Lo ! here I have given thee (with Ishmael) the fatness of the earth ?
Thou shalt not say but thou hast tasted of thy Creator's bounty ; but
make the most of it, for this is all that ever thou shalt have from me;
there be others in the world, to whom I have denied these things,
but for them 1 have reserved better ; for the most part they are poor
in this world, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. Is not
this enougli to damp all my carnal mirth ? Should my conscience
give me such a memento as Abraham, in the parable, gave to Dives ;
" Remember that thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things."
Ah ! what a cut would that be to all my comforts ? A man in a
fever hath a lively colour, but a dying heart. I have an appearance,
a shadow of comfort, but a sad state of soul.
2. " Blessed be the God and Father of ray Lord
" Jesus Christ, who hath blessed me with ail spiri- a jj r /» " tual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,'' Ephes. ^J^J^^J^');^'^^ i. 3. Though he hath not seen fit to give me much ri ' i h i of this world In hand, yet it hath pleased him to ^ ' '"*
settle a rich mheritance upon me by promise ; the hopes and expectations whereof yield my soul more true comfort than all the present enjoyments of this world could have done. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given me my portion in this life, that by keeping me from the enjoyment, hath also preserv- ed me from the mares of a prosperous estate.^
130 MUSBANDJIY SPIRITUALIZED; 01?^
Lord Jesus, I have no bags, I have no barns; but thou shalt be to me instead of all those thhigs. When others rejoice in the fulness of their earthly comforts, I will rejoice in the fulness of my Christ: they have that which (though I have not) I shall not want ; and I have that which all their riches cannot purchase. Bless the Lordj O my soul ! ^ „ . ^ 3. But, Lord, how am I obliged, above thou-
n A Ml /i 77 7 sands, to love and praise thee ? to bless and
that hath a full barn j • ^u i i 4. ^ i i *.r n
1 Ch t i admire thee, who hast not only plentiiuUy pro-
vided for my soul, but for my body too ! who hast given me both the upper and the nether springs, heaven and earth ; things present, and things to come ? Thou hast not dealt so with all ; no, not with all of thy own people': many of them are stran- gers to the mercies which I enjoy. God hath done great things for me, O my soul ! what wilt thou do for God .? The freer the condition is he hath placed me in, the more am I both obliged and advantaged for his service ; and yet I doubt, it will be found, that many a poor Christian that labours with his hands to get his bread, redeems more hours for God than I do. Lord, make me wise to understand and answer the double end of this gracious dispensation ! let me bestow the more of my time upon God, and stand ready to minister to the ne- cessities of his people.
4. Oh ! what an unhappy wretch am I \ that A reflection for one have notliing either in hand, or in hope ; am mi- iliat hath neither a serable here, and like to be so for ever ; had I ham nor a Christ, but an interest in Christ, as the godly poor have, that would sweeten all present troubles, and shew me the end of them. But, alas ! I am poor and wicked, contemned of men, and abhorred of God ; an object of contempt both to heaven and earth. Lord, look upon such a truly miserable object with com- passion, give me a portion with thy people in the world to come, if thou never better my outward condition here ! O sanctify this pover- ty ; bless these straits and wants, that they may necessitate my soul to go to Christ : make this poverty the way to glory, and I shall bless thee to eternity that I was poor in this world.
V-f FT have I seen, when harvest's almost in, The last load coming, how some men have been Wrapt up with joy, as if that welcome cart Drew home the very treasure of their heart ; What joyful shoutings, hoopings, hollowing noise^ W^ith mingled voices both of men and boys I To carnal minds there is no greater mirth, No higher joy, no greater heaven on earth. He speaks pure paradoxes, that shall say These are but trifles to what saints enjoy :
THE HEAVENLY USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 131
But they despise your sparks as inuch as you
Contemn their sun. Some that could never shew
A full stufF'd barn, on which you set your heart.
But glean, perhaps, the ears behind your cart;
Yet are the gleanings of their comfort more
Tlian all your harvest and admired store.
Your mirth is mix'd with sorrow, theirs is pure;
Yours like a shadow fleets, their joys endure.
God gives to you the husk, to them the pith,
And no heart-stinging sorrows adds therewith.
Though at the gates of death they sometimes mourn,
No sooner doth the Lord to them return,
But sorrow's banish'd from their pensive breast ;
Joy triumphs there, and smiles their cheeks invest.
Have you beheld, when, with perfumed wings,
Out of the balmy east, bright Phoebus springs.
Mounting th' Olympic hill, with what a grace
He views the throne of darkness, and doth chase
The shades of night before him ? having hurPd
His golden beams about this lower world.
How from sad groves, and solitary cells,
Where horrid darkness and confusion dwells,
Batts, owls, and doleful creatures, fly away.
Resigning to the cheerful birds of day :
Who in those places now do sit and chant.
Where lately such dire creatures kept their haunt ?
Thus grief resigns to joy ; sighs, groans, and tears
To songs triumphant, when the Lord appears.
O matchless joy ! O countenance divine !
What are those trifles to these smiles of thine ?
May, I, with poor Mephibosheth, be blest
With these sweet smiles ; let Ziba take the rest.
My life ! my treasure ! thou shalt ne'er be sold
For silver-hills, or rivers pav'd with gold.
Wert thou but known to worldlings, they would scorn
To stoop their hearts to such poor things as corn :
For so they do, because thou art above
That sphere wherein their low conceptions move.
13S HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OR5
Upon the thresliiiig out of Corn.
Mo7'e solid graiii with greater strength you thresh. The ablest Christians have the hardest lash.