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.

APPLICATION.

TRue grace from the infancy to the perfection thereof, conflicts with far more greater dangers, amongst which it answerably meets with three dangerous periods which marvellously hazard it: So that it is a much greater wonder that it ever arrives at its just perfection. For (1) no sooner hath the great Husbandman disseminated these holy seeds in the regenerate heart, but multitudes of impetuous corruptions immediately assault, and would cetainly de∣vour them like the fowls of the air, did not the same arm that sowed them, also protect them. It fares with grace, as with Christ its Author, whom Herod sought to destroy in his very infancy. The new creature is scarce warm in its seat, before it must fight to defend its self. This conflict is excel∣lently set forth in that famous Text, Gal. 5. 17. The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

By flesh here, understand the corruption of nature by original sin, and the sinful motions thereof; by spirit, not the soul, or natural spirit of man, but the Spirit of God in man, viz. those graces in men which are the workmanship of the Spirit, and therefore called by his name. The oppo∣sition betwixt these two is expressed by lusting (i. e.) desiring the mutual ruine and destruction of each other; for even when they are not acting, yet then they are lusting, there is an op∣posite disposition against each other; which opposition is both a formal and an effective opposition. There are two con∣trary forms to men in every Saint, Col. 3. 9, 10. From hence an effective opposition must needs follow, for as things are in their natures and principles, so they are in their operations and effects▪ workings alwayes follow beings; fire and water are of contrary qualities, and when they meet, they effectively oppose each other. Sin and grace are so opposite, that if sin should cease to oppose grace, it would cease to be sin; and if grace should not oppose sin,

it would cease to be grace. And this doth much more endan∣ger the work of grace, than any other enemy it hath; be∣cause it works against it more inwardly, constantly, and ad∣vantagiously, than any thing else can do. (1) More inwardly; for it hath its being and working in the same soul where grace dwells, yea, in the self same fame faculties, so that is not only sets one faculty against another, but the same faculty against it self, the understanding against the understanding, and the will against the will, so that ye cannot do the good, nor yet the evil that ye would; not the good that ye would, because when the spirit moves to good, and beats upon the heart by divine pulsations, exciting it to duty, the flesh crosses and opposes it there; and if it can∣not totally hinder the performance of a duty, yet it lames the soul upon the working hand, whereby the per∣formance is not so spiritual, free and composed, as it desires; nor yet the evil that you would commit, if grace were not there, because when lust stirs in its first motions, grace puts a rub in its way. How can I do this great wickedness, and sin a∣gainst God? Gen. 39. 9. And if it cannot (which for the most part it doth) hinder the acting of sin, yet it so engages the will against it, that it is not committed with complacen∣cy and full consent, Rom. 7. 15. What I do, I allow not. (2) It opposes it more constantly, it's like a continual drooping: a man can no more flie from this enemy, than from himself. There is a time when the devil leaves tempting, Mat. 4. 11. but no time when corruption ceases from working. And lastly, it opposes grace more advantagiously than any other enemy can do, for it is not only alwayes in the same soul with it, but it is there naturally; it hath the advantage of the soyl which suits with it. And yet, oh the wonder of free grace! it is not swallowed up in victory, it escapes this hazard.

But (2ly.) it soon meets with another, though it escape this, even by temptations which strike desperately at the very life of it; for these like the weeds, with seemingly loving imbraces, clasp about it; and did not the faithful God now make a way to escape, instead of an Harvest, we should have an heap: For, alas, what are we! to wrestle

with principalities and powers, and spiritual wickednesses in high places?

Lastly, sad relapses like blasts and rustings do often fade and greatly endanger it, when it's even ready for the Har∣vest. Thus it fell out with David, whose last wayes were not like his first; and yet by this, these holy fruits are not utter∣ly destroyed, because it is the seed of God; and so is im∣mortal, 1 Iohn 5. 4, 5. and also because the promises of per∣severance and victory made to it, cannot be frustrated; a∣mongst which these are excellent, Isa. 54. 10. Ier. 34. 40. 1 Cor▪ 1. 8. Psal. 1. 3. Psal. 125. 1. Ioh. 4. 14. So that here is matter of unspeakable comfort; though the flesh say, Ego deficiam, I will fail thee; though the world say, Ego decipiam, I will deceive thee; though the devil say, Ego eripiam, I will snatch thee away; yet as long as Christ saith, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee; thy graces are secure, in the midst of all these enemies.