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.

CHAP. XVI.

Your winter store in Summer you provide;* 1.1 To Christian prudence this must be apply'd.

OBSERVATION.

GOod husbands are careful in Summer to provide for Winter, then they gather in their Winter store; food and fewel for themselves, and fodder for their cattel. He that gathers in Summer is a wise son, but be that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame, Prov. 10. 5. A well chosen season is the greatest advantage to any action, which as it is seldom found in haste, so it is often lost by delay. 'Tis a good pro∣verb which the frugal Dutch have among them; Bonus Ser∣vatius, facit bonum Bonifacium; a good Saver, will make a good Benefactor. And 'tis a good Proverb of our own; He that neglects the occasion, the occasion will neglect him. Husbandmen know that Summer will not hold all the year, neither will they trust to the hopes of a mild and favourable Winter, but in season provide for the worst.

APPLICATION.

VVHat excellent Christians should we be, were we but as provident and thoughtful for our souls? 'tis doubt∣less a singular point of Christan wisdom, to foresee a day of spiritual straits and necessities, and during the day of grace to make provision for it. This great Gospel truth is excel∣lently shadowed forth in this natural Observation, which I shall branch out into these seven particulars.

[ 1] Husbandmen know there is a change, and vicissitude of seasons and weather; though it be pleasant Summer weather now, yet Winter will tread upon the heel of Summer; frosts, Snows, and great falls of rain must be expected. This alternate course of seasons in nature is setled by a firm Law of the God of nature, to the end of the world. Gen. 8. 22. Whilst the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night, shall not cease.

And Christians know, that there are changes in the right hand of the most High, in referrence to their spiritual seasons. If there be a Spring time of the Gospel, there will also be an Autmn; if a day of prosperity, it will set in a night of adver∣sity; for God hath set the one over aginst the other, Eccles. 7. 14. In heaven there is a day of everlasting serenity, in hell a night of perfect and endless horror and darkness; on earth, light and darkness take their turns, prosperity and adversity, even to souls as well as bodies, succeed each other. If there be a Gospel day, a day of grace now current, it will have its period and determination, Gen. 3. 6.

[ 2] Common prudence and experience enables the Husband∣man, in the midst of Summer, to foresee a Winter, and pro∣vide for it before he feel it; yea natural instinct teaches this to the very birds of the air, and beasts of the field.

And spiritual wisdome should teach Christians to exercise their foreseeing faculties, and not suffer them to feel evil be∣fore they fear it. But O the stupifying nature of sin! Though the Stork in the heavens knows her appointed time, and the Turtle, Crane and Swallow the time of their com∣ing,

yet man, whom God hath made wiser than the fowls of the air, in this acts quite below them, Ier. 8. 7.

The end of Gods ordaining a summer season, and send∣ing [ 3] warm and pleasant weather, is to ripen the fruits of the earth, and give the Husbandman fit opportunity to gather them in.

And God's design in giving men a day of grace, is to fur∣nish them with an opportunity for the everlasting happiness and salvation of their souls, Rev. 2. 21. I gave her a space to repent. It is not a meer reprieval of the soul, or only a delay of the execution of threatned wrath, though there be much mercy in that; but the peculiar aim of this patience and bounty of God, is to open for them a way to escape the wrath to come, by leading them to repentance, Rom. 2. 4.

The Husbandman doth not find all harvest seasons alike favourable, sometimes they have much fair weather, and meet with no hindrance in their business; other times 'tis a catch∣ing harvest, but now and then a fair day, and then they must be nimble or all is lost.

There is also great difference in Soul-seasons, some have [ 4] had a long and a fair season of grace; an hundred and twenty years did God wait upon the old world, in the Ministry of Noah. Long did God wait on the gainsaying Israelites, Isa. 42. 14. I have a long time held my peace, I have been still and re∣frained myself. Others have a short and catching season, all lies upon a day, upon a nick of time, Act. 17. 30.

A proper season neglectd and lost, is irrecoverable. Ma∣ny [ 5] things in Husbandry must be done in their season, or can∣not be done at all for that year; if he plow not, and sow not in the proper time, he loses the harvest of that year.

'Tis even so as to spiritual seasons. Christ neglected, and grace despised, in the season when God offers them, are irre∣coverably lost, Prov. 1. 28. then (that is, when the season is over) they shall call upon me but I will not hear. O, there is a great deal of time in a short opportunity! that may be done or prevented, in an hour rightly timed, which cannot be done or prevented in a mans life-time afterwards. There was one resolved to kill Iulius Caesar such a day; the night

before, a friend sent him a letter to acquaint him with it, but he being at supper, and busie in discourse, said, to morrow is a new day, and indeed it was, dies novissima, his last day to him; whence it became a Proverb in Greece. To morrow is a new day. Our glass runs in heaven, and we cannot see how much or little of the sand of God's patience is yet to run down; but this is certain, when that glass is run, there is nothing to be done for our souls, Luke 19. 42. O that thou hadst known at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace, but now they are bid from thine eyes.

[ 6] Those Husbandmen that are careful and laborious in the Summer, have the comfort and benefit of it in Winter; he that then provides fewel, shall sit warm in his habitation, when others blow their fingers. He that provides food for his family, and fodder for his cattel in the harvest, shall eat the fruit of it, and enjoy the comfort of his labours, when others shall be exposed to shifts and straits. And he that provides for eternity, and layes up for his soul a good foun∣dation against the time to come, shall eat when others are hungry, and sing when others howl, Isa. 65. 13. A day of death will come, and that will be a day of straits to all neg∣ligent souls; but then the diligent Christian shall enjoy the peace and comfort that shall flow in upon his heart, from his holy care and sincere diligence in duties? as 2 Cor. 1. 12. This is our rejoycing, the testimony of our conscience, that in all sincerity and godly simplicity, we have had our conversation in this world. So Hezekiah, 2 King. 20. 3. Remember now, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart. A day of judgement will come, and then ••oolish virgins, who neglected the season of getting oyl in their lamps, will be put to their shifts; then they come to the wife, and say, give us of your oyl, Mat. 25. 8, 9. but they have none to spare, and the season of buying is then over.

[ 7] No wise Husbandman will neglect a fit opportunity of ga∣thering in his hay and corn, upon a presumption of much fair weather to come; he will not say, the weather is setled, and I need not trouble my self, though my corn and hay be fit for the house, yet I may get it in another time as well as now.

And no wise Christian will lose a present season for his soul, upon the hopes of much more time yet to come; but will rather say, now is my time, and I know not what will be hereafter; hereafter I may wish to see one of the dayes of the Son of man, and not see it, Luke 17. 22. 'Tis sad to hear how cunning some men are to dispute themselves out of heaven, as if the devil had hired them to plead against their own souls; sometimes urging the example of those that were called at the eleventh hour, Mat. 20. 6. and sometimes that of the penitent thief: But, O! to how little purpose is the former pleaded; they that were called at the eleventh hour were never called before, as these have been, no man had hired; that is, called or invited them to Christ, and for the thief, (as Mr. Fenner rightly observes) it was a singular and extraordinary example. It was done when Christ hang'd on the Cross, and was to be inaugurated; then Kings manifest such bounty, and pardon such crimes, as are never pardoned afterwards. Besides, God was then in a way of working miracles; then he rent the rocks, open'd the graves, raised the dead, and converted this thief; but God is now out of that way.

REFLECTIONS.

I Have indeed been a good Husband for the world;* 1.2 with [ 1] what care and providence have I looked out for my self and family, to provide food to nourish them, and cloaths to defend them against the asperities of Winter? mean while neglecting to make provision for eternity, or take care for my soul. O my destitute soul! how much have I slighted and undervalued thee? I have taken more care for an horse or an ox, than for thee; a well stored-barn, but an empty soul. Will it not shortly be with me, as with that careless Mother, who when her house was on fire, busily bestir'd her self to save the goods, but forgot the child? (though it were saved by another hand) and then minding her child, ran up and down like one distracted wringing her hands, and cry∣ing, O my child, my child! I have saved my goods, and lost

my child, such will be the case of thee, my soul, Mat. 16. 26. Besides how easie will my conviction be at the Bar of Christ? will not my providence and care for the things of this life, leave me speechless and self-condemned in that day? What shall I answer when the Lord shall say, Thou couldst foresee a Winter, and seasonably provide for it? yea, thou hadst so much care of thy very beasts, to provide for their necessities, and why tookest thou no care for thy soul? was that only not worth the caring for?

[ 2] Is it so dangerous to neglect a present proper season of grace? What then have I done,* 1.3 who have suffered many such seasons to die away in my hand, upon a groundless hope of future opportunities! Ah, deluded wretch! what if that supposition fail? where am I then? I am not the Lord of time, neither am I sure, that he who is, will ever vouchsafe an hour of grace in old age, to him that hath neglected many such hours in youth; neither indeed is it ordinary for God so to do. 'Tis storied of Caius Marius Victorius, who lived about 300 years after Christ, and to his old age continued a Pagan, but at last being convinced of the Christian verity, he came to Simplicianus and told him, he would be a Chri∣stian; but neither he, nor the Church could believe it, it being so rare an example for any to be converted at his age: But at last seeing it was real, there was a shouting and glad∣ness, and singing of Psalms in all Churches, the people cry∣ing Caius Marius Victorius is become a Christian. This was written for a wonder, and what ground have I to think, that God will work such wonders for me, who have neglected his ordinary means of salvation?

[ 3] Bless the Lord,* 1.4 O my soul! who gave thee a season, a day for eternal life, which is more than he hath done for thou∣sands; yea, bless the Lord for giving thee an heart to under∣stand and improve that season, I confess I have not improved it as I ought; yet, this I can (through mercy) say▪ that how ever it fare in future times, with my outward man, though I have no treasures or stores laid up on earth, or if I have, they are but corruptible, yet I have a blessed hope laid up in heaven, Col. 1. 5. I have bags that wax not old. Whilst

worldlings rejoyce in their stores and heaps, I will rejoyce in these eternal treasures.

The Poem.

OBserve in Summers sultry heat, how in the1 1.5 hottest day: The Husbandman doth toyl and2 1.6 sweat: about his Corn and Hay.

If then he should not reap and mow, and3 1.7 gather in his store; How should he live, when for the snow he can't move out of door?

The little4 1.8 Ants, and painful Bees; by natures instinct led; These have their Summer granaries, for Winter furnished.

But thou my soul, whose Summers day is almost past and gone; What soul-provision dost thou5 1.9 lay in6 1.10 stock, to spend upon?

If7 1.11 nature teacheth to prepare for temporal life, much rather Grace should provoke to8 1.12 greater care, soul food in time to gather.

Dayes of affliction, and distress are9 1.13 hasting on apace, If now I live in carelessness; how sad will be my case!

Unworthy of the name1 1.14 of man who for that soul of thine; Wilt not do that which others can do for their very kine.

Think frugal Farmers, when you see your mows of Corn and Hay; What a2 1.15 conviction this will be to you, another day.

Who ne're were up before the Sun, nor break an hours rest; For your poor souls, as you have done so often, for a beast.

Learn once to see the difference; betwixt3 1.16 eternal things; And these poor4 1.17 transient things of sence: that fly with5 1.18 eagles wings.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Upon the care of Husband∣men to provide for winter.
• * 1.2

  The careless souls reflection
• * 1.3

  The presump∣tuous souls Re∣flection.
• * 1.4

  The industri∣ous souls Re∣flection.
• 1 1.5

  Iob 7. 2.
• 2 1.6

  Gen. 3. 19.
• 3 1.7

  Prov. 10. 5.
• 4 1.8

  Prov. 6. 6, 7
• 5 1.9

  Mat. 6. 20.
• 6 1.10

  1 Tim. 6. 10.
• 7 1.11

  Ier. 8. 7.
• 8 1.12

  Ma••. 16. 26.
• 9 1.13

  Zeph. 2. 2, 3
• 1 1.14

  Isa. 32. 9.
• 2 1.15

  Luke12. 18, 20.
• 3 1.16

  2 Cor. 4. 18.
• 4 1.17

  1 Cor. 7. 31
• 5 1.18

  Prov. 23. 5.