1, Well then, blessed be God that made me feel the saving power of the gospel. O, let God be exalted for ever The sincere souTs for this mercy ! that how defective soever I am reflection, in common gifts, though I have a dull under-
standing, a leaking memory, a stammering tongue ; yet I have felt, and do feel the power of the gospel upon my heart. I bless thee (my God) that although I labour under many spiritual infirmities, yet I am not sick of this incurable di.sease. I have given thee indeed just cause to inflict and execute this dreadful curse upon me also, but thou hast not dealt with me after my deserts.
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 59
but according to the riclics of thy mercy. Some httle fruit I bring forth, and what it is, is by virtue of my union with Jesus Christ, Rom. vii. 4. And this hath more in it as to my comfort, than all the gHttering gifts and splendid performances of the most glorious hypo- crite can yield to him : if I might have my choice (saith one) I would chuse and prefer the most despicable and sordid work of a rustic Christian before all the victories of Alexander, and triumphs of Caesar. Blessed therefore he the Lord, ivlio hath abounded unto me in all spiritual blessings, in heavenly i^laccs in Christ Jesus.
I cannot remember a sermon as another can, but blessed be God that I am able to favour it, and feel it ? that I have an heart to love and a will to obey all that God discovers to be my duty.
2. O, then how little cause have I to make my boast of ordinances, and glory in my external privileges, who never bear 777 ye^ , 7 , spiritual fruit under them.'^ If I well consider mv /:• "^ . /r,^,. condition, there is matter of trembling; and not of*^ J^ "^ ^
gloi'ijing in these things. It may be while I have been glorying in them, and lifting up my secure heart upon then" the Lord hath been secretly blasting my soul under them, and insensibly executing this horrible curse by them. Shall I boast with Capernaum that I am lifted up to heaven, since I may with her, at last be cast down to hell ? And if so. Lord, what a hell will my hell be .^ It will be more tole- rable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for me. It drew tears from the eyes of Christ, when he was looking upon Jerusalem, under the same consideration that I doubt I have cause to look upon my own soul, Luke xix. 41. " He wept over it, saying, if thou hadst known, *' even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy ^^ peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes.'''' So long have I been a hearer, a professor of the gospel, so many years have I enjov- ed its distinguishing ordinances, but have they not been all dry and empty things to me ; hath not the spirit of formality acted me in them ? Have not self-ends and worldly respects lain at the bottom of my best duties ? Have not my discourses, in communion with saints been trade words, speaking what I have learnt, but not felt ? Sad is my condition now, but it would be desperate and irrecoverable shouldst thou execute this curse upon me.
3. And what may I think of my condition ; Lord, I acknowledge my unprofitableness under the means hath been rpj ■, n, -.n 1 shameful; and this hath made my condition doubt- ni ry -^ .' ful. I have often trembled for fear, lest my root ^ . had been blasted by such a curse H but if so, whence -^ is this trembling ! Whence these fears and sorrows about it ? Doth such fruit grow in that soil which thou hast cursed ! I am told but now, that on whom this judgment falls, to them thou givest an heart that cannot repent. Lord, I ble.,s thee for these evidences of free- dom from the curse : , for the fruits of fear, sorrow, and holy jealousy.
60 HUSBANDRY GPIRITUALIZED ; OR,
* The laws of men spare for the fruit's sake, and wilt thou not spare me also, my God, if there be found in me a blessing in the bud, Isa. Ixv. 8.
4. To conclude, what a serious reflection should this occasion in every dispenser of the ffospel? How should he rm 7 7 -.
say when he goes to preach the gospel, 1 am . ^, /• going to preach that word which is to be a ^ savour ofVtfe or death unto these souls ; upon how many of my poor hearers may the curse of perpetual barrenness be executed this day ! O how should such a thought melt his heart into compassion over them, and make him beg hard, and plead earnestly with God for a better issue of the gospel than this upon them.
Jl OU that besides your pleasant fruitful fields. Have useless bogs, and rocky ground that yields You no advanta^j^e, nor doth quit your cost, But all your pains and charges on them's lost : Hearken to me, I'll teach you how to get More profit by them than if they were set At higher rents than what your tenants pay For your most fertile lands ; and here's the way.
Think when you view them, why the Lord hath chose
These, as the emblem to decipher those
That under gospel -grace grow worse and worse ;
For means are fruitless when the Lord doth curse- Sweet showers descend, the sun his beams reflects On both alike, but not with like effects. Observe and see how after the sweet showers The grass and corn revive : the fragrant flowers Shoot forth their beauteous heads, the vallies sing, All fresh and green as in the verdant spring. But rocks are barren still, and bogs are so ; Where nought but flags, and worthless rushes grow. Upon these marshy grounds there lies this curse, The more rain falls, by so much more the worse.
Even so the dews of grace that sweetly fall,
From gospel-clouds, are not alike to all.
The gracious soul doth germinate and bud,
But to the reprobate it doth no good.
He's like the wither'd fig-tree, void of fruit ;
A fearful curse hath smote his very root.
The heart's made fat, the eyes with blindness seal'd ;
The piercing'st truths the gospel e'er reveal'd,
* The Romaa laws defer punishing a woman with child. Chryit.
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY TI1IXG3. €%
Shall be to him but as the sun and rain
Are to obdurate rocks, fruitless and vain. Be this your meditation when you walk By rocks and fenny-grounds thus learn to talk With your own souls ; and let it make you fear Lest that's your case that is described here. This is the best improvement you can make Of such bad ground ; good soul I pray thee take Some pains about them ; though they barren be, Thou seest how they may yield sweet fruits to thee.
CHAP. VII. Upon the plowing of Corn-land.
The i^lozvman guides Jus plow with care and sMll; So doth the Spirit in sound conviction still.