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.

MEDIT. III.

Vpon the fighting of two Rams.

TAking notice how furiously these Sheep which by nature are mild and gentle, did yet like bulls push each other taking their advantage by going back to meet with a greater rage and fury. Methought I saw in this a plain Emblem of the unchristian contests and animosities which fall out amongst them that call themselves the people of God, who in Scripture are also stiled Sheep; for their meekness and in∣noceny; and yet, through the remaining corruptions that are in them, thus do they push each other; (as one long since complained) non secus ac.

Cum duo conversis inimica in praelia tauri, Frontibus incurrunt— Shall Christians one another wound and push, Like furious Bulls, when they together rush?

The fighting of these sheep doth in two respects, notably comport with the sinful practises of contending Christians, (1) That in this fight they ingage with their heads one against another; and what are they but those head-notions

or opposition of Sciences, falsly so called, that have made so ma∣ny broyls and uproars inthe Christian world? O! What clashings have these heady opinions caused in the Churches? first heads, and then hearts have clashed. Christians have not distinguished betwixt adversarius litis, & personae; an adver∣sary to the opinion, and to the person; but dipt their tongues and pens in vinegar and gall, shamefully aspersing and re∣proaching one another because their understandings were not cast into one mould, and their heads all of a bigness. But (2) that which Countrey-men observe from the fighting of Sheep, That is presages soul and stormy weather, is much more certainly consequent upon the fighting of Christs Sheep. Do these clash and push? Surely it is an infallible prognos••ick of an ensuing storm, Mal. 4. 6.