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.

REFLECTIONS.

TO what purpose then do I glory in my natural accom∣plishments? [ 1] Though I have a better nature than some others have,* 1.1 yet it is a cursed nature still. These sweet qua∣lities and excellent gifts, do only hide, but not kill the cor∣ruption of nature. I am but a rotten post gilded over, and all my duties but hedge fruit, which God makes no account of. O cutting thought! that the unlearned shall rise and take heaven, when I with all my excellent gifts shall de∣scend into hell. Heaven was not made for Scholars, as such, but for believers; as one said, when they comforted him up∣on his death-bed, that he was a knowing man, a Doctor of Di∣vinity: O, said he, I shall not appear before God as a Doctor, but as a man; I shall stand upon a level with the most illi∣terate, in the day of judgment; what doth it avail me that I have a nimble with, whilst I have none to do my self good? Will my Iudge be charm'd with a rhetorical tongue? Things will not be carried in that world, as they are in this. If I could with Berengarius discourse de omni scibile, of every thing that is knowable; or with Solomon unravel nature, from the Cedar to the Hysop, what would this advantage me, as long as I am ignorant of Christ, and the mystery of Regeneration? My head hath often aked with study, but when did my heart ake for sin? Methinks, O my soul, thou trimmest up thy self in these natural ornaments to appear before God, much as that delicate Agag did, when he was to come before Sa∣muel, and fondly conceitest that these things will procure favour, or (at least) pity from him? but yet, think not for all that, the bitterness of death is past; say not within thy self, Will God cast such a one as a I into hell? Shall a man of such

parts be damned? Alas! justice will hew thee to pieces, as Samuel did that spruce King, and not abate thee the least, for these things; many thousand branches of nature, as fair and fruitful as thy self, are now blazing in hell, because not trans∣planted by regeneration into Christ; and if he spared not them, neither will he spare thee.

[ 2] I am a poor despised Shrub,* 1.2 which have no beauty at all in me, and yet such a one hath the Lord chosen to transplant into Christ, whilst he left many fragrant branches standing on their native stock, to be fuel of his wrath to all eternity! O grace for ever to be admired! Ah, what cause have I to be thankful to free grace, and for ever to walk humbly with my God: the Lord hath therefore chosen an unlikely, rugged, unpolisht creature as I am, that pride may for ever be hid from mine eyes, and that I may never glory in his presence, 1 Cor. 1. 29. I now have the advantage of a better root and soyl than any carnal person hath, it will therefore be great∣er shame to me, and a reproach to the root that bears me, if I should be out-stript and excelled by them; yet Lord, how often do I find it so? I see some of them meek and pa∣tient, whilst I am proud and passionate; gentle and affable, whilst I am rough and surly; generous and noble, whilst I am base and penurious. Truly, such a branch as I am, is no ho∣nour to the root that bears it.

The Poem.

I Am a branch of that fair Eden Tree Which to1 1.3 mankind God had ordain'd to be The common stock, his2 1.4 scituation good, His3 1.5 branches many, of himself a wood. And like a Cedar by the River fed, Unto the clouds his ample branches spread. Sin smote4 1.6 his root, then justice cut him down; And level'd with the earth his lofty Crown.

What hope of branches, when the5 1.7 tree's o'return'd? But like6 1.8 dry faggots to be bound and burn'd. It had been so, had not7 1.9 transcendent love, Which in a sphear above our thoughts doth move Prepar'd a better8 1.10 stock, to save and nourish Transplanted twigs, which in him thrive and flourish. In Adam all are9 1.11 curs'd, no saving fruit Shall ever spring, from that sin-blasted root. Yea all the branches that in him are found, How1 1.12 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 1.13 boughs indeed richly adorned are With natural fruits, which to the eye are fair, Rare3 1.14 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 1.15 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

  A reflection for an accom∣plished Naturalist.
• * 1.2

  A reflection for a true, but weak believer.
• 1 1.3

  1 Cor. 10. 45.
• 2 1.4

  Eccl. 7. 9.
• 3 1.5

  Deut. 32. 8.
• 4 1.6

  Rom. 5. 12.
• 5 1.7

  Rom. 5. 18
• 6 1.8

  ••ohn 15. 6.
• 7 1.9

  Ioh. 3. 16.
• 8 1.10

  1 Cor. 15. 47.
• 9 1.11

  Gal. 3. 10.
• 1 1.12

  Heb. 12. 14.
• 2 1.13

  Mark 10. 20, 21.
• 3 1.14

  Heb. 6 4, 5.
• 4 1.15

  Rom. 1. 2.