The Reformed Spiritual Husbandman, Title page – Preface
THE REFORMED SPIRITVALL HUSBANDMAN: WITH An Humble Memorandum concerning CHELSY COLLEDGE.
And a correspondencie with Forreigne PROTESTANTS.
1 Cor. 3.6, 7, 8, 9.
I have planted, Apollo watered: but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.
Now he that planteth, and he that watereth are one, and everman shall receive his own reward according to his own lay bour.
For we are labourers together with God, ye are Gods Husbandry.
LONDON, Printed for Richard Wodenothe, and are to be sold at his Shop in Leaden Hall street, next the signe of the golden Hart. 1652.
A new Case of Conscience, in reference to the Engagement, presented by a godly Minister N. N. in a Letter to the Honorable Sir Gregory Norton, a Member of Parliament.
Noble Sir, may it please you,
I Was informed by N. N. that your Worship had procured an Augmentation for Ch. as likewise you were desirous to know, whether I would take the Engagement, without the which I could not be capable of the Augmentation; whereupon I desired a fortnights time to consider thereof; in the which my thoughts were not a little busied, by arguing the Case, Pro and Con, whether I might take it: but upon the result, I concluded the Negative, till my Conscience and Judgement were better informed, For what is not of faith, is sin, Rom, 14.23. that is, Whatsoever is done by a believer, with a wavering and doubtfull conscience, to him it is sin. I know I ought to be subject to the higher powers; the which I desire to be by submission; and it grieves my soul, that I cannot do it by subscription. And therefore, Sir, I humbly beseech you (if I erre in this) do not attribute it to obstinacie, but to my weaknesse of judgment and tendernesse of conscience, or to both. For Civill government, I refer it to those who sit at the stern of this Common-wealth; so that justice may run down like a stream, and the glory of God chiefly aimed at, and his Church perfected and defended; and the purity of his Word held out: and then will England flourish. For Calvin tels us, that no policie is happily framed unlesse the first care be of godlinesse: and they (saith he) are disordered laws which only provide for men, neglecting the right of God. The law is said to be a dumbe Magistrate, as the Magistrate a living law. Therefore when the law is not plainly understood by us, we ought to addresse our selves to the Law-makers, who are most fit to interpret it. In the Engagement we have the word Common-wealth, inserted; which word sometimes is taken strictly, as having relation to the Civill Government only; and sometimes it is taken more largely, including and involving the Church: if it be there taken in a strict sense, as having relation to Civil Government only, then I may the rather subscribe, because it is but a civill act; but if in a large sense, then I cannot, because there is no Church-government setled, which in the Covenant I Covenanted for; and God with whom, and for whom, I then Covenanted; (being the God of order) requireth that there be Order and Government in his Church. Now it seems by Judge Nichols, that the word Common-wealth, is in the Engagement taken in a large sense;Judge Nicholls reported this at the Assizes at Exceter, that this quaere was made in the Parlament. for he reported that upon the Act requiring all the Officers in this Common-wealth to take the Engagement, there was a quaere whether Ministers were Officers intended in the said Act: and it was held in the affirmative, and therefore by consequence the Church is included in the Engagement. For Ministers are not Officers in the Common-wealth; but in relation to the Church.
THE PREFACE To the Reader, who is enabled to know, what is meant by a Christian Spirituall Husbandry.
Intelligent Reader,
I Have of late plaid the Husbandman about Bodily Concernments; that I might gratifie the Publique with some helps of Industry, to relieve the Poore, and encrease wealth in Common and Plenty of the fruits of the Earth unto all. But although these things be good and laudable, and have beene cheerfully prosecuted, and shall not be neglected in due time: yet I must professe that the studie thereof is not next unto my heart, nor that I have applied my self thereunto, but in order to the transacting and ingratiating of better things hereafter, and that such as reap an earthly crop by my Communications and suggestions of industry, might be made willing and enabled to contribute something towards the sowing of a heavenly Seed (of Religion and Learning in the Spirits of this Age, and of Posterity.) It is certain, that Gods end is to give all temporall Blessings that they may be subordinate unto eternall, and that this World and Life is made to fit us for that which is to come, and if we take not Gods meaning to be this, we mistake Him: But if we thus reflect upon his works, we may be workers together with Him, and sowing to the Spirit, reap from the Spirit the fruits of life everlasting. These two following discourses are but some preparatives to much more of this kinde, which is in store, the one is to prepare the ground (the spirits of some that would be counted Spirituall Husbandmen) which is over-grown with thorns, that the same may be weeded out from them before the seed can be sowne, the other is to prepare the seed which is to be sowne, and a place where it may be kept till the Seed-plots he fitted to receive it.
Thus leaving these thoughts with thee, and commending thee with them to the Grace of God, I rest in Him,
thy most affectionate and faithfull servant, Samuel Hartlib.