The Husbandmans Calling, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. CHAP. 9.The Husbandmans Designs.
SECTION. I.
WE are arrived now at the … The Husbandmans Designs.general Head of this Subject which is the Designs which … good Husbandman ought … have in his Calling. It is a … end that crowns or shames his work. … Husbandmans ends do ennoble his Calling And they are these:
I. The chief end of the Husbandman … To please and glorifie God.his Calling is, To Please and Glorifie God. … he can but attain this, he is rich enough. Th… is mans greatest duty, and highest priviledge. 'Tis the Christians character and Motto, Ro… 14.8, 9. For none of us liveth to himself, … no man dieth to himself, for whether we liv… we live unto the Lord, &c. Mark, it's said none of us, of what sort or degree soever, liv… to himself, but to the Lord. It's true the more noble, wise and learned, the more they should contribute to these ends; but even the poor Husbandman must add his Mite: even a Dwarf may shoot at the Zenith, and aime as high as the greatest Gyant. O therefore stir up your selves, and direct your designs on high. If thou can'st any way magnifie the Wisdome, Greatness, Holiness and Goodness of thy Maker, happy art thou, and happy is thy Calling. This is an End for an Angel. They trumpet forth his Glory, and so dost thou; they sanctifie his Name in Heaven, and thou in thy lower sphear dost sanctifie his Name on Earth. And though thou shootest with a weaker bow, yet aimest at as high a mark.
But alas! say you, How can I glorifie my Maker, that am but one remove from a piece of earth, yea of sinful earth. I answer, Not only the Heavens declare the Glory of God, Psal. 19.1. but even Beasts, and all Cattel, creeping things, and flying fowle, Psal. 148.10. and would you know how? See vers. 8. The fire and hail, snow and vapour, stormy wind fulfilling his word. How manifestly does the snow, hail and tempest, preach the power, justice and wisdom of God; I say, they do plainly preach them, and that by doing his Will, hanging in the sky, and falling on the earth as he pleaseth. As well taught Children or Servants do honour and magnifie their superiours by their ready obedience: Even so at least, may the poor Husbandman glorifie his Father in Heaven, by an obedient departing himself in his place, and doing the will of God in his vocation.
And therefore this he should aime at in his Calling; why, here I am, here I work, and sweat, chiefly to please my God, who hath set my lines, and carved me out my imployment; and hence even Servants must do service, with good will as to the Lord, and not to men; Eph. 6.7. as if God himself did every … ing set the Husbandman his task, and at night survey his work: with what care and delight should such a man follow his business, that hath such a Master as God himself? Lord, sayes the Husbandman, I am but a mean creature, but yet I will honour thee, as well as a mean man may do; I'le work to please thee, and by consequence no harder nor easier than will please thee; I'le yoke and unyoke when thou wouldst have me, as exactly as I can discern by that prudence I have, and those rules of Religion to be observed to thee, and pitty to the Creatures. When I come home I have but a mean feast, but yet Whether I eat or drink, or whatsoever I do, it shall some way be terminated in that end of ends, the Glory of God, 1 Cor. 10.31. When I go to bed, I will not forget that whether I wake or sleep I should live to thee, for thee, with thee, 1 Thef. 5.10. Though my work be mean, yet my aimes are excellent; and brass guilded with God, will make it glister. A poor man with rich ends, is of good account in Heaven.
It is certain, that the holiest action of an Hypocrite, if you ravel it to the bottom, ends at self; and the meanest action of a Saint, ends at God: for example, why doth the Hypocrite pray: that he may pass well with others, or satisfie the cryes of his Conscience. And why aimes he at these? That he may have repute without, or quiet within. And why doth he desire these? Why because they do gratifie carnal self. On the other side, why doth the Husbandman work? to provide for his family. And why that? That he may educate and dispose his Children. And why so? That they may honour and serve their heavenly Father, when their Earthly Parents are dead and gone. Well then, let this End surmount all others, and be diligent and faithful in your Calling, to please that God who hath set you therein, and to glorifie him, what in you lies, by setting forth his Wisdome, Power and Goodness, that when he changes your Countenances, and sends you away, you may sing that sweet song, John 17.4. Father, I have glorified thee on earth, I have finished the work which thou hast given me to do; And now Father glorifie me with thy self.
SECT. II.§. 2.
II. THe second design of the Christian The Salvation of his Soul.Husbandman, is, The Salvation of his Soul. This he studies upon night and day. He knows that estate is ill got that beggars the Soul; That Rent sorrily paid, that makes him run in arrears with God: And therefore saving stakes in the world is his by-business, but saving his soul is his main business: For what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and to lose his own soul? Mat. 16.26. what is he better, if he discharge all his debts, and die in Gods debt, and be cast into the prison of hell for ever? What welcome can he have to God, that hath done every thing but what was chiefly given him in charge? That is good counsel then for the Husbandman, Mat. 6.19, 20. Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where Thiefs break through and steal, but lay up for your selves treasure in Heaven. Nothing you can get in this world, that can be laid up safe; but if your soul be saved, that will be safe for ever.
You must remember, that you were not made to work and eat, but to save your souls in the first place. God hath no where promised, that if you seek the world, and the vanities thereof, the things of Gods Kingdom shall be added to you; but he hath promised, that if you Seek the Kingdome of God, and the righteousness thereof, all other things shall be added to you, Mat. 6.33. And theretherefore the Religious Husbandman will secure the main chance. I must part with my house and my ground, and my children, but my soul I must live with for ever, and that I will secure. I know many things are useful, but one thing is needful: And no care enters deeper than the welfare of this; no cross lies heavier, than the hindrance of this. As in a common fire, a man will strive to save his building; but if he cannot, he would not lose his goods; yet if these go in the flame, he'l venture far to save his Cash, his Writings and his Jewels. So our Husbandman is careful of his other concerns, but his Soul, his Jewel, in the thickest of his business, he will endeavour to feed, and cure, and save, whatsoever it cost him.
The soul like some great Personage is somewhat exceptious; if she be not regarded in the first place, she will not be served with broken meat. When that is made a by-business, which should be the main business; when men are serious in trifles, and trivial in serious things, that's wisdom from beneath, stark folly before God. The Husbandman is loth to end his life with that doleful song, Cant. 1.6. My Mothers Children made me keeper of the Vineyards, but my own Vineyard I have not kept.
And yet alas for grief! how many such foolish Creatures are there, that like Children sent upon some weighty errand, fall in love with this and the other gay flower or weed in their way, and play with them, while their business is neglected; how do such Children deserve to be welcom'd home? So do they. Almighty God hath sent you into this world upon a great errand, namely to conquer the Devil, exalt the Lord Jesus, and climb to Heaven. Ah Sirs, do not fall in love with the fading flowers of lawful comforts, do not play with the stinking weeds of unlawful lusts, and forget your errand. Remember, there's no conversion after Death, no Sermons in the grave, no forgiveness in hell; lo, this is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation, you must plow and sow for Eternity. No seedness here, no harvest there.
SECT. III.§. 3.
III. THe Third Design of the Husbandman should be, The Publick Good, The Publick good.He hath learned but a little way in the book of Christianity, that sets his private benefit above the publick good. He that will Sleep in Jesus, must serve his Generation, Acts 13.36. And the Religious Husbandman will serve his God, and then will serve his Generation, and then will serve himself; not himself first; no, how may I further the common Good? He plows and sows, not only because he lives by it, but because the Common Wealth cannot live without it. That was right Husbandry in Joseph, Gen. 41. He did not hoard corn, and let others starve; but he hoarded it, lest others should starve: It is said, Prov. 11.26. He that withholdeth corn, people shall curse him, but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it; and the wise Husbandman more values the blessing of God upon an empty barn, than a full barn and a curse therein. He is more pleased with the publick wealth, though he lie under private wants, than if himself had wealth, and there were publick want abroad. Though he be a private man, yet he should have a Publick spirit.
It is strange, what Instances have been of this Excellent Spirit among Heathens. One advising his Countrey men for the publick Good, though he knew that Advice would speedily cost him his life. Another purposely disguising himself in the battel, that he might be there to save his Countrey. Another venturing Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam. Pomp.to Sea in a dreadful storm to relieve his needy City with Corn, with this conclusion, it is not necessary that I live, but it is necessary that Rome be relieved. Shall limping Nature go thus far, that had no Bible but the Creatures, nor Heaven but the Elysian Fields? Surely grace in the Husbandman will not leave him behind. For he hath far stronger inducements to be publick spirited, to wit, The Love of Jesus Christ, which love being shed abroad in his heart by the holy Ghost, should make him drown his private in the Publick Good.
Away then with that poorness, that baseness of spirit out of this Excellent Calling: As David, though he had then onelyonly commenc'd Shepheard, yet when he heard of Goliah's affront to the publick, he had the heart of a King to vindicate that disgrace; and took his life in his hands, and came off with honour: So should the Religious Husbandman look above himself, above his own silly interest, and design the publick good in his labours: And as the least pin is of use in the greatest building, so the meanest Husbandman may be of use in the Mightiest State and the Swords that defend us would be of little avail, without the Plough-shares to maintain them. It were a mercenary Souldier that only would fight for his pay, no, he must fight for his Country: So that's a Mercenary Husbandman that onelyonly works for riches, he must labour for his Countrey, else he is not worthy to live in it: And therefore wheresoever his private benefit crosses the publick, as in hoarding up Corn in a time of dearth, or any such like, therein he must deny himself; and account that sordid, yea cursed gain, that is obtained with the general loss.
SECT. IV.§. 4.
IV. THe Fourth Design of the Husbandman The Education of, and Provision for Children.should be, The Education of and Provision for his Children. God hath given him Children, and fain he would bring them up, and bring them up as the Children of the Most High. He holds up Abraham for his Copy, Gen. 18.19. with whom he resolves to charge all his, with the fear of God in the first place, and can never look upon them with compleat comfort, till they be born again.
He hath it also in design to bestow reading at least upon them; and if he grow able, is ambitious to furnish them with such education, as they are capable of. And their aptness to it, with his ability for it, he looks upon as the call of God, and never parts with his money more readily than for their education. He feels the sad experience of an unpolish't breeding, and therefore gives them all the humane and divine accomplishments that he can; and this is the top of all his Ambition in this world, that his poor children, that are ignorant and rude and sensual by nature, may be lick't into some form, and squar'd for some use in the world. And for this end he is willing to work the harder, that he may afford to maintain his Children at School, and fit them for some honest or holy Calling. O if I can see my children have a title to Christ before they have an estate in the world, I shall be well; that they be Gods children as well as mine; that though they have but a small portion, yet they may have many prayers with them.
And then he desires, if he can reach it without immoderate labours or indirect means, to make some comfortable provision for them, that they may bless the Lord for him, when he is dead and gone. But herein he is not solicitous, as knowing what immoderate care gathers, oftentimes immoderate expences scatters, and the Parents sin seldome advances the Childrens happiness; much less dares he get one penny unjustly, lest that penny consume all the pence he hath. Regulate then your designs in this respect by these rules; I will out of Conscience to God be diligent in my Calling, and I will endeavour among other charitable ends, to make provision for posterity, if it may be done without sin against God, wrong to my neighbour, or uncomfortable distraction to my self.
And truly, Beloved, it is next degree to madness, too earnestly to proceed in this design, seeing nothing is more evident and common, than Riches gotten by the owners to their hurt, and the hurt of posterity; and that generally, when Children after honest education, are left to work out a livelihood by their own industry, they prove most provident, thriving, holy and happy. Reliance on their certain inheritance securing them often in … negligent and idle course: which frequent observation would wholly divert a wise mans thoughts from storing for Posterity, but that the light of Nature and Scripture direct to provide for our young, and that he who provides not for his own, especially them of his house, hath denied the faith, and is worse tha… an Infidel, 1 Tim. 5.8. And therefore the Godly Husbandman aimes chiefly at their education; and if besides that, any thing remain, he blesseth the Lord for it, and bestows it among his Children, with the utmost wisdome, impartialness and kindness.
SECT. V.§. 5.
V. THe Fifth Design of the Husbandman To pay each man his own.should be, To pay unto every man his own. A little debt fills him with a great deal of trouble, and he makes some Conscience of owing nothing to any man, as well as of loving one another. And therefore his ambition is to discharge the world, e're he go out of it; and because that is uncertain, he speedily takes order herein. It is a sad thing that many of great Rank and Place, can so quietly live and die in the debt of many a mean man, that is undone by them. The poor Husbandman wonders, how they can sleep and laugh so heartily, when if every one called for his own feathers, they would be left as naked as ever they were born.
The Roman story is obvious of that Emrour Oct. Augustthat sent to buy the bed and pillow, such an one used to lie in, that died much in debt a little before, as thinking there was some strange vertue therein, to make a man sleep so soundly, that was so much in debt. The Husbandman hath no such bed: for forty shillings breaks his sleep more, than four thousands doth his Land-lords. His care and design therefore is to pay every man his own, Rom. 13.7, 8. Render to every man his due, &c. And this Scripture commands him readily to pay what's due to the Church, as if he paid it to God himself; his due tribute to the State, well knowing that Princes burthens must be taken up upon our knees; his due Rent to his Land-lord, and that without repining at his abundance; and his due deb… to his friend, that the world may be clearly quit of him.
And all this he doth by reason of the Law of God, rather than the Law of Man; and out of conscience rather than compulsion; remembring that word abovesaid, Owe … man any thing, but to love one another. His debt of loan shall be paid, though his debt of love never can. Hereupon he looks on his cattel with this thought; here is a Cow, but she is none of mine, nay, my very meat is not perfectly mine own, till my debts are paid. I will arise and study the first opportunity to quit scores. I shall be in debt to God do what I can: but I will turn every stone, to give to all men their due. And this is the Husbandman's fifth Design.
SECT. VI.§. 6.
VI. THe Sixth Design of the Husbandman To have Ability to communicate to others.in his Calling, is, That he may have ability to do good, and to Communicate. He loves not Riches for themselves, but desires, if God see it good for him, rather to give than receive, as being a more blessed thing, in the judgement of God himself, Acts 20.35. He believes, if his Goods do no good, they are no goods: And therefore the design of his daily labour is, that he may do good unto all, especially unto the Houshold of Faith; according to that rule, Eph. 4.28. Let him that stole, steal no more, but rather let him labour, working with his hands tho thing that is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Mark, one true end of work, not work to get and keep, nor work to spend & riot, but work to give to him that needeth. As water, if it stand, it putrifies; if it run, it purifies: So riches if they be stor'd, and not used to the Glory of God, and good of others, they rust and canker, and cry against the owners thereof: but when they are disposed to good uses, they make a good foundation for a man against the time to come.
It was the sin of the Rich man, Luk. 16.19. and his damnation, that he fared deliciously every day, but he suffered poor Lazarus to perish for hunger at his door. If ever our Husbandman desired to be rich, it was not to wear fine clothes, eat delicate meat, enjoy a writ of ease, but that he might be able to give and lend, that he might do good and communicate, knowing that with such sacrifices God is well pleased. And in very deed, the condition of a Prince (as was hinted before) is better than the beggars, only for this, that they have larger opportunity to do the Lord service, and to do good to others. The poor mans meat and drink, and sleep, are as pleasant and wholesome to him, as his Land… lords, his moderate labour as acceptable as the others idleness, his natural recreations as delightful as the others that are more studied, tedious and costly. The poor man hath troubles, so hath he; and they have their suits and affronts and vexations, one as well the … only herein the Great Man is Superiour to him, that he hath greater opportunity and ability to honour God, and to do good to others, more than his poor neighbour hath; and happy he, if he make use of it; and wo… for ever to him, if he do not. If his greatness make him more potent to sin against God; if his parts render him more ingenious, to put a trick upon Religion; if his riches only inable him to serve his lusts more effectually, better a thousand times for him, that he had been in his Scullions place.
For this end our Husbandman aimes at … Estate, to do good with it; to minister to those that serve at the Altar, to relieve his poor Kindred and Neighbours, to help forward the binding of poor Children to trades, or the maintenance of the ingenious poo… Schollar at School, or some other good work that may glorifie his God, whose Steward he knows he is, and all that ever he hath, is at his devotion. O Sirs, do these thoughts breed in your hearts? Are ye devising to do good, as well as desiring to be great? Alas! none of your expences and layings out will pass in your accounts with God at the last Audit, but what have some way tended to the glory of your Master, or the good of your fellow-servants, as well as your selves. O if God would intrust me with plenty, and with an heart to use it to his Glory, then I were happy; but of the two, let me rather have a narrow Estate and wide Soul, than a wide Estate and a narrow heart. And this is the sixth Design of the Husbandman, so much plenty as may inable him to do good, and to Communicate.
And so you have the Ninth General Head in this Subject, viz. the Husbandmans ends and designs, which if you find written in your own hearts, bless the Lord upon your knees. If you fall short, let me tell you, that speedy Repentance, and rectifying of your hearts, is your wisdome and duty, that God may bless and not blast you in all your undertakings. If your aimes be only worldly profit, ease or preferment of you or yours, What do ye more than others? Do not the very Pagans the same? And if you care and work only to pay your Rent; alas the Turks do so: But herein you excell, If you look not at things that are seen, but at things that are not seen. If you aime at God, unto God you shall come at last.