The Husbandmans Calling, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. CHAP. 7.The Husbandmans Graces.
SECT. I.
I proceed in the seventh place to The Husbandmans Graces.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 bette… case than he, if he live and die without th… true fear of God; for that hath meat, an… drink, and work; but no care, or grief, no… account to make: and the Husbandman tha… knows not God in a saving manner, hat… work, and meat, and withal cares, and troubles, and a sad reckoning to come. O that the Husbandman were but acquainted with Jesu… 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 §. … His Patience.is Patience; he cannot live comfortably without it. 1. He must have patience to wait, Jam. 5.7. Be patient therefore, Brethren, to the coming of the Lord. Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious f…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 lets 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: Its all the Table cloth and napkin he uses; in a word its 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.§. 2.
II. THe second Grace necessary for the His discretion.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. Sr. Fr. Bacon: Essayes.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 hath need of discretion in Religion; to reg…te his zeal with wisdom, to carry the ballances even between his general and particular calling, that he be neither Monk nor Matchevellian. To know when to work and when to pray, when to be chearful, and when severe. In a word, his Family and his Farm are his Kingdome; and he hath need of Christian politicks, as well as a Prince. And what need have ye then to study, and pray, and seek after wisdom? First, knock at Gods door, for he hath bid us come to him, before we trouble any body else; and his word is past, that he will give, and give liberally, and never upbraid. All other means also must be used, especially, deliberation and advisedness. He that thinkes much, shall doe more then he that can only talk or work.
SECT. III.,§. 3.
III. THe third special Grace that the Husbandman His Heavenliness.should get is, Heavenliness. He hath weights to press him down, and therefore hath need of wingsto lift him up. Both his nature and his calling would conform him to the world; and without a Divine principle, there's no rowing against these. Its a hard thing to be in the Earth, and not of it; and to live above, that which he cannot live without. He must have heavenly affections, and those set and fixed that will do it. Coloss. 3.2. Set your affections on things in Heaven, and not on things on Earth. Mark, we must not only have our thoughts on Heaven, but our affections, affectionate working thoughts; without frequent and lively indeavours this way, thy mind will be sadly earthified and sunk down to a brutish temper, thy heart will be where thy heeles should be. As he that's alwayes conversant with Books will have his mind exceedingly filled with Notions and Observations; so much more will the poor Husbandmans heart be prest down, and the frame of it bent earthward, unless he study this Grace. To be earthly in earthly business is humane: To be Heavenly in Heavenly business is divine: To be earthly in Heavenly business is brutish: to be Heavenly in earthly business is Christian. O therefore get thy ends alwayes, thy heart frequently spiritual and Heavenly; so will you do two works in one, and get Heaven and earth at once.
Look up often to the Heavens, and withal think who dwells there, what they are doing there, what thou wilt be abont a thousand years hence, how a man should do to get thither, and how a man may know he shall dwell for ever there. No creature upon earth hath an upright countenance as man hath, on purpose that he might look up to that God that made him, and not to the earth whereof he is made. Resolve with an Heavenly magnanimity when thou art plowing or digging in the earth, and say, Oearth, I am not now thy equal, By Grace I am advanced to reach after higher things, then thou canst yield me any. Here I have pibbles, but yonder are pearles; here I have clods of dust, but yonder there are Crowns of Glory; here 'tis true are my Wife and children, to cherish and nourish whom I could be content to live; but that yonder is my Father, my Christ, my noble friend, my true joyes, my real treasure, my God, and that's enough: And therefore up O my leaden heart, and make thee wings, and fly away to rest. For where the treasure is, there should the heart be also.
Consider that God is alwayes in thy company, and who can be cold that lives in the Sun? though thy imployment be mean, and thou go sometimes into the lonesome fields or the lowest imployments, yet having such Royal company, such a God, and alwayes within the hearing, within a call of thee, how canst thou be dull and earthly? Think, would I flag thus, and have my heart under my feet thus, if some excellent Minister were in my company; what questions would I be asking him, whatconverse would there pass between us? O how much more Heavenly should I be, that have a Heaven so nigh me, if not a Heaven in me? Put it therefore into your prayers, O all ye poor Husbandmen, whose Calling lyes in that which is vanity and vexation of spirit, Lord turn away my eyes from heholding vanity, and quicken me in thy way, Psal. 119.37.
SECT. IV.§. 4.
IV. THe Fourth special Grace the Husbandman should get is, Vprightness. His Uprightness.Uprightness toward God, and down uprightness towards men, to live a plain even Scripture course. To be a Jacob, a plain man, …hough he dwell in Tents. Behold this is the Husbandmans motto, To be poor and honest. …t is a criticall thing to be a Politician; but there are few criticismes in the sincerity of an Husbandman. He is one that will rather lose all he hath, then God and a good Conscience. And this he follows, not as an heathen …rtue, but as a Christan Grace. He walks in the uprightness of his heart for Conscience sake. This is his Argument with God, this is his Bond to men. Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in Truth—Isa. 38.3. He cannot boast of many works, but he can glory in an upright walk. And this pleads with God for him; even when many infirmities, …ccompany his actions, his heart is right. And the observation of this even and downright carriage of his, is as good as other mens bonds. If he verefie it, no body doubts the truth of what he asserts: His motto is, Men…iri non possum, Prodere nolo, I cannot frame to lye.
If he promise any thing, every one beleives him; for he had rather break his head than break his word. In his discourse he is not elegant, but he is honest; and when his phrases and expressions are ridiculous, his integrity makes them lovely. In his bargains, he studies Justice, and strives to do by others, as he would be done by: In a word he is …onest without welt or gard. And this is a …lessed Grace, Isa. 33.14. Who among us …all dwell with devouring fire? That is, approach the just and holy God. He that w…eth righteously and speaketh uprightly, that … spiseth the gain of oppression—He shall … on high; Bread shall be given him, his … shall be sure. If Heaven and Earth can … him amends, he shall have it; he shall dw… with God on high in Heaven, he shall want Bread on Earth. Mark the perfect man, … behold the upright, for the end of that … is peace. The poor Husbandman hath liv… to see the fall of many a cunning companion, that could stretch his Conscience to … interest, and cogg, and swear, and lye … his gain: And them he hath seen, like green Laurel Tree; but the curse was amo… his goods, and all is gone, he is not wo…th groat. The little estate he hath, as it was … hastily gotten, so he hopes it will be slow … spending, and like a low house, with a goo… foundation, stand, when the fine house … him will have a dreadful fall, having … foundation in injustice, and its topstone in…curse, Prov. 13.11. Wealth gotten by vani… shall be diminished; but he that gathereth by …bour shall increase.
O therefore study, strive, pray for this excellent Grace, this Compendium of Grace that will make you amiable both to God … man, and procure the blessing both of He… ven and Earth. Indeed this is the sinew Society; and they who never practise it … of its difficulty, yet will pretend to because of its excellencies. Begin then, … try this blessed trade, and you will find that Reason, that Comfort, that Profit therein, that you will never leave it: You will conclude with Job, Chap. 27.2, 3. As God liveth,—all the while my breath is in me,—my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit: till I dye, I will not remove my integrity from me.
SECT. V.§. 5.
V. THe Fifth Grace that the Husbandman His Love.hath need of is, Love. Love to thy Neighbour as thy self. And this is a great word. It is not said, love him as he loves thee, for that may be more than thou knowest, or less than he ought: nor love him as others love him, for by this rule Christ himself, when on Earth, would have mist thy love; but as truly, as constantly, as effectually as your selves, though not so intensely. But thou must in thy Judgement think him as well worthy to enjoy what he hath, as thou art to enjoy thine. In thy Desires to wish him the same good things as to thy self, that when its well with him, there may be mirth in more houses than one: And in Deeds to do him that good, that thou desirest from him; to promote his profit next thy own, to inhance his credit, and to procure his content.
It is not said, thou shalt not hate him only? as many will say, I will neither love nor hate them, I'le neither do them good no… hurt: but thou shalt love him as thy self; a rule which the ignorant'st may understand, and the weakest remember.
And this Love,
1. Will teach the Husbandman to give, where there is want: for the poor hath as much right to what you can spare, as you have to what is necessary and comfortable for you. Love will argue thus; If I must give my Enemy meat, when he is hungry, much more must I give to this poor Creature, that never did me hurt. Love will think, This will do him more good than it will do me hurt; and therefore he shall have it, yea, and my heart with it: mark, the true charity is not onelyonly when I draw forth my hand to the hungry, but when I draw out my soul to the bungry Isa. 58.10. And then,
2. Love will teach the Husbandman to Lend, and make him really more glad to do a courtesie, than receive one. The Good man Psal. 112.5. shews favour and lendeth; and you know who is called Good-man all about We are apt to think it better to receive twelve pence, than to give or lend six: but Christ saith, It's more blessed to give, than … receive, Acts 20.35. The Husbandman considers, that no man can live of himself, but one must be beholden to another every day and therefore makes no difficulty to lend … Neighbour, what he can furnish him with whether money or other materials, and … freely: God forbid that should lye by me in my chest, that would save my neighbours life or state, provided that I hurt not my self to help another, but be wise as well as kind.
3. Love will teach the Husbandman to forgive both trespasses, and injuries, and unkindnesses, and this he hath need of. As Constantine cover'd his Bishops faults with his purple robe, so should the Husbandman his neighbours trespasses with the robe of Christ. They who are best at loving, are worst at remembring injuries; alas, it's hard to live a day, without injuring some body. The Husbandman must believe it better to receive the greatest, than to offer the least injury. Love is not exceptions as we say, takes things in the best sense, is not apt to create unkindness, heeds not a cross look, or a hasty word, but gives each man grains of allowance, because he knows he needs them himself; and therefore when the Sun is setting, he thinks it is time to be reconciled, and puts all wrath from him, lest the Devil should get place thereby.
Yea, 4. Love must make the Husbandman to defend his Neighbour. In his Life; and not go by him, as the Priest and Levite did by the wounded man, as though it were nothing to him. In his Name; and therefore when he hears a reproach upon his neighbour, he must take himself bound to vindicate him, as far as he can, as knowing that Reputation is like a building long in raising, … soon demolish't. In his Estate he must defe… him, and help to save that, in any acciden… which may befall him, as he would defi… and expect in the like case. And
5. The Husbandman must love his neighbours Soul, and not let that go by him into hell without some means to stop him; and therefore is bound to pray for him, to provoke and perswade him to holiness. God hath taught you, and do you teach them, Heb. 10.24. And consider one another, to provoke to Lo… and good works. The graceless wretch he lies considering, how to provoke his neighbour to lust, passion, and sin: but the Godly Husbandman must consider, how he may provoke him to love and good works: And in any wise reprove them, when there is any hope of doing them good by it. As that Excellent Lady Falkland us'd to say, If I let you go to hell, or you me, how am I your friend?
And 6. Love will teach you to sympathiz… with your Neighbour; to cover and cure his infirmities: for God will never cover his sins, that loves to uncover others. And to carry it lovingly and peaceably, not strangely or suspiciously to him, as knowing that all the world is akin to you in Adam, and all Christians are akin in Christ.
By all which you see, that true love consists not in complemental civility, not in sinful compliances, nor in a bare inoffensiveness, but in a gracious disposition of wishing good and doing good to others. And this I earnestly press the Husbandman to get, That this may be written on his Grave, Here lies one that was Beloved of God, and a Lover of all men; which is the best Motto and blessedness, I can wish him.
Let the Husbandman often think of Gods undeserved love to him: Let him study the good qualities of others, and his own unworthiness: Let him remember kindnesses long, and forget injuries quickly: And especially let him pray for this Grace: Thou God of Love, plant the Grace of Love in this heart of mine! Leave not God till he hear thee, leave not thy Heart till it be kindly affected, leave not thy Neighbour, till he be reconciled and truly beloved.
SECT. VI.§. 6.
VI. THe Sixth Grace that the Husbandman His Contentedness.hath special need of, is, Contentedness with his Calling. He finds his labour so great, and his profit so small, that he is sometimes on very bad terms with his very Calling. He rises early, is up late, toiles like a horse, is sunk with Cares, worn out with Crosses, and yet all hardly reaches, he can hardly get food and rayment for him and his: who would imbrace such a Calling? The Lawyer he can get as much in one day, as he can in three months, every Tradesman hath a better life than he. But all this is no ground … thee, to be discontent with thy Calling. … flect upon the Excellencies before shewed, and thou wilt find thy Calling is more wo… thy of thee, than thou art of thy Calling That the meanness and painfulness thereof, i…fully compensated by the innocency, healthfulness and safety of it: and thou may'st come to Heaven from the Plough, as well as from the Throne. And take heed lest it be the pride of thy heart, that thinks thy Calling below thee. Prince Adam grudg'd not at it, who was the top of all thy Kin. Entertain not therefore a discontented thought against thy Calling: For a man ought to believe … God hath led him into a Calling, that it is the best calling for him in the world, till the same God lead him out of it. It was therefore wise answer of Bishop Grosthead of Lincoln to a Kinsman of his, an Husbandman that came to him, expecting some preferment from him, being so dignified and able to advance … Cousin, sayes he, If your Cart be broken, … mend it; If your Plough be old, I'le give you new one, and Seed to sow your Land: but … Husbandman I found you, and an Husbandman I'le leave you, and so he did.
Study you therefore the Conveniencies of your Calling, and not the inconvenienc… thereof altogether; and consider that you know the evils in your own calling, but you know not the evils in anothers. They have ease and honour, and you have health and safety. Even Crowns are lin'd with tears; and yet he that hath most, doth but live. Think not therefore of forfaking thy calling without good warrant. If King Vzziah, 2 Chron. 26.10. had kept himself to the care of his Kingdom, and the love of Husbandry, he might have liv'd with comfort, and died with honour; but he must incroach on the calling of the Priest, and paid dear for it. Let his example be thy caution. Let the Priests follow their Calling, and do thou follow thine.
And 2. Contentment with thy Portion in thy calling. It often falls out, that Poverty in comparison, is the portion of the Husbandman; as it is, 2 Kings 25.12. The Captain of the Guard left of the Poor of the Land to be Vine-dressers, and Husbandmen. It is the poor of the Land, especially in France, and other Countries, that are the Husbandmen. Poverty is the Husbandmans disease; one Noble man can buy and sell five hundred of them; And it is much adoe to be poor and patient under it. You must study therefore a chearful contentedness with your portion, as being carv'd unto you by the wise and holy God, who better knew what was meet for you, than your selves.
Rich Cordials would blow up the spirits of some persons, therefore the Physician prescribes them not. Let God alone with your allowance, look you to your duty. It is said, Prov. 15.4. In the house of the Righteous is much treasure: but in the revenew of the wicked 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.is trouble. Why, many a Righteous ma… hath hardly a peny in the house; where's … treasure? O he hath contentment fo…, … riches. Contentment is his furniture for every room; this stocks his ground, nay, this serves instead of ground: Consider, the less thou hast, the less will be required of thee in this life, and the less wilt thou have to account for in another life; and what hath the rich man in his riches, but only the beholding of them with his eyes?
He that hath Christ hath no want. It is the Brittish Proverb, Heb Dd…w, heb dd… Duw a digon. Without God, nothing; Have God, and there's enough. Resolve, Lord this portion thou in thy wisdome did'st allot me, and I am satisfied. The Calling serv'd a … ter man than I, to wit, my Father Adam; And for Estate, the second Adam possessed less than I: I have an House, and he had none, Cattel, and he had none; and why should I repine, having as good a calling as the first Adam, and a greater estate than the second?
SECT. VII.§. 7.
VII. THe Seventh special Grace the Husbandman … Faith.hath need of is, Faith. He must learn to live by Faith. Providence seems sometimes to frown, Promises they at the same time smile; now what shall the Husbandman do without Faith? The winter is long, and he longs for the spring and seedness: but the weather threatens he shall have no seedness at all. The Summer's long, and he longs for harvest; but the weather then threatens, he shall have no harvest: Here's the frowns of Providence. But now the Husbandman turns to the Promise, and it smiles, Gen. 8.22. While the Earth remaineth, seedness and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. And this his faith tells him is certain and true, and therefore he doth his work, and leaves God to his; and while others are in a fright, hang down the head and repine, he believes in God, and is chearful at the heart.
Again, the Husbandman goes into his barn, and there's no corn; inquires of his Wife, and there's no store within, and little bread; looks into his purse, and there's no money: Then he recoils into his heart, and there's faith in God, who hath said, Psal. 34.10. The young Lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord, shall not want any good thing. And this through Grace he believes, and is satisfied: He trusts in the living God, who is the preserver of all men, especially of such as believe. His daily bread he begs, and his daily bread he believes he shall have. I know God will not suffer me to want, at least any good thing. If poverty be good for me, I shall have it: and if plenty be good for me, I shall have that: if better cloaths, and fare, and … were better for me, I am sure I should have them; and I resolve my Father shall carve for me, that knows my frame better than I. Though I see no reason of such a condition, yet I will believe there is a reason.
And then the Husbandman hath need of Faith for his Children; for many times he leaves them to the wide world, hath made shift to educate them, and that's all. And when he dies, the Lease is expired, and they must be gone. But he believes that God will take care of poor mens Children. If he have faith, and so be in covenant, he concludes that his children are in covenant also; and therefore is confident that God will provide for them. That God who hears young Ravens, will hear young Children. Though Ishmael was no better then he should be, yet God heard the voice of the Lad, Gen. 21.17. for the old love that was between himself and Abraham. And he often thinks with comfort on that, Psal. 37.25. I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his Seed begging bread.
And he hath need of Faith to hold up his heart, under his many wearisome cares and troubles. Faith will find honey in the Lion, and comfort in the Bible, when there's none on earth: and therefore when the Husbandman comes home tired with his hard work, he takes the Bible, and there finds that every condition, all things shall work together for good to them that love God. That when flesh and heart faileth, yet God is the strength of his heart and his portion for ever. He finds that tribulation works patience, and patience experience. That affliction is better than sin. That it is better to be worn out with labour, than to be given up to lust: He believes the day, how dark soever, will end well. O the Husbandman cannot live a day without faith. He cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
And lastly, he hath need of Faith for his poor soul in the world to come. If ever any man, sure he may say, Psal. 27.13. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living. This is his refuge, when nothing else will serve; when his body and spirits are spent, when his cares and crosses prevail against him, Heaven will put an end to this. Now I am plowing in the Earth, but shortly I shall be reaping in Heaven; This sweating life will be over, and my singing life will begin: yet a while, and I shall be sent for post to Heaven. There is but one life between me and a great Estate; my troubles will have an end, but my joy will never have an end; and my short afflictions which are but for a moment, are all this while working for me, an exceeding great and eternal weight of glory. And this I believe. I have not onelyonly some sleight and groundless hopes of it, but I have an Evidence for it. I find my Name in the Scripture, and so know it is in the book of Life: And therefore my heart is glad, my glory rejoyceth, my flesh also that hath little rest here, doth rest in hope; my possessions are little, but my reversions great. He that shall be rich for ever, may be content to be poor a while.
And thus you have heard what special Graces the Husbandman should have, and which I earnestly in Gods behalf perswade you to strive for with all your might; leave no means unused, no strength unspent, for the attaining of these Graces. It is possible to get them, its profitable to have them, its perillous to be without them: without these you live but little above your beasts, you do but drudge. O therefore go to the God of grace for them, and never leave him, till you have them.