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 Poem.

O What a1 1.1 dull, despondent heart is mine? That takes no more2 1.2 delight in things divine, When all the Creatures both in heaven and earth: Enjoy their3 1.3 pleasures, and are big with mirth. 4 1.4 Angels and Saints that are before the Throne; In extasies, and raptures every one. Perpetually is heled: Each blessed spirit The purest5 1.5 highest joyes; doth there inherit. The Saints on earth, in their imperfect state; Those Peerless joyes by6 1.6 faith do antedate. To natural men, who favour not this pleasure; Yet bounteous nature doth unlock her treasure Of7 1.7 sensitive delights, Yea, strange to tell; Bold sinners8 1.8 rant it all the way to hell.

Like fifh that play in Iordans silver stream; So these in sensual lusts: and never dream Of that dead Sea, to which the stream doth tend: And to their pleasures puts a9 1.9 fatal end. Yea1 1.10 birds, and2 1.11 beasts as well as men, enjoy Their innocent delights. These Chirp and play; The cheerful birds among the branches sing▪ And make the neighboring groves with musick ring. With various warbling notes they all invite, Our ravisht ears, with pleasure and delight. The new faln Lambs3 1.12 will in a Sun-shine day, About their feeeding dams jump up and play Are4 1.13 Cisterns sweet? and is the fountain bitter? Or can the Sun be dark, when glow-worms glitter? Have5 1.14 instruments, their sweet melodious airs? All creatures their delights, and Saints not theirs? Yea, theirs6 1.15 transcend these sensual ones, as far; As noon day Phebus doth a twinkling star, Why droop I then, may any creature have A Life like mine for pleasure? Who ere gave The like7 1.16 encouragement that Christ hath given, To do his will on earth, as 'tis in heaven?

Notes

• 1 1.1

  Isa. 68. 7.
• 2 1.2

  Ps. 94. 19.
• 3 1.3

  Ps. 145. 10.
• 4 1.4

  Rev. 5. 11, 12, 13.
• 5 1.5

  Mat. 25. 21.
• 6 1.6

  1 Pe••. 1. 8, 9.
• 7 1.7

  Act. 14. 17.
• 8 1.8

  Iob. 2••. 11.
• 9 1.9

  Iam. 5. 18.
• 1 1.10

  Ps. 10. 4. 12.
• 2 1.11

  Ps. 104 11.
• 3 1.12

  Ps. 11. 4. 6.
• 4 1.13

  Ier. 2. ••3.
• 5 1.14

  Isa. 30. 29.
• 6 1.15

  Psal. 4. 7.
• 7 1.16

  Ioh. 15. 11.