That ev'ry nerve of thy blest soul dost ply NICHOLAS WATTS. IN AUTHORIS OPERA. LET Paracelsus and Van Helmont's name, Makes the rude ground turn tutor unto men. They may unto the port of glory row. Teacheth the ploughmen, from their work, to know Rare artist! who when many tongues are mute, The age's sins; by preaching unto eyes, Do not forget to crown the laborer. Sic raptim canit. 3 DAN. CONDY. THE EPISTLE, TO THE INTELLIGENT COUNTRY READER. THOU hast here the fruit of some of my spare hours, which were thus employed, when, by a sad providence, I was thrust from the society of many dear friends, into a solitary country dwelling. I hope none will envy me these innocent delights, which I made out of my lonely walks, whereby the Lord sweetened my solitudes there. It is possible you may find some passages here that are harmlessly pleasant; yet I assure you, I know of none that the most Cynical Reader can censure, as sinfully light and vain. I must acknowledge, to the praise of God, that I have found some of those (which possibly some of my readers will call the slightest, and most trifling subjects of meditation) to be the ordinances for instruction, caution, and consolation to my own soul; yea, I have found such a degree of comfort in these things, that it I now has greatly tended to endear a country life to me. much better understand the saying of Horace, than when I learned it at school, Novistine locum potiorem rure beato? Est ubi plus tepeant hyeme ? hi gratior aura? What life can with the country life compare? And, when I sleep, bid all my cares adieu. HOR. SAT. 6. And what I have found so beneficial to myself, I cannot but think may be so to others. I assure thee, reader, I am not fond of any of these conceptions; and yet I think I may modestly enough say, that the emptiest leaf in this book may serve for more and better uses, than a mere diversion, when thou canst find leisure to peruse it. I know, your troubles and cares are many; and though your condition of life hath many innocent comforts, and outward mercies to sweeten it, yet I believe most of you have found that ancient saying of Anacreon experimentally true : • Some bitter troubles countrymen do meet, Wherewith the Lord doth intermix their sweet.' The cares of your minds are commonly no less than the pains of your bodies; it concerns you, therefore, to sweeten what you cannot avoid; and I know no better way for that, than what is here directed to. O friends! what advantages have you for a spiritual life? Why may you not have two harvests every year? One for your souls, another for your bodies; if you could thus learn to husband your husbandry. Methinks spiritual meditations do even put themselves upon you. Husbandmen of old were generally presumed to be honest and good men ; what else means that saying of Meander, Profess thyself an husbandman, And wicked too! believe't that can.' Whether you are godly or wicked, is not for me to determine. If you are not godly, it is my wish under God to make you so nor can I think of a more probable means of accomplishing this, than the one I have here adopted. Methinks it should be a pleasure to you, when you come weary out of the fields from plough, or any other labor, to sit down in the evening, and read that chapter which concerns that particular business, and refresh your souls, even from that which hath wearied your bodies. Were your hearts but heavenly, and more time allowed for spiritual husbandry, your inward comforts would be much more, and your outward gains none the less, for if the success of all your civil labors and employments, depend upon the pleasure and will of God, as all that are not Atheists do acknowledge, then, certainly, your business can succeed never the worse for your endeavors to please him, upon whose pleasure it so entirely depends. I have many times lifted up my heart to heaven, whilst these papers were under my hand, for a special blessing to accompany them, when they should be in yours. the Lord accomplish my desires by them upon your souls, you shall enjoy two heavens, one here, and another hereafter. Would not that be sweet? The historian tells us, that Altitus Serarius was sowing corn in the field, when Q. Cincinnatus came to him bare-headed, with letters from the senate, signifying that he was chosen to the dictatorship. I hope the Lord will so bless and succeed these labours, that many of you will be called from holding the plough on earth, to wear the crown of glory in heaven; which is the sincere desire of Your hearty well wisher, If JOHN FLAVEL. THE PROEM. 1 Cor. iii. 9. Ye are God's Husbandry. THE Scope and design of the following chapters, being the spiritual improvement of husbandry, it will be neces sary, by way of proem, to acquaint the reader with the foundation and general rules of this art in the scriptures, thereby to procure greater respect unto, and prevent prejudice against composures of this kind. To this end, I shall entertain the reader a little while upon what this scripture affords us, which will give a fair introduction to the following discourse. The apostle's scope in the context being to check and repress the vain glory and emulation of the Corinthians, who, instead of thankfulness for, and an humble and diligent improvement of the excellent blessings of the ministry, turned all into vain ostentation and emulation, one preferring Paul, and others Apollos; in the mean time depriving themselves of the choice blessings they might have received from them both. To cure this growing mischief in the churches, he checks the vanity, and discovers the evil of such practices by several arguments, among which this is one, Ye are God's Husbandry, q. d. What are ye, but a field, or a plot of ground, to be manured and cultivated for God? And what are Paul, Apollos and Cephas, but so many workmen and laborers, employed by God, the great husbandman, to plant and water you all ? If, then, you shall glory in some, and despise others, you take the ready way to deprive yourselves of the benefits and mercies you might receive from the joint ministry of them all. God hath used me to plant you, and Apollos to water you; you are obliged to bless him for the ministry of both, and it will be your sin if you despise either. If the workmen be discouraged in their labors, it is the field that loses and suffers by it; so that |