The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Husbandry, Discourse 2

The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Husbandry · Discourse 2

p. 97JEREMIAH IV. 3.

For thus ſaith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jeruſalem, Break up your fallow Ground, and ſow not among Thorns.

IN the words we may obſerve, 1. a Speaker, the Lord: All Men ſhould have an Ear to liſten, when the Lord hath a Tongue to ſpeak. 2. The Perſons ſpoken to, the Men of Judah and Jeruſalem. 3. The Exhortation or Counſel given to them, Break up your fallow ground. Three things are to be remarked in theſe words, 1. That there were fallow grounds in Judah and Jeruſalem, that were a People choſen to be holy to the Lord, and that might ſeem to themſelves a fruitful Field, a pleaſant and delightful Paradiſe. 2. This may alſo ſeem ſtrange, that they ſhould be call'd to break up their fallow ground. What an humbling, abaſing Expreſſion is this! they might think they had made a great progreſs in Religion, and were advanced far towards a ripe Harveſt of Righteouſneſs, and was not this to lower and ſet them back, to call on them to break up their fallow ground? as tho' they had yet done nothing, had not yet begun or done the firſt work in Religion, or taken the firſt ſtep in the way of God, but p. 98were to begin all anew, and ſet their hand to the Plough, to break up their fallow ground. 3. This is obſervable, that this Exhortation is given to the Men of Judah and Jeruſalem, that were then the only Church of God: this intimates, that in the Church only there is the ſpiritual Plow, the Plow-men, and the right Seed to ſow the Soil, and no where elſe; there is a direction and dehortation, Sow not among Thorns. Some do think that if they hear Sermons, read the Scriptures and good Books, and do ſome Actions materially good, that this is Seed ſown for a Harveſt of Glory; but yet all is labour loſt, if the Ground be not cleanſed, if the Soul be not purified from baſe Luſts and Affections: theſe Thorns do bedwarf, rob, ſtarve the good Seed, ſo that no Fruit is brought to perfection. Holy Duties do not ſanctifie a carnal Man, but are defiled by him. Hag. 2.13, 14 they that are unclean themſelves do pollute all they meddle with; the Plague that is in the heart infects thoughts, intentions, words and actions, 1 Kin. 18.38. The fore-skin of the Heart will carnalize all we meddle with, Jer. 4.4. The words may vield us theſe two Doctrines; 1. That the Hearts of unregenerate Men are like to fallow Ground. 2. That it is their Duty to break up their fallow Ground. For the proſecuting of the firſt Doctrin, I ſhall ſhew why the Hearts of unregenerate Men are compar'd to fallow Ground. 1. A fallow Ground is that which once p. 99was plow'd and ſow'd: Mankind in our firſt Parents were once ſow'd with original Righteouſneſs, beautified with the Image of God, and enobled with a divine life. The firſt Tables that Moſes receiv'd were the Work of God; and the Writing was the Writing of God, Exod. 32.16. The Writings and the Tables ſeem to be created together: ſo our firſt Parents had their Soil and ſpiritual Seed created together; the Tables and the Writing were fram'd at once; the Law of God was engraven on the Mind and Will of Adam and Eve: the Meal of the faculties of their Souls was always leaven'd with holineſs and righteouſneſs; Man's Soul was once ſowed by, and became a fruitful field to God. 2. This is implied, that now this holy Seed is killed or rooted out; as when Wheat and Barley is ripe and cut, the ſtalks and root dies, and it will never bring forth any more Wheat or Barley; ſo the Law of God is blotted out of, the Image of God defaced from, the Life of God extinguiſhed in our Souls, ſo that we ſhall never pleaſe God, or bring forth any acceptable Fruit to him, if we are not broken up and ſowed anew: our Souls are like the ſecond Tables that Moſes brought to God, meer blanks, till God doth again write his Law in them.

3. As a fallow Ground ordinarily brings forth only Briars, Thiſtles, Thorns, and ſo is uſeleſs and unprofitable to the Husbandman; ſo our Nature is ſo void and deſtitute of what is good, ſo prone and inclinable to that which is evil, that they that are in the Fleſh cannot pleaſe God, Ro. 8.9. p. 100A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit, Mat. 7.18. Original Sin dwells in us, it dwells alone, hath poſſeſſion of the whole Soul, and all its faculties, and it hath not only a Houſe, but a Throne in us naturally; it works in us all manner of Concupiſcence, Rom. 7.8. but in this Fleſh of ours dwelleth nothing that is good, Rom. 7.18. but the Spirit that dwelleth in us luſteth to envy and all unrighteouſneſs, Jam. 4.5.

4. As a fallow Ground muſt be plow'd and ſow'd, elſe 'twill not bear Wheat, or yield Bread, ſo our Hearts muſt be broken, and ſowed with good Seed, elſe Holineſs will never root deep in the Heart, and ſpring up in the Life; we muſt have the Law of God written in us, Jer. 31.33. we muſt have the Fear of God put into us, Jer. 32.39, 40. and the Spirit of God, Ezek. 36.27. or elſe we ſhall yield no Harveſt of Righteouſneſs or Obedience to God.

Uſe. 1. Be convinc'd of this, that you are a fallow Ground, that you have Souls poor and empty of that which is good, and that your carnal Minds are Enmity to God, are not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom. 8.7. yea, tho' in ſome ſence you may be ſaid to be ſowed, as the Highway-ground, the Stony, the Thorny Ground were, Mat. 13.20, 21, 22. yet you may be ſaid ſtill to be a fallow, becauſe the Seed withers, is ſtarved and choked, ſo that no Fruit is brought forth to pleaſe and delight the heavenly Husbandman.

2. Be humbled deeply for this, that you have p. 101ſo long continued a fallow, ſo that God hath had no Harveſt of Righteouſneſs, no ſheaves or gleanings of good Works: you have done nothing of all that God hath commanded you, Jer. 32.23. have only done Evil, and wrought Iniquity, Jer. 32.30. your thoughts have been only evil, Gen. 6.5. your words evil, How can a corrupt generation ſpeak good things, Mat. 12.34? your actions evil, a corrupt Tree bringeth forth corrupt Fruit, Matt. 7.17. The Prodigal that went into a far Country did neither perform ſervice to his Father, nor enjoy communion with him, Luke 15.13.

3. Do not remain a fallow Ground, it will be ſad to enjoy no good hereafter, for God to reap no Fruits of Righteouſneſs from you, and you to reap no fruits of Mercy from him: therefore be not contented to lie in the ruines of your Falls, and not to be better'd or benefited at all by the Word of Grace, the Goſpel of Reconciliation: It will be bad for the Founder to melt in vain, Jer. 6.29. Becauſe wickedneſs is not ſeparated from you, and you refined from your Droſs, it will be ſad for Chriſt and his Miniſters to labour in vain, becauſe you are not gather'd in; for the Dew and Rain to come often on you, and yet you bring forth only Briars and Thorns, Heb. 6.8. O conſider theſe following things:

1. Your fallow Ground is capable of manuring and improvement; as Iſaac by plowing and ſowing in Canaan did make a great advantage to himſelf; that Land which before did only yield Herbage, and feed his Flock, did now bear Corn, and p. 102did nouriſh himſelf and his large Family; he ſow'd in that Land, and receiv'd in the ſame year an hundred fold, Gen. 26.12. that is, he had reap'd a hundred buſhels of Corn for one that he ſow'd: how was the ground advanc'd, from feeding Cattel, to feed Iſaac and his Family! ſo how is a Soul exalted and enobled by ſpiritual Tillage, by being plow'd and ſow'd! it brings forth Fruit for Chriſt to gather and eat; Cant. 4. ult. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat of his pleaſant fruits. Acts of moral Juſtice may profit Men, may be beneficial to the Commonwealth and human Society, yet if they flow not from a ſpiritual Spring, grow not on the root of love to God, they do not pleaſe God, they are not accepted with him: The Fathers (as Voſſius in his Hiſtory of Pelagianiſm tells us) did call theſe Opera Sterilia, barren Works, becauſe they had no tendency to, no influence on Eternal Life: but if you break up the fallow Ground, are renew'd by and ſow to the Spirit, you may receive in this life an hundred fold, and at laſt reap and inherit everlaſting life, Mat. 10.29. Gal. 6.8. Judgment may dwell in your Wilderneſs, Iſa. 32.16. and you that were formerly altogether unprofitable, Rom. 3.12. Philemon's Epiſt. may become profitable, highly ſerviceable to God, greatly beneficial and uſeful to Men; unclean Creatures may be waſhed, old and corrupt Creatures may be renew'd, Tit. 3.5.

2. Conſider how bad it will be not to be plowed and ſowed: This is threatned as a terrible Judgment, That the Land of Canaan ſhould keep p. 103its Sabbaths as long as it lies deſolate and ceaſeth from Tillage. Is it bad for the Ground to lay deſolate, to keep a Sabbath, to ceaſe from Culture? how much worſe is it for the Soul to keep its Sabbaths, (not holy, but) carnal and prophane Sabbaths, while God's Plow doth not break it up, nor his Seed be ſow'd in it? Men then will be far from Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 46.12. will ſerve divers Luſts and Pleaſures, and be without God in the World, they will chuſe their own ways, and their Souls delight in their abominations. The Adverſaries of the Jews, in the Babyloniſh. Captivity, ſaw their Sabbaths, and mocked at them, Lam. 1.7. but the great Enemy of Souls will rejoyce at the idle and prophane Sabbaths that wicked men keep, when they ceaſe to do good, and leave off Righteouſneſs in the Earth, Amos 5.7.

2. Thoſe that are not broken up and ſowed, will be Satan's Poſſeſſion; as he claims Strays as his, ſo he is the Lord of fallow Ground; Such are of their Father the Devil, and his luſts they will do, John 8.44. It is ſweet and honourable to be God's Husbandry, 1 Cor. 3.9. but how dreadful is it to be Satan's Husbandry! Satan will ſtill be working in them, Epheſ. 2.2. and filling of their Hearts, Acts 5.3. he will be ſowing, planting, and grafting in and on them; he will tutor his Nurſery by continual ſuggeſtions and temptations; Satan will ſtill be ſerving his turn on, promoting his intereſt by, and accompliſhing bis deſigns in Souls that lye fallow: how bad will it be to keep Sabbaths, as reſting from ſpiritual tillage? p. 104This is to keep Sabbaths to gratifie and worſhip Satan; theſe Sabbaths are working days to pleaſe the Fleſh, and rejoyce the Devil; ſuch do the Devil's Will in time, and if Grace doth not prevent, they muſt ſuffer God's Will to Eternity.

3. Thoſe that are as a fallow Ground do bitterly provoke God to anger, Hoſ. 12. laſt, They bring forth Grapes of gall, their cluſters are bitter, Deut. 32.33. Can the heavenly Husbandman feed on and delight in ſuch Grapes? doth not his Soul loath and abhor them? but as to good Grapes, are they not empty Vines? Hoſ. 10.1. Theſe fallow Grounds are like the barren Fig-tree; Chriſt hungred and came to this Fig-tree, and found nothing on it but Leaves; this ſo provoked Chriſt, that he curſed it, Mat. 21.18, 19. and ſaid unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever; and preſently the Fig-tree wither'd away. In what danger are Souls that are barren Fig trees? Chriſt may curſe them ſo, that their Leaves may wither, their form of Religion decay and be utterly loſt, a Sentence may go forth againſt them, Cut them down, why ſhould they any longer cumber the ground? Luke 13.7. Thoſe that are not Trees for Fruit, ſhall be Trees for Fuel; The Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and caſt into the fire, Mat. 3.10. The Ground that after Rain and Dew have come often on it, and yet it bringeth forth only Briers and Thorns, it is nigh to curſing, and its end is to be burnt, Heb. 6.8.

p. 1054. If you continue a Fallow Ground, you will bring forth Fruit only to Death, and fit your ſelves for Deſtruction, Rom. 7.5. You will pile up fuel in the Infernal Tophet, and fill the Treaſury of God's wrath, Rom. 2.5. as the cluſters are bitter, and ſo abhorred by God, ſo your Wine is the Poyſon of Dragons, and the cruel venom of Aſps, and ſo moſt fatal, pernicious and deſtructive to your ſelves. As Men now drink in iniquity like water, Job 15.16. ſo they muſt ſhortly drink of the wrath of the Almighty, Job 21.20. O therefore cry mightily to God, that he would remember you in your miſerable and loſt Eſtate. There is a ſweet Promiſe that God makes to the Mountain of Iſrael, Ezek. 36.8, 9. Behold I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and you ſhall be tilled, ſown, and yield your Fruit. O plead this word with God, put him in remembrance of it: Confeſs you have long lain Fallow. Perhaps ſome of you have kept a Sabbath of Years; yea, are come to a great Sabbatical Year. Forty nine or Fifty Years you have ceaſed from Spiritual Tillage; you have been idle all this while and done no work for God; you have been barren, and have brought forth no Fruit to God; O will you not now ſend up ſtrong cries to Heaven? Will you not now wreſtle mightily with God, that he would be for you, and turn to you in Grace and Mercy, that you may be effectually filled, skilfully ſown, and plentifully bear Fruit to God?

Doct. 2. It is the Duty of Unregenerate Men to break up their Fallow Ground: They ſhould not be p. 106idle, or ſtand ſtill, or be contented with their preſent Barrenneſs, that God, who calls you to Act, can breathe Life, and put Strength into you, to enable you to work. As God in the firſt Creation ſpake to the Earth, and ſaid, Let it bring forth Graſs, Herbs, and Fruit-bearing Trees, and it was ſo as the Father commanded, and the Son was the Word; ſo the Holy Ghoſt executed all. The Earth had no Seed of Graſs, or Herbs, or Roots of Trees, within it ſelf, or power to bring them forth, yet Gods Word was as Seed then, and gave a productive Power to the Earth: So God ſaid, Let the waters bring forth Fiſh to move in them, and Fowl that may fly above the waters and earth, in the open Firmament of Heaven; and tho' the waters had no ſpawn of Fiſh, or Eggs of Fowl in them, yet the Word of God was powerful, effectual, and ſoon fulfilled. So Chriſt is the Reſurrection and the Life, and the beginning of the Creation of God; he can quicken dead Souls, recover and heal a withered arm and hand, Mark 3.5. ſo that it ſhall be ſtretched out, and enabled to hold the Plough, and carry on this Spiritual Tillage, that is required and called for in the Text.

For the proſecuting of the Doctrine, three things are to be inquired into. 1. What it is to break up our Fallow Ground. 2. How, or by what means it muſt be broken up. 3. Why it is neceſſary it ſhould be broken up.

1. What is it to break up our Fallow ground? I Anſwer: It is to be ſoundly convinced of, deeply affected with, throughly to be broken and humbled for Sin, and the danger and miſery of our Natural State. This is a Work hard, bitter, p. 107and grievous to Nature, to ſet God's Plow into our very Souls; to cut and wound them, to make deep and long Furrows in the very Soil of our Hearts. We read of renting of the heart, Joel 2.13. and of a broken heart and contrite ſpirit, Pſ. 51.17. This breaking up Fallow Ground, is expounded in the next Verſe to the Text, by mens circumciſing themſelves to the Lord, and taking away the foreskin of the heart. Jer. 4.4. This cutting off the foreskin of the Heart, is cutting up the Turff of our Soil, that hinders the good Seed from taking deep root downwards, and ſpringing upwards. The Jews were circumciſed in Infancy, but the thing ſignified doth not always go along with the Sign, they yet wanted the internal and nobleſt part of that Ordinance, they were circumciſed in fleſh, but yet uncircumciſed in heart, Jer 9. laſt. Tho' Circumciſion in the Fleſh was an external act, whereby Men did acknowledge them Jews, and Members of the viſible Church, yet the Circumciſion of the Heart is the Sign, and internal Note, whereby God doth recognize, and own Men to be vital Members of his Church. The Lord thy God will circumciſe thine heart, that love the Lord thy God, Deut. 30.6. God would give the inward and nobleſt part of this Ordinance. And if Circumciſion was a Sign and Seal of God's Circumciſing the Heart, it muſt needs be a Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace. Thoſe that do partake of the outward Sign of the Covenant, are thereby obliged to ſeek after the inward, and beſt part of that Ordinance they have paſſed under, p. 108and have been the Subjects of. They are not to reſt in this, That they are circumciſed in the Eye, and account of Men, but they are to paſs further, and circumciſe themſelves to the Lord; that is, ſo to circumciſe themſelves, that they may appear to, and be owned by God as circumciſed. So they were to circumciſe themſelves, that they may be inclined towards, and devoted to the Lord. This Soul Circumciſion, this taking away the Foreskin of the Heart, is the right breaking up of our Fallow Ground. The Act of Repentance and Faith is ours, but the Grace whereby we Repent and Believe, is from God and Chriſt, 2 Tim. 2.25. Acts 5.31. So it is our Duty to Circumciſe our Hearts, but in all our Endeavours to perform it, we muſt look to the Promiſe of God, Deut. 30.6. and eye the Grace of our Lord Jeſus, who circumciſes the Heart, in cauſing it to put off the Body of the ſins of the Fleſh, Col. 2.11. Jeſus Chriſt, tho' he had no Foreskin on his Heart, yet he was Circumciſed, Luk. 2.21. that he might fulfil all Righteouſneſs in himſelf, and be obliged by this Ordinance to the great Work of Circumciſing the Hearts of others, Col. 2.11.

2. How muſt Men break up their Fallow Ground? I Anſwer: There muſt be a Plough to do this Work: There muſt be a keen and ſharp Plowſhare, that Men may be Converted, and return to be God's Husbandry. The Word is the Plow, conſiderations taken both from the Law and Goſpel, muſt break and wound the Hearts of p. 109Men. Moſes is indeed a Plow-man, but Chriſt is ſaid to be the Seeds-man; he is the Sower that went forth to ſow, Matt. 13.3. He that ſows the good ſeed is the Son of Man, Matt. 13.37, 38. He doth not only ſow Doctrines, but Perſons. He doth beget a holy Seed, Iſa. 9.6. He waſhes and renews by his Spirit. If Men were convinced of Sin by the Law, and not of Righteouſneſs by the Goſpel; if they were wounded, but had no knowledge of a Phyſician, of a Remedy, of a way of Salvation, this would drive Men to deſpair, ſink and overwhelm them with terrors. The Word muſt cut deep, it muſt prick the heart, Acts 2.37. It muſt wound the Soul to the quick, that Men may be prepared for the healing Remedies, and ſweet Conſolations of Jeſus Chriſt: Weighty, humbling, awakening Conſiderations, muſt be put, and kept on the Heart, and ſink deep into the Soul; ſuch as theſe following Truths.

1. This ſhould affect and wound the Heart, that as we deſcend from the Firſt Adam, we are all born Fleſh. John 3.6. That which is born of the ſheſh, is fleſh. Tho' the Soul be a ſpirit in its nature, yet it is fleſh in its inclination, diſpoſition, ends, and aims. What a debaſing, humbling expreſſion is that, My ſpirit ſhall not always ſtrive with man, for that he alſo is fleſh, Gen. 6.3. The Mind of Man is ſtrangely Carnalized, ſunk into, and ſwallowed up in the Fleſh; it doth not mind its own Concerns, or remember its own Intereſt, it is only a ſervant to, a Steward and Caterer for the Body; as if a Man ſhould be wholly taken up in p. 110thatching, ſupporting, repairing of his Cottage, but ſhould neglect or forget to provide Food and Raiment for himſelf. O that Men ſhould gratify their ſenſes, pleaſe, pamper, and indulge their Fleſh, and put all their happineſs on an inch, on a moment of Time, and not regard Spiritual Bleſſings in Heaven, Eph. 1.3. or value a Feaſt in Glory. How dreadfully bad is it to make light, Matt. 22.5. of the Feaſt, that infinite Wiſdom contrived, and infinite Love hath provided? For Men not to regard the Purchaſe the Son of God hath made, the Ranſom he hath paid, the Legacies he hath bequeathed. A Carnal Creature ſees no worth or excellency, taſtes no ſweetneſs, takes no deught in Spiritual and Eternal Things; they are dry, ſapleſs, hungry Notions, yea, as vain fancies to him. Men underſtand only Carnally, there is fleſh in the mind, Col. 2.18. Nicodemus, tho' he was a Maſter and Teacher in Iſrael, yet did not underſtand the Doctrine of Regeneration, but thought Chriſt meant a Man muſt enter a ſecond time into his Mothers Womb, and be born again from thence, John 3.3, 4, 9. The Will and Affections alſo are Fleſh. When Chriſt did diſcourſe with the Woman of Samaria of Water for her Soul, ſhe puts a Carnal ſenſe on Chriſt's words; ſhe deſires that Chriſt would give her of this water, that ſhe might come no more to that Well to draw, but might be eas'd of a great labour and trouble.

2. This Truth ſhould wound the Heart, That by Nature we are ſpiritually dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, p. 111Eph. 2.1, 4. not only ſick, but dead in ſin. That foreskin that is on our Hearts, is the very death of our Souls, Col. 2.13. You that were dead in the uncircumciſion of your fleſh. This foreskin diſaffects us to, alienates us from, prejudices us againſt God, and ſpiritual things. The body is dead by reaſon of ſin, Rom. 8.10. And the Soul is dead in ſin. By the offence of one, that is, the Firſt Adam, many be dead. Theſe many are all that deſcend from Adam by Natural Generation, Rom. 5.15. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation, Rom 5.18. Men are dead under a ſpiritual, and condemned to an eternal death. Men walk indeed (tho' ſpiritually dead) but it is only contrary to God, Levit. 26.40. Men act indeed, but they only do dead Works, Heb. 6.1. Heb. 9.14. Men muſt repent of, and from theſe dead works, and the blood of Chriſt muſt cleanſe Conſcience from them. O what a dreadful State is this, for Conſcience to be loaded with, and burden'd under dead Works! Thoſe may well be called dead Works, that are the fruits of ſpiritual Death, and the ſeeds of eternal Death; as we call Pond, or Ditch Water, dead Water, becauſe the Pond or Ditch have no ſpring in them to feed the Water, ſo the beſt Works of unregenerate Men may be called dead Works, becauſe they have no Holy Spring, or Fountain, of their Actions. They are deſtitute of Knowledge, there is none that underſtandeth, Rom. 3.11. Hoſ. 4.1. They do not truſt in God, Zeph. 3.2. They have not the love of God in them, John 5.42. Knowledge, Faith, and p. 112Love, are the root and ſpring of all living works, but for want of theſe, the Works of unregenerate Men are dead, they are empty Vines, ſinfully barren, Hoſ. 10.1. yet abound in corrupt fruit, Deut. 32.32, 33. they only bring forth fruit to death, Rom. 7.5. ſuch as renders them more guilty of, liable, and obnoxious to death. When Adam fell, contracted guilt, and corrupted our nature; thence we were made ſinners, Rom. 5.19. and unregenerate men, while they continue ſo, ever ſince they were born, have been Sin-makers. This is their only Trade and Imployment, 1 John 3.4. foreign; it is properly render'd, He that maketh ſin is the ſervant of ſin. The word in compoſition ſignifies to work at a Trade..Aquila, Priſcilla, and Paul, were foreign Tentmakers. This is a ſhameful and woful Trade, in Thought, Word, and Deed, to be a Sin maker. O reflect on this with Self-abhorrency, that as ſoon as you were born you were made Sinners, and ever ſince have been Sin-makers. An unregenerate man, is ſtill out of the evil Treaſure of his heart bringing forth evil things, Matt. 12.34. Out of the Bullion of Original Sin, is ſtill coining Actual Sin; and tho' evil things in Words and Actions, are ſtill brought forth out of this evil Treaſure, yet this doth not leſſen, waſte, or diminiſh, but ſtill more increaſes the evil Treaſure of the Heart.

3. Unregenerate Men are Children of Wrath by Nature, Epheſ. 2.3. They are conceived in ſin, ſhapen in iniquity, Pſ. 51.5. Born fleſh, John 3.6. God hath therefore a Controverſie with them, and juſt diſpleaſure p. 113againſt them. As ſoon as they live Temporally, God hath provocations to deſtroy them Eternally; God ſeeth then the malignity that lurks, the enmity againſt him that is lodged in the Soul. As the Potters Veſſel, mentioned in Jer. 18.3, 4. was marred in making, ſo when men are ſhapen, and formed in the Womb, they are marred, defiled, and deformed with ſin; a Leaven is then laid in the very Meal of our Faculties, Poyſon is then dropt into our Souls: a Diſeaſe, a Plague of Leproſie, is derived to us, together with our Nature, ſo that we are hateful to, Pſ. 3.3. and haters of God, Rom. 1.30. By reaſon of that Traiterous and Rebellious Nature that God then ſaw in us, it had been no injuſtice in God, or wrong to us, if Children of wrath had ſoon been made Veſſels of wrath for ever, Rom. 9.22.

4. Sinful Men heap up more wrath, more inflame, and increaſe Divine Diſpleaſure againſt themſelves. The Hipocrites in heart do heap up wrath, Job 36.13. Thoſe that remain hard-hearted, and impenitent, do treaſure up wrath againſt the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Rom. 2.5. Such do bring more Fuel to the Fire, and Oil to the flame of Divine Diſpleaſure, that it may burn more hotly, and fiercely againſt them. God is angry with the wicked every day, or, as ſome render it, all the day long, Pſ. 7.11. They are ſtill doing ſomewhat more to grieve and provoke God. Sinners are altogether become filthy, or ſtinking, as it is in the margin, Pſal. 14.3. What ſtinking thoughts, deſires, words and actions, do p. 114daily come up into God's noſtrils. God complains, Iſ. 65.5. that they were a ſmoke in his noſtrils, a fire that did burn all the day; as when ſomething very noiſom and ſtinking is burnt, it gives great offence to the Noſe. And as the ſins of men do always ſtink in God's Noſtrils, ſo they cry loud in God's Ears, to kindle more wrath againſt them, and pluck down more vengeance on them. As the ſins of Sodom did make a great cry in God's Ears, Gen. 18.20. the ſins of men are as ſo many Accuſers of, and Witneſſes againſt them, before the Tribunal of God. Iſ. 59.12. Our ſins teſtifie againſt us.

5. Men are unmindful of God, and Enemies to him, 1. They are unmindful of God, Deut. 32.18. Of the Rock that begot thee, thou art unmindful, and haſt forgotten God that formed thee. God is not in all their thoughts; they are without God in the world, Epheſ. 2.12. they call not on him, they draw not night to him; they have no delight in him. They are Atheiſts all the day long; yea, all their life long, as if there were no ſuch Being as God, or they had no need of him, had no buſineſs or concerns with him. Men and Women remember ſmall matters, but yet forget God. Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people (ſaith God) have forgotten me days without number, Jer. 2.32. How great a ſin is it to forget God that is ſo near to us? Acts 27.27, 28. Thoſe that are blind Creatures, may grope, and find out God, by feeling of him; for in him we live, move, and have our being. All the Creatures do declare, p. 115and preach God to us, Pſal. 19.1, 2, 3. Theſe, as continual remembrancers, may preſent God to our thoughts. How great a ſin is it, that men allow no room to God in their minds, and ſhut him out of their hearts, who fills heaven and earth? Jer. 23.24. That the precious Cabiner of the Mind ſhould be filled only with the Dung of unclean, vain, worldly thoughts, but not entertain Meditations of God and Chriſt. 2. Men are enemies to God, Rom. 8.7. The Carnal Mind is not ſaid to be an enemy, but enmity to God. Enemies may be reconciled, but enmity can never be reconciled, but muſt be deſtroy'd. Men are Enemies to God in their minds, through wicked works, or by their minds being ſet wholly on wicked works, Col. 1.21. The mind is either inventing of evil things, and finding out new ſins, Rom. 1.30. or projecting and contriving how to juſtifie the fleſh, and to fulfil the luſts of it, Rom. 13. ult. Or the mind is taken up in cloaking and covering of ſin; it finds out excuſes, it ſews the Fig-leaves of Pretenſes together, to hide the filthineſs and deformity of ſin from the Eye of Conſcience, and ſo to blind and deceive their own Souls. How ſhould this afflict and wound our Souls, that we have been enemies to him, that is the chief good, to a glorious, infinite, eternal Being? who ſpake the World out of nothing, and could as eaſily ſpeak us, and all things elſe, into their Firſt Nothing again? But becauſe men are ready to deny this Charge, and plead not Guilty to it, Paul proves mens enmity againſt God, by their oppoſition p. 116to, and rebellion againſt the Law of God. The carnal mind is not ſubject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, Rom. 8.7.

6. Men are Children and Captives of the Devil. 1. They are Children of the Devil. But Men will ſtart, and deny ſuch an Accuſation. The Jews affirmed, That God was their Father, John 8.41. but Chriſt aſſerted that which was very different from, and contrary to this, John 8.44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the luſts of your father ye will do. Was not Chriſt's Teſtimony to be credited rather than theirs? Tho' Men, as to their natural Life, proceed and deſcend from their Parents, yet as to their corrupt Life, they iſſue from Satan. The enmity, and malignity of their Souls againſt God, his People, and his Laws, this is the very image and likeneſs of Satan. The Jews hated the Truth that Chriſt preached, abhorred him, and were inclined to murder him; and theſe were the very Luſts of Satan. Whoredom, Gluttony, and Drunkenneſs, are groſs and brutiſh Luſts; but the moſt Spiritual ſins, as Pride, Envy, Hatred, are properly the Luſts of Satan. In theſe Men do moſt reſemble him; theſe are the very Lineaments of his Face. It is ſaid of wicked men, Pſal 58.4. That their poyſon is like the poyſon of a ſerpent. This ſeems to be a plain alluſion to the firſt ſin: When the Devil under, and by a Serpent, tempted our Firſt Parents, then he did diſtil his Venom, and drop his Poiſon into them, when his word was believed, and his ſuggeſtions embraced. He miſrepreſented God as p. 117envious of their Good, of their higher Knowledge, and of their ſweeteſt Pleaſures and Delights. He did ſet forth the Fruit of a Tree as the beſt, and moſt deſirable Good, and to be preferred before the favour of God, and as if God's threatning was but a vain, and falſe word. This Poiſon of the Serpent we may diſcern, and find in our own Souls, and therefore while unregenerate may be juſtly charged to the Satans Children, yea, the Souls of Sinners are the Houſe that Satan dwells, and the Shop that he works in, they have Members, Col. 3.5. that God never made, they have Luſts that he never kindled, 1 John 2.15, 16. and are under a Law, Rom 7.21, 23. that God never enacted; but theſe Members, Luſts, and Law, came from Satan. 2. Unregenerate Men are the Devils Vaſſals, Slaves, and Captives. Satan did but preſent Job's Cattle as a deſirable Booty and Prey, and blow up the Fire of their Luſts, and the Chaldeans and Sabeans quickly make an Inroad, Invade Job's Poſſeſſion, and take away his Cattle, Job 1.15, 17. Satan carries Men on in the Chanel of their own corrupt Nature, and on the violent ſtream and torrent of their own Luſts. Men are ſaid to walk according to Satan, Epheſ. 2.2. but how is this? The Apoſtle tells us in the next Verſe, Eph. 2.2, 3. Fulfilling the deſires of the fleſh, and of the mind. They think they have nothing to do with Satan, when they obey him in ſerving of their Luſts. The Devil takes men captive at his will, 2 Tim. 2. laſt. yet he leads men captive by their own Wills. p. 118The very liberty of their Wills is inſlaved. Sinners yield, and give up their own corrupt Wills, and carnal Affections, as ſo many Cords for Satan to lead them by to. Hell. Satan finds Luſts in us, as Chains to bind us, as Snares to hold us; ſhall not this conſideration deeply wound the Souls of Men, that they ſide and join with Satan, to ſeduce and deſtroy themſelves? Men cloſe their eyes, Matt. 13.15. And Satan blinds their minds, 2 Cor. 4.4, 5. and ſo they put the greateſt cheat on their own Souls. They ſee not the Good that Satan deprives them of, and the Miſery and Deſtruction he brings on them.

7. Unregenerate Men are Priſoners, Iſ. 42.7. Iſ. 49.9. they ſit in darkneſs; and are bound with chains, Iſ. 61.1. and dwell in the Priſon Houſe. They are under a ſentence of condemnation, John 3.18. He that believes not is condemned already. And they are under a fear of a day of Execution, Heb. 2.15. Through the fear of death they are all their life time ſubject to bondage. How much are Sinners and Hipocrites affrighted? What dreadful Exclamations do they make? Who among us ſhall dwell with devouring Fire? Who among us ſhall dwell with everlaſting Burnings? O what bitter cries of deſtruction, Iſ. 35.5. will Sinners lift up, when they ſhall ſee the whetted Sword of Juſtice hanging over their Heads, and their Feet at the brink of the bottomleſs Pit! When their eyes ſhall ſee their deſtruction, and they ſhall be brought forth to the day of wrath, Job 21.20, 30.

8. O let this wound your Souls, that you go ſo p. 119far from God, Jer. 2.5. and fly ſo faſt. Hoſ. 7.13. Woe unto them, 1. For they have fled from me; as if they could not go too far, or haſten too faſt, from the Father of Mercies, from the Fountain of Life. And Sinners are very unwilling to return; they hold faſt deceit, they refuſe to return, Jer. 8.5. They ſtop their ears, and make their hearts like an adamantſtone, leſt they ſhould hear the words of the law of the Lord of hosts, Zech. 7.11, 12. They have an Iron Sinew, a Brow of Braſs, and a Heart of Stone, that will not melt or relent, Iſ. 48.4. when God draws near to them with beams of Light, commands of Obedience, and offers of Grace. Job 21.14. They bid him depart, as if they had no need of God, owed no homage, obedience, or ſubjection to him; as if they could ſtand, tho' he did not ſupport them; as if they could chuſe their own way, and order their ſteps, tho' he did not direct them, and they could be happy tho' they did not enjoy him. They caſt God himſelf, and his Word too, behind their backs, Ezek. 23.35. When Men bid God depart, is not this to pluck away his props and ſupports from their Building? To baniſh Heaven from themſelves, and to execute a great part of Hell on themſelves? And to provoke God to bid them depart from him, as curſed Creatures, into everlaſting Fire? Matt. 25.41. They that are alienated from the Life of God, and eſtranged from Communion with him, how can they hope to be for ever with him? 1 Theſ. 4.17.

9. This ſhould affect, and awe your Souls, p. 120that you are ſtill under God's Eye, and do evil in his ſight, Pſal. 51.4. The ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings, Prov. 5.21. There is no darkneſs, or ſhadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelves. Job 34.22. This is peculiar to God, that Malefactors are always in the preſence, and under the eye of him as their Judge; and he is a Witneſs againſt them for all the Crimes they commit. The Lord be witneſs againſt you, 1 Sam. 12.5.

10. How ſhould this cut your Hearts, that all your ſins are marked, Jer. 2.22. and all your crimes are written before him, Iſ. 65.6. The great King of the whole World, writes the Chronicles of all the Lives and Actions of his Subjects; all that Men ſpeak, think, or do, is Recorded in his Book, Rev. 20.12. and Conſcience keeps a Counter-part of the Record. Their ſin is graven as with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond, in the table of their heart, Jer. 17.1.

11. God can make Malefactors to appear, and preſent Delinquents before his Tribunal, they cannot fly, they cannot hide; As for thoſe mine Enemies, that would not have me to reign over them, bring them before me, Luke 19.27. This is proper and peculiar to God, that he can make all tranſgreſſors to appear; and how dreadful will this be, that they muſt appear, 2 Cor. 5.10. where yet they cannot appear with any hope or confidence? 1 Pet. 4 15. where ſhall the ungodly and the ſinner appear? They muſt stand before the Judgment-ſeat p. 121of Chriſt, Rom. 14.10. yet the ungodly ſhall not stand in the Judgment, Pſal. 1.5. O what terror may this ſtrike into Men, that God will bring them into judgment, Eccleſ. 11.9. and God will alſo bring all their ſecret actions into judgment, Eccl. 12.14. God will bring all the hidden things of darkneſs to light.

12. Impenitent Sinners ſhall be puniſhed with an everlaſting deſtruction, which ſhall come from the preſence of the Lord, and the glory of his power, 2 Theſ. 1.9. The ſame Face that ſhines a Heaven into the Souls of Saints, ſhall frown a Hell into the Conſciences of the Wicked; the ſame Arm that puniſhes, ſhall ſupport the puniſhed ſtill to endure more Torments: as God will burn againſt, and on Chaff, Briers, Thorns and Taras, ſo he will preſerve the Fuel, and uphold it to Eternity. Who knows the power of God's anger, Pſal. 90.11? how miſerable he can render a Creature, that he fills up as a Veſſel with his Wrath, that he treads on as a footſtool, and ſhoots at as a Mark? God asks Job, Haſt thou entred into the Springs of the Sea? or haſt thou walked in the ſearch of the deep? could he tell how deep the great Sea was? could he come to the bottom of it? Job 38.16. So it will be ſaid to us, Can you by the line and plumbet of your Reaſon ſound and find out the bottom of the deep Sea of the Wrath of God? Tophet is deep, there is no coming up out of it, Iſa. 30. ult. The Gulf that is fixed is wide, there is no paſſing over it, Luke 16.26. And theſe things are near, our breath is in our Noſtrils, ready to go p. 122out, and the Judge ſtands at the Door ready to come in. As the accuſations and threatnings of the Law ſhould be a Plough, ſtriking home and cutting deep into our Hearts, ſo the Mercy of God in Chriſt, and the Grace revealed in the Goſpel, ſhould exceedingly wound and break our Hearts. How amazing is this, that when we had made God to ſerve with our Sins, and wearied him with our Iniquities, Iſa. 43.24. that the Son of God ſhould take on him the form of a Servant, to ſuffer, to ſatisfie for, and purge away our Iniquities Pſal. 2.76. Heb. 1.3? O, that when God, as a Creator, Preſerver, Benefactor, had been by our Luſts debaſed to be a meer Servant, and Satan exalted to be the Prince, yea, the God, of the World, John 12.3. 2 Cor. 4 4, 5. that the Son of God ſhould humble himſelf to be a Servant to his own Law, as a Sacrifice to his Father's Juſtice, to make an end of the guilt of Sin! O that Chriſt ſhould be ſold to redeem us! that he ſhould be wounded to heal us! that he ſhould be arreſted, arraign'd and condemn'd to juſtifie us! ſhould not this make Hearts of ſtone to relent and break? O, that God ſhould complain, that he is broken with our whoriſh Hearts, Ezek. 6.9. yet Chriſt, to expiate and put away the guilt of theſe Whoredoms, ſhould complain, that Reproach had broken his heart, Pſ. 69.20. We had loaded God with our ſins and provocations, as a Cart is preſſed under the ſheaves, Amos 2.13. O how amazing is it, that God ſhould lay all our ſins on Chriſt, Iſa. 53.6. and load him with our penalties p. 123and puniſhments! that our Debt ſhould be exacted of him, our Curſe executed on him! that he ſhould be as the Manna pounded in the Mortar! that as a cluſter of Grapes he ſhould be bruiſed in the Wine-preſs of the Wrath and Juſtice of God! that as a Porter, or bearer of burdens, he ſhould have our Iniquities bound on him and then bear them quite away. The Hebrew word foreign is uſed of Chriſt, Iſa. 53.4. He hath carried our ſorrows; and hence he that is a Porter, or bearer of burdens, is called, 2 Chron. 2.27. foreign a man of burden. This Name fitly doth agree to our Lord Jeſus, that he was a Man of burden: Never did any one bear ſo vaſt a load, ſo great a burden: We found out Inventions to inſlave our ſelves, Eccl. 7. ult. and God found out a Ranſom, to redeem and ſet us at liberty, Job 33.24. We hated him without a cauſe, and he loved us freely, and without a cauſe; how ſhould this Grace melt our hard, and warm our cold Hearts with love to God? ſhall we continue in the torrid Zone of Enmity and Luſt, when Believers are brought into and dwell in the torrid Zone of Love? It is now poſſible that our Wilderneſs may bloſſom as a Roſe, that our dry Ground may be water'd, improv'd, and inrich'd, Iſa. 35.1. & 44.3, 4. Enemies may be reconcil'd, dead Souls quicken'd, and ſuch as have been Satan's Children and meer Strangers to God, may be adopted, and taken into his Family.

3 Q. Why muſt our fallow Ground be broken up? I anſwer, 1. That our carnal Confidence in our p. 124ſelves may be mortified and rooted out; our Pride muſt be abated, our high Mountain of carnal Confidence muſt be level'd, Iſa. 40.4. How many do truſt in themſelves that they are righteous, Luke 15.8. and this is directly contrary to believing in Chriſt, Gal. 2.16. that they might be juſtified: Thoſe that have ſome Planks, ſome pieces of the wreck of the Fall, to float and ſwim on, will not deſire and cry to be taken up into Chriſt, God's Ark of Salvation; they that build on their Morality, Form of Godlineſs, and Religious Performances, are too rich to beg an Alms and receive a gift of Righteouſneſs from Chriſt, Rom. 5.17. Thoſe that are ſhut up under Sin and Condemnation, will lay hold of and embrace the free Promiſe of Salvation and Life, Gal. 3.22. Thoſe that highly account of their own qualifications and attainments, do think they have valuable Gains, Phil. 3.6, 7, 8. that they have that which will gain them the favour of God, acceptance with him, a Right and Title to Eternal life: They judge themſelves to be whole, that their Souls were never ſick or diſeaſed, Mat. 8.12. they think they have lived in ſubjection to God their Father, and in obedience to his Commands, Luke 15.29. that they have ſerved him when others did rebel againſt him, and that therefore they need no Repentance, Luke 15.7. How many do account themſelves as fruitful and flouriſhing Meadows, that naturally bear a Crop without plowing or ſowing. Thoſe that do value their own civil and unblamable life, and highly account p. 125of their form of godlineſs, they think it very hard, yea, judge it very unreaſonable and injurious to them, that their green and flouriſhing Turf ſhould be plowed up and turned in, as if it were of no worth and value; they think they have ſomething of their own to recommend them to God's Holineſs, and ſecure them from his Juſtice; their fallow Ground muſt be therefore broken up, to root out this carnal Confidence, and to convince them, that they are far from Righteouſneſs, and that nothing they have done will be approved by God's Touchſtone, or hold in his Balance.

2. Our fallow Ground muſt be broken up, that the Briers and Thorns that grow in us may be wounded, cut, and rooted up. The Word of God ſhould be a grubbing Plough, to tear up our Thorns; a circumciſing Knife, to cut off the fore-skin of our Hearts, Jer. 4.4. we muſt ſuffer in our Fleſh, even in our corrupt Nature, 1 Pet. 4.1. Satan's works in us muſt be deſtroy'd, 1 Joh. 3.8. our Navel muſt be cut, Ezek. 16.4. we muſt be ſeparated from the firſt Adam, we muſt be as Branches cut out of the wild Olive, Rom. 11.17, 24. To break up our fallow Ground, is thus expounded in the next Verſe, Jer. 4.4. Circumciſe your ſelves to the Lord, take away the foreskin of your heart; this is as Thorns that choak the Word, that draw away the ſtrength and vigor of the Heart, and ſo ſtarve the Word of God.

3. Men muſt break up their fallow Ground, that they may be meet and fit Patients for Jeſus Chriſt. p. 126This Heavenly Phyſician hath no Practice, but on humbled and broken-hearted Sinners, theſe are they he applys his Remedies to, and works Cures on: He was appointed and deſign'd to bind up the broken in heart, Iſa. 61.1. none others do think they need Chriſt's Help, prize his Remedies, or value his Conſolations: Thoſe that are whole, that never ſaw the Plague of their Hearts, or groan'd under the weight of their Guilt, the burden of their Sins, do not think they need a Phyſician. Chriſt hath few Patients and little Practice in the World, becauſe Men are not ſick of Sin, wounded or broken for it.

4. Our fallow Ground muſt be plow'd and broken up, that our Soil may be fitted to receive the good Seed of the Goſpel: a broken Chriſt is both ſuited and welcome to a broken Heart. Chriſt crucified is the grain of Corn that ſows the whole Field of God, John 12.24. with 1 Cor. 1. We preach Chriſt crucified, ſaith Paul: Chriſt is the lilly of the valleys, Cant. 2.1. His Seed grows and thrives only in poor Ground; the Poor have the Goſpel preached to them, Mat. 11.5. theſe taſte the ſweetneſs of it, are cheer'd by its comforts, are caſt into its mould; the Seed takes root in broken Ground, it proſpers, it thrives in humbled Souls: how do ſinking and drowning Sinners catch at and hold faſt the Cord of the Promiſe caſt out to them? Thoſe that are purſued by their own Guilt, the Wrath of God, the Threatnings and Terrors of the Law, how much do they haſten their pace, and fly for refuge, to p. 127take hold of the Hope ſet before them? Thoſe that are ſcorched by the ſenſe they have of the Wrath of God, how highly do they prize, and how joyfully and delightfully do they ſit under Chriſt's ſhadow, Cant. 2.3.

5. Men muſt break up their fallow Ground, that they may ſeek the Lord in good earneſt. We may obſerve how theſe two things are join'd together, Break up your fallow Ground, for it is time to ſeek the Lord, Hoſ. 10.12. Theſe two things ſeem to be intimated in the words, 1. That in breaking up our fallow Ground we do ſeek the Lord. 2. That none will ſeek the Lord ſincerely and fervently, but thoſe that break up their fallow Ground; ſuch are quickly convinced, and ſoon made ſenſible how neceſſary it is to ſeek the Lord, that vile Weeds, that Vices natural to us may be rooted out, and that ſupernatural Graces and Truths may be grafted on and planted in them. The Pelagians (as Auſtin tells us) aſſerted. That Vitia ingenerata extirpari prorſus incredibile eſt: they argued thus againſt Original Sin, That if Vices were naturally bred in us, and born with us, it was altogether an incredible thing that they ever would or could be rooted out. But God, the great Husbandman, can cleanſe the Soul of them, and mortifie Vice and Luſts that are natural to us, John 15.3. You are clean, through the word that I have ſpoken to you. Whoredom was a Vice ſo natural to the Corinthians, that foreign, to act the part of a Corinthian, was to be a Whoremaſter; and the Apoſtle Paul, in his Epiſtle to them ſaith, p. 128Some of you were Fornicators, Adulterers, but you are waſhed, you are ſanctified, 1 Cor. 6.10, 11. Auſtin himſelf was naturally much inclin'd to Fornication, yet the Grace of God ſo changed him, that he ever after became chaſt in a ſingle life. God can unmake Men, as to their ſinful frame, 1 Pet. 2.24. foreign, being unmade to ſin, you may live to righteouſneſs. God can create Men in Chriſt Jeſus to good works, Eph. 2.10. He can put his Law, his Fear, his Spirit into the Hearts of Men, that natural Vices ſhall be rooted out, and ſupernatural Graces ſhall be planted in the Soul. They that break up their fallow Ground will ſeek the Lord, and continue ſeeking of him, till he come and rain Righteouſneſs on them: this is a Rain of Seed-Righteouſneſs; it is wonderful that God can rain Seed, rain Righteouſneſs that will ſow the Soul, and make it fruitful: as when the Husbandman hath plowed and ſowed his Ground, he needs to ſeek the Lord to rain on it, that the Seed may root and ſpring up, ſo thoſe that plow and break up their fallow Ground have need to pray, that God would rain Holineſs and Righteouſneſs to ſow them. Hoſ. 2. ult. God ſaith, I will ſow them to my ſelf in the Earth.

6. Men muſt break up their fallow Ground, that they may abound in the Work of the Lord, and be filled with the fruits of Kighteouſneſs, 1 Cor. 15. ult. Pſal. 1.11. A fallow Ground is in a great meaſure unprofitable; it bears Thorns and Thiſtles, but a plowed and ſowed Ground yields a good crop of Corn: none do bear Fruit to God p. 129but thoſe that are born again of the Word and Spirit, and made Trees of Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 61.3. will be filled with the Fruits of Righteouſneſs, walk with, and live to God, Gen. 5.24, 25. If our fallow Ground be not broken up, our form of Godlineſs will wither and decay, Thorns will famiſh and ſtarve the good Seed, that at laſt they will be twice dead, pluck'd up by the Roots. Jude 12. The Iſraelites that did not conquer and root out the Heathen Nations, are ſaid to dwell among the Canaanites, Judg. 4.33. theſe did cut the Iſraelites ſhort, and much annoy them, and keep them down; ſo the natural crop of Thorns doth much annoy, and hinder any good Seed that is caſt in among them, obſtruct its growth, that it neither roots deep, nor ſprings up to any height.

7. Men muſt Plow up their fallow ground, that they may have a plentiful and joyful Harveſt at laſt. It is very deſirable to ſow to the Spirit, and to reap Everlaſting Life, Gal. 6.5. To have our fruit to holineſs, and the end everlaſting life, Rom. 6.22. to bear Fruit that will abound to our account, Phil. 4.17. Tho' we have not evened with God, and diſcharg'd our Debt, yet God begins a new Account, and writes himſelf Debtor to his People for their Fruits of Holineſs, and of Love; Saints that ſow in Tears, ſhall reap in Joy; they that go forth weeping, bearing precious Seed, ſhall come again with Joy, and p. 130bring their Sheaves with them, Pſal. 126.5, 6. Though Religion may ſeem not only a barren and unprofitable, but a hurtful thing in the Eye of the World; yet at laſt there ſhall appear a vaſt difference between thoſe that fear God, and thoſe that fear him not, Malac. 3. ult. when the Righteous ſhall ſhine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father, and the Tares ſhall burn in a Furnace of unquenchable Fire; when Chriſt ſhall be glorified in the Salvation of the Saints, and in the Deſtruction of the Wicked, 2 Theſſ. 1.10. Ezek. 25.22. Thoſe that pleaſe God do ſow in a fruitful Soil; they will in this life receive a hundred fold, notwithſtanding Perſecutions from the World, and at laſt will inherit eternal joy and life, Mark 10.30.

9. If we plow not up our fallow Ground, God may let looſe dreadful and cruel Plowmen on us. It is ſaid, Zion ſhall be plowed as a Field, Micah 3. ult. Enemies may plow on our Backs, and make their Furrows both deep and long, Pſal. 129.3. How have the Backs of Proteſtants been cruelty plowed in France for about Twelve Years laſt paſt? God threatens, in Hoſea 10.11. that Judah ſhould plow; they ſhould ſerve their Enemies in and under hard bondage. I have been credibly inform'd, that in Barbary ſome Chriſtian Slaves have been put into Harneſſes, and being lockt p. 131in, have been forced to plow the Ground. God ſeems to allude to ſuch a thing, that Judah ſhall ſuffer as hard and grievous things, as if he were put to Plow. To draw God's Plow is beneficial and honourable Work, but to draw mens Plow will be bitter and grinvous: yea, if you neglect to break up your fallow Ground, God will plow your Souls, make deep and long Furrows in Conſcience to Eternity.

10. Thoſe that will not plow up their fallow Ground, ſhall at laſt beg for an Alms of Mercy, and be rejected. The Sluggard will not plow, by reaſon of the cold; therefore ſhall he beg in Harveſt, and have nothing. Spiritual Sluggards have many Excuſes and Pretences to ſhift off this plowing Work, but when the Harveſt comes they will be in a very bad and woful ſtate. Solomon ſpeaks of it as a great Evil for a Father to waſte his Eſtate by evil Courſes, and to beget a Son, and there is nothing in his hand, Eccl. 5.14. he is Heir only to Poverty and Beggery. But it is a great deal worſe for a Man to be born into Eternity, and to have no Good in his Hand, in his Soul. Thoſe that toil about the World ſhall carry away nothing of their labour in their hand, Eccleſ. 5.15. but if you labour for God, your Works will follow you, Revel. 14.13. and the ſweet Fruit of them will be enjoy'd for p. 132ever. But this is not the only Evil, that ſpiritual Sluggards will have nothing of Good, but God will thunder againſt them, and rain fire and brimſtone on them for working of Iniquity, Pſal. 11.6. As when God was diſpleas'd with Iſrael, he ſent Thunder and Rain in Wheat-harveſt, 1…. …n. 12.17, 18. So when Sluggards have vainly hoped to reap a Harveſt of Happineſs, God will thunder againſt them, pour down his Wrath, and execute Vengeance on them. How earneſtly and importunately will Sluggards beg for Mercy, but all in vain, they will cry, Lord, Lord, open to us, Matt. 7.21, 22, 23. but He will profeſs that which is very contrary to their Profeſſions and Hopes, Then will I profeſs unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work Iniquity. In the 13th of Luke, v. 27. it is thus expreſſed, Depart from me all ye workers of Iniquity: which intimates, that Chriſt will be moſt juſt and impartial; he will no more regard, yea, he will rather much more abhor workers of Iniquity, than thoſe without the Church; both ſhall be diſown'd and rejected by Jeſus Chriſt. Theſe Sluggards will begin Harveſt for ſome ſpiritual Bread, for a Place in the Kingdom, but they ſhall be thruſt out, and enjoy no Good to Eternity.

10. It is a dreadful Curſe denounced on the Ground of Mount Gilboa, by David, 2 Sam. 1.21. Let there be no fields of Offerings there: p. 133that is, let thoſe Mountains never be ſow'd, or if ſow'd, let them be barren: Let there be no fields of Offerings there. The fine Flour was offer'd on the Altar to God, of this the Meat-offering did conſiſt, Levit. 2.1, 2. This was a great honour to the Creatures, for Meat-offerings to be made to God of the fine Flour, and Drink-offerings of Wine. In this ſenſe the Vine ſaith in Jotham's Parable, that it did by its Wine chear the Heart of God, Judg. 9.13. Now if it be a Curſe on the Ground not to bear Wheat, which will yield fine Flour, fit to be offer'd to God, how much ſorer and more grievous Curſe is it for the Souls of Men to be barren, not to be plow'd and ſow'd, not to yield any Fruit that may be offer'd to God, and that he can take pleaſure and delight in? Will you make light of this dreadful Curſe? Will you pluck it, and continue it on your ſelves? Will you do nothing to pleaſe and glorifie God?

Uſe 1. This may reprove many formal and titular Chriſtians, that do neglect this excellent Command, and do ſlight and omit this neceſſary Duty and Work of breaking up their fallow Ground: Inſtead of wounding and breaking their Hearts, they live in Pleaſure, are wanton, and nouriſh their Hearts, as in a day of ſlaughter, that is, as in a great Feaſt-day, when there is a ſlaughter of the Creatures made to feaſt the Body, Jam. 5.5. they pleaſe their p. 134Fleſh, they gratifie and indulge their ſenſual Affections, they cannot bear or endure ſuch hard and grievous Work as this, to draw God's Plow, and with its Shear to cut deep Furrows and ſorely wound their own Hearts; they think it very unreaſonable to baniſh carnal Joy out of their Souls, to cloud their Souls with Sorrows, to load their Spirits with a ſenſible feeling of the Evils that they have done, and with the fear of the Puniſhment they have deſerv'd: how few do take God's part, do ſide with him, do plead his Cauſe againſt themſelves and their Luſts? Who do charge their Sins home on themſelves, and ſet forth their heinous and horrid Aggravations before God? Do not Men deal gently and tenderly with themſelves? Do they not leſſen and extenuate, rather than heighten, their Guilt in Filth, and careleſs of their Tranſgreſſions? If the Word doth perhaps touch or wound them, doth not Self-love, (as that natural Balſam Chyrurgeons and Phyſicians ſay is in the Body) quickly heal it again? Doth not Self flattery ſoon chear them again, and ſo cheat them? Their plowing is rather ſcratching the Earth, than ſtriking a deep Furrow; they know not the meaning, or they have no Experience of a broken Heart, of a contrite Spirit. This is indeed a great thing, for the Spirit of a Man to be bruiſed, and, as it were, ground to powder, under the weight of Sin committed, and the ſenſe of Puniſhment deſerved. p. 135It is ſaid, Hoſ. 5.2. The Revolters were profound to make ſlaughter; but, alas! where are the Men and Women that are profound in wounding their Souls for Sin, and in making a ſlaughter of their Luſts? How is it to be lamented, that the Sword of God's Word doth not paſs through the Heart of the Old Man? that the Arrows of God do not cleave the Reins of Sinners, and pour out their very Gall? how few do outlaw their corrupt and vile Affections, and put them out of their protection, that they may be kill'd when or whereſoever they find, meet with them, or ſee them? But do not Men act quite contrary to this? When God ſhoots his Arrows, caſts his Darts at them, do they not take the Shield of Unbelief, and guard their baſe Luſts? Do they not quench the fiery Darts that God caſts at them? Is there not a great deal of Art and Labour uſed to enervate, to blunt, to diſpirit keen and cutting Truths, that they may not enter deep, that come too home and cloſe to their Hearts? They cannot endure that Conſcience ſhould be enlighten'd and awak'd, that its Tongue ſhould be looſed; this they think is intolerable, to raiſe a Storm within their own Breaſts, to diſturb their Peace, to deſtroy their Hopes, to let in Terrors to arreſt and overwhelm their Souls: They think they ſhall never recover Peace and Comfort, or have their Wounds heal'd again, if God's Plough ſhould cut them p. 136to the very Heart: Doth not a ſhallow Furrow produce a ſlight Religion, and a ſuperficial Chriſtianity in the World? Inſtead of putting convincing Truths, inſtead of keeping awakening Thoughts and Meditations on their Hearts, they rather keep them off at a diſtance, and ſhut them out of their Souls. O where ſhall we find an humbled Sinner crying out thus, I am the man that hath riſen up againſt God, I have broken his Yoke, and made his Laws void; I have burſt his Bonds, and caſt away his Cords from me; I, that am but a Worm, have dared to walk contrary to God, and have enter'd the Liſts with the Almighty; I, that am but a Potter's Veſſel, have challeng'd a Rod of Iron; I, that am but Chaff, Briars, and Thorns, have contended with devouring Fire, with eternal burnings; I have exalted my Folly againſt Infinite Wiſdom, and ſet up my perverſe, wicked, rebellious Will, in oppoſition to the holy Law, the righteous Will of God: though God bears up the frame of Heaven and Earth by the Word of his Power, and doth not faint under this great weight, yet I have laid a heavier burden on him, and cauſed him to complain, that He is wearied by my Sins, Iſa. 43.24. and is preſſed under my Iniquities, as a Cart is preſſed under the Sheaves, Amos 2.13. How few Ephraim; are there found thus bemoaning or impeaching themſelves? Men do indeed like to tread out the Corn, and eat the Fruits of Mercy, but will not follow the Plough, to convince p. 137and humble themſelves for Iniquity. How ſtrange is it, that Perſons will nouriſh in themſelves hopes of a comfortable and plentiful Harveſt hereafter, yet will not now plow and break up their fallow Ground? Is it not an unreaſonable Preſumption, to look for a Harveſt, when there hath been no Ground plow'd, or Seed ſown?

Uſe 2. Examine your ſelves, Is your fallow Ground broken up? have you inclin'd your Hearts and ſet your Hands to God's Plough? Though the Earth doth not feel the Ploughſhear, doth not know when the Husbandman doth till the Land, yet a Soul cannot be both a Plow-man and a plowed Ground, but it muſt needs be ſenſible of what is done on, and wrought within it ſelf. Have you ever been pricked in Heart? Acts 2.37. Have God's Words been as Goads to prick you, as Nails to pierce you? Have the Truths of God been as a ſharp Plow-ſhear, cutting and wounding your Souls?

1. Did you ever come to your ſelves, and ſo make a right judgment concerning your ſelves and your own Eſtate, with reſpect to God and Eternity, Luke 15.17. that you are poor, empty, naked Creatures, that you are but a dry Ground and barren Wilderneſs, like the Vineyard of the ſloathful Man, all p. 138overgrown with Thorns and Nettles, Prov. 24.30, 31? It would be bad for a Man to rent a great Farm, and yet not to have one Acre of Corn ſow'd on it; but is it not worſe for us, that hold our Souls and Bodies of God our great Landlord, to whom we owe a great Rent of univerſal Obedience to his Laws, and yet not to have one Faculty of our Souls ſow'd with precious Seed? For our Minds and Wills not to be Tables with the Law of God; for our Veſſels to be empty, and deſtitute of ſpiritual Oyl; for our Meal not to be leavened by the Goſpel, and the Houſes of our Souls to be empty, and not inhabited by the Spirit of God? Have we diſcern'd our ſelves to be empty Vines, barren Fig trees, unprofitable Servants? Our fallow Ground will never be broken up, till we are convinc'd how much we need to be plow'd and ſow'd.

2. Were our Souls ever rightly, duly, deeply affected with our woful and wretched State? Are Hearts broken, our Spirits wounded, our Souls as a bruiſed Reed? Iſaiah 42.3. Hath the ſenſe of our guilt, and God's wrath, ſo fallen and ſeized on our ſpirits, as to grind them as it were to Powder? A prick in the heart is both painful and mortal, Acts 2.37. this wounds the Old Man to death. How ſhall we, that are dead to ſin, live any longer therein? p. 139Rom 6.2. If an Earthen Veſſel be broken to pieces, it can no more hold any Water, or ſerve for any uſe, as when it was whole. If our Old Man be Crucified, if the Body of Sin be Deſtroy'd, we cannot ſerve ſin as before. If a Ground be Plow'd deep, and the Roots of Weeds, that grew in it, be cut, they cannot flouriſh in that Ground as before.

3. Have you received the ſeed of the Word, the Doctrine of the Goſpel gladly? Acts 2.41. Have the Tidings of Redemption, the News of Salvation, been welcome to you? And as a Noble, and Generous Cordial, revived your fainting and languiſhing Spirits? And as a Soveraign Balſam, healed your bruiſed, broken Hearts? Have you, as drowning Men, laid hold on the Promiſe of Salvation? As famiſhing Men, have you catched at the Bread of Life? Have you as weary, and heavy Laden Sinners, leaned on Chriſt? Cant. 8.5. and taken hold of the Hope ſet before you? Have you, as a dry and thirſty Ground, drank in the ſpiritual Rain, and Dew from Heaven? Heb. 6.18. And doth the ſeed, ſo received, ſanctify you? Doth the Word work effectually in your Souls? Heb. 6.7. Doth it Leaven you, John 17.19. with Holineſs, Spirituality, and Heavenly-mindedneſs? 1 Theſ. 2.13.

p. 1404. Doth the ſeed of the Word bring forth fruit in your hearts and lives? Col. 1.5, 6. Do you ſhine in the world as lights, and hold forth the word of life? Phil. 2.15, 16. Is the ſweet odour of your Ointments, and Garments ſmelt? Cant. 4.10, 11.

USE 3. I would Exhort you to this great Duty, O break your Fallow Ground.

When Adam fell, and was turned out of the Earthly Paradiſe, it was neceſſary for him to become a Husband-man, and a Plow-man. Gen. 3.23. God ſent him out of the Garden of Eden to Till the ground, from whence he was taken. Bread could not be had without Plowing and Sowing; our Nature was corrupted and depraved; all Holineſs and Righteouſneſs ſo rooted out, that if we break not up our Fallow Ground, no ſeed can be ſowed, or Fruit brought forth to God. To be ſpiritual Plow-men, is an Employment neceſſary for all Rich and Poor; Princes and Peaſants, Noble-men, and thoſe of low Degree, muſt all follow the Plow, muſt all attend to break up their Fallow Ground; this is a Work to be neglected by none, Men and Women muſt all proſecute and purſue it. For,

1. We are wholly uſeleſs, and altogether unprofitable, if we continue a Fallow Ground. p. 141It is worſe with us, than with a Field that lies Fallow, that may bear ſome Herbage. I have been credibly informed of ſome Land, that have been ſowed once a Year, and mowed the next; ſo ſerviceable is the Earth to Man, but if Men lie Fallow, they do no good, Rom. 3.12. They bring forth no Fruit to God; all their Religious, and Common Actions, are grievous and diſpleaſing to God. The prayer of him that turneth away his ear from hearing the Law, is an abomination to God, Prov. 28.9. Yea, the plowing of the wicked is ſin, Prov. 21.4. The ſacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, Prov. 15.8. And the way of the wicked, that is, his common Actions, are ſin, Prov. 15.9. That which they offer is unclean, and ſo is every work of their hands, Hag. 2.14. Thus they are altogether unprofitable, Rom. 3.12.

2. If you lie Fallow, you will grow worſe and worſe. The Old Man grows more corrupt, Epheſ. 4.22. As a dead Carkaſs doth putrify more and more, and become more noiſome, unſavory, and ſtinking, ſo it is with the Body of Death in us, Rom. 7.24. The more a ground is neglected, the longer it lies Fallow, the more it is over-run with Briars and Thorns; The deeper the Weeds root in it, the more they over-run, over ſpread, and eat out the heart of it: So here, the Mind grows p. 142more vain, more blind; the Heart is more hard, the Affections more ſenſual and carnal. It is ſaid of ſome, That they have left off to take heed to the Lord, Hoſ. 4.10. And that they leave off Righteouſneſs in the Earth, Amos 5.7. Evil men, and ſeducers, wax worſe and worſe, 2 Tim. 3.13.

3. If you Plow not for God, you Plow for Satan. It is a woful thing to drive Satan's Plow. Iſaiah ſpeaks of ſome, That draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and ſin as it were with a cart-rope, Iſaiah 5.18. It is a plain Alluſion to drawing in a Cart, or drawing of a Plow. O how ſad is it to be Satan's ſlaves, to draw his Plow? All the corrupt Reaſonings of Men, that God doth not ſee, obſerve, reſent their ſins; That he will never revenge them; that God's threatnings are but vain words, as a deſpicable eccho, and the ſounding again of the mountains, Ezek. 7.7. Theſe are the Cords of Vanity by which Men draw ſin to themſelves; but though they are but Cords of Vanity, yet they draw as ſtrong, as if they were a thick Cart-rope. What bad Work do Satan's Plow-men, inſtead of breaking up their Fallow ground? They break God's yoke, burſt his bonds, Jer. 5.5. They brake the everlaſting Covenant, Iſaiah 24.5. Break God's Statutes, Pſal. 89 31. Yea, God himſelf complains, That he is broken by their whoriſh heart, Ezek. p. 1436.9. Thus ill are Men imploy'd, that break not up their Fallow ground.

4. It is honorable to yield Fruit to God. It is ſaid, The profit of the earth is for all; the King himſelf is ſerved by the Field, Eccleſ. 5.9. It is moſt true, That the King of Glory is ſerved by a Field broken up, and ſowed. How honorable is it, when our Prayer is the delight of God? Prov. 15.8. And God delighteth in our way? Pſal. 37.23. When our Offerings are pleaſant to the Lord? Mal. 3.4. When we can invite Chriſt to come into his Garden, and eat of his pleaſant fruits, Cant. 4. laſt. When we treat him with the ſpiced Wine of the juice of our Pomegranate, Cant. 8.2. When our voice is ſweet in Chriſt's ears, and our countenance is comely in Chriſt's eyes, Cant. 2.14. It is for the glory of the Church, that Chriſt goes down to feed in the Gardens, Cant. 6.2.

5. It will be our advantage to break up our Fallow ground. God bids our firſt Parents, to repleniſh the Earth, and ſubdue it, Gen. 1.28. That it is by Tillage they were to maſter the Earth, and compel it to ſerve them, and bear Fruit to them; ſo by breaking up our Fallow ground, we ſubdue it to yield Fruit to God, and we more appropriate it, and render it uſeful to our ſelves. One that writes concerning Government and Obedience, p. 144(in oppoſition to Sir Robert Filmer) conceives that this was the way at firſt to divide, and appropriate parcels of the Earth to particular Perſons: That as much as a Man had need of, and could Plow and Sow, that became his own. And he ſaith it is ſo in Spain at this day, That any Man may Plow Land, Sow, and Reap it for his own uſe, without oppoſition, or contradiction from any. It is by plowing, and breaking up of our Fallow ground, that we become more Maſters of our ſelves, do more poſſeſs our own Souls, as Proprietors uſe them, and as Kings command, Rev. 1.5, 6. in them. So much of our Souls as we Till, as we break up, is devoted to God, and is a Portion profitable to our ſelves. As it is the Riches of a Husband-man, to have many Acres ſowed with good Corn, with uſeful Grain; ſo it will be both our Honour, and Advantage, to have many Years of our Lives ſowed with the Fruits of Holineſs, and Righteouſneſs. If every Day, Month, and Year, be ſowed with Fruit, that will abound to our account, Deut. 4.17. how Rich, how Honorable are we?

6. Conſider how infamous, and miſerable we ſhall be at laſt, if we break not up our Fallow ground. We ſhall neither ſow to our ſelves in righteouſneſs, nor reap in mercy, Hoſea p. 14510.12. We ſhall loſe our Seed time of Grace, and our Harveſt of Glory. We ſhall only reap corruption and deſtruction, Gal. 6.8. and be reaped as Tares, to be caſt into a Furnace of unquenchable Fire, Matt. 3.12. Matt. 13.42. If we continue dead in ſins, Epheſ. 2.1. and do no good, we ſhall at laſt be Carkaſſes deſolate of all life and comfort, and enjoy no good to Eternity, Iſa. 66. laſt. Yea, Chriſt will fall on you as a weighty ſtone, and grind you to pouder, Matt. 21.44.

7. When we break up our Fallow ground, we begin to do ſomething in Religion. All is nothing that we do, yea, we are nothing as to pleaſing of God, till we break up our Fallow ground. The Seeds man will not go forth to ſow, till the Plow-man goeth forth, and breaketh up the Ground. As a Man cannot Graft, till the Stock be cut to let in the Graft, ſo a Husband-man cannot Sow till the Ground be Plowed, and fitted to receive the Seed. Corn will not thrive, that is ſown on whole Land; the Graſs and Weeds will kill and choke it. So Goſpel-Truths will not root deep, thrive, or proſper kindly, if our Hearts are not broken. Till we lie down in our ſhame, Jer. 3. laſt. We cannot ſtand in grace, Rom. 5.2. Till we are convinced that we are enemies, we ſhall not take hold of the word of Reconciliation. Till we find, and p. 146feel our ſelves ſhut up, under Sin and the Curſe, we ſhall not liſten to Chriſt as a Redeemer, calling us out of Priſon, Iſa. 49.9. into the Kingdom of God. And a vain ſhew of Religion, will yield no more than a vain ſhew of Happineſs; if we bring forth no Fruit for Chriſt to eat, there will be no Feaſt for us to enjoy.

That you may break up your Fallow ground, obſerve theſe following Directions:

1. Be convinced of this, and be humbled for this, That you have ſo long lain as a Fallow ground. How evil is it, that Men have continued, perhaps twenty, thirty, forty, fifty Years, or more, a fallow Ground? If a fallow did not ſerve a Husbandman any other way, but by being plow'd, ſow'd, and bearing Corn, would it not be a great ſhame and loſs to him, to ſee a Fallow to lye thirty, forty or fifty Years, and never to plow it all this while? And ſhould it not grieve and afflict your Souls, that you have for many Years lain fallow, and have brought forth no Fruits of Righteouſneſs to God? Jeremiah ſaith of Iſrael to God, They have done nothing of all that thou commandedſt them to do, Jer. 32.23. Sinners are wholly at Satan's beck, diſpoſe, command; he hath been ſowing, grafting, and nurſing up his Tares in them. O let p. 147this humble you, That the Devil hath been watering, improving, ſtrengthning your vile Luſts and Affections. O that God ſhould ſpare you ſo long, ſupport you by his arms of Power, and ſupply you out of the Treaſures of his Goodneſs, when you were not only without him, Zeph. 12. but alſo againſt him in the World! It is a great Evil to be without God, as if there were no ſuch glorious Being, or you had no need of him; but it is worſe to be againſt God, to walk contrary to him, to fight againſt his Laws, and Kingdom, as if he did bereave you of your Liberty and Pleaſure, and enact Laws contrary to your Freedom, Comfort, and Happineſs. How have your Luſts conſumed your Time, and eat up thoſe Years that ſhould have been Fruitful to God? O be ſenſible that you have defrauded God, by not bearing good Fruits; and have burdened him by the abundance of your evil Fruit.

2. When you begin to break up your Fallow Ground, O call for, and ſeek after the Aſſiſtance of the ſpirit of God, to direct the Plow, to put his Hand on it, that it may cut deep. You need that God ſhould ſpeak with a ſtrong Hand, Iſaiah 8.11. That the Hand of the Lord ſhould be with them that preach, Acts 11.20, 21. That when p. 148Miniſters do ſtrike the Rock of your hearts, that the Lord ſhould ſtand on the Rock, (as he Promiſed Moſes) and cauſe it to cleave, and to give out Waters of Penitential Tears, Exod. 17.6.

In vain do Miniſters Thunder, and Lighten in the Conſcience, if the ſpirit of God doth not ſet home Convictions, and ſeal up Inſtructions on the Soul. The Holy Ghoſt muſt Arreſt, ſeize upon, and ſhut up the Soul in Priſon, that elſe will go at Liberty, and be under no Reſtraint, either from the Command, or Threatnings of God. If Guilt, and Wrath, do not lie hard, and heavy, on the Soul, Men will not regard Reconciliation, Redemption, and Salvation. Thoſe that make light, yea, a mock at ſin, Prov. 14.9. will make light of Chriſt's Feaſt, and Salvation, Matt. 22.5.

We need the ſpirit of Chriſt to caſt Chains of Light, and Conviction, about us, and to ſhut us up under the bitter ſenſe of our Tranſgreſſions, and to make us ſuch cloſe Priſoners, as to ſhut out all the Worlds Comforts from us, that they may be able to adminiſter no ſupport, relief, or refreſhment to us, that we may wholly have recourſe to Chriſt, and liſten to him for Conſolation. It is very contrary to Fleſh and p. 149Blood, for Men to acknowledge themſelves worthy of the Curſe, and to ſay Amen to it, Deut. 27. laſt. But if it be not thus, how can we run to Chriſt, that all the Promiſes may be Amen to us through him? We cannot ſubdue our Souls to Spiritual Tillage, if the Holy Ghoſt doth not ſubdue our Iniquities, Micah 7.19.

3. We muſt take hold of God's gracious and free Promiſes, to incourage us to ſet on this Tillage, and breaking up of our Fallow ground.

Adam was ſent out of the Garden of Eden to Till the Ground; but this might much diſhearten him, That the Ground was Curſed for his ſake: And that God did threaten him, That it ſhould bring forth Thorns and Thiſtles to him: That theſe ſhould ſpring up in his Plowed Land, and grow among his Corn. It is grievous to plow and ſow under a Curſe; to break the Ground, and ſow Wheat, and yet to Reap Thorns, Jer. 1.2, 13. They ſowed wheat, but reaped thorns, and ſo were aſhamed of their Revenues. A Harveſt of Thorns was a very ſad, and ſhameful Crop; but do not Men diſappoint God? He ſoweth good Seed, yet the Souls of Sinners do bring forth Briars and Thorns, Heb. 6.8. Juſtly therefore p. 150may the Earth diſappoint Man, when Man fruſtrates God. I looked for Grapes (ſaith God) but his Vineyard brought forth wild grapes, Iſa. 5.4. But this is a great incouragement to our Spiritual Husbandry, That there are ſo many great and precious Promiſes, that God's own Power and Grace will accompliſh and fulfil. It is ſaid, The Wilderneſs ſhall bloſſom as a roſe. Iſa. 35.1. That floods of water ſhall be poured out on the dry ground, to enrich and make it fruitful, Iſa. 44.3. That the ſpirit ſhall be poured out on the Off-ſpring of the Church, therefore they ſhould ſpring up as the willows by the water-courſes: One ſhould ſay I am the Lords, another ſhould ſubſcribe, and as by writing bind himſelf to the Lord, Iſa. 44.4, 5. That the deaf ſhould hear the word of the book, Iſa. 29.18. And the dead ſhould hear the voice of the Son of God, and live, John 5.25.

There are Promiſes made to Chriſt that he ſhall ſee his Seed; behold the travel of his ſoul and be ſatisfied, and that by his knowledge he ſhall juſtify many, Iſa. 53.11. That he ſhould call Nations, that knew not him, and they ſhould run to him, Iſa. 55.5. And the Apoſtles that God ſhould ſend to the Gentiles, ſhould ſucceed and prevail, and bring in the Gentiles (that are called their Brethren) as living Sacrifices, as holy Offerings to God's p. 151ſpiritual Temple, Iſa. 66.18, 19, 20. Therefore the Labours of God's Meſſengers cannot be in vain: As Miniſters are Plowers, and Seeds-men, ſo they ſhall be Harveſt-men, Matt. 9. laſt. The Seed they ſow ſhould ſpring up to a Harveſt, Hearers ſhould be Converted, gathered into the Barn of the Church, there be threſhed and winnowed for the Garner of Heaven, Matt. 3.12. What ſweet and incouraging words are theſe, I will put Laws into their inward parts, and write them in their hearts, Jer. 31.33. Miniſters are but as Pens, but the ſpirit doth handle theſe Pens to write an Epiſtle with them, whereby the Soul is dedicated to God and Chriſt, 2 Cor. 3.3.

How reviving are theſe Words, Ezek. 36.26, 27. A new Heart will I give to you, a new Spirit will I put within you: I will take away the Heart of Stone, and give a Heart of Fleſh. My Spirit alſo will I put within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, and keep my Commandments.

As Chriſt doth ſpeak in his Miniſters, 2 Cor. 13.3. ſo he works by them, and in them, Mark 16.20. how greatly would Miniſters elſe be deterred from this Tillage? Shall Horſes run on the Rock? will one plow there with Oxen? Amos 6.12. Some Seed is p. 152ſaid to fall on a Rock, Luke 8.6. To plow and ſow on a Rock is very uncomfortable; yet this Promiſe of God, I will take away the Heart of Stone, may bear up Miniſters againſt theſe Difficulties.

4. You muſt perſiſt and go on in this Work of breaking up your fallow Ground. As there are Fallows in the viſible Church, many there do need Converſion; ſo in the beſt of the Saints there is a carnal and unregenerate part, that well may be called a fallow Ground; this Ground ſhould ſtill be plowed up. More Ground in the Soul ſhould be ſubdued, converted to Tillage, and manured; there is ſtill a barren part, there is ſtill a Soil that nouriſhes Weeds, and is overrun with Thorns, this is to be broken up: We are ſow'd but in part, bear Fruit but in part; With our fleſh we ſerve the Law of Sin, Rom. 17. ult. Nehemiah complain'd, That though their Captivity was turned, yet they were Servants in their own Land; and it yielded much encreaſe to the Kings that GOD had ſet over them: becauſe of their Sins, Neh. 9.36, 37. the Kings of Perſia were ſtill their Lords, and out of their Labours they paid Tribute, either in Money or Fruits, to them. But how much more is this to be bewail'd and lamented, that Sin and Satan have yet ſome Ground in us that beareth Fruit unto p. 153them? Should we not therefore more break up our fallow Ground? Should not the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the Coaſts of the New Creature be more enlarged in us?

Joſhua divided to the Children of Iſrael even the Nations not yet conquer'd, and did yet remain in Canaan, and encouraged the Iſraelites to fight againſt them, with this Promiſe, The Lord your God ſhall expel them from before you, Joſhua 23.4, 5. So all that is poſſeſſed by the Fleſh in us is divided to us, is to be the Portion and Lot of the New Creature. We ſhould ſtill therefore more crucifie and ſubdue the Fleſh, with its Affections and Luſts; the New Creature ſhould more caſt forth its Roots, and ſpread its Branches; we ſhould gain more Ground from the Sea of Corruption, and turn more of our Souls to Tillage.

5. We ſhould preſently ſet on this Work, and fall to break up our fallow Ground. The Jews ſaid, The time was not yet come, the time that the Lord's Houſe ſhould be built, Hag. 1.2. So ſloathful Souls are ready to ſay, The time is not yet come to fall to plow, and break up their fallow Ground; they are yet but in their Youth, in the Morning of their days, two or three hours of their day will ſuffice to ſow Seed enough, and to provide for an p. 154Eternal Harveſt: but this Tillage may well take up our whole Day of Life. It is to pleaſe an Infinite God, it is to enjoy an Eternal Harveſt, that we plow; God cannot ſow us to himſelf, Hoſea 2. ult, and we cannot ſow to our ſelves in Righteouſneſs, and reap in Mercy: We cannot bring our Sheaves with joy, and eat the fruits of our doings with comfort for ever, Iſa. 3.10. if we do not break up our fallow Ground. We ſhould make haſte, and not delay to obey this Command of God, Pſal. 119.59, 60. Do not mind and purſue the World, as if that were your greateſt Buſineſs and chiefeſt Happineſs: conſider, to mind earthly things is a great ſin, Phil. 3.19. to have our Portion in this life is a ſore Judgment, Pſal. 17.14. to have their Backs continually bowed down, to look after and purſue carnal things, is a dreadful Curſe, Rom. 11.10. be perſwaded, be convinc'd that it is high time to break up your fallow Ground, and to ſeek the Lord: O deſire to be God's Huſbandry, 1 Cor. 3.9. O, cry to him to enlighten your dark Minds, to break your hard Hearts, to ſpiritualize your carnal Affections: Seek God diligently, ſeek him with your whole Heart, ſeek him continually, that he would write his Law in you, ſtamp his Image on you, and graft his Word in you, Jam. 1.21. and thereby graft you into Chriſt, and plant you in the likeneſs of his Death and Reſurrection, p. 155Rom. 6.5. to root and ground you in the Faith, Col. 2.7. Do not delay, do not defer this neceſſary Work of Spiritual Tillage, leſt hereby you fall into the Snare of the Devil, he that now tells you it is yet too ſoon to ſet on this Work, to break up your fallow Ground; After your long idleneſs and negligence, the Devil may change his Temptation, and ſuggeſt to you, that the time to break up your fallow ground is now paſt; that it is too late to ſet on this Work, when your Hearts are harden'd by the deceitfulneſs of Sin, your Day of Grace is paſt, God's Treaſury is lock'd, his Fountain of Life is ſealed, his Bowels of Mercy ſhut: Therefore you muſt pine away in Horrour and Deſpair, and periſh for ever.

End of the text · Samuel Tomlyns, The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Husbandry (1699)