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. VIII.

Vpon the strange means of preserving the life of Vegetables.

I Observe that plants and herbs are sometimes killed by frosts, and yet without frosts they would neither live nor thrive; they are sometimes drowned by water, and yet without water they cannot subsist; they are refreshed and cheered by the heat of the Sun, and yet that heat sometimes kills and scorches them up. Thus lives my soul, troubles and afflictions seem to kill all its comforts; and yet without these, its comforts could not live. The Sun-blasts of prospe∣rity sometimes refresh me, and yet those Sun-blasts are the likeliest way to wither me; By what seeming contradictions

is the life of my spirit preserved? what a mistery? what a Paradox is the life of a Christian?

Welcome my health, this sickness makes me well Med'cines adieu: When with diseases, I have list to dwell, I'le wish for you. Welcome my strength, this weakness makes me able. Powers adieu: When I am weary grown of standing stable, I'le wish for you. Welcome my wealth, this loss hath gain'd me more Riches adieu: When I again grow greedy to be poor I'le wish for you. Welcome my credit, this disgrace is glory: Honours adieu: When for renown and fame I shall be sorry: I'le wish for you. Welcome content, this sorrow is my joy. Pleasures adieu, When I desire such grief as may annoy: I'le wish for you. Health, strength, and riches, credit, and content Are spared best sometimes, when they are spent, Sickness, and weakness, losse, disgrace, and sorrow Lend most sometimes, when most they seem to borrow.

And if by these contrary and improbable wayes, the Lord preserves our souls in life, no marvel then we find such strange and seemingly contradictory motions of our hearts, under the various dealings of God with us, and are still rest∣less in what condition soever he puts us; which restless frame was excellently expressed in that pious Epigram of reverend Gattaker, made a little before his death.

I thirst for thirstiness, I weep for tears; well pleas'd I am to be displeased thus: The only thing I fear is want of fears: suspecting I am not suspicious. I cannot chuse but live, because I dye And when I am not dead how glad am I?

Yet when I am thus glad for sense of pain and careful am lest I should careless be Then do I grieve for being glad again, and fear lest carelessness take care for me. Amidst these restless thoughts, this rest I find. For those that rest not here, there's rest behind

Iam tetigi portum valete.

FINIS,