by the many commands,whereby joy in the way of the Lord is made the duty of the saints. "Rejoice in " the Lord, ye righteous,for praise is comely for the upright,"
Psal. xcvii. 12. " Rejoice, and again I say rejoice," Phil. iv. 4. where the command is doubled,yea, not only simple rejoicing, but the highestdegreeofthat duty comes within the command.
Psal. cxxxii. 9, 16. " Shout for joy, all ye that are upright in " heart." AndLuke vii. 22, 23. they that are bid to leap for joy,when about the difficultest part of their work. And that you may fee there is a sufficient ground for it, and that it is not like the mad mirth of sinners,be pleased toconfider,
1. The nature of the work about which they are employed :
It is the most excellent, and heavenly employment, that ever foulswere acquainted with. O what a ravishing, and delightful thing it is, to walk with God! And yet by this, the whole work of a Christian is expressed, Gen. xvii. 1. Can any life compare with this, for pleasure ? Can they be chillthatwalk in the fun-shine? Or fad, that abide in the fountain of all delights ; and walk with him whose name is theGodofall comfort, 2 Cor. i. 3. " In whose presence is the fulness of joy,"
Psal. xvi. 11. Owhat an angelical life doth a Christian then live?
Or, 2dly, If we consider the variety of spiritual employments, Varietas delectat.
Change of employment takes off
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
the tediousness of labour.
Variety of voices pleases the ear, variety ofcolours delight the eye, the fame meat prepared several ways, pleases the palate more, and clogs it less.
ButO the variety of choice dishes wherewithGod entertains his people in a Sabbath! as the word,prayer, sacraments, &c. Ifa. Iviii.
13. Ifthoucall the Sabbath thy delights ; or, as Tremellius renders it, thy delicate things.
" My soul (faith David) shall " be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness," Psalm lxiii. 5.
3dly, Or lastly, If we confider the suitableness of this work to a regenerateioul.
Is it any pain for a bird to fly ? Or a fish to swim? Is the eye tired with beautiful objects ? Or the ear with melodious sounds ? As little can a spiritual foul be wearied with spiritualandheavenlyexercises. Rom. vii. 22. " I de- " light in the law of God after the inner man."
Gravia non gravitant in eorum loco, (faith the philosopher) weighty things are not heavy in their own element, or center. And furelyGod is the center of all gracious spirits. A faint can fit from morning to night to hear discourses of the love and loveliness of Jesus Christ.
The fight of your thriving flocks, and flourishing fields, cannot yield you that pleasure which an upright foul can find in one quarter of an hour's communion with God. " They that are after the flesh, (faith the apostle,
" Rom. viii 5.) do mind the things of the flesh, and they that " are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."
But then look how much heavenly objects transcend earthly ones, and how much the foul is more capable of delight in those objects, than the gross and duller senses are in theirs; so much doth the pleasure arising from the duty excel all sensitive delights on earth.
REFLECTIONS .
How am I cast and condemned by The carnal heart's this, mayIfay ; whoneverfavouredthis reflection. spiritual delight inholyduties. When I am about my earthly employments, Icangoonunweariedly from day today; all the way is down-hill to my nature, and the wheels of my affections being oiled with carnal delight, run so fast, that they have needmosttimes oftrigging. Here
I ratherneedthe curb, than the spur. Ohow fleet and nimble are myfpirits in these their pursuits! butOwhat a slug am I in religious duties ! sure if my heart were renewed by grace,
1should delight in the law of God, Rom. vii. 22. All the world is alive in their ways, every creature enjoys his proper pleasure; and is there no delight to be found in the paths of VOL. VI.
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, holiness ? Is godliness only a dry root, that bears nopleafant fruits ? No, no, there are doubtless, incomparable pleasures to be found therein ; but such a carnal heart as mine favours them not.
I cannot fay but I have found delight in reThe hypocrite's ligious duties,but they have been only fuchas reflection. rather sprang from the oftentation of gifts andapplauses of men, than any sweet and real communion I have had with God through them ; they have rather proved food, and fuel to my pride, than food to my soul.
Like the nightingale, Icanfing sweetly,when I observe others to listen to me, and be affected with my music. O false, deceitful heart, such delight as this will end in howhng ! were my spirit right, it would as much delight in retirements for the enjoyment of God, as it doth in those duties that are most exposed to the observation of man. Will such a spring as this maintain a stream of affections, when carnal motives fail ?
What wiltthou answer, O my soul ! to that question ? Job xxvii. 9, 10. " Will God hear his cry when trouble comes
" upon him ? Will he delight himself in the Almighty ?
" Will he always call upon God ?" What wilt thou reply to this question ? Deceive not thou thyself,Omyfoul ! thouwilt doubtless be easily persuaded to let go that thou never delighteft in, and, from an hypocrite in religion, quickly become an apoftate from religion.
Theuprightheart's reflection.
From all this, the upright heart takes advantage to rouze up its delight in God, and thus it expoftulateth with itself : Doth theplowman sing amidst his drudging labours, and whistle away his weariness in the fields ; and shall Idroop amidst such heavenly employment ? O my soul, what wantestthou here, to provoke thy delight ? If there be such an affection as delight in thee, methinks such an object as the blessed face of God in ordinances, should excite it. Ah! how would this ennoble all my services, and make them angel-like ! how glad are those blessed creatures to be employed for God? No sooner were they created,but theyfang together,and shouted for joy,
Job xxxviii. 7. Howdidthey fill the air withheavenlymelody, whenfent to bring the joyful tidings ofa Saviour to the world ? Afcribing glory to God in the highest, even to the highest of their powers ; yea, this delight would make all my duties Christ-like; and the nearer that pattern, the more ex cellent: he delighted to do his Father's will, it was to him meat and drink, Psalm xl. 7. John iv. 32, 34.
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things,
Yea,it would not only ennoble, but facilitate all my duties, and be to me as wings to a bird in flying, or fails to as hip in motion.
Non tardat uncta rota ; oiled wheels run freely :
" Or ever I was aware,my soul made me like the chariots of " Aminadab." O what is the reason(my God) my delight in thee should be so little ? Is it not, because myunbelief is fo great ? Rouze up my delights, O thou fountain of pleasure I and let me fwimdownthe streamofholyjoy in duty, into the boundless ocean of those immense delights that are in thyprefence, and at thy right hand for evermore.
The POEM.
Whatadull,despondent heart is mine!
That takes no moredelightin things divine.
When all the creatures,both in heav'n and earth, Enjoy their pleasures, and are big with mirth.
Angels and faints that are before the throne, Inextafies andraptures, ev'ry one Perpetually is held; each blessed spirit
The purest, highestjoys doth there inherit :
The saints on earth, in their imperfect state, Those peerless joys,by faithdoantedate.
To nat'ral men, who favour not this pleasure, Yet bounteous nature doth unlock her treasure
Of sensitive delights ; yea, strange to tell, Boldfinners rant it all the way to hell.
Like fish thatplayinJordan's silver stream, So these in sensual lusts,and never dream
Of that dead sea to which the stream doth tend, Andtotheirpleasures puts a fatal end.
Yea, birds, and beasts, as well as men enjoy Their innocent delights : these chirp, and play ;
Thechearfulbirdsamong the branches sing, And make the neighb'ring groves with music ring :
With various warbling notes they all invite Ourravifh'd ears, with pleasureanddelight.
The new-fallenlambs will, in a fun-shine day, About their feeding damsjump up, and play.
Are cisterns sweet? And is the fountain bitter ?
Orcanthefunbedark, when glow-worms glitter?
Have instruments their sweet, melodious airs ?
All creatures their delights, and faints not theirs ?
Yea, theirs transcend these sensual ones, as far As noon-dayPhoebus doth a twinkling star.
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or, Whydroop I then, may any creature have A life like mine for pleasure ? Who e'ergave
The like encouragement that Christ hath giv'n, To do his will on earth, as 'tis inheav'n?
CHAP.
IV.
Upon the dueQualityofArable Land.
Corn land must neither be too fat, nor poor ; The middleftatefuits best with Christians,sure.
OBSERVATIΟΝ .
Usbandmen find, by experience, that their arable lands may be dressed too much, as well as too little ; if the foil be over-rank, the feed shoots up so much into the stalk, that it seldom ears well; and if too thin, and poor, it wants its due nutriment, and comes not to perfection.
Therefore their care is, to keep it in heart, but not to over-dress or under-dress it.
'The end of all their cost and pains about it, is fruit; and therefore reason tells them, that such a state and temperament of it, as best fits it for fruit, is best, both for it and them.
APPLICATION.
AND doth not spiritual experience teach Christians that a mediocrity, and competency of the things of this life, best fits them for the fruits of obedience, which is the end and excellency of their beings ? Am an may be over-mercied, as well as over-afflicted; Rarefumantfælicibus arae, the altars of the rich seldom smoke. When our outward enjoyments are by providence shaped, and fitted to our condition, as a suit is to the body, that fits close, and neat, neither too short, nor long; we cannot defirea better condition in this world.
This was itthatwifeAgur requsted of God, Prov. xxx, 8, 9. "Give " me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with food con
" venient for me, lest I be full and deny thee, and say who is " the Lord ? Or lest I be poor and steal, and take the name
" of my God in vain." Against both he prays equally, not absolutely; that had been his sin ; but, comparatively, and submissivelyto the will of God.
He had rather, if God fee it fit, toavoidbothofthese extremes ; but whatwouldhehavethen ?
Why, food convenient. Or, according to the Hebrew, give me my prey, or statute-bread ; which is a metaphor from birds which fly up anddowntoprey for their young, andwhatthey get, they distribute among them; they bring them enough to preserve their lives, but not more than enough to liemoulder
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
in gin the nest.
Such a proportionAgurdefired,andthereasonwhy he desired it, is drawn from the danger of both extremes. He measured, likeawife Christian,the conveniency or inconveniency of his estate in the world, by its fuitableness orunsuitableness to the end of his being ; which is the service of God. He accounted the true excellency of his life toconfiftinits reference and tendency to the glory of his God; and he could not fee how a redundancy, or too great a penury of. earthly comforts could fit him for that ; but a middle estate, equally removed from both extremes, best fitted that end. And this was all that good Jacob, who was led by the same spirit, looked at, Gen. xxviii. 20."And Jacob vowed avow, saying,
" if God will be with me, and keep me in the way that I go, " and give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I " come again to my father's house in peace, then shall the Lord
" be my God."
Poor Jacob, he desires no great matters in the world, food and raiment will satisfy him ; in spiritual matters his desires are boundless,he is the most greedy and unsatisfied man in the world, Hos. xii. 4. but in the matters of this life, if hecangetfromGod but off am et aquam, a morsel of meat, and a mouthful of water, he will not envy the richest
Cræfus, or Crafsus upon earth.
Cibus et pot us funt divitia Chriftianorum ; meat and drink are the riches of Christians.
Divitiafunt ad legem naturæ compofita paupertas, faith PomponiusAtticus ; riches are such a poverty, or mediocrity, as hath enough for nature's uses ; and such a state is best accommodated, both to the condition, and to the desires of a faint.
1. To his condition, for what is a faint but a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, am an in a strange countrytravellinghomeward ? So David professed himself, Psalm cxix. 19. " I am a " stranger in this earth." And so those worthies,who are now at home in heaven,Heb. xi. 13. they professed themselves to be strangers and pilgrims upon earth, and tofeeka country ; a viaticum contents a traveller, he will not incumber himself with superfluous things, which would rather clog and tire,than expedite and help him in his journey.
2. It suits best with his desires, I mean his regular and adviseddefires.
For, 1.A gracious foul earnestly desires a free condition in the world, he is sensible he hath much work to do, a race to run, and is loth to be clogged, or have his foot in the snare of the cares or pleasures of this life.
He knows that fulness exposes towantonness and irreligion, Deut. vi. 12. Hos. xiii. 6.
It is hard,in the midstofsomany tempting objects,tokeepthegold
Husbandry Spiritualized; or, enbridle of moderation upon the affections.
The heart ofa Christian, like the moon,commonly suffers an eelipsewhen it is at the full, and that by the interpofitionofthe earth.
It was Solomon's fulness that drew out and dissolved his spirits, and brought him to such a lowebb in fpirituals, that it remains a question with some,Whether he ever recovered it to his dying day. As it is the misery of the poor to beneglectedofmen, so it is the misery of the rich toneglectGod.
Who can be poorer than to have the world, and love it ? Or richer, than to enjoy but little of it, and live above it ?
And, on the other side, extreme poverty is no less exposed tofinand danger, Lev. vi. 2, 3, 4. As high and lofty trees are subject to storms and tempests,so the lowest shrubs to be browse don by everybeaft ; and therefore a faint desires a just competency as the fittest, because the freest state.
2.A gracious person desires no more but a competency,because there is most of God's love and caredifcovered in giving in our daily bread, bya daily providence.
It is betwixt such a condition, and a fulness of creature-provisions in our land, as it was betwixt Egypt and Canaan ; Egypt was watered with the foot from the river Nilus, and little of God was seen in that mercy; but Canaan depended upon the dews and showers of heaven; and fo every shower of rain was a refreshing shower to their souls, as well as bodies.
Most men that have a stock of creature-comforts in their hands, look upon all as coming in an ordinary, natural course, and see very littleofGod in their mercies.
Pope Adrian built a college at Louvain, and caused this inscription to be written in letters of gold on the gates thereof; Trajectum plantavit, Louvanium rigavit, Cafar dedit incrementum ; (i. e.) Utrechtplanted me, Louvain watered me, and Cæfar gave the increase.
One to reprove his folly wrote underneath, Hic Dens nihilfecit ; hereGoddidnothing.
Carnal men, they sow, and reap, and eat, and look no further.
But now, when a man fees his mercies come in by the special and affiduous care of God for him,there is a double sweetness in those mercies ; the natural sweetness which comes from the creature itself, every one, even the beasts, can taste that as well as thee; but, besides that, there is a spiritual sweetness, far exceeding the former, which none but a believer tastes ; and much of that comes from the manner in which he receives it, because it comes (be it never so coarse or little) as a covenant-mercy to him. "He hath given bread to them that fear
"him,he is ever mindful of his covenant," Psal. cxi. 5.
Luther, who made many amealuponabroiledherring, was wont
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
to say, Mendicatopane hic vivamus, an non hocpulchrefarciturineo, quodpafcimur pane cum angel is et vita aterna, Christo et facramentis: Let usbecontentwith coarse fare here, have we not the bread that came down from heaven ? Do we not feed with angels ? A pregnant instance of the sweetness of such mercies, is given us by a worthy divine of our own, Mr. Isaac
Ambrose, †For my own part (faith he) however the Lord hath seen cause to give me but a poor pittance of outward
⚫things, for which I bless his name,yet in the income thereof, • I have many times observed so much of his peculiar provi. dence, that thereby they have been very much sweetened,and my heart hath been raised to admire his grace. When of • late under anharddispensation(which I judge not meet to ⚫mention,wherein Ifufferedwith inwardpeaceconfcientioufly)
* all streams ofwonted supplies being stopt, the waters of relief ⚫for myself and family did run low.
I went to bed with some • staggerings and doubtings of the fountain's letting out itself for our refreshing ; but e'er I did awake in the morning, a • letter was brought to my bed-side,which was fignedby a ⚫choice friend, Mr. Anthony Ash, which reported some un
• expected breakings out of God's goodness for my comfort • Thesearefome of his lines, Your God, who hath given you an heart thankfully to record your experiences of his
• goodness, doth renew experiences for your encouragement.
• Now I shall report one which will raise your spirit towards • the God of your mercy, &c.'
Whereupon he sweetly conclades, One morsel of God's provision, (especially if it comes
• unexpected, and upon prayer,when wants are inost) will be more sweet to a spiritual relish, than all former full enjoy.
• ments were.'
Many mercies come unasked for, and they require thankfulness,but when mercies come in upon prayer, and as a returnofprayer, their sweetness more than doubles ; for now it is both God's blessing upon his own institution, and a feal set to his promise at once, Psal. lxvi. 16, 17.
Doubtless Hannah found more comfort in her Samuel, and Rachel in herNaphtali, the one being asked of God, and the other wrestled for with God, (as their names import) than mothers ordinarily do in their children .REFLECTIONS .
Do the people of God desire only so much of the creature as may fit them for the service of God ? What wretch then am I that The reflection of the design. ing hypocrite.
+Epiftle to theEarl ofBedford; anteultima.
Husbandry Spiritualized; or,
have desired only so much of religion as may fit me to gain the creature ! As God's people have subjected all their creature-enjoyments to religion, so oppofitely, O my soul, thou hast subjected religion to thy wordly interest and designs,
Instead of eating and drinking to serve God, I have fervedGod that I might eat and drink ; yea, I have not only acted below religion, but below reason also ; for reason dictates plainly, that the means must never be more excellent than the end.
Wretch that I am, to make religion a slave to my lust, a stirrup to advancement, an artifice to carryon my carnal designs ; verily I have my reward ; and this is all the good I am ever like to get by it.
And nolessshould the worldling tremble, toconfiderhowhe hath cast off the duties of The worldling's reflection. religion, made them stand aside, and give place to the world.
Instead of desiring fo much only as might make him serviceable to God, he thrusts aside the service of God to get as much of the world as he can, who is fo far from making godliness the end of his creature comforts, that he rather looks upon it as an obstacle, and hindrance to them.
May not the very heathens make me blush ?
CouldAriftotle deliver this as a true rule to posterity, to make religion our first, and chief care ? Could Ariftippus say, He would rather neglect his means than his mind ! his farm than his soul ? Will the veryMahometans, how urgent soever their business be, lay it all aside five times in the day to pray ? Yea, is it common to a proverb among the very Papifts, that mass and meat hinders no man ; and yet I, that profess myself a
Christian, thrust out duty for every trifle ! O wretched foul ! how hath the god of this world blinded mine eyes ? Can the world indeed do that for me, that Christ can do: Hath it ever proved true to them that trusted it, and doated on it ? Hath it not at last turned them off, as men turn off a fumpter-horse at night, that hath been a drudge to carry their gold and silver for them all day, and at last is turned out with an empty belly, and a galled back ? O how righteous will that sentence of God be ? Go cry to the gods whom thou hast served.
And may not many gracious hearts turn Thegraciousfoul's inuponthemselves with shame and sorrow, reflection. to confider how unsatisfied they have been in that condition, that others have preferred and esteemed as the greatest of all outward mercies ? I have indeed been fed with food convenient, but not contented ? how hath mineheartbeen tortured fromdaytodaywith anxi-
The Heavenly Use of Earthly Things.
ous thoughts, what I shall eat and drink, and where with I and mine shall be clothed? I pretend indeed that I care but for a competency of the world, butfure I am, my cares about it have been incompetent.
Come my distrustful earthly heart, let me. propound a few questions to thee about this matter, and answer
truly to what I shall demand of thee.
Quest. 1. Hast thou here a continuing city? Art thou at home, or uponthyjourney, that thou artfo folicitous about the world?Thyprofeffion indeed speaks thee a stranger upon earth, but thy conversation a home-dweller.
Erasmus faidhe desired honours and riches no more than a weary horse doth a heavy cloak-bag.
Would it thou not account him a fool that would victual his ship as much to cross the channel to France,as if the were bound for the East Indies ? Alas ! it will be but a little while,and then there will be no more need of any of these
: things.
It is sad, that a soul which stands at the door of eternity, should be perplexing itself about food and raiment.
Quest. 2. Which of all the faints haft thou known to be the better for much of the world ? It hath been some mens utter ruin.
Seldom doth God fuffermen to be their own carvers, but they cut their own fingers.
To give riches and pleasure ⚫to an evil man(faithArlitotle) is but to give wine to one that hath a fever.'
Where there is no want, there is usually much wartonness.
What a sad story is that ofPius Quintus ; When I was ina low condition, said he, Ihadfome comfortablehopesofmyfalvation; but when I came to be a Cardinal,
Igreatlydoubted of it: But since I came to the Popedom, I have no hope at all.
Though this poor, undone wretch, spake it out, and others keep it in; yet, doubtless, he hath many thousand fellows in the world,that might say as much,would theybutspeak the truth.
And even God's own people, though the world hath not excluded them out of heaven,yet it hath sorely clogged them in the way thither.
Many that have beenveryhumble, holy, and heavenly, in a low condition, have suffered a sad ebb in a full condition.
What a cold blast have they felt coming from the cares and delights of this life, to chill both their graces, and comforts! It had been well for some of God's people, if they had never known what profperitymeant.
Quest. 3. Is not this a sad symptom of a declining state of foul, to be so hot, eager, and anxious about the superfluous trifles of this life ? Thinkestthou, O my soul! that one who walks in the views of that glory above, and maintains aconVOL. VI.
Husbandry Spiritualized ; or , Versation in heaven, can be much taken with these vanities
Do not the visions of God veil the tempting splendor of the creature ! It was the opinion of some of the Schoolmen, that the reasonwhyAdam in paradise was not sensible of his nakedness, was because he was wholly taken up in conversing with God.
But this is certain, lively and sweet communion with God,blunts anddulls the edge of the affections to earthly things; and canst thou be satisfied, my foul,with fuchgains as are attended with such spiritual losses ?
Quest. 4. To conclude,is it not dishonourable to God, and a justification of thewayofthe world,for me,thatprofessmyself a Christian, to be as eager after riches as othermen ?
" After all these things do the nations seek," Matth. vi. 32.
IfIhadnoFatherinheaven,nor promise in the world, it were another matter ; but since my heavenly Father knows what I have need of, and hath charged me to be careful in nothing, but only to tell him my wants, Phil. iv. 6. how unbecoming aththing is it in me to live and act as I have done ! Let me henceforth learn to measure, and estimate my condition, rather by its usefulness to God,than its contentandease to my flesh.
The POEM.
F frwit and service be, indeed, the end I To which my being and redemption tend, Reason concludes, that state, of all the rest,
Which is most serviceable, to be best.
And such a state experience shews to lie "Twixt fulness, and a pinching poverty.
This golden mean is worth a golden mine; He that hath this, should be as ham'd to whine.
The full-fed Christian, like the ox i' th' stall, Is noway fit to work, or plow withal.
And penury, like Pharaoh's leanerkine, Devours the fattest portions of our time.
Thatmanwithwhom this earthly pleasure'sfound, Or in whose heart those anxious cares abound ;
And yetcanwalkby scripture-rule,and line, Will need a better head and heart than mine ;
A single staff the traveller may find, Ofuseandfervice; but if you should bind A bundle of them to his back, they'll make
Him flack his pace, and cry my shoulders ake -I am a traveller, this world's my way, Afingle staff may be of use to stay