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.

BUt how much greater cause have the people of God to address themselves unto his work, with all cheerfulness of spirit? And indeed, so far as the heart is spiritual, it de∣lights

in its duties. 'Tis true, the work of a Christian is painful, and much more spending than the Husbandmans (as was opened Chap. 1.) but then it as much exceeds in the de∣lights and pleasures that attend it. What is the Christians work, but with joy to draw water out of the wells of salvation? Isa. 12. 3. You may see what a pleasant path the path of du∣ty is, by the cheerfulness of those that have walked in them, Psal. 119. 14. I have rejoyced in the way of thy judgment, as much as in all riches. And by the promises that are made to such, Psal. 13 8. 5. Yea, they shall sing 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 glad∣ness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe, to come to the moun∣tain of the Lord, to the mighty one of Israel, Isa. 30. 29.

And lastly, by the many commands, whereby joy in the wayes of the Lord is made the duty of the Saints. Rejoyce in the Lord, ye righteous, for praise is comely for the upright, Psa. 97. 12. Rejoyce, and again I say rejoyce. Phil. 4. 4. Where the command is doubled; yea, not only simple rejoycing, but the highest degree of that duty comes within the com∣mand, Psal. 132. 9, 16. Shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. And Luke 6. 22, 23. they are bid, to leap for joy, when about the difficult'st part of their work, and that you may see there is sufficient ground for it, and that it is not like the mad mirth of sinners, be pleased to consider,

[ 1] The nature of the work about which they are employed; it is the most excellent and heavenly employment that ever souls were acquainted with. O what a ravishing and delight∣some thing it is, to walk with God! and yet by this, the whole work of a Christian is expressed, Gen. 17. 1. Can any life compare with this for pleasure? Can they be chill, that walk in the Sun-shine? or sad, that abide in the foun∣tain of all delights? and walk with him whose name is the God of all comfort, 2 Cor. 1. 3. In whose presence is the ful∣ness of joy, Psal. 16. 11. O what an Angelical life doth a Christian then live!

[ 2] Or (2ly.) If we consider the variety of spiritual imploy∣ments, varietas delectat. Change of employment, takes off

the tediousness of Labour. Variety of voices please the ear: variety of colours delight the eye; the same meat prepared several wayes, pleases the palate more, and clogs it less. B••t O the variety of choice dishes wherewith God entertains his people in a S••bbath! as the Word, Prayer, Sacraments, &c. Isa. 58. 13. If thou call the Sabbath thy delights; or as Tremelius renders it. thy delicate things. My soul (saith David) shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, Psal. 63. 5.

Or, lastly, if we consider the suitableness of this work, to a regenerate soul. Is it any pain for a bird to flye? or a fish to swim? Is the eye tired with beautiful objects? or the [ 3] ear with melodious sounds? As little can a spiritual soul be wearied with spiritual and heavenly exercises, Rom. 7. 22. I delight in the Law of God, after the inner man. Gravia non gra∣vitant in eor••m loco (saith the Philosopher) weighty things are not heavy in their own element, or center. And surely, God is the center of all gracious spirits. A Saint can sit from morning to night to hear discourses of the love and loveli∣ness of Iesus Christ. The fight of your thriving flocks and flourishing fields, cannot yield you that pleasure which an up∣right soul can find in one quarter of an hours communion with God. They that are after the flesh (saith the Apostle Rom. 8. 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 heaven∣ly objects transcend earththly ones, and how much the soul 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.