Husbandry spiritualized, or, The heavenly use of earthly things consisting of many pleasant observations, pertinent applications, and serious reflections and each chapter concluded with a divine and suitable poem : directing husband-men to the most excellent improvements of their common imployments : whereunto is added ... several choice occasional meditations / by John Flavell.

THE PROEM.

1 COR. 3. 9.

Ye are God's Husbandry.

THE scope and design of the following Chapters, being the spiritual improve∣ment of Husbandry, it will be neces∣sary by way of Proem, to acquaint the Reader with the Foundation and general Rules of this Art in the Scri∣ptures, thereby to procure greater respect unto, and prevent prejudice against composures of this kind.

To this end I shall entertain the Reader a little while up∣on what this Scripture affords us, which will give a fair In∣troduction to the following Discourse.

The Apostle's scope in the context being to check and re∣press the vain glory and emulation of the Corinthians, who instead of thankfulness for, and an humble and diligent im∣provement of the excellent blessings of the Ministry; turn'd all into vain ostentation and emulation, one preferring Paul, and another Apollos, in the maan time depriving themselves

of the choice blessings they might have received from them both.

To cure this growing mischief in the Churches, he checks their vanity, and discovers the evil of such practises; by seve∣ral Arguments, amongst which this is one.

Ye are God's Husbandry, q. d.

Whar are ye, but a field, or plot of ground, to be manured and cultivated for God? and what are Paul, Apollo, and Ce∣phas, but so many work-men and labourers, imployed by God, the great Husbandman, to plant and water you all?

If then, you shall glory in some, and despise others, you take the ready way to deprive your selves of the benefits and mercies you might receive from the joint Ministry of them all. God hath used me to plant you, and Apollo to water you; you are obliged to bless him for the Ministry of both, and it will be your sin if you despise either. If the work-men be discouraged in their labours, 'tis the field that loses and suf∣fers by it; so that the words are a similitude, serving to il∣lustrate the Relation.

• 1. Which the Churches have to God.
• 2. Which God's Ministers have to the Churches.

[ 1] The relation betwixt God and them, is like that of an Husbandman to his ground of tillage. The Greek word sig∣nifies Gods Arable, or that plot of ground which God ma∣nures by the ministry of Pastors and Teachers.

It serves to illustrate the relation that the Ministers of Christ sustain to the Churches, which is like that of the Hus∣bands [ 2] servants to him, and his fields; which excellent no∣tion carries in it the perpetual necessity of a Gospel-Ministry. (For what fruit can be expected, where there are none to till the ground?) As also the diligence, accountableness, and rewards, which these labourers are to give to, and re∣ceive from God, the great Husbandman. All runs into this. That the life and imployment of an Husbandman, ex∣cellently shadows forth the relation betwixt God and his Church, and the relative duties betwixt its Ministers and members.

Or more briefly thus.

The Church is God's Husbandry, about which his Ministers are imployed.

I shall not here observe my usual Method, (intending no more but a Preface to the following Discourse) but only open the particulars wherein the resemblance consists, and then draw some Corrolaries from the whole. The first I shall dispatch in these twenty particulars following.

The Husbandman purchases his fields, and gives a valua∣ble consideration for them, Ier. 32. 9, 10.

So hath God purchased his Church with a full valuable price, even the precious blood of his own Son, Act. 20. 28. Feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased, or acquired with his own blood. O dear-bought inheritance, how much doth this bespeak its worth? or rather, the high esteem God hath of it, to pay down blood, and such blood for it; never was any inheritance bought at such a rate: every particular elect person, and none but such as are comprehanded in this purchase, the rest still remain in the devils right. Sin made a forfeiture of all to justice, upon which Satan entred and took possession, and as a strong man armed, still keeps it in them, Luke 11. 21. but upon payment of this sum to justice, the Elect (who only are intended in this purchase) pass over into God's right and propriety, and now are neither Sa∣tans, Acts 26. 18. nor their own, 1 Cor. 6. 19. but the Lord's peculiar. 1 Pet. 2. 6. And to shew how much they are his own, you have two possessives in one verse, Cant. 8. 12. My vineyard, which is mine is before me. Mine, which is mine.

Husbandmen divide and separate their own Lands from other mens, they have their Land-marks and boundaries, by which propriety is preserved, Deut. 27. 17. Prov. 22. 28.

So are the people of God wonderfully separated, and di∣stinguisht from all the people of the earth, Psal. 4. 3 The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself, and the Lord knoweth who are his, 2 Tim. 2. 19 It is a special act of grace, to be inclosed by God out of the waste howling wilderness of the world, Deut. 33. 16. This God did intentionally, in the decree before the world was; which decree is executed in their sanctification and adoption.

Corn-fields are carefully fenced by the Husbandman with hedges and ditches, to preserve their fruits from beasts that would otherwise over-run and destroy them—Non minus est virtus quam querere parta tueri. It is as good Husbandry to keep what we have, as to acquire more than we had.

My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he fenced it, Isa. 5. 1, 2. No inheritance is better defended and secured, than the Lords inheritance, Psal. 125. 2. As the mountains are round about Ierusalem, so the Lord is round about his people. So careful is he for their safety, that he createth upon every dwelling place of mount Sion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence, Isa. 4. 5. Not a particular Saint, but is hedged about and inclosed in arms of power and love, Iob 1. 10. Thou hast made a hedge about him. The Devil sain would, but by his own confession could not, break over that hedge to touch Iob, till Gods permission made a gap for him: Yea, he not only makes an hedge, but a wall about them, and that of fire, Zech. 2. 5. Sets a guard of Angels to en∣camp round about them that fear him, Psal. 34. 7. and will not trust them with a single guard of Angels neither, though their power be great, and love to the Saints as great; but watches over them himself also, Isa. 27. 2, 3. Sing ye unto her, a vineyard of red wine, I the Lord do keep it, I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

Husbandmen carry out their Compost; to fertilize their arable ground, they dung it, dress it, and keep it in heart; and in these Western parts are at great charges to bring lime, and salt water sand to quicken their thin and cold soyl.

Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it; and if it bear fruit well, if not, cut it down, Luke 13. 8. O the rich dressing which God bestows upon his Churches! they are costly fields indeed, drest and fertilized, not only by precious Ordinances and Providences, but also by the sweat, yea, bloud of the dispensers of them.

You Londoners (saith Mr. Lockier) are trees watered choicely indeed; 'tis sto∣ried of the Palm-tree, that at its first transplanting into Italy, 'twas watered with wine, I cannot say (saith he) that

you have been so watered by me, I dare not; but this I can humbly and truly say, that if our choicest strength and spirits may be named instead of water, wine; or if the blessing which hath gone along with these waters, at any time, hath turned them into wine, in vigour upon your souls; then hath God by me, watered your roots with wine.

The Husbandman builds his house, where he makes his purchase, dwells upon his Land, and frequently visits it; he knows, that such as dwell far from their Lands; are not far from loss.

So doth God; where-ever he plants a Church there doth he fix his habitation, intending there to dwell, Psal. 46. 5. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. Thus God came to dwell upon his own Fee and Inheritance, in Iudea, Levit. 26. 11, 12. And I will set my tabernacle amongst you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. Which promise is again renew'd to his Churches of the New Testament, 2 Cor. 6. 16. And when the Churches shall be in their greatest flourish, and purity, then shall there be the fullest and most glorious manifestation of the divine presence among them, Rev. 21. 3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, say∣ing, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and be their God. Hence the Assemblies are called, the places of his feet—And there they behold the beauty of the Lord, Psal. 27.

Husbandmen grudge not at the cost they are at for their tillage; but as they lay out vast sums upon it, so, they do it cheerfully.

And now, O inhabitants of Ierusalem, and men of Iuda, judge I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard; what could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? And as he bestows upon his heritage, the choicest mercies, so he doth it with the greatest cheerfulness; for the saith, Ier. 32. 41. I will rejoyce over them, to do them good; and I will plant them in this Land assuredly, with my whole heart and with my whole soul. It is not the giving out of mercy (saith one) that grieveth God, but the recoyling of his mercies back

again upon him by the creatures ingratitude.

When Husbandmen have been at cost and pains about their Husbandry, they expect fruit from it, answerable to their pains and expences about it: Behold (saith Iames) the Hus∣bandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth, Iam. 5. 7.

And he looked that it should bring forth fruit,, Isa. 5. 2. This heavenly Husbandman waits for the fruits of his fields also; never did any Husbandman long for the desired Harvest, more than God doth for the fruits of holiness from his Saints; great are the expectations of God from his people: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the Husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

Husbandman are much delighted, to see the success of their labours, it comforts them over all their hard pains, and many weary dayes, to see a good increase.

Much more is God delighted, in beholding the flourishing graces of his people; it pleases him to see his plants laden with fruit, and his valleys sing with corn, Cant. 6. 2. My beloved is gone down into his garden, into his beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lillies. These beds of spices (say Expositors) are the particular Churches, the companies of Believers; he goes to feed in these gardens, like as men go to their gardens to make merry, or to gather fruit, Cant. 4. 16. He eats his pleasant fruit, viz. His peoples holy per∣formances, sweeter to him than any Ambrosia; thus he feeds in the gardens, and he gathers lillies when he translates good souls into his Kingdom above; For the Lord taketh pleasure in his Saints, and will beautifie the meek with salvation.

The Husbandman is exceedingly grieved, when he sees the hopes of a good crop disappointed, and his fields prove bar∣ren , or blasted.

So the Lord expresses his grief for, and anger against his people, when they bring forth no fruits, or wilde fruits, worse than none, Hos. 9. 16. Ephraim is smitten, their root is dryed up. Christ was exceedingly displeased with the fig-tree, and cursed it for its barrenness; it grieves him to the heart when his servants return to him with such complaints as these, We have laboured in vain, we have spent our strength for nought.

Husbandmen imploy many labourers to work in their fields, there is need to many hands for such a multiplicity of business.

God hath diversity of workmen also in the Churches, whom he sends forth to labour in his spiritual fields, Eph. 4. 12. He gave some Apostles, some Prophets, and some Evange∣lists; and some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry. Amos 3. 7. I have sent [my servants] the Prophets. 'Tis usual with the Apostles to place this title of servant among their honorary titles, though a prophane mouth once called it, Probosum artifi∣cium, a sordid artifice. Christ hath stampt a great deal of dignity upon his Ministers, in retaining them for the near∣est service to himself, 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man so account of us, as the Ministers of Christ; they are workers together with God: the Husbandman works in the field among his labou∣rers, and the great God disdaineth not to work in and with his poor servants in the work of the Ministry.

The work about which Husbandmen imploy their ser∣vants in the field, is toylsom and spending. You see they come home at night as weary as they can draw their legs af∣ter them.

But Gods workmen have a much harder task than they. Hence they are set forth in Scripture by the laborious ox, 1. Cor. 9. 9. Rev. 4. 7. Some derive the word Deacon from a word that signifies dust, to shew the laboriousness of their imployment, labouring till even, choaked with dust and sweat. 'Tis said of Epaphroditus, Phil. 2. 13. That for the work of Christ he was sick, and nigh unto death; not regarding his life to supply their lack of service. The Apostles expression, Col. 1. ult. is very emphatical, Whereunto I also labour, stri∣ving according to his working; which worketh in me mightily. The word signifies, such spending labour as puts a man into an agony; and blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh small find so doing.

The immediate end of the Husbandmans labour, and his servants labour, is for the improvement of his Land, to make it more flourishing and fruitful.

The scope and end of the Ministry is for the Churches be∣nefit and advantage. They must not lord it over God's he∣ritage, as if the Church were for them, and not they for the Church; nor serve themselves of it, but be the Churches servants for Iesus sake, 2 Cor. 4. 6. the power they have recei∣ved being for edification, and not for destruction, 2 Cor. 10. 8. Christ hath given them to the Churches, their gifts, their time, their strength, and all their Ministerial talents are not their own, but the Churches stock and treasure.

The workmen that labour in the fields, are accountable for their work to him that imploy'd them.

Church-Officers are also accountable to God for all the souls committed to them. They are Stewards of the Myste∣ries of God, 1. Cor. 4. 1. and Stewards are accountable. We watch for your souls (saith the Apostle) as they that must give an account, Heb. 13. 7. If these servants be unfaithful in their work and trust, the blood of souls shall be required at their hands, Ezek. 3. 17, 18. which are fulmina, non verba (saith Erasmus) thunder-bolts, rather than words. The guilt of blood is the greatest guilt; and of all blood, the blood of souls.

Those that spend their time and strength all their dayes, in manuring, and plowing the fields, do maintain themselves and their families by their labours; their hands are sufficient for themselves and theirs.

Even so hath God ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel, 1. Cor. 9. 14. The workman is worthy of his meat, Mat. 10. 10. 'Tis is sad thing, if those who break the bread of life to souls, should be suffered to want bread themselves. God would not have the mouth of the ox muz∣led that treads out the corn, but have liberty to eat, as well as work: Yet, if any pretender to the Ministry be like the Heifer that loves to tread out the corn, (i. e.) cares to do no work, but such as brings in present pay▪ he therein sufficient∣ly discovers his beast-like disposition. Ministers must be faithful in their Masters work, and if men do not, God will reward them. For, He is not unrighteous to forget their work, and labour of love, Heb. 6. 10.

It is a great trouble to Husbandmen in a busie time, to be put off from their labours by stormy weather, which drives them out of the fields, and makes th••m let all lye, till it clear up again; yet, mean-while, they are not idle, but im∣ploy themselves in home work.

Even so in God's Husbandry, 'tis an unspeakable affliction to God's workmen to be rendred useless and unserviceable to the Churches, by those storms of trouble, which drive them from their publick Ministerial work. With what a heavy heart did Paul go off from his work at Ephesus, Act. 20. It spends a Minister to preach, but more to be silent. 'Tis a loud speaking judgment, when God shall say to them as to Ezekiel, Son of man, I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, and thou shalt be dumb, Ezek. 3. 26. Such silencing providences, speaking thundring language to gracious hearts, yet even then, the keepers of the vineyard have a private vineyard of their own to look after, they have much home∣work when no out-work.

There is a vast difference betwixt those fields which have been well husbanded, and drest by a skilful and diligent Husbandman; and those that have been long out of husband∣ry. How fragrant is the one! how dry and barren the other? When you pass by a field well dressed and fenced, every thing prosperous and in exquisite order, you may know without farther enquiry, that a good Husband lives there.

Thus stands the case betwixt those places which God hath blest with a faithful painful Ministry, and such as have none, or worse than none: For as the Husbandmans cost and pains appears in the verdant, and fragrant hew of his fields; so a Ministers pains and diligence is (ordinarily) seen in the hea∣venly lives, and flourishing graces of the people. The Chur∣ches of Corinth and Thessalonica, where Paul and other holy instruments spent much of their time and pains became fa∣mous and flourishing Churches, 2 Cor. 9. 2. A special bles∣sing comes along with a godly Minister, to the place where special providence assigns him. Such places like Gideon's fleece, have the dew of heaven lying on them, whiles others round about are dry and barren.

The Husbandman is not discouraged, though the seed lye long under the clods, he knows it will spring up at last, and reward him, or those that come after him, for their pains and patience in waiting for it.

Ministers should not be presently discouraged in their work, because they see but little or no appearance, of all the seed they have sown among the people. The servant of the Lord must be patient towards all, waiting if at any time God will give them repentance, 2 Tim. 24. 25. And if it never spring up in his time, it may after his death; and if so, he shall not fail of his reward, Iob. 4. 36, 37. And he that reapeth, receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal, that both he that someth, and he that reapeth may rejoyce together; and herein is that saying true, one soweth, and another reapeth. Though Ministers die, yet their words live; yea, their words take hold of men when they are in the dust, Zech. 1. 6.

Husbandmen find low ground and valleys, most fertile. Hills, how loftily soever, they over-top the lower grounds, yet answer not the Husbandmans pains, as the valleys do. These are best watered and secured from the scorching heat of the Sun.

Experience shews us, that the humblest Saints are most fruitful under the Gospel. These are they that receive with meekness▪ the ingraffed word, Iam. 1. 21. whose influences abide in them, as the rain doth in the low valleys. Happy is that Minister, whose lot falls in such a pleasant valley. Bles∣sed are they that sow beside all such waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass, Isa. 32. 20. Among these valleys run the pleasant springs, and purling brooks, which ferti∣lize the neighbouring ground. Heavenly Ordinances there, leave fruitful influences.

The first Crop is usually the best; and the longer the Husbandman tills his ground, the less it produces. After a few years its vigour and strength if spent.

The first entertainment of the Gospel is commonly the best; and what good is done by the Ministry, is often done at its first entrance. New things are pretty, and very taking. Iohn at first was to the Iews a burning and a shining light, and

they were willing [for a season] to rejoyce in his light, Ioh. 5. 35. Paul. was highly valued among the Galatians at first: such was their zeal, that they could have pluckt out their eyes and have given them to him; but how quickly did this full tyde ebb again? for he complains, Gal. 4. 15. Where then is the blessedness ye spake of.

Lastly, When fields prove barren, and will not quit the Husbandmans cost, nor answer the seed he sows in them, he plucks up the hedges, and layes it waste.

So when Churches grow formal and fruitless, the Lord removes his Gospel-presence from them; plucks up the hedge of his protection from about them, and layes them open, as waste ground, to be over-run by their enemies, Ier. 7. 12. Go to Shiloh, and see what I did unto it. What is become of those once famous and flourishing Churches of Asia? Are they not laid waste, and trodden down by infi∣dels? And now go to (saith the great Husbandman) I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard; I will pull up the hedge thereof, and it shall be laid waste, Isa. 5. 5.

Thus you see the Allegory opened in its particulars: from the whole, I shall present you with these five ensuing Cor∣rolaries.

The First Corrolary.

How great then are the dignities and priviledges of the Chur∣ches of Iesus Christ, whom he hath appropriated to himself, above all the people of the earth, to be his peculiar inheritance? The rest of the world is a waste wilderness; all other places, how plea∣sant soever, in respect of their natural amaenity and delights, are truly enough called, the dark places of the earth; dis∣mal, solitary cells, where Ziim and Iim, Bitterns, Cormorants, and every doleful creature dwells. But the Church is the Pa∣radise of the earth, a garden enclosed, Cant. 4. 12. in whose hedges the Gospel-birds chirp and sing melodiously, Cant. 2. 12. Its beds, are beds of spices, Cantt. 6. 2. and betwixt its pleasant banks, a Christal River of living water runs, Rev. 22. 1. The streams whereof make glad the City of god;

in the midst thereof the Lord himself delights to walk. O Sion! with what pleasures dost thou abound! If Bernard were so ravished with the delights of his Monastery, because of its green banks, and shady bowers, and herbs, and trees, and various objects to feed his eyes, and fragrant smells, and sweet and various tunes of birds, together with the opportunities of devout contemplation, that he cryed out admiringly, Lord! what delights dost thou provide, even for the poor! How much more should we be ravished with Sion's glory? for beautiful for scituation, is mount Zion. Of whom it may much more truly be said, what a Chronicler of our own once said of England, that it is the fortunate Island, the Paradice of Pleasure, the Garden of God, whose valleys are like Eden, whose hills are as Lebanon, whose springs are as Pisgah, whose Rivers are as Iordan, whose wall is the Ocean, and whose de∣fence is the Lord Iehovah. Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee? Who can count the priviledges wherewith Christ hath invested his Churches? O let it never seem a light thing in our eyes, that we grow within his blessed in∣closure. How sweet a promise is that, Exod. 19. 5. Ye shall be to me a peculiar treasure above all people; for all the earth is mine.

The Second Corrolary.

Hence it follows, That spiritual barrenness is a great re∣proach and shame to Christians. Shall God's Husbandry, which is so planted, watered, fenced, filled with favours and mercies, be like the barren heath in the desert? Surely it should be said of every soul that grows here, as the Historian saith of Spain, that there is nihil infructuosum, nihil sterile; nothing barren or unfruitful in it. God's vineyard is plant∣ed in a very fruitful hill, Isa. 5. 1. And surely they that are planted in the house of the Lord, should flourish in the Court of our God; they should bring forth fruit, even in old age, to shew that God is upright, Psal. 92. 13, 14. They are created in Christ Iesus unto good works, which God hath ordained they should walk in, Eph. 2. 10. They are married unto Christ, that they might

bring forth fruit to God, Rom. 7. 4. An empty branch is a dis∣honour to the root that bears it, a barren field to the Hus∣bandman that owns it; God cannot endure that in his fields, which he suffers in the wilderness.

The third Corrolary.

If the Church be God's Husbandry, then there is such a special gracious presence of the Lord in his Churches, as is not to be found in all the world beside. Where may you expect to find the Husbandman, but in his own fields? there lyes his business, and there he delights to be. And where may we expect to find God, but in the Assemblies of his Saints? He walks amongst the golden Candlesticks, Rev. 2. 1. I. will walk among you (saith he) and be your God, 2 Cor. 6. 16. Upon this account the Church is called Iehovah Sha∣mah; the Lord is there, Ezek. 48. ult. You may see the footsteps of God in the creatures; but the face of God is only to be seen in his Ordinances. Hence Psal. 27. 4. David long'd for the Temple, that he might see the beauty of the Lord. Now, what is beauty, but a symetry and proportion of parts? In the works of Creation, you see one attribute manifested in one thing, and another, in another thing; but in the Sanctuary you may see beauty, even in all the attributes of God dis∣played there: And indeed, we find in Scripture such asto∣nishing expressions about the visio••s of God in his Church, that in reading them, a man can see little difference betwixt it and heaven; for as the Church is called heaven, Mat. 25. 1. so its description is like that of heaven, Heb. 12. 22, 23. You are come to the heavenly Ierusalem, and to an innumerable com∣pany of Angels, &c. And Rev. 4. 22. They shall see his face, and his name shall be written in their foreheads. And v. 24. The Saints are represented, standing nearer to the throne of God, than the Angels themselves. Hence also Ordinances are called Gal∣leries, in which both Saints and Angels walk, beholding the glory of him that sits upon the throne, Zech. 3. 7. If you will keep my wayes, I will give you Galleries to walk in, among them▪ that stand by.

The Fourth Corrolary.

If the Church be God's Husbandry, then those that be imployed in Ministerial work, ought to be men of great judgment and experience in soul affairs; for these are the labourers whom God, the mystical Husbandman imploys and entrusts about his spiritual Husbandry. Should Husband∣men imploy ignorant persons, that neither understand the rules, nor proper seasons of Husbandry; how much would such workmen damnifie and prejudice him? he will not im∣ploy such to weed his fields, as know not wheat from tares; or to prune his trees, that think Midsummer as fit for that work as December; much less will God. He qualifies all that he sends, with wisdom for their work. His workmen approve themselves workmen indeed, such as need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Tim. 2. 15. As Bezaleel was fur∣nished with wisdom, before he was imployed in Tabernacle∣work, so Christ instructs his servants, with skill and insight, before they are imployed in Ministerial-work. He gives them a mouth and wisdom, Luke 21. 15. indues them with power from on high: as Christ was filled abundantly with the Spirit for his work, so according to proportion, are those that are sent by him, Ioh. 20. 21, 22. As my Father hath sent me, so send I you. And as for those that run before they are sent, and understand not the Mysteries of the Gospel, I shall say no more of them, but this; Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

The Fifth Corrolary.

To conclude, If the Church be God's Husbandry, that is, if Husbandry have so many resemblances of Gods works about the Church in it, then how inexcusable is the igno∣rance of Husbandmen, in the things of God, who besides the word of the Gospel, have the teachings of the Creatures; and can hardly turn their hands to any part of their work, but the Spirit hints one spiritual use or other from it to their

souls? How do the Scriptures abound with Parables, and lively similitudes taken from Husbandry? from the field, the seed, the plow, the barn, from threshing and winnowing; similitudes also from planting, graffing, and pruning of trees; and not a few from the ordering of Cattel. So that, to what business soever you turn your hands, in any part of your calling, still God meets you, with one heavenly in∣struction or other. But alas! How few are able to improve their civil imployments to such excellent ends? These things are but briefly hinted in the Scriptures, and those hints scat∣tered up and down, that they know not where to find, them; and if they could, yet would it be difficult so to methodize them, as it is necessary they should be, in order to their due improvement, by Meditation.

And therefore I judged it necessary to collect and prepare them for your use; and in this manner to present them to you, as you find them in the following Chapters. Read, con∣sider, and apply; and the Lord make you good Husbands for your own souls.

Notes

• Fideles vo∣cantur dei, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quia a Deo per pastores, tanquam arvum excoluntur. Rav.
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• Lo••kier in Co∣••o•• p. 5 52.
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• Pascitur Chri∣stus quando suorum virtutes videt, lillia decerpit, quando optimum quem∣que ex hac vita traducit. Trap. in loc.
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