great mens And these somtimes suffer for their presumption their Rents raised or themselves dismist but they have cast up their accounts and do know that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer for it and are content Now to fence and Preserve the Husbandman from this slavish fear of man consult 1. The Providence 2. The Promise of God 1. Consult the Providence of God Thou look'st at man and fearest him If thou wouldst look at God thou wouldst trust in him thou wouldst see a thousand times more cause to trust in God then to fear man For the hearts and hands of all men are in the hands of your God Great men are in the hand of a great God And your greatest enemies are in the hands of your châ—…ycest friend and he will bend their hearts to do thee good or bind their hands that they can do thee no hurt He commonly makes their foes their friends that walk uprightly with him And those that turn aside for fear he suffers them to lose the favour of great ones some other way and the love of God also It comes often to pass that they who will not suffer for Christ come to suffer for themselves that they who are afraid to suffer for their holiness prove to suffer for their wickedness as that Black-smith in the Acts and Monuments that when he was put to it told them he could not burn and so escaped the Fire of Honour but ere long a spark kindled in his shop and burnt him and shop and all in the Fire of Judgment and so he burnt for himself that would not burn for Jesus Christ. Believe this therefore if all the Great Ones on earth were set against you they shall not touch an hair of your head no not an hair of your Head till God for your good give them a Commission One cringe would have secured those three Princes Dan. 3.15 from a most dreadful peril but behold their integrity constancy and courage and it is hard to say which was the strongest O Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this matter If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thy hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship thy golden Image which thou hast set up And did God forsake them in their need not at all Alas he hath fire and water in his hands and can make a Gridiron to be a bed of Down when he pleaseth And therefore look not at man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of Look not at the stone but at the hand in which it is for as the stone cannot stir unless it be moved by the hand so no man can stir one jot against you unless God stir him up Hence we have so oft that phrase in the old Testament that God stirred up this and that enemy against his people Instead of pleasing this or that great man whom it may be thou canst never please or if thou dost yet there 's another may do thee a mischief as well as he Do thou study to please God who can according to that Prov. 16.7 make thy Enemies to be at peace with thee Man sayes Augustine fear God and thou maist smile at the world Alas it lyes in the breast of any wretch is he will come and swear against thee whether thou shalt be worth a groat before night and what foresight can arm a man against such mishaps No no It is the Lord that must be your refuge and portion in the Land of the living And therefore rely and rest which you may safely do in the way of your duty upon his All-ruling Providence 2. Consult the Promise of God 1. The Promises he hath made to keep you from the troubles that your Superiours would bring on you Isa. 41.10 Fear thou not for I am with thee Lord who can fear when thou art with them be not dismayed for I am thy God O blessed Word if a weak Husbandman can get a strong God for his God what need he fear I will strengthen thee yea I will help thee yea let not down thy heart man I will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness Behold all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing and they that strive with thee shall perish If thy name be in the Eight and Ninth verses of that Chapter these Promises are as surely entail'd upon thee as if thy Name were inserted and they only made to thee Again vers 14. Fear not thou worm Jacob I will help thee saith the Lord and thou shalt thresh the Mountains Hear this thou that sayest O I am but a worm to them how soon may a man crush a worm under his feet and so soon may these great Mountains fall upon me and crush me Why sayes God though thou art but a worm to them yet I will help thee to thresh the mountains God and a worm can do much Somwhat a strange sight to see a worm threshing a mountain yet so it is Many a poor upright Husbandman by his Prayers and convincing life doth conquer silence tame or destroy many a wicked Nimrod that would destroy him Hath not God said Zech. 2. 8. He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye And will God suffer the proudest of them all to fly at the apple of his eye So that except it be for your great glory and good you may râ—…st securely and build upon it That no hand of violence shall touch you however shall never do you hurt This is a maxime No men or menaces or miseries can do a Saint hurt They may kill you but they cannot hurt you Away therefore with that flavish fear that hinders or discomforts you in your duty God will not see his Husbandman wrong'd 2. Consult the Promises he hath made to deliver you out of your troubles if they befall you by your Superiours 2 Pet. 2. 9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished Knoweth how that is can and will do it How many gracious promises hath he made In six troubles and in seaven he will deliver them Thou shalt tread on the Lion and Adder He that hath set his love on me I will deliver him and honour him Why art thou therefore so afraid of troubles of Men or Devils A prison is not Hell Loss of Goods is not loss of the Chief Good He that can turn thee out of thy house cannot turn thee out of Heaven There hee 'l be turn'd out and thou taken in Man can threaten thee but God can destroy thee Thy great Neighbour will trouble thee if thou pray and thy great Maker will damn thee
patience to wait Jam. 5.7 Be patient therefore Brethren to the coming of the Lord. Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fâ—…uits of the earth and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and the latter rain And Clemens is of opinion that the Apostles James and Jude were Husbandmen Well we see here the Husbandman hath need of patience long patience to wait for the fruits of the Earth Many a long day and night there is between Seedness and Harvest and yet he is not in despair he waites and hopes Harvest will come at length The Heavens they frown upon the Earth the Corn mourns the Grasse withers but yet he waits with patience upon God He knows the bottles of Heaven are in a good hand and therefore relyes on God and does his duty His ground is sometimes chok't for Rain and sometimes again chok't with over-much Rain But he frets not at all but quietly waits on Gods pleasure He goes into his Barne and sees his Corn almost gone and then goes into the Field and there its slow in ripening He looks into his purse and there 's no money and now his patience is tryed Yet in this case he considers the wisdom providence of God arms his mind with patience till Harvest comes and then sometimes excessive Rain keeps him and his Corn asunder Week after Week and when it comes sometimes the poor yieldance of it utterly disappoints him so that he hath need of patience to last another year by that time his borrowed Corn is paid and his Ground Seeded his stock is almost gone And therefore the Husbandman hath need of patience great long patience patience to wait 2. He must have Patience to bear He meets with a dear bargain a hard Rent heavy Taxes tempests without doors and storms sometimes within But this is his Cloak to bear off all weathers this is his harness he dare not go without If he fret it will gall him worse And he is then undone when the back of his patience is broken His provocations are many his neighbours wrong him but he licks himself whole by his patience his servants are surly his children oft displease him yea his wife sometimes le ts fly her tongue against him But he hath his Armour on He knows they have little wit to provoke him but he thinks he should have less alwayes to observe it According to that Eccles. 7.21 He takes not heed to all words that are spoken lest he hear his servant curse him He finds a time to acquaint them with their duties and miscarriages and bears what cannot be helped with Patience Alas his whole life is a tryal and exercise of this grace He works hard and fares hard and lodges hard but patience is the pillow he lies on the only Bootes he hath to ride with in the mire yea the Horse he rides on The linnen of his every day clothes It s all the Table cloth and napkin he uses in a word it s the very food he lives by And therefore as ever you hope for comfort in this calling labour for this grace of patience meditate of it pray for it when it fails renew it study the precept plead the promise consider that grand pattern of Patience our Lord Jesus Christ. And oft think that there is more real good in it than there is evil in that which tryes it That you are in a better condition when you have patience under a tryal than if you were without the tryall And seeing you possess but little in the World resolve to possess your own souls in Patience SECT II. II. THe second Grace necessary for the Husbandman is Discretion 1. In his affairs Isa. 28.25 Doth the Plowman Plow all day to sow Doth he open and break the clods of his Ground When he hath made plain the face thereof doth he not cast abroad the Fitches and scatter the Cummin and and cast in the principalWheat and the appointed Barley Rye in their place Here you see the Holy Ghost himself guiding the Husbandman in his Tillage he should be wise to manage his business in due season and order And then vers 27. The Fitches must he beaten out with a staff Bread Corn must be bruised c. And even this Discretion must be taught of God so saith this Scripture vers 29. This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts which is wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in working He doth well therefore to be inquisitive of his elder neighbours but he must not neglect to seek this skill of God who is wonderful in counsel And then he finds that wise fore-casting is as necessary as working that things may be done in their place that he neither entertain confusion nor idleness but that businesses may fall in one after another and still there may be fit time for religious duties And thus a good man orders his affairs with discretion 2. He must have discretion about his Family that he may therein be neither a Tyrant nor a Cypher that he may educate and dispose his children with that prudence and circumspection he ought Discretion also to correct in prudence not in passion and to add sweet lessons as God doth to sharp lashes to keep them at a sufficient distance and yet not discourage them to preserve his authority in hischeerfulness to choose fit Callings for them or matches when they are ready and to load them from him at least with good counsel There is nothing harder than for an indiscreet man to command due reverence in his house And therefore the wise Husbandman considers that if his Authority in his house be gone he is buried alive and the life of a slave will be better then his that hath all the charge and none of the rule And this can never be obtained by imperiousness or correction but by discretion 3. He must have discretion for his estate that he may neither live above it nor below it That in his clothing house-keeping and spending he may neither be guilty of pride nor baseness His incomes are not great and therefore that States-mans Rule that the ordinary expences of him who would keep even with the World must be but the one half of their income and of him that would thrive but the third part thereof I say this Rule stands him in little stead If he can pay his Rent and Taxes feed and cloath his family you shall not hear him complain But if with all he can yearly lay by a little towards the better education or disposal of his children then you shall hear him sing Well all the Discretion he hath is needful hereunto Partly to take such bargaines that may afford a livelihood and yet herein he is afraid of weakning the estate of him that sells as well as his own Partly in observing the Markets for the vending of his commodities and other wayes unless he will outlive his livelihood and leave his Children beggars 4. He
shoulder where 's that Vpon him one able to bear and order them all and not only able but very willing For he careth for you It is his business to care for you his business and design is to order all things for your eternal good What needs the child torture himself about a business when the Father that is wise and loving sends him word that he will take care thereof Sayes God Let present duty be your care and future events shall be mine If you will trust me I will order it well for you How can you pretend to trust him for the things of another life that you never saw if you cannot trust him for the things of this life wherein you have seen his Providence over and over Learn then to use a moderate care about your affairs but when your cares oppress and disturb the quiet of your heart bring faith to such promises as Rom. 8.28 Heb. 13.5 Psal. 84.11 and rest thereby upon them quietly expecting in the use of all good means a comfortable issue If the success suit not with thy expectation believe that God saw thy desire was not for thy advantage If the issue fall out to thy mind it is in mercy thou didst thy duty and trustedst in thy God to which he hath annext a certain Promise Psal. 37.3 Tâ—…ust in the Lord and do good besure you do both so shalâ—… thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed 2. Consider the unprofitableness of distracting cares It is certain they never do you good Your design in them is for your good for your advantage but they advantage you not for Psal. 127.1 Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it and it is in vain to eat the bread of sorrows Is it not as good to lay those cares aside as vex your selves with them in vain If indeed they could bring your matters to pass and that success would stil attend upon your carking thoughts somwhat might be said for them But alas it is so far from that effect that the ready way to blast any business is to bestow immoderate care about it The Lord taketh the wise in their own craftiness and bringeth their devises to nought that all men may know that it is not of him that runneth but of God that blesseth that any thing comes well to pass More Prayers and less cares will do your business And therefore when they crowd in upon you and overpress you let out your hearts to God in prayer lay your straits and business before him commit thy way to the Lord trust also in him and see if he do not bring it to pass Say Lord my heart is overwhelmed in me out of the Depths I cry unto thee I can do no good of it but thou canst this knot thou canst unty my carking snarls it the faster I 'le trouble my self no more but to do my duty my contrivances are Castles in the Air but thy Understanding is infinite And at long run you will find this that Real Piety is the truest Pollicy Alas the Husbandmans head is not shap'd for worldly wisdom he is plain and simple and again he is spent sufficiently by his labour hath no need to break his head and disturb his sleep and mirth with these distractions especially while they will do him no good and therefore go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink that thou hast with a merry heart for God now accepteth thy work Eccl. 9.7 SECT VIII VIII THe Eight Temptation of the Husbandman is Slavish fear of Man It is true he must keep a due Reverence for the Magistrate for he is the Minister of God and therefore to contemn him secretly or disdain him openly is no little crime And a just fear and respect he must have for his Landlord or the Gentleman his Neighbour because God hath placed them above him and he hath learnt that by the Father he ought to honour is meant all his Superiours and himself expects the like from his children and servants and therefore he is far from that clownish humour of those that will make no difference between the King and the Beggar knowing that would bring confusion into the world and break that order that God hath plac'd among men And therefore in all worldly matters no man more respective to his Superiours than the Husbandman none more ready to all those services and offices due from him to those above him He 's ready and his children are ready his Horses ready and any thing he hath and that not out of base fear or other self-ends but out of a principle of ingenuity and kindness and a frame of heart to be doing good to every one Here is his temper and duty but now his Temptation lyes in this That when his Landlord or other great men about him do discountenance the practise of piety and that holy strictness which is undoubtedly the will of God and necessary to salvation he is apt either to take down his Colours and either to waste his oyl or hide his Lamp lest he should bring anger or trouble upon himself He hath a mind to have constant prayer in his family and reading the Scriptures and singing Psalms and would do so if that course were held in the Hall that 's near him but he is loth to go before a Gentleman no not to Heaven and hath cause to fear a frown or worse for so doing And then having but little Faith he apprehends God far off and his Landlord near and will rather venture the loss of his House in Heaven than his House upon Earth and so neglects those Duties And so likewise in the practice of sobriety circumspection and watchfulness the example and fear of Superiours do lay a strong siege to his convictions and resolutions and make him if strength of grace uphold him not hazzard the Peace of a good Conscience to keep the peace and quiet of his outward Estate Fain he would go to Heaven if he durst and enjoy the smiles of God and great men also He thinks without the favour of man he cannot live and without the favour of God he dare not dye and so would conjoyn that which seldome meets the love of God and the love of the World too Thus is that Scripture fulfilled Prov. 29.25 The fear of man causeth a snare He would fast with his Family but he dare not He would read good Books the best Books and hear the best Ministers but he dare not he would go to Heaven but he dare not he is in the snare The Lord of Heaven help him out Not that all of this Rank are taken in this Temptation for there are many that go to Gods house for their Religion and not to their Landlords that if their Prayers will not bring him with them to Heaven his frowns shall not bring them to Hell with him That resolve to be in Gods Books though they never be in
Why among the Herdmen of Tekoa Amos 1.1 And where was Elisha when the Lord called him to his own work why plowing with twelve Yoke of Oxen before him and himself with the twelfth 1 Kings 19.9 O therefore use thy best Art and Industry Adam's sin hath hardened the ground and now thy sweat must soften it but this is thy comfort it is sanctified sweat and every drop of it spent in a right manner and to a right end shall be rewarded with a thousand years in Glory And thy Diligence on Earth will make thee long to be in Heaven SECT II. II. THe Second Rule for the Husbandman in his Calling is Submit unto Providence Be convinced that there is a Supream Providence that directs and orders all and every event in the world and be satisfied therein as that which is best for you Psal. 115.3 Our God is in the Heavens he hath done whatsoever he pleased Read more in the Book of Gods Providence and less in the books of mens Prognostications And this I do purposely instance in because the common use of these books is most foolish and fallible for how can One of them tell the whole Nation of rain such and such a day when there is usually rain in one Country and fair weather in another the same day Besides the Lord doth very often alter the Scene of these things either upon the prayers of his people or the sins of his enemies Hence that Challenge Isa. 47.13 Let now the Astrologers the Star-gazers the monthly Prognosticators stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee And this was spoken to the Chaldeans the best in those Arts in all the world And yet there is a good use to be made of them for signs and seasons and days and years but as to any certain foretelling of weathers or other events that depend on casual or voluntary causes they are matters beyond their line And if you can know your present Duty no matter for fore-knowing future Events And then submit to the same hand of God in all things It 's mans Prudence to submit to Gods Providence Labour to sec God in every thing is thy promising Crop blasted it's Gods wisdome that hath done it Doth the Rain cross thee why the rain that hindred thee hath furthered some greater affairs There is mention Ezek. 1.16 of a Wheele in the middle of a wheele It is thought to set forth the invisible Providence of God that acts and over-rules all second causes for good ends And you must still remember that Rom. 8.28 All things shall work together for good to them that love God and therefore say and that withall thy heart Father thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Alas Sirs will your repining make the matter better Is Sin a proper cure for Affliction No no. The ordering of Gods affairs belong to God and of your affairs to you let it rain when God will let snow and ice come when God will and then heat and drought when he will for that belongs to him And do you plow and sow when you can and reap when you can for this is the will of God that you be dependent creatures and live on him seeing you cannot live upon your selves Let not a grudging thought therefore arise in your hearts against the Providence of God I say not a grudging thought for even that doth plainly tax his Wisdome and Government Who can send a drop of rain without the direction of God Jer. 14. last Are there any among the Vanities of the Gentiles that can cause Rain as if God should say where are they let them come forth and answer now if any such there be or can the Heavens give showers alas not a drop art not thou he O Lord our God therefore we will wait upon thee for thou hast made all these things Repine not therefore in the least at any of these Events It is the Lord let him do what seems good to him Do thy part and he 'l be sure to do his Nay in those injuries that are put upon thee the over-ruling and well ordering hand of Providence doth guide and dispose the same to the best 2 Sam. 16.10 Let him curse saith David of Shimei that reviled him bitterly without a cause because the Lord hath said to him Curse David who then shall say wherefore hast thou done so O study Providence believe Providence submit to Providence God is Righteous in mens Unrighteousness and he never permits any evil to befall thee except he can bring out of it some greater good SECT III. III. THe Third Rule of the Husbandman in his Calling is Make a treasure of God You are likely to be but mean and poor in the things of this World O labour to be rich in the possession of that God that made it Your harvest is doubtful your comforts are uncertain O make sure of God and then you have something sure A few hard years will bring the Husbandman to bread and water had not he need then to be sure of Christ He whose treasure is above can never be undone It was the saying of an Holy Man to one whose crosses and troubles were so great that he cried out O I am quite undone why says he is not God in Heaven Who can sink that hath Caesar with him in the ship or be miserable that hath the possession of happiness it self Hab. 3.18 Although the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be found in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yield no meat the Flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no Herd in the stall yet I will rejoyce in the Lord and will joy in the God of my Salvation O blessed frame O divine Spirit like that of God himself that is content and satisfied in and with himself though there were nothing else in the world And thus the holy and mortified Husbandman sits down with God and sings chearfully The Lord is my portion saith my soul therefore I will hope in him If I had nothing in the world if there were no world at all yet my soul is compleatly happy in my God I have enough and enough and enough Thus a true Saint is under his condition by Humility but above it by Faith and can make a living not out of bread only but out of every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God And therefore he fears God in prosperity and loves him in Adversity he trembles the more for his mercy and loves him never the less for his frowns And when the Barn is empty then he can live by Faith My God is riches enough for any man The Lord is my Shepheard I shall not want One Jewel is worth an hundred load of lumber Others can boast of their fair houses large demesnes Noble Alliances and numerous Friends and I can glory in the Lord that
faithful Servant Thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee Ruler over much Whereas if Gods Rent be neglected he will either strain upon thee here by some severe cross or other or take out all his Arrears in Hell Where the worm dieth not and where the fire is not quenched Keep up therefore your daily sacrifices unto God both alone and with your family and there alwayes offer an upright humble and holy heart praises and prayers from thence will be prevalent with the Lord I say both alone and with your family and especially on the Sabbath About each of which it will be necessary to enlarge a little 1. Some Rent you have to pay alone for this the Scripture is as clear as can be Mat. 6.6 When thou prayest enter into thy closet and when thou hast shut the door pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly And to this agrees the practise of Jesus Christ and of the Saints in Scripture witness Gen. 32.24 Nehem. 1.4 Dan. 9.3 Mark 1.35 And Reason it self perswades seeing that each of you have secret sins secret wants and secret affairs with God which require private converse between God and your Souls I do not resolve that this Duty is indispensable twice a day but I assert that the neglect of it when opportunitie may be gotten argues a prophane spirit and the conscionable practise thereof is a great argument of sinceritie And in short he that loves not uses not secret prayer yea and meditation and self-examination shall never be rewarded openly Foot-steps also of the use thereof in the Morning are Psal. 5.3 And in the Evening Psal. 141.2 2. An Houshold Rent also daily must be paid I mean a sacrifice in and with your family for it is not enough you pray for them but you must pray with them So Josh. 24.15 I and my house will serve the Lord. For the clearing in some measure and setling this family worship too much neglected in the Husbandmans house let these Propositions be laid down 1. God is not only to be worshipped on the Lords day but every day This is not only typified but proved Exod. 29.38 Two Lambs of the first year day by day continually Wherein though the offering was ceremonial yet the time was moral there being as much reason for the Christians offering every day as for the Jews And as works of necessity have room in Gods day so Prayers and Duties of necessitie may command room in our dayes especially seeing we have daily wants sins and mercies and cannot tell what a day may bring forth 2. God is not only to be worshipped alone in a family but joyntly and together For every Christian family should be a little Church like that Rom. 16.5 Now it 's not enough that the members of the Church worship God alone but it ought to be done together The same reason holds in a family namely for mutual Edification that the stronger may help the weaker and that all may worship without fail It is also much for the Honour ofGod that many joyn in his service And the very tenour of that pattern of Prayer Mat. 6.11 runs plural Our Father which art in Heaven And proves beside that daily prayer ought to be used by divers together Give us this day our daily bread 3. The fittest time for family worship is Morning and Evening This time of worshiping in general the light of Nature it self dictates The morning and evening being such signal periods of time as do in their own Nature intimate to man religious duty then to be done Prayer being the Key to unlock the Blessings of the Day and to lock up the Dangers of the Night for alas we walk upon barrels of Gun-powder in the Day our snares are so many and we lie in the shaddow of death at Night our dangers are so great Also at those times we have most opportunity for such work and therefore when the Lord orders Parents to teach their Children Deut. 6.6 he times it thus When you lie down and when you rise up And the Scripture also makes it manifest Exod. 29.39 Also Numb 28.4 The one Lamb shalt thou offer in the Morning and the other Lamb at Evening And thus the Tribes Acts 26.7 are said to serve God instantly night and day that is evening and morning By which things soberly considered together with the practise of Gods people as a Commentary thereupon you may evidently see That to worship God in your families morning and evening is the will of God it is your duty nay it is your priviledge And now to return to the Husbandman This being his Duty no excuse can clear him no plea can excuse him from paying this chief rent to the most High His inability and ignorance in prayer cannot help him for one sin can be no excuse for another Besides there are Helpes for the weak till strength come And above all the Holy Ghost is a very present Help to all that ask him and a sence of sin danger will soon untie your tongues and make you if not eloquent yet effectual in your prayers Want of time or abundance of business can be no excuse for a man must have time to eat and sleep and pray whatever business stay If any thing fall out that will not let you stay to eat in that case perhaps you may omit your prayer provided you pray as well as feed the heartier next time and are truly sorry for your disappointment And you must believe or else you have not a faith to save you that God can and will make you amends for all the time is spent about your souls see Mat. 22.25 and tremble for your neglects The backwardness of your relations and families will be no excuse For Abraham did and every Child of Abraham must command their Children and their houshold and they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18.19 lest God observing you can command and keep them to their work but cannot command them to Prayer see through your hypocrisie and pour out that dreadful curse upon you from which the Lord bless the poor Husbandmans house Jer. 10.25 Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen and upon the families that call not on thy name Set immediately therefore on your duty with sorrow for your former neglects and a setled resolution for the time to come and be assured that God will meet and bless you as he hath promised and what you take in hand shall prosper Our work on earth is done best when our work in heaven is done first The Philosopher could say he had rather neglect his means than his mind and his farm than his soul. And remember good Job though his charge and business was far greater than yours yet Job 1.5 was constant in his religious duties Thus did Job continually 3. And then for the Sabbath Remember it before it
THE Husbandmans CALLING Shewing the Excellencies Temptations Gracés Duties c. of the CHRISTIAN HUSBANDMAN Being the Substance of XII SERMONS Preached to a Country Congregation By RICHARD STEELE M. A. and Minister of the Gospel Cant. 1. 6. They made me keeper of the Vineyards but mine own Vineyard have I not kept Math. 6. 33. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added to you LONDON Printed by M. S. and are to be sold by E. Calvert at the sign of the Black spread Eagle in Barbican 1668. To all the Faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ in this our English Israel Reverend Fathers and Brethren IT is not out of Presumption the Lord he knoweth that I make this Address unto you as if I were worthy to bespeak much less instruct Such and So many but from a sincere Love to mens souls attended with a profound Respect unto you all 'T is you that have the charge to bring this our Husbandman to Heaven from his care and labour most of your subsistance comes You are strictly bound by all Laws Divine and Humane to help them to live in Heaven that help you to live on earth nay you are obliged by express Scripture to give your selves wholly to this business and you must certainly give an exact account of your Stewardship God knows how soon Now I only undertake to be your Remembrancer and my own Monitor in these two main things 1. That we would often consider the Great End of our worthy Ministry which is not to please men but Christ Jesus the Lord not to obtain applause from the Vulgar or respect from Great Men or to make ample worldly provision for our selves but we are purposely sent from God to save mens souls from death and to carry if it be possible all our flock with us to Heaven Let us revive this often upon our souls especially when we are casting the Net of the Gospel among a Sea of Sinners in our actuall Ministration wherein we must consider that our Husbandmans soul is as precious to God as the soul of a greater man and should the rather be holpen because he wants often the benefit of Education Learning and Ingenuity to help himself O let 's think before their Passing-bell do startle us whether we have done our utmost for the saving of the Man or Woman that is now sailing for eternity 2. That in our retired throughts we duly weigh and then put in practise the fittest Means to accomplish this great End 1. In Sermons what Texts and Subjects are most needful to ground them to awaken them to convert them and to strengthen them what Method is most useful to clear the will of God to them and settle it in their memories what words and affections are most effectual to declare their duty and perswade them to it In short how we may so paint to the life Grace and Glory that the people may fall in love with them and purchase them at any rate and then so describe Sin and Hell that they may tremble to think of them and go from the Ordinances with their hearts penetrated amazed melted and changed That we may not fill our Sermons with sapless niceties impertinent quotations cholerick reflections or with that unquiet controversal Divinity especially about points less momentous which hardly ever produce any effect save Exasperation And for as much as experience hath taught us that private and particular â—…dvice and Reproof doth catch many that have slipped through more general means let us labour as far as we are able to take a particular care of each member of those flocks where any of us are Overseers that we may warn every man and teach every man that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus How many Drunkards Swearers Covetous Trouble some persons are there under our charge that either know not or mind not the evil of their way whom one quarter of an hours serious Advice might cure and how well generally do men take such Counsels from us because we are doing the Duties of our Office and their faithfullest part to wit their Consciences are on our side If it be possible therefore let us spare some time to go among them to see how our Husbandry prospers so shall we best be acquainted with their condions and soonest gain their affections Alas if we do not know them we must shoot our Arrow at adventure and if they do not love us they will hardly heed what we say And then 2. In our Lives O that they may be a Commentary on our Sermons full of Gravity Humility Piety Peace and Love Let our words and waies savour of the Sermons we preach that our Lives may convince those whom our Lips cannot perswade Alas we see that one irregular practice doth undermine throw down that which many Sermons have been building they will not believe that which we plainly show we do not believe our selves Though this be their mistake to take sanctuary in our sinnes who must be judged by our Sermons yet 't is a distemper that will not easily be cured and wo will be to them by whom offences come as well as wo to them that are offended with the Truth Let us remember Excellent Mr. Herberts Advice whose Tract called the Country-Parson is richly worth our frequent reading that the Minister should be a pattern of all goodness to all the Men in the Parish and his Wife to all the Women in the Parish and his Children and Servants to all the Children and Servants in the Parish and particularly that we be far from Prophaneness Covetousness Contention direct or indirect opposition to serious Piety or the Professors thereof And lastly 3. For our Inward Affections that we may keep alwaies flaming in our hearts a sincere and Paternal Love to all our Flock that our counsels reproofs and Sermons may flow from a real and dear Love to them and then they can hardly miscarry in their effects upon them that our Real and Visible design may not be to seek theirs but them That our Behaviour degrade us not from that Authority wherewith we are vested nor Pride keep us from that seasonable condescention that is so necessary among the people But that we may be wholly taken up with our great work and make our other circumstances attend and further this that by any means we may save our selves and them that hear us And let 's not think much of all this work for we were told it before and we shall be richly rewarded for every drop of Spirits yea for every drop of sweat yea for every drop of ink that is spent rightly in our Masters Service and doubly damn'd if persons of our Knowledge and Imploâ—…ment or Others by our Neglect Ignorance Non-residence or Evil Example miscarry â—…verlastingly In a word that we may all in earnest advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and keep up the Credit of the
From the weeds in his Garden 174 4. From the Bees in his Garden 175 Sect. 6. The Husbandmans Lessons from his House 177 1. From the inconveniencies of â—…is house 178 2. From the conveniencies of his house 179 CHAP. VII The special Graces requisite for the Husbandman 181 Sect. 1. Patience 182 1. To Wait. Ib. 2. To Bear 183 Sect. 2. Discretion 185 1. In his Affairs Ib. 2. About his Family 186 3. About his Estate Ib. 4. In Religion 187 Sect. 3. Heavenliness 188 Sect. 4. Vprightness 190 Sect. 5. Love to his Neighbour 193 Sect. 6. Contentedness 197 1. With his Calling Ib. 2. With his Portion in his Calling 199 Sect. 7. Faith 200 CHAP. VIII The Abuse of Husbandry 205 Sect. 1. By Drunkenness and Gluttony 1b Sect. 2. By cruelty to the Creature 208 Sect. 3. By drudging 210 Sect. 4. By rash Swearing 214 Sect. 5. By Covetousness 218 Sect. 6. By Base or wrong Ends. 221 How far we may make Riches c. our end 222 CHAP. IX The Husbandmans Designs 224 Sect. 1. The Glory and Pleasing of God 1b Sect. 2. The Salvation of his Soul 227 Sect. 3. The Publick Good 230 Sect. 4. The Education and Provision for his Children 232 Sect. 5. To pay unto every man his own 235 Sect. 6. Ability to do good and to Communicate 236 CHAP. X. Râ—…es for the Husbandman in his Calling 240 Sect. 1. Learn Prudence and Diligence in it 241 Sect. 2. Submit unto Providence 244 Sect. 3. Make a Treasure of God 246 Sect. 4. Vse the World as not abusing it 249 Sect. 5. What you would that men should do to you do ye to them 252 Sect. 6. Endeavour after a chearful heart 256 Sect. 7. Take a special care for the good of your Children 258 Sect. 8. Purchase some choice Books and read them well 263 Sect. 9. Pay your great Land-lord his Rent 266 1. In secret 268 2. In your Families A discourse about Family Duties 269 3. On the Sabbath 272 Sect. 10. The Conclusion 274 ERRATA PAge 2. Line 26. Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 14. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did p. 20. 1 26. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 24. 1. 14. r. Artificers p. 27.1.3 r. Egypt p. 40.1.12 r. vivit p. 41. 1. pen. for 〈◊〉 r. and. p. 59.1 12. r. have made him p. 70.1.18 r. how p. 75.1.23 r. heart p. 79. 1. 17. r. groan p. 87.1.29 r. affected p. 1381.14 r. this p. 145. Mar. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 212.1.3 r. cruel p. 225.1.30 r. deporting p. 226.1.29 r. Gold p. 231. 1. 13. r. die p. 254. 1. 12. r. then Marg. for 〈◊〉 r. Tables p. 262. 1. 32. r. your CHAPTER I. The Text propounded and explained some previous observations premis'd Genesis Chap. 2. Verse 15. And the LORD GOD took the Man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and 'to keep it SECTION I. INtending some useful Instructions for the Husbandman I thought it best to take him as God at first left him This Scripture being best able to speak for the Antiquity and Excellency of his Calling though others will prove more apposite to speak to his present Duties and Temptations The First Chapter of this Book is a most certain History of the Ancient Things the Author infallible the Matter important the Style majestick the Method exact and succinct the Pen-man learned and honest A Chapter to be often read with much Faith and great Thankfulness This second Chapter reviews and dilates upon the latter part of the former for all that is said herein must needs be done in the sixth day And a great dayes work it was in that day our Mother Eve was made Eden planted and our Father Adam put into it to dress it and to keep it Well for us if there had been no more work done that day but the best of it is the bones our Father Adam broke our brother Adam the second of that name hath so pieced that they are stronger than before But to be short as our Historian is when God had instituted a Sabbath vers 2. 3. recapitulated some of the Creation vers 4 5 6 7 8. and described the garden of Eden before which in order of time the subsequent story of the womans creation should come in He brings our first Parents in this Text and settles them in a calling So that this Scripture is a narrative of the first imployment of the first Man in the world Ancient matters are the Subject of mens scrutiny Here is a piece of Antiquity The Arcadians long since would impose a belief upon the world that the Moon was their Junior and were therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But here is a true History of a Man that was but two dayes younger than the Moon and you have him here disposed into a Calling Wherein observe I. The Author of his imployment The Lord God The Author of our Being is fittest to be the Author of our Calling And the Lord God took the Man and put him c. Jehovah Elohim the Eternal Being Father Son and Holy Ghost He took him that is as the most judicious from the place where he was created though others hold that he was created in Paradise and put him The word in the Hebrew signifies a gentle leading as a mother leads her child Kings may possibly cause the poor to be put apprentices but they keep their state and do it rather out of pity than out of love But the great God conducts this worthy creature Man This Man into his new imployment What love was there between God and Man before Sin came between The Lord his God brought him to house he brought him to his farm and permitted to him almost all the profits thereof for his labour II. Here 's the Place of his imployment The Garden of Eden The sweetest place on earth Described at large in the seven precedent verses 1. By its Name that signifies Pleasure it self 2. By its Nature a Garden not for the Quantity thereof being no doubt a Demesne of sutable largeness for the greatest Prince then on earth but for the sweetness and goodness of the place Described further 3. by its Scituation Eastward to receive the first and most healthy rayes of the â—…un And then so wooded and watered as no place must ever expect the like There was every Tree pleasant to the sight and good for food There was the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden and the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil And a most famous four-brancht River that watered the Place And here was our father Adam seated as well as heart could with All which particularities argue no doubt that such a real place there was and is however defaced not so high as the Moon or middle Region of the air as some have thought nor that it comprehends the whole Earth as others for whither then was Man driven upon his fall
be not blest by prayer or how can God and you be friends if you keep not correspondence cannot he yea will not he make thee amends by the years end for an hour in a day spent with him Alas you may get more in half an hour by Prayer Psalms Reading to wit some grains of true grace than by your hardest working all your lives yea then all the world is worth and why then will you stand so with God for a little time He that gives you all will you stand with him for an inch If your servant should tell you when he hath neglected a business of concernment he could not help it for he had business of his own would it please you so neither will it please God when you omit Prayer c. that you had other business and could not heed it The very Turks though they make their slaves work hard yet afford them time for food and rest will you deal worse with your soul than with a Gally slave Hath not God said Psalm 127.2 It is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows except the Lord give his blessing and how is that obtain'd but by prayer a constant blessing but by constant prayer Alas one mischance may half undoe thee and were it not best then to keep in with that God that hath all creatures and casualties in his hand You have heard of that religious Gentleman concerning whom the Witch his Neighbour made this confession at her death That she had waited seven whole years to do him a mischief but his constant Prayers had still disappoynted her until one Morning that hast of business had carryed him from home without Prayer in his Family and before his return she had bewitched four or five of his children Miracle of mercy and nothing else that God hath spared thee whose neglects in that kind have been many What if Satan had been permitted to do so by thee how many Prayers might it have cost thee for deliverance And is it not more comfortable to spend those Prayers for preventing evil than for removing it Is not that Prayer better spent that God commands than that which Sin procures Nay think when you are tempted to neglect the service of God in your Families or otherwise what an honour and advantage it is that you may thus approach God If the King should but give you liberty to come twice or thrice a day into his presence and there tell your whole case and lay out all your wants and promise a real answer to your requests how hard or many soever O how proud would you be of such a priviledge and seldom would you miss your time you would find somthing or other wanting for your selveâ—… or friends and duly improve it How much is your Priviledge greater that may come two or three times a day into the presence of thâ—… King of Kings and be heard about the greaâ—… things of eternal life O never fail your attendance open your mouth wide and he wiâ—… fill it And then get more Zeal that will heal yoâ—… of your deadness in holy duties Think seriously whom am I before my Maker and Redeemer And what am I about The eternal salvation of my soul and body And whither am I going Into that world of souâ—… and spirits that endless state whence I muâ—… never return And are these things to be 〈◊〉 in Are men asleep when they are begginâ—… for their lives in a dream when their Cauâ—… is trying O remember it is the effectâ—… fervent prayer of a righteous man that avaiâ—…eth much Though he be a righteous man yeâ—… except he put fervency into his prayer it prevaileth little Frozen suits meet with colâ—… answers from God Put therefore Fire intâ—… thy Sacrifice and then it will ascend Consider that the Lord thy God is to be loved anâ—… served with all the soul and might and strength and that he hath a curse and not a blessing foâ—… the deceiver that hath in his flock a Male anâ—… voweth and sacrificeth to God a corrupt thing Mal. 1.13 Nay sayes God I could see yoâ—… earnest enough in the Field busie in the House busie in the Barn busie every where and idlâ—… and cold only when you come to me you have in your flock a male but you think any frame any thing will serve me I have no blessing for such as you He that wrestles with me shall prevail he that takes pains shall have the Garland and no man must be crowned except he strive and strive lawfully He that hath zeal strives 2. To prevent deadness or negligence in holy Duties You must not 〈◊〉 your selves Immoderate labour may be sinful as well as immoderate meat and drink Then it is immoderate 1. VVhen it is not consistent with the strength of thy body God requires from no man more than he hath given him he doth not allow a man a weak body and exact from him strong labour this were to require Brick and deny straw When therefore thy pains in thy Calling doth quite dis-spirit or distemper thy body then it grows immoderate and for a poor accident thou hazardest the substance 2. Thy labour then is immoderate when it is not consistent with the Duties of Religion when secret or family Prayer must stand or fall at the courtesie of thy labour and business when thy spirits are exhausted and thy strength so spent that when Duties should be done thy heart like Nabals is dead as a stone thy body worn out and good for nothing but the Bed then your labour becomes immoderate And neither will it advantage thy estate nor thy dead duties advantage thy Soul and so thou makest a fair Bargain For it is certain that what a man gets by immoderate cares and labour does him no more good than what he gets by theft or oppression Hab. 2.13 The people weary themselves in the very fire and that for very vanity VVhat a piece of folly is this to weary a mans self and that in the very fire broyling in the world and all this for very vanity a poor recompence Day-labourers are to be pitied and the Lord no doubt pities them and takes up with a lesser Rent of service from them than from their Masters yet even they must remember that they have souls as well as bodies that they have a Master in Heaven as well as a Master upon Earth that a Living must be gotten for Hereafter as well as aâ—… present and they ought as Tertullian saith of eating so to work as that they remember they must to Prayer before they go to bed Lest this rise up against them that they were careful to take some warm thing in the morâ—…ing for their bodies before they went to work and neglected a warm Prayer or Chapter that were much more wholsome for theâ—… souls You should argue if I have taken all this pains all day for a little money shall I
reconciliation after falling out convinces and perswades him to be a child in Malice though he would be a man in Understanding nay he admires at the Providence of God that ties their infant tongues till they have some understanding else many a foolish word would they speak And by seeing their full dependance upon him for meat and clothes and his readiness to give them what they want he learns the like dependance upon God his heavenly Father for all and trusts that he will much more give spiritual things to him that humbly craves them of him By the readiness of his Servants he is convinced into the like to the commands of God and often hath occasion to consider how much Gods service is beyond his The heat of the Fire often preaches to him the intollerableness of that Fire that is never quenched And being so comfortable in the Chimney which would be dangerous in his Thatch teaches him the excellency of true zeal in its place and the danger of zeal when it is out He observes few meats are good and wholesome without some heat from the fire and thence gathers that no duty or work is right good without some zeal therein The fowlness of his Rooms do shew him what need his heart hath of cleansing and each part of his furniture doth furnish him with some celestial lessons each one worth all the estate he hath But more especially 1. From the Inconveniencies of his House he learns the misery of his estate on earth Here is my house sayes he but alas the room is strait the air cold the structure rotten dirty without and empty within Thus all that is in this World is lame and imperfect no profit without pain no pleasure without sting no honour without peril vanity and vexation of spirit I find to be written yea intail'd on all sublunary things now who would be fond on such a life who would choose such a portion If this be the World give me Christ. One Christ is worth many Worlds But then with these add the consideration of â—…in that every day besets me such an house â—…nd such an heart such miseries without and â—…uch wickedness within and then who would live in such a World that could get â—…irly out of it or fall in love with Dirt and â—…weat that believes an Heaven and hath any â—…itle to it Thus all the Husbandmans Inâ—…onveniencies are mortifying and make him â—…ery indifferent to live in a World that is so much his Stepmother and he still looks up â—…nd cries O when shall I come unto thee He comes home weary but this bears up his â—…pirit That there remains a rest for the People â—…f God 2. From the Conveniencies of his House he â—…earns the blessedness of his estate in Heaven Here is my comfortable habitation neat â—…ooms handsome furniture healthful air â—…leasant situation my lines are fallen in pleaâ—…nt places Praised be the Lord but this is â—…ut a Tabernacle not my setled place an â—…arthly tabernacle this house was made with â—…ands but yonder above I have an house â—…ade without hands These my Convenienâ—…es are mixt but there they are abstract and â—…ithout mixture That house I am going to Great without Coldness High without â—…anger Full without Thronging Rich withâ—…ut Vanity Ancient without Decay no need 〈◊〉 repairs no danger of fire no fear of being â—…t out There shall I have my Children aâ—…out me without crying my Wife without sickness my Servants without trouble wheâ—… there is eternal musick eternal feasting etâ—… happiness O that my work were doâ—… that I might go yonder This is but 〈◊〉 Winter house O yonder above is my Suâ—… Parlour yet a little while and I shâ—… inhabit though most unworthy of it as gâ—… an house as my Landlord My fine is paid 〈◊〉 my Saviours blood Possession is taken in 〈◊〉 name by a sure Attourney and the Rent 〈◊〉 be nothing but blessing and praising the Goâ—… of Heaven to eternity Thousands are waiâ—…ing to welcome me to house Christ himseâ—… will let me in and but one life between 〈◊〉 and a Palace And now what though I 〈◊〉 and sweat here a while when my Reversioâ—… falls I shall live like an Angel and then farewell my Plough and Cart I shall sowe 〈◊〉 thresh no more my weary dayes and carefuâ—… nights farewel there 's no husbandry 〈◊〉 Heaven there 's the harvest of all my prayers where Christ shall be All in All. And the pooâ—… Husbandman doth much comfort himself wilâ—… these hopes And we cannot better leave 〈◊〉 than here whither this Lesson hath broughâ—… him And this is the sixth point to wit 〈◊〉 Lessons which the Husbandman may learn 〈◊〉 his Calling Object Perhaps you 'l say I can never léarâ—… these things I am weak and ignorant how should I acquire these things Answ. Though thou art no Scholar yâ—… thou art Christs Scholar and if there be â—…in a willing mind thy work is half done A dull Scholar with a skilful Master may make shift Psal. 32.8 I will instruct and teach thee I will guide thee with mine eye nay God hath particularly professed to help the Husbandman â—…sa 28.26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him Do but your best keep open the eye of Faith to see things unseen pray for skill and fall to practise and it will come The sweetness will pay for the difficulty he that turns Earth into Heaven â—…hath an Heaven upon Earth And so you have the sixth Head CHAP. VII The Husbandmans Graces SECT I. I proceed in the seventh place to prescribe to the Husbandman the special Graces he should get Without Grace the best Calling in the World will be unedifying and uncomfortable Gods Graces in a Calling are the Grace of a Calling True Grace can make the lowest condition happy and Sin can make the highest miserable Without Grace an Husbandman may be undone when an Angel without Grace falls though he were in Heaven And of all men he had need of it 〈◊〉 he be a drudge on earth and then a brand 〈◊〉 hell The Ox he drives will be in a betteâ—… case than he if he live and die without thâ—… true fear of God for that hath meat anâ—… drink and work but no care or grief noâ—… account to make and the Husbandman thaâ—… knows not God in a saving manner hatâ—… work and meat and withal cares and troubles and a sad reckoning to come O that the Husbandman were but acquainted with Jesuâ—… Christ and with his own true state He needs not envy the greatest Prince if he have but Christ in him the hope of Glory But though the Husbandman must have every Grace true Grace comes all together the new man hath all his members yet I shall more especially recommend these seven following Graces to the use of the Husbandman SECT I. I. THe first Grace necessary for the Husbandman is Patience he cannot live comfortably without it 1. He must have
§. 2. Discontent §. 5. Forgeting God and depending on second Gauses §. 4. Envy at Superiours †Ps. 73.18 * Ps. 49.14 †Ps. 73.19 * Ps. 62. §. 3. Negligence of and Deadness in holy Duties Somthing warm in a morning before you go out to work is wholsome So a warm Prayer in the Morning is very wholsome for the soul. Mr. Swinnock Mr. Byr. Lanc. §. 6. Charitableness and Nigardliness §. 7. Distracting care 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 †Yea many like coâ—… are swallowed up of the earth alive Mr. Swinnock â—…ccl 5.18 §. 3. Slavish fear of Man †Homo liâ—…e Deum et â—…undum ridebis Aug. †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…al 91. §. 9. Affected ignorance Hos. 4.6 §. 10. Wronging his neighbour A discourse about Restitution Cap. 4. The Huss bandman Lessons in his Calling §. 1. Lessons from his Ground Ex terra ferlili producetur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 venenosa et ex terra 〈◊〉 pretiosum aurum Pint. in â—…zek §. 2. Lessons from his Corn. A word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Ear of Corn. §. 3. Lessons from his â—…locks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to go forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of subduing because they are easily subdued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to erre ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to deny for sear Mr. Paâ—…er §. 4. Lessons from his Orchard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Grove of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to behold or contemplate Mr. Pag. Aves canoros garrulae fundunt sonos Et semper aures cantibus mulcent suâ—… †Levit. 11.13 15. * Isa. 34.11 §. 5. Lessons from his Garden Gardens are the purest of humane pleasures the greatest refreshments of the spirits of man without which building Palaces are but gross handiworks Bac. Essays p. 266. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an herb or a trumpet * Pagets Primmer p. 28. 1 The Bee sucks honey from the blossoms even of bitter Almonds So should we suck sweet experience out of bitter afflictions §. 6. Lessons from his House CHAP. 7. The Husbandmans Graces §. 〈◊〉 His Patience §. 2. His discretion Sr. Fr. Bacon Essayes §. 3. His Heavenliness §. 4. His Uprightness §. 5. His Love §. 6. His Contentedness Mr. Dod used to say There was this only difference between the Rich and the Poor that the poor's purse was in their Fathers hand the Rich in their own §. 7. 〈◊〉 Faith CHAP. 8. The Abuse of Husbandry §. 1. By Drunkenness 〈◊〉 and Gluttony §. 2. By Cruelty to the Creature §. 3. By Drudging §. 4. By rash Swearing §. 5. By Covetousness §. 6. By wrong Ends. CHAP. 9. The Husbandmans Designs To please and glorifie God §. 2. The Salvation of his Soul §. 3. The Publick good Necesse est ut eam non ut vivam Pomp. §. 4. The Education of and Provision for Children §. 5. To pay each man his own Oct. August §. 6. To have Ability to communicate to others CHAP. 10. Rules for the Husbandman in his Calling §. 1. Learn to be wisâ—… diligent See Cato's Rules Plant in thy youth Build not till thou be throughly stored be not forward to purchase spare no pains in Husbanding what thou hast The most sure Revenue is that which hath cost least The good Husband must be a Seller not a Buyer Do each work in its season Procure the good Will of thy neighbours keep no unquiet or injurious Servants c. The industry of the Husbandman works Miracles by turning stones lime stones and marle into bread Mr. Fuller H. S. §. 2. Submit unto Providence §. 3. Make a tâ—…easure of God §. 4. Use the World as not abusing it Res aliae sunt quibus fruendum est aliae quibus utendum illae quibus fruendum est beatus nos faciunt istis quibus utendum est adjuvamur Aug. de Doct. Christ. lib. 1. Thy God allows thee to warm thy self at the Sun of worldly comforts but not to turn Persian and worship it Mr. Swinnock The ship may sail well on the water but if the waters get into the ship all 's goneâ—… So to live above the world is safe but if the world get into you you drown Ib. §. 5. Do as you would be done to By the Law of the Twelve Tribes whoever above 14 years old sed their Cattel in another mans corn-field or cut it down in the night it was death They must be hanged or strangled to satisfie the goddess Ceres Plin. Lib. 18. Cap. 3. §. 6. Labour for a chearful spirit Rule 7. Take a special care for the good of your Children Rule 8. Purchase some choice Books and read them well §. 9. Pay your Great Land-lord his Rent 1. In your Closets 2. In your Families A discourse about Family Duties Aristippus ap Platon de â—…ranq animae 3. On the Sabbath §. 10. The Conclusion