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.

I Am a branch of that fair Eden Tree Which to1 1.1 mankind God had ordain'd to be The common stock, his2 1.2 scituation good, His3 1.3 branches many, of himself a wood. And like a Cedar by the River fed, Unto the clouds his ample branches spread. Sin smote4 1.4 his root, then justice cut him down; And level'd with the earth his lofty Crown.

What hope of branches, when the5 1.5 tree's o'return'd? But like6 1.6 dry faggots to be bound and burn'd. It had been so, had not7 1.7 transcendent love, Which in a sphear above our thoughts doth move Prepar'd a better8 1.8 stock, to save and nourish Transplanted twigs, which in him thrive and flourish. In Adam all are9 1.9 curs'd, no saving fruit Shall ever spring, from that sin-blasted root. Yea all the branches that in him are found, How1 1.10 flourishing soever must be bound And pil'd together, horrid news to tell! To make an everlasting blaze in Hell. God takes no pleasure in the sweetest bud Disclos'd by nature, for the root's not good. Some2 1.11 boughs indeed richly adorned are With natural fruits, which to the eye are fair, Rare3 1.12 Gifts, sweet dispositions, which attracts The love of thousands, and from most exacts Honour, and admiration, You'l admire That such as these, are fewel for the fire. Indeed ten thousand pities 'tis to see Such lovely creatures in this case to be. Did they by true. Regeneration draw The sap of life from Iesses root,4 1.13 the Law By which they now to wrath condemned are Would cease to curse, and God such buds would spare. But out of him, there's none of these can move His unrelenting heart, or draw his love. Then cut me off, from this accursed Tree; Le••t I for ever be cut off from thee.

Notes

• 1 1.1

  1 Cor. 10. 45.
• 2 1.2

  Eccl. 7. 9.
• 3 1.3

  Deut. 32. 8.
• 4 1.4

  Rom. 5. 12.
• 5 1.5

  Rom. 5. 18
• 6 1.6

  ••ohn 15. 6.
• 7 1.7

  Ioh. 3. 16.
• 8 1.8

  1 Cor. 15. 47.
• 9 1.9

  Gal. 3. 10.
• 1 1.10

  Heb. 12. 14.
• 2 1.11

  Mark 10. 20, 21.
• 3 1.12

  Heb. 6 4, 5.
• 4 1.13

  Rom. 1. 2.