The Husbandmans Calling, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. CHAP. 10.Rules for the Husbandman in his Calling.
SECTION. I.
ANd now we descry our Journies Rules for the Husbandman in his Calling.end, and are arrived at the Tenth point to be handled in this Subject, which is to offer some Rules to the Husbandman in the management of his Calling. Every Calling hath its Canons and Rules to walk by, as Ministers, States-men, all Men: And it is a Wise Mans choice, and the Fools cross, to be regulated by a Rule; now though you may gather Direct…ons out of the foregoing Discourse, yet I have thought fit to specifie and insist on these following on set purpose, but on this presupposition, or (if ye will) condition, that you will walk by them.
SECT. I.§. 1.
THe First Rule for an Husbandman, is, Learn to be wis… & diligent.Learn Prudence and Diligence in your Calling. Prudence, this your God will teach you, Isa. 28. 26. That you may do each thing in its season, for things are ugly out of their time. Remember that it's the note of a good man, Psal. 112. 5. to order his affairs with discretion. And that if any man lack wisdom, 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.it is but ask and have. And then Diligence, 1 Thes. 4. 11. That ye study [Gr. as ambitious men for Honour] to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. It was good Mr. Dod's saying, He ever liked that Christian that would pray hard and work hard.
Thy endeavours in thy Calling should be as diligent, as if thou would'st win all the world, and then as diligent in Prayer, as if thou would'st win Heaven, Prov. 22. 29. Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before Kings, he shall not stand before mean men: that is, diligence is the high-way to preferment. How many have we seen removed out of the rank of ordinary men, meerly by Gods blessing on their diligent labours? Pliny reporteth of one Cresinus, that The industry of the Husbandman works Miracles, by turning stones [lime stones and marle] into bread. Mr. Fuller. H. S.from a little ground did, by his industry, gather so much Riches, that he was accused of Witch-craft, by Albinus an Aedile: his neighbours could not imagine that so small a shred of ground, should heap such treasures on him: But he at the day of his appearance, produces his implements of Husbandry, and ranks them in order before the Senate, and withall his Daughter, a strong Woman, and then cryes out, Veneficia mea Quirites, haec sunt: O ye Senators, these are all the Charms I have; and so was dismist with praise.
But yet this Diligence may pass its bounds and due limits. A man may work hard and have no thanks of God for his labour. The Godly Husbandman is busie, not out of love to Riches, but out of hatred to Idleness. An idle man can neither find in Heaven, no nor in Hell, a pattern. The Angels above are ever imployed, and the Devils below are ever imploying themselves. All the creatures move in their places, and hath Man any reason to have a writ of ease? There were in Old Rome persons deputed to be Censores morum, and in Athens the Areopagi, who took particular notice of the Diligence of persons in their Callings, and rewarded or punished them accordingly.
And indeed, idle persons are but like wens in the body; that are nourish't, but it's only to disfigure. It is said, Prov. 10.4. The hand of the Diligent maketh rich, and yet vers. 22. it's said, The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich. Indeed both must concur; but observe that where it's said, The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, it follows, And he addeth no sorrow with it. Riches without Gods favour shall be like gravel in your teeth, but when he sends them in mercy, they are perfectly comforts.
Let these things, stir up the sluggish Husbandman in his Calling. For the most part we find, that God hath most graciously appeared to his people, even in the honest discharge of their Callings. The Apostles chosen from their Nets, and David from his sheep. And to come to Husbandry it self; where was Amos when the Lord sent him to his people? 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.§. 2.
II. THe Second Rule for the Husbandman Submit unto Providence.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.§. 3.
III. THe Third Rule of the Husbandman Make a t…easure of God.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 exercises to me loving kindness, and righteousness, and delights therein.
When the Venetians shewed the Embassadour… of Charles the 5th, their Magazine and vast treasures, he pointed down, saying, these have abottom, but my masters treasure (meaning the Indies) hath no bottom, it's unexhaustible: So may the religious Husbandman say to his Land-lord; Sir, these are rare comforts you have, but they have bounds and bottom, they have an end: but my treasure is without bank, or bottom, or end, Psal. 4.8. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time, that their Corn and Wine increased.
O therefore repose and lay up your chief Happiness in the having of God yours, by faith and union, and then he will order all things to the best for you. You cannot want Grace or any thing else that's good for you, that live in God the fountain of them all. Alas, all your other comforts are contingent, and conditional, they are shallow and short, but Christ is all in all. Thy house is but a shaddow, nor thy ground, nor team, nor treasure, but here is thy All-sufficiency, thy exceeding great reward. My Beloved is mine, and I am his, is felicity enough in this world; and while this knot is tied, what though thy bread be course, thy bed hard, thy rents heavy, thy charge great, and thy incomes small, yet art thou unconceivably happy in having the God of Heaven and Earth thy Friend, thy Father, yea, the strength of thy heart, and thy portion for ever, Psal. 73.25, 26.
SECT. IV.§. 4.
IV. THe Fourth Rule for the Husbandman Use the World as not abusing it.in his Calling, is, Vse the world as not abusing it. It is the counsel of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 7.31.
1. You must but Vse the world. It is the 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.School-mens distinction, Vti & Frui, and Augustines, before them. The chief good that's to be injoyed, all other things are onelyonly to be used. And this must the Husbandman learn, if God do graciously give him much, that he is not onelyonly a treasurer to lay up, but a Steward to lay out for God. You must know, that the world is a place that you must lodge in for a night, not live in for ever. And when you are on the road, you respect your lodgeing only for your journey, not on the contrary. Alas Sirs, Your being here is only a Lease, not a Free-hold. This is not your Best, for it is defiled; yonder above the stars, is your everlasting Rest: There you shall sit down and injoy, and drink your heart-fulls of endless joyes. And then,
2. You must use the world, not as abusing it. If the Lord set the world upon you, you must not set your heart upon the world. If God give you great estates, you must not think you are better for your estates; you Thy God allows thee to warm thy self at the Sun of worldly comforts, but not to turn Persian and worship it. Mr. Swinnock.must not abuse that, which was given you to help you more comfortably to Heaven, to further you most effectually to Hell. You abuse it, when you suffer that use of it, to which your Maker made it. When you suffer the world to monopolize your hearts from God, then the right use of the world is perverted; when it thrusts out religious duties or straitens them so as makes them inconsistent with the health and welfare of the soul when the world governs you, which was made to serve you: In a word, it's abused when it is not crucified; when it's used to serve your corruptions, as your pride, covetousness or lust, then it's abused: when you dig an estate out of the bowels of the earth to dress your backs with pride, or to maintaine unjust sutes, or to be drunken, or gluttonous this is to abuse the world: and thus the creation is made to groan, and the poor creatures do even sigh under their abuse, being unwillingly made subject to our vanities, and long to be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Keep the world therefore in its place, and put it not in the place of God. Remember that the heart is Gods-acre, a place prepared for the Lord, and never meets with its match but in him, who fits all its dimensions, fills all its desires, cures all its diseases, and answers … the necessities thereof.
Remember that the world never made man happy, but the abuse of it hath made thousands miserable. It is a dangerous thing to The ship may sail well on the water, but if the waters get into the ship all's gone… So to live above the world is safe, but if the world get into you, you drown. Ib.have the full swinge of a delightful thought, in any thing in the world; You must taste the world and the comforts of it, as the Egyptian dogs do taste the waters of Nilus for fear of the Crocodiles, a snap and away, least taking a full draught thereof to quench their thirst, instead thereof they loose their life: even so must you with fear and care taste the delights of the world, least by pleasing the body, you lose your soul. This will not hinder you from a great estate, nor from any true comfort in the possession of it, but keep you from a surfet, and rescue you from the sl…very of a worldling, from being in bondage to your servant. And take you the Apostles argument in the place before named; For the fashion of the world passeth away: who but children fall in love with Bubbles, that are broke as soon as made? or with a face of wax, which the Sun is melting away every moment? If you will fall in love with a world, lift up your eyes above, and grow inamour'd with the world Above, whose Felicities are real, and whose glory is perpetual.
And indeed there is no way to take off the heart from the things that are seen, like that of setting the heart upon things that are unseen. Eternal things are onelyonly adaequate to an immortal soul. And know for a conclusion to this particular, That it may be most just, and is most ordinary for God, to keep the world from them that abuse it, and to send them without it, that will not live above it, if they belong to him; or else to give them their final portion therein, the saddest portion on on this side hell.
SECT. V.§. 5.
V. THe Fifth Rule for the Husbandman in Do as you would be done to.his Calling, is, Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye also to them, Mat. 7.12. A principle of that weight and reason, that Alexander Severus, an Heathen Emperour of Rome, caused that sentence to be written in each room of his Palace; … then to be transcribed into every Christian heart. Judge, is there not equity in this Rule? To do as you would be done by. Are not they wretched creatures that transgress it? Why, it is the Divinity of Heathens. Apply this practically: you would borrow in your need, lend then to others in their need; you would be welcomed by your friends, saluted by your acquaintance; see then you welcome your friends, and salute your acquaintance: you would be saluted first, strive then to be first in your salutations: you would not be slandered, mis-interpreted, scorned, jeared, or envied; O then slander not others, nor misinterpret them, nor scorn them, nor jear them, nor envy them. Here is my poor neighbour, I could now make advantage of his necessity, and make him pay high for his commodity … but if I were in his case, I would not be so used: you would not have others forward to give offence, nor quick to take offence; see then that you be unwilling to give, and backward to take offence.
And in forgiving injuries, let your forgivness draw out their acknowledgment, rather then their acknowledgment purchase your forgiveness; for so you would gladly be used in that case: you would be melted into submission, not forced; do you the like to them, melt them rather than force them: Yonder is my neighbour, I could wrong him in his goods, in his good name, in his trading; but if I were in his case, I would not be content to be so us'd: I should think it hard measure done to me, and then it's hard measure done by me: I would expect and welcome my neighbours help in my harvest, when his business is over; why then go readily to help him in his need, when thine is over. I would not be contented to have my cattle impounded for an unwilling trespass, deal not then so unkindly with him in the like case: you would not be denied any implement of Husbandry in your need, deny not then to lend any such thing, to thy neighbour in his need: it would displease you to have wayes ordinarily made over your corn, or grass, or your gates left open to your prejudice; in the fear of God them, do not deal so with your neighbour: his corn, and grass, and ground is as dear to him, as yours is to you.
You would be well pleased, to have your neighbour visit you or yours in your … ness, sickness, or the like; speed away then to visit them and theirs in the like case; yea, its a comfort and pleasure to you, to see your neighbour sometimes in your house; give him 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.the pleasure also of seeing you in his house would you take it well to have your house or ground taken over your head? for shame then offer not the like measure to others would you like it to have the old Land-mark removed, or your just bounds invaded? O do not offer to deal so by others; for the Lord … the avenger of all such: You would not think well to have a sorry beast with hidden faul… sold to you by your neighbour; never thi… of selling such ware to thy neighbour.
In a word, you would have all men to be upright, loving and useful to you; see the… you be upright, loving and useful to others. This is the Royal Law, this is the Golden Rule. How will you act like Christians, if you cannot live like Pagans? How will you love your enemies, and do good for evil, if you will not do, as you would be done to? if your Religion will not refine you as much as morality, I will not say, it is a false Religion, but you are false to your Religion.
Resume then your better thoughts, O all … Religious Husbandmen, and in all cases between you and your neighbour, ask your own hearts this question; would I be thus dealt with? and deal you accordingly. And yet this Rule is not onelyonly Regula regulans, a Rule to rule to us, but also Regula regulata, a Rule to be ruled by an higher, to wit, the Law of God. For the Adulterer ought not by vertue of this Rule to borrow his neighbours wife, because he is willing to lend his own; nor the Drunkard intoxicate his neighbour, because he is content to be made drunk by his neighbour; but right Reason holding the scales, every man ought to do to others, as he would be done to himself. And this is the language of the Law and the Prophets. Moses and Christ are herein agreed. He that will not maintain equity with men, must not expect mercy with God.
SECT. VI.§. 6.
VI. THe Sixth Rule for the Husbandman in Labour for a chearful spirit.his Calling, is, Endeavour after a chearfull heart. You have many cares, crosses and troubles, and they will press and sink you down, unless you be supported by a chearful spirit, Prov. 15.15. He that hath a merry heart, hath a continual feast. Observe, poor Husbandmen, how you may transcend your greatest neighbours. They have great estates, fair houses, and gallant clothes, but a thousand to one they have either some gnawing cares, or saddening guilt, that defeats their comfort, and even in laughter their heart is sad; and indeed it is a rare thing to see a rich man light at heart: their Gold lies like lead at their hearts; when you (having peace with God and a chearful spirit) have not onelyonly a feast every week, but even every day, yea, a continual feast.
Wash off daily your sins in the blood of Christ by faith, and fail not solemnly to repent, at least, every night before you go to bed; work your business off your hands, and let no cares discompose the quiet of your mind, nor feed like Vultures upon your heart. Let to morrow care for it self, and do you the work of the day; so will your load be light, and your spirits at liberty to rejoyce in God, and be chearful all the day long. When distrustful thoughts, and piercing cares come on you like a flood, run like famous Luther to one Psalm or other, and sing them away: This will be food and physick for you; this will solace your families after their hard labours, when they see mirth in your face, and musick in your voice. This will dispose you exceedingly to holy duties, and divert many temptations of the Devil.
'Tis true, a measure is to be observed; we easily offend in joy, and frothy mirth is to be avoided, especially when others natural infirmities, or sinful deformities make us merry: but yet there is left room enough, for an honest innocent chearfulness, which doth the Husbandman good, like a Medicine, and for which he can bless God as heartily as for his meat. Cast away therefore that morose, dull and uncomfortable frame, which consumes your own spirits, and is a burden to others. Remember it was Nabal's character, that he was such a man of Belial, that no body could speak to him. A sullen frame is neither pleasing to God nor man. God loves a chearfull labourer, as well as a chearful giver, Deut. 12.7. You shall eat—and rejoyce in all that you put your hand unto, you and your housholds. And he that hath said, Repent and be converted, hath said also, 1 Thes. 5.16, 18. Rejoyce evermore, and in every thing give thanks. What is there that should dispirit or disquiet you? You are friends with God, your sins are forgiven, eternals joy awaits you, your temptations are but common to men; your labours are but such as your Father Adam had before you; your weariness is sanctified, and shall have everlasting rest; Your enemies are in your Fathers hands, the griefs you feele are short, and short of many others; and the things you fear, may never come upon you; you are travelling to the City that's paved with Pearls, and your portion there shall be with the best. And why then are you cast down? why are you disquieted? Trust still in God: for you shall yet praise him, who is the health of your countenance, and your God.
Leave your sadness to them, whose Hell is before them, and who have their portion in in this life; and endeavour by squeezing the promises, contemplating Heaven, earnest prayer, and practical endeavour, to get and keep a Christian chearful spirit. And because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy increase, and in all the works of thy hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoyce, Deut. 16.15. For a merry heart maketh a chearful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart, the spirit is broken, Prov. 15.13.
SECT. VII.Rule 7.
VII. THe seventh Rule for the Christian Take a special care for the good of your Children.Husbandman, is, Take a special care for the good of your Children; they are parts of you, they are the heritage of the Lord, they are the hopes of the next generation, and unless they be well season'd, all the riches you can spare them are cast away. If Religion were no reality, yet it's Policy to take pains in their education, least they be industrious to waste, that which you have been industrious to gather. 'Tis true, sometimes the pains of a Parent is lost, and the strictest Parent hath the loosest Child, but God hath said, Prov. 22.6. Train up a Child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it; and because it sometimes speeds well, therefore you should never be defective in your duty: Your Crop sometimes miscarries, and you lose your labour in the field, yet because it usually quits the cost, you plow and sow and hope the best: therefore for their sake, for your own sake, for the Lords sake, bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: 1. Drop in the saving principles of Religion betimes, instruct them concerning the wofull state wherein they were born, and how by repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, they may come out of it; and do this with your utmost seriousness, affection, and frequency, and water your instruction with prayers and tears; bring good Ministers to them, and beg prayers for them, and let good books keep them company; When the learned Junius was dangerously bent in the business of Religion, his Father laid in every Chamber of his house a Bible, and meeting with the first Chapter of John in one of them, he was converted and setled thereby. The book that convinced his Child may convince yours.
2. Be not quiet till they be Regenerate Creatures; cast about as worldlings do to make them rich in the world, so that you may leave them rich in grace; lighten the promises, thunder the threatnings, no pains is too great to prevent them from being fagots in the fire of Hell.
3. Pray hard for them, yea, when you are feeding and dressing them, cry, Gen. 17.18. O that Ishmael may live before thee. A child of prayers (said good Mr. Dod) will hardly miscarry: by these Monica won Augustine, and by these you may win yours. Observe their inclinations to good or evil betimes, and accordingly incourage or discourage them; discern their haunts timously, and remember preventive Physick is the best, and that incouragement is as due as frowns when occasion serves.
4. Bring them under the power of Gods Ordinances betimes, Deut. 31.12. young and old, saith God, must come. Samuel was young, but he had not waited long, but he was called; use them to reading, and to tell a verse when you have read; use them to Sermons, and to remember somthing that was preach't; encourage them to get choice Scriptures; fill the vessel, somthing will stick: Engage them to a course of serious prayer; let them first use the Lords prayer, which he understands, though they do not, and will accept, because they do the best they can; but be sure to train them further by shewing them their needs, by begging and teaching them to beg the Spirit of Prayer: And then your example, and their practise will make them perfect. You are glad to hear them speak, and Almighty God is glad to hear them pray.
5. Fix upon them an habitual liking to Godliness, and dislike to sin; and then they will hardly dislike what they have approved from the cradle, or love that which they have been bred up in the hatred of. Paint out Grace so to the life, that you may enamour them of it, and Hell so, that they may be affrighted at it, and be often using some little Questions to them to that purpose.
6. Make them subject to your Authority, for else you lose the opportunity of doing them good: the Reins may be easily loosed, but not so easily straitned; by dallying with them, you may undo them; the disobedient Child seldome wants the inheritance of a curse: and yet be wise in your Correction, take heed of sinning in correcting of their …, and know that one folly seldome cures another, and yet be not affraid of using the rod: a few Rods may save abundance of words, and when you have said all, railing is not Gods Ordinance to cure your Children, but wise correction is, Prov. 23.13. and will prevent smart to them, and grief to you: 'Tis sad, when many are more affraid to chasten their Children, then Abraham was to sacrifice his, and so the Child goes to Hell for his Wickedness, and the Parent for his Mercy: but beware you do it wisely, as your Heavenly Father corrects you, with love, moderation and instruction; and rather for a disobedient word than an unwilling fault, as the breaking of a glass, or the like.
7. Guide them to the most useful Recreations, for Children have plenty of Spirits, and will be active, and it is not safe to deny them, but direct them; the-frolick Colt is not to be stifled, but tamed, nor the stream dam'd up, that may profitably be diverted and used; let them be permitted Shooting, Fencing, Wrestling, Running, Fishing, &c. for their bodies; and Histories, Riddles, and other witty Questions for their minds, least immoderate constraints make them worse afterwards, and they grow crooked by being lac'd too strait.
8. Be sure you give them a good example, which will be better than many rules; and for that end be most vigilant over your words and carriage in their presence, for you know they are prone to imitation, and especially of their Parents: And would it not be sad for you to answer, not only for your own sins, but for all others that are committed by vertue of your evil example, whereby you may do mischief many a year after you are dead and gone? for your Children may grow loose by our example, and their children by theirs, and so for ought you know successively to the end of the World.
SECT. VIII.Rule 8.
VIII. THe Eighth Rule for the Christian Purchase some choice Books and read them well.Husbandman, is, Purchase some choice Books, and read them well. I know your purse will not reach many, nor your time serve you to peruse them; and a few Books well read, are like ground well till'd, which is far better then a great Demesne that alwayes lies fallow. Be sure then that you consult and advise with some judicious and pious Divine about the choice of your Books, that may direct you to such as are most fit for your condition, that you may not only buy such as are Good, but such as are the Best, because your time and money is so precious. Perhaps you'l say, your Charge is great, and your Rent is great, and no money will be spared for these uses. A hard case, if you cannot spare two or three shillings in a whole year for God and your Souls, when divers that have as great a Charge and Rent as you, and yet can spend more than that quantity in a year, vainly and wickedly, and yet make a shift to live in the world. Alas, God tryes you hereby, whether you can deny your selves, and abate a little from back and belly, and give it this way to your poor souls. Resolve then to purchase this houshold-stuff, which (by Gods blessing) may do both you and your children more good than thousands of Gold and Silver; yea, you may by a discreet lending of them to your kindred and neighbours, startle and reform them also; A practise which I would recommend to persons of Ability, whereby they may be very instrumental in promoting the Kingdome of Jesus Christ in the world, to wit, by buying some numbers of awakening and practical books, and engaging their Kindred and poor Neighbours to read them over in such a time, and return them some account thereof. And though I undertake not to determine what books are fittest …or your several conditions; yet of those that I have perused, these following may be most useful for the generality of your families, which I entreat you to buy, and read as soon as you can. In the first place, let not your house, nor any of your grown children be without a Bible. Though other books have much of Heaven in them, this book is all Heaven: And it is as unfit to be without this in your house, as to be without a fire, or without your houshold bread. Next, that you and yours may be grounded in the Principles of our Excellent Religion, buy the Assemblies Two Catechismes, and Confession of Faith, the Shorter for your Children and Servants to learn by heart; the Other for you and them to read and consider, for your understanding in the good knowledge of God, wherein also Mr. Ball's Catechism, with the Exposition is most excellent and useful. Mr. Baxter's Call to the Vnconverted; and Mr. Dent's Plain-mans Path-way to Heaven will be well worth your buying, and reading for the awakening your souls and your Children to saving conversion. Mr. Shepheard's Sound Believer. Mr. Allen's First Part of the Vindication of Godliness; and Mr. Dod on the Commandments, are choice Books to help you in inside practical holiness. The Practice of Piety also, and the Whole Duty of Man, have so many useful Instructions both about Devotion and Conversation, that I would recommend them to you. Dr. Go…ge of Domestical Duties will be necessary to teach your whole family their Relative Duties. Mr. Pool'sDialogue will be very useful to settle you in the True Protestant Religion against the Papists: and if you can reach either Diodates or the Dutch Annotations on the Bible, after all to help you to understand the hard Scriptures you daily meet with; though you may read, you need not buy many more books for your souls. But when you have bought these books, let them not lie dustie by you, but read and lend them, and read them again; but be sure to mix Meditation and Ejaculation with your reading, and when you shut the book, consider what profit you have gotten, and bless the Lord. Thus you may refresh your spirits after your hard labour, and with the same exercise revive both your bodies and your souls.
SECT. IX.§. 9.
IX. THe Ninth Rule for the Husbandman in Pay your Great Land-lord his Rent.his Calling, is, Pay your Great Land-lord his Rent. The Lord of Heaven and Earth is Lord of the Soil, and Lord of the Soul also, and a Chief belongs to him. This is that great Housholder, Mat. 21.33. that planted a Vineyard, and hedged it about, and let it out to Husbandmen, and went into a far Country. And he hath charged a Rent over and beside your earthly Land-lords upon your estate, and it concerns you to enquire what it is, what Arrears there are, and what course to take for the constant discharge thereof; least the Lord turn you out of doors: Your petty Land-lord can but turn you into the wide World, but your Chief Land-lord can turn you out into Hell. The former indeed may imprison you, but the latter can damn you: Alas! how little have you thought of this? one Year returns after another; your Earthlie Land-lord calls for Rent, and you make hard shift to pay him: but your Heavenly Land-lord calls, and calls again, and no Rent is paid to him: What will ye do in the end thereof?
Pray consider, though you hold your Land of man, yet you hold your Life of God: though you have your house of some Great man, yet you have the body and soul that inhabits it, of the Great God; you have your health of God, your strength of God; You hold the Gospel by a tenure in Capite of God, through Jesus Christ: now what Rent do you pay unto him? flinch not, nor start away, but say, what Rent have you ever paid unto God? Must every one have their due but God? canst thou please him only with fair words, or content him with naked promises? Can you pay unto men their Pounds, and cannot you pay unto God his Pepper-corn? what? deny your Maker his pepper-corn? why, what is this pepper-corn? I answer; It's contained in one verse, Psal. 50. last. He that offereth praise, glorifieth me, and he that ordereth his conversation aright, to him will I shew the Salvation of God.
Your Rent then consists in Holy Worship, and Holy Walking. When you sit down to meal and rise; my Rent, says God. Be sure he have cordial praises, that you adore him in your hearts; See your tongue be the faithful Messenger of your very heart: so when you lie down and rise up, when you go out and come in again; in all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy steps: but this is not all your Rent, you live by him, you must live for him, if you ever mean to live with him. Go to then, speak, and act for God to the utmost of your Capacitie. The little you can do for God, do it with all your might; If God will take his rent in thoughts, in words, and in deeds, that cost you nothing, O grudge it not, delay it not. Cry out, Lord, I am a poor man, but here is my Rent at my day. Well done good and 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 1. In your Closets.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 2. In your Families.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 A discourse about Family Duties.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 Aristippus ap. Platon de …ranq. animae.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 3. On the Sabbath.it before it comes, to pant after it, and prepare for it. Dismiss your business a little sooner, the day before, and discharge the very thoughts thereof till the Sabbath be past. Let not the love of one sin enter with you into that holy ground, but wash your hands in innocency, and so compass the Altars of God.
And bless the Lord, good Husbandman, with all thy soul, That God hath given thee so merciful a release from the labours of thy body, and withal blest thee with a harvest day for thy soul. And in thankfulness to God, in love to Jesus Christ, and in care of thy poor soul, rise up betime, and work hard for eternal life. Let no business of the world be done that day, which might have been done before, or may be done after without plain prejudice. Command thy family from vaine stragling, or foolish sports, and let them spend that day in Gods house, and in thy own. Examine them of the state of their souls, of their proficiency that day, and seriously catechize the younger sort in the Principles of Religion. Be resolute against worldly discourse with your Neighbours, and with a Christian dexterity carry the stream thereof the other way. Lose not a minute of that precious time, make it as long a day as any of the rest, and when it is done, long for another Sabbath.
And now you have the Rules, see you be ruled by them. It may be your ease to sleight them, but it will be your safety to observe them. O that you would fall to practise, else I lose my labour, and you lose your comforts. O that Parents would tell these to their Children, and in-still them as you do the Rules of your Husbandry. As breaking Rules turn'd the first Husbandman out of Paradise, so keeping Rules would bring you into Paradise again. I beseech you remember, that we preach not to be applauded, but to be obeyed; and the hearing of these things without doing of them, will make you compleatly miserable. And therefore review them, study them, practise them.
SECT. X.§. 10.
ANd now we are at shore, and nothing The Conclusion.remains save matter of Practise. God forbid these things should be written or read in vain. We can but reach the ear or eye. He that hath his Pulpit in Heaven, can teach the heart. The real profit and comfort of the poor Husbandman I design, O disappoint not me, deceive not your selves, … not God. These truths will help either to mend or end you.
Let the Lawfulness of this Calling satisfie you. Though it be painful yet it's lawful, and see you use it lawfully. The Law is good and so is Husbandry, if a man use it lawfully. God hath made it lawfull, do not by your abuse make it sinful.
Let the Excellencies of it refresh you; you have your Difficulties, and you have you… Dignities, and God hath set the one against the other. A Christian Husbandman is better than a Pagan King. Bless the Lord therefore, that though thy life be full of pains, yet thy lines are fallen in pleasant places. Think in the mid'st of thy sweat and toil; It's better to be a plow-man in the field, than a beggar at the door. I might have been begging at the door; Alas, I might have been frying faggots in Hell.
Let the Inconveniences in your Calling humble you. If it were not for these, pride would creep into the plow - mans house. If you should have your will, God would not have his will, and therefore sit down content. It is better be kept sweet in the brine of tribulation, than rot in the honey of prosperity; you must have some thorns laid in your bed, least you should sleep too sweetly here, and forget your Heaven.
Let the Temptations you hear of in your Calling arm you. Put on your spiritual armour, wind up your spiritual watch: for the first Husbandman that ever was, fell by temptation, and the second too, and you must stand by watchfulness. If you go out without your weapons, you will come in without your Garments, 1 Pet. 5.8. Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the Devil goes about roaring, seeking whom he may devour. The greatest part of men live, as if there were no Devil to tempt at all: gird about you the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, so shall you not be led into temptation, but delivered from evil.
Let the Lessons you have heard exercise you; You'l make the best of every thing, do so in this. That's a good Chymick that can extract Gold out of Sand: but that's a good Husbandman that can get Heaven out of Earth. Thou hast had a wicked habit to suck poyson out of flowers, O get a gracious habit to suck honey out of weeds: speak no more of the difficulty or impossibility thereof; if you were hired with Gold for every Coelestial thought, you would study for more of them: you have fed too long upon the shell, feast now upon the kernel. A good hearing, when you come home at night, and say, Wife I have learned one lesson from my Ground, Cattel, &c. this day.
And then practise the Graces for your Calling. Seek first the Kingdom of God; else you will be the Worlds drudge here, that's sad; and the Devils drudge in hell, that's worse: you'l be poor here, and poor for ever; you will take pains now, and suffer paines hereafter: Yea, your very plowing will be sin, Prov. 21.4. What an hell is this to be working all day, and yet sinning all day? Shine therefore in the Graces of your Calling. Brown bread, and the Grace of God are good fare, Raggs and Christ's Righteousness are good Clothing; a straw bed, and a good Conscience are good Lodging.
Let the Abuses in your Calling warn you to beware them. Adam had your Calling in it's prime, but he abused it, and lost it: and if abuses crept into the Garden, they will walk into the Field much more. Watch then before, least you wail after; if you will not watch on earth, you will wail in hell.
Let the foresaid Ends of your Calling act you. At the beginning of every year, of every week, of every day, level your ends afresh, as you have been directed: So will you please God the more, and profit your selves never the less: then every Charre you do, will be a work for God; and though you fail in your subordinate ends, yet you'l never fail in your supreame end. You have a mean Calling, you had need of Noble aimes; a Coelestial end ennobles a Terrene employment.
Let the Rules rule you, and let these truths live and die with you. Let me say to you as that great Law-giver did, Deut. 32.46, 47. Set your hearts unto all the words which I testifie among you this day, which ye shall command your Children to observe to do; for it is not a vaine thing for you, because it is your life, and through this thing ye shall prolong your dayes in the Land. When Lycurgus had compiled some excellent Lawes for his Common-Wealth, he binds all his Citizens in an Oath, that they should exactly observe them untill his return; whereupon he willingly went into perpetual Exile, that they by vertue of their Oath might for ever be obliged to their observation. Will you my Candid Hearers, and you the Readers also of these things enter into a Covenant, and firm resolution, faithfully to perform these practical Directions laid before you; so should I the more chearfully submit to an Exile for terme of life, so that we might meet in that better Paradise, whence we shall be driven out no more, and where the weary Husbandmen are at Rest.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Steele, The Husbandmans Calling (1668)