The Husbandmans Calling, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. CAP. IV. The Inconveniencies of Husbandry, and Remedies.The Inconveniencies of the Husbandmans Calling, and the Remedies thereof.
SECTION. I.§. 1.
ANd now I come to the Fourth point, Inconven. 1. His business lies in the world, his Enemy.which is to give you an Account of the Inconveniencies of the Husbandmans Calling, where with I shall also prescribe some Remedies. It is Heaven onelyonly that is without Inconveniencies. Here we would live without them, There we shall live without them. The wisdome of God hath so ordered it, that not an house on Earth, but hath some Grievance annext to it, that we may long for our other House which is above. It is said of the plain of Jordan, Genes. 13. 10. That it was like the Garden of the Lord, and Lot thought he had a great bargain of it, and (good man) he found many inconveniences in it. So in Eden it self, our father Adam had a Serpent; Latet anguis in herbâ. And if he met with Inconveniencies there, let no man think to escape them. It is our misery to have them; It is our happiness to manage and improve them.
The First Inconvenience of the Husbandmans Calling is, That his Business lyes in the world, his grea…est Enemy. †ps. 62.9. Men of low degree, Hebr. foreign terra …. Men of high degree called foreign … ignu, the nobler element. So ps. 49.2Indeed the world in it self is Gods good Creature, but since the fall of Man, as it brings forth naturally thorns and bryars to tear the flesh; so by the malice of the Devil, it is full of snares to catch the soul. He hath privily instigated all the Creatures to be against God and our souls, and laid Rats-bane here and there upon the things the Husbandman converseth in, to poyson and undo him. So that he may, e're he is aware, fall into temptation and a snare. That is a sad Curse, Psal. 69. 22. Let that which should Thy occupation like the first Adam is earthly, but thy affection & conversation should be like the second Adam's, heavenly. Mr. Swinnockhave been for their wellfare, let it become a trap. Sad, that the Plough should be a trap, and in his innocent business should be a dangerous snare. As if a mans house stood in his Enemies garrison, it were a great Inconvenience; though his house were never so pleasant, yet to enjoy it he ventures his life. The world is now an Enemy to our souls, yet in the mid'st of it stands the Husbandmans calling; And therefore if he will be safe he must do, as Nehemiah 4. 17. with one of his hands work in his calling, and with the other hold a weapon.
The Best Remedy against this Inconvenience is, To be crucified to the world, Gal. 6. 14. God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the Cross of Christ, whereby the world is crucified to me, and I to the world, as if he should say, I'le glory in my sufferings, (others glory in their chains of Gold, I'le only shake my chain of iron, and triumph in it) by which my heart is well weaned from the temptations of the world. So let the troubles and hardships which the Husbandman meets with in the world, crucifie his heart to the inticements of it. Get the world once under you, make it a servant, (as the word in our Text signifies) subdue it, and then you may more safely trade in it. And seeing it is your Enemy, deal with it as an enemy, have as little to do with it as you can; and though you owe to it a love of Benevolence, because it sustains you; yet beware how far you bestow upon it a love of Complacence, because it would ens…are you.
SECT. II.§. 2.
THe Second Inconvenience of the Husbandmans He hath but little time for his soul.Calling is, That he hath but little Time for his Soul. His Landlord can get up in a morning, and read as long as he will, and then pray as long as he will, and as oft, and meditate as much as he will: But he hath but little time to pray, and less time to read, and least of all to meditate, unless it be occasionally among his work. And his Life is divided between labour and rest, and but that he is fully resolved, the main chance shall not be neglected, his soul would be forgotten. He hath many dayes, and yet but a little time; his business calls him out, and the night calls him in again; And so he is apt to doubt of himself by fits, because it is said, Psalm 1. 2. The Godly mans delight is in the law of the Lord, and in that law he doth meditate day and night. He longs to read such a good Book, but Harvest or Business calls, and he must away, longs to go and confer with his Minister about his poor soul, but can seldome get leave of his business, either his poor soul, or his poor family must suffer. And he finds it very much adoe, to live in this world, and yet provide to live for ever. And how shall the honest Husbandman remedy this matter?
Your Remedy must be this, you must Work the harder, and sleep the less, that you may pray and read the more. If the Heathens can produce a Philosopher, that used to work most of the day, that he might be sustained to study most of the night, how much more may you that hope for better things than they, punish the body a little as it will bear, to furnish the soul as it hath need? How late and early can you sometimes be at a gainfull market; and is there any market where Grace is sold? Remember still that One thing, and only that one thing is Needful in comparison, Luke 10. 42. And then, be sure the little time you can spend for your souls, improve it well. The shorter you must be at prayer, see you be the more serious. They who can do little, had need to do it well. And then you may be assured, that as the Lord blesseth your short Commons and thin meals, to as much health and strength of body, as they who have their plenteous variety, so will the same God bless to you your pulse and water, your few, but lively duties to feed your souls, as if you had larger opportunities. It is better to have a little communion with God, and hunger for more, than to have larger time, and lesser appetite.
SECT. III.§. 3.
A Third Inconvenience of the Husbandmans He is liable to many burdens and injuries.Calling is, That he is lyable to many burdens and injuries: He is and must be like Issachar, Gen. 49. 14. an ass couching down under two burdens. He must suffer from his Superiors; many an harsh Lecture his Landlord reads him; many a trespass and injury his Neighbour offers him; many scornful terms after all their wrongs he must put up: he hath neither power, nor will, nor skill to go to Law, and so sits him down, and makes his moan to God. He must suffer from his equals often: for he is known to be a man of peace, and his principle is known, to suffer the greatest injury, rather than offer the least; and therefore he comforts himself, that it will not last alwayes, and so rests content. Yea, h… suffers even from his Inferiours, and must many times be his servants servant. The heaviest burdens also and impositions do usually fall (respect had to his mean estate) most heavily on him; and in publick Calamities, where-ever the storm is brewed, yer usually it lights on the Husbandman †Deut. 28. 33. The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours shall be eaten up, and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway.Like his sheep he is often shorn, yea almost flead somtimes. When he hath gotten a little wool on his back, it stayes there but a while, his Rent day comes, and sweeps all away.
Quest. And what Remedy hath he for this Inconvenience?
Answ. For this he useth Faith and Patience, which like two Bladders keep up his heart from sinking and dejection. 1. He doth and must believe that these things are ordered by the wise Providence of his heavenly Father, That men are Gods Hand, as it is, Psal. 17. 14. The men of the World are his Sword. He believes also, that even this shall work for his good, that his burdens keep him humble, when freedom would make him proud: he believes that Heaven will put an end to all and make amends for all. As holy David said, Psal. 27. 11. I hadfainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living. So the Husbandmans spirit would fail, but that his faith is strong, and sees these are but clouds that will quickly pass away. And in the mean time, among other provision in his house, he provides 2. Patience, with this he eats, and sleeps, and smiles under all his load, resolving if he can possess nothing else, yet he will possess his soul with Patience, and so with the Prophet Jer. 10. 19. Wo is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous, but I said, truly this is a grief, and I must bear it; God hath laid it on, and God alone shall take it off.
SECT. IV.§. 4.
A Fourth Inconvenience in this Calling is, He hath many cares and troubles.That he hath many cares and troubles in the flesh: he hath a succession of cares and troubles in this world; he deals in those things that have not their name for nought, vanity, there's their Substance, and vexation of spirit, there's their Accident. He hath his house to build or to repair, that almost ruines him; then his ground to manure, that costs him much trouble and care; then his Rent or Fine to pay, this falls heavy on him, and comes oft; he hath hardly got up his back, but the half year returns, and his Rents squeeze him down again, so that between the cares of his mind and the pains of his body, he hath load enough for one. And then his children must be educated; though he cannot read, yet they shall read and write, because he feels the want thereof; and then they must be provided for, and this creates him new cares and troubles; so that, though he have not so much fleshly trouble, yet hath he troubles in the flesh one upon another.†His body is the Anvil of pain and diseases, and his soul the Hive of unnumbred cares, sorrows, and passions. Sr. W. Ralcgh.
It is true, *Non erat laboris afflctio, sed exhileratio voluntatis, quùm ea quae Deus creaverat, humani operis adjutorio, laelius feracius que provenirent, unde Creator ipse uberiùs laudaretur. Aug. de Gen. ad Lit. 1 8.he may thank the fall of our father Adam for many of these, but however he came by them, now he hath them. Indeed this advantage he hath by them, that they make him long for Heaven; his hard work here, makes him long to be at rest; and though the world thus use him, yet hereby he grows out of love with it, and is estranged to it in his heart, that useth him thus as a stranger.
Quest. But what Remedy can be given to this Inconvenience?
Answ. No way in this world to avoyd them; the way therefore is to get them sanctified and sweetned. Seeing this load cannot be cast off, carry it as easily as you can. Let prayers therefore be mingled with your cares, and cordials with your troubles. When you design your cares ultimately at the glory of God, and manage them with holy hearts, you sanctifie them; and a feast on the Promises must be mingled with a meal upon troubles. And consider, that all men have their Cares as well as you, yea perhaps the Gentleman your neighbour hath his head full of cares to make provision for his lusts, while your cares are to make provision for your Families: And be confident that their way of sin, is a worse life than your way of labour; and that you will rest from your labours, when they shall not rest from their pain.
SECT. V.§. 5.
THe Fifth Inconvenience of the Husbandmans He can seldom be a publick good.Calling is, That he bath more Will, then Power to be a publick Good, & to mend what is amiss in the World. To be a publick Good is the highest pitch of happiness in this world, and herein only the High and Mighty have the advantage of the poor Husbandman. The one may have as long life, as good health, as much comfort in the Creatures, as cheerful an heart, and as happy a life as the other, with less danger here, and a less account hereafter; but here is the Husbandmans disadvantage, he can but little promote any publick good, nor hinder little publick evil; he cannot build Hospitals, endow Churches, erect Schools, enact good Laws, preach Sermons, nor encourage piety: Nor on the other hand can he reform Sin, if his life lay on it; he sees them drunk when he goes to Market, and he hears them swear, and beholds the Sabbath broken, but he cannot remedy it, he doth as far as he can; he, where he sees it likely, attempts to them, and where it is otherwise, mourns for them: he comes home oft with a sad heart, and wonders at the Patience of God, that lets men alone; and when he cannot bow the hearts of others, can break his own about it. As Lot (good man) could vex his righteous soul, when he could not cure their unrighteous ones. Our Husbandman hath a publick Spirit, though he cannot be of publick use; and where many have more power than will, which will make for their Judgment, he hath more will than power, which will make for his comfort.
Quest. But what Remedy is there for this Inconvenience?
Answ. No help but his Prayers. It was the Character of a Bishop, that he could not preach, but he could make Preachers by his liberal maintenance and education of persons for that Calling. So though the Husbandman cannot preach, yet he can help to furnish out Preachers by his Prayers. Ephes. 6. 19. And for me also, you must pray, that utterance may be given unto me—By his prayers both Magistrate and Minister are furthered in their Vocations; and he visits them twice a day at least, and presents them at the Throne of Grace. He sees much amiss every where; and though he be not so conceited, as to think (were he in place) he could amend it, yet he refers it to God, and earnestly presses him to mend it. And God will do much at the request of an upright Husbandman, and when he hates the proud hypocrisies of formalists, to this man he will look, to him that is poor, and contrite, and that trembles at his word, Isa. 66. 2.
SECT. VI.§. 6.
THe Sixth Inconvenience of the Calling of He is oft unhappy in his breeding and his children.an Husbandman is, The infelicity of a rustick unrefined Breeding, and his inability to help his children with any better. We are naturally like the wild asses Colt. *Job 11.12.A Colt is a rude creature, much more an Asses Colt, and most of all a wild Asses Colt. Education breaks us, Breeding and Behaviour do pollish that rude mass, in which man comes into the world. And as in the Creation God did let in Light, and put beauty upon the Original Chaos; so right breeding opens a Casement into the mind, and sayes, Let there be Light, and there comes Light; let there be shape, order, and beauty, and behold it comes accordingly. And this is a great mercy to those that have it, and improve it: It pares off that roughness of disposition and ruggedness of carriage; it moralizes, it civilizes, yea it almost spiritualizes the party, that one can hardly discern where Nature leaves, and where Grace begins.
Now the Husbandman seldome meets with this ingenuous breeding; in so much as in respect of understanding, he is rather-ignorant than knowing, in Wisdom rather simple than Judicious, in his Will rather surly than malleable, in his behaviour rather rude and homely than smooth and polite; In Learning, the highest degree he hath taken, is in Writing and Arithmetick; and by reason of his hand-work and small estate, he can seldome bring up his children further: and no small pains he takes to help his children to write and read, and C. …titius Serranus was sowing his Corn field when Q. Cincinnatus brought him Letters of his Dictatorship, bareheaded & open breasted, and full of dust, so that he said to him, Vela corpus ut preseram Senatus mandata. Plin. 1. 18. c. 3. And the old Romans were often taken from the Plough to Rule, and when they have done, they have returned to it again. Yea, it was observed, there was never greater plenty in Rome, then when there were Ploughs laureat and Plowmen triumphant. Id.then puts them to a Trade, and (it is good Mr Dods phrase) gives them each a Bible, and God be with them. Not but that excellent Parts are somtimes found in persons and children of this rank, and excellent Schollars have proceeded hence, that have honoured every of the Liberal Arts and the more honourable imployments, but the usual genius and breeding of the Husbandman is but rustick.
Quest. If you ask what Remedy there is for this Inconvenience?
Answ. I answer, The wealthier sort must be advised, to accomplish their children with better breeding; that being a portion as far beyond rich…s, as the Soul is beyond the Body, as an entailed estate is beyond a few moveable goods. They who read the History of the Worthies of England, shall find some of our greatest Divines, Lawyers and Physitians, had their Originals from the Plough †E… casa vir magnus exire potest, et ex deformi humili que corpusculo formosus animus et magnus. Senec. ad Lucil.and why may not God do as much for yours, and thereby make them more publick Goods to their Generation?
But for your selves, and for them that are born, and likely to live and dye Rusticks, you must make up your want of outward accomplishment with inward integrity. The less smooth and pollisht you are in behaviour, the more sincere and plain be you in your heart. It was the Character of the Athenians, that they could speak well, there was the University of Learning; but the Character of the Lacedemonians was, that they could do well. So though you cannot speak eloquently, yet if you can walk uprightly and faithfully, you will be Courtiers in Heaven at the last. Though you cannot read a letter in the book, yet if you can, by true Assurance, read your Name in the Book of life, your Scholarship will serve. Though you cannot couch your words in order to men, yet if you can say your Errand unto God, he will accept you. If you cannot write a word, yet see you transcribe the fair Copy of a godly, righteous, and sober life, and you have done well. Christ Jesus was not Magister Scholae, 'sed vitae. And if you never get to be good Scholars, yet see you be good Christians, and then you'l fit above your Landlords in Heaven, if they do not look about them.
And thus you see the Inconveniences of the Husbandmans Calling, which I have described to be an allay, to ballast him, lest he should be proud of his Excellencies, and forget himself, lest being so well on earth he should forget Heaven; And that by feeling the effects he may be sensible of the evil of our first Fall and mourn for it, which hath made his labour painful, his gain doubtful, his troubles great, and his ability small. And yet if he lift up the Scales, he will perceive the comforts of his Calling many, and the Inconveniences few; and that the Lord hath tempered his Cup with great wisdom, and loving kindness, and left the best for him in the bottome.