Such a design of preservation is carried on in all those outward straits, wants, and hardships which the Lord exposes his people to. I confess, such dispensations, for the present, are very stumbling and puzzling things, even to gracious and wise persons. To see wicked men, not onlv exempted from tlieir troubles, but even oppressed with prosperity : to see a godly man in wants and straits, and a wicked man have more than his heart can wish, is a case that poses the wisest Christian, till he considers the designs and issues of both those providences, and then he acquiesces in the wisdom of God so ordering it, Psal. Ixxiii. 5, 14, IS, 23.
1. Doth my prosperity fat me up for hell, and prepare me for the day of slaughter.^ Little cause have I then
to glory in it, and lift up my heart upon these A reflection for a tiiings.'^ Indeed, God hath given (I cannot say voluptuous worldling. blessed me with) a fulness of creature-enjoy- ments ; upon these my carnal heart seizeth greedily and securely, not at all suspecting a snare lying in these things for the ruin of my soul. What are all these charming pleasures, but so many rattles to quiet my soul, whilst its'damnation steals insensibly upon it 'i What are all my businesses and employments in the world, but so many diversions from the business of life ? There are but two differences betwixt me and the poorest slave the devil hath on earth ; such are whipped on to hell by outward miseries, and I am coached to hell in a little more pomp and honour ; these will have a less, and 1 a great- er account in the day of reckoning. O that I had never known pros- perity ! I am now tumbling in a green pasture, and shortly sliall be hanging up in* the shambles of hell : if this be the best fruit of my
TItE H1EAVEXT.Y tJSE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 17^
prosperity, if I were taken captive by cruel cannibals, and fed with the richest fare, but withal understood, that the design of it were to fat me up like a beast for them to feed upon, how little stomach should I have to their dainties ! O my soul ! it were much better for thee to have a sanctified poverty, which is the portion of many saints, than an ensnaring prosperity, set as a trap to ruin thee for ever.
2. The wisdom of my God hath allotted me j {i f /* . but short commons here ; his providence feeds rej ec lonjoi
me, but from hand to mouth ; but 1 am, and ^ well may be, contented with my present state ; that which sweetens it is, that I am one of the Lord's preserved. How much better is a morsel of bread and a draught of water here, with an expectancy of glory hereafter, than a fat pasture given in, and a fitting for the wrath to come ? AVell, since the case stands thus, blessed be God for my present lot ! Though I have but a little in hand, I have much in hope ; my present troubles will serve to sweeten my future joys ; and the sorrows of this life will give a lustre to the glory of the next : that which is now hard to suffer, will then be sweet to remember ; my songs will then be louder than my groans now are.
X HOSE beasts which for the shambles are designed, In fragrant flowVy meadows you shall find. Where they abound with rich and plenteous fare, Whilst others graze in commons thin and bare : Those live a short and pleasant life, but these Protract their lives in dry and shorter leas. Thus live the wicked ; thus they do abound With earthly glory, and with honour crown'd. Their lofty heads unto the stars aspire, And radiant beams their shining brows attire. The fattest portion''s serv'd up in their dish ; Yea, they have more than their own hearts can wish. Dissolv^l in pleasures, crowned with buds of May ; They, for a time, in these fat pastures play. Frisk, dance and leap, like fulKfed beasts; and even Turn up their wanton heels against the heaven ; Not understanding that this pleasant life, Servers but to fit them for the butcher's knife. In fragrant meads they tumbling are to-day, To-morrow to the slaughter led away. Their pleasure's gone, and vanish like a bubble. Which makes their future torments on them double. Meanwhile God's little flock is poor and lean, Because the Lord did ne'er intend or mean This for their portion ; and besides doth know Their souls prQve best^ where shortest grass doth grow.
174 HUSBANDRY SPIRITUALIZED ; OB,
Cheer up, poor flock, although your fare be thui, Yet here is something to take comfort in : You here securely feed, and need not fear, Th' infernal butcher can't approach you here. 'Tis somewhat that ; but, oh ! which far transcends. Your glorious shepherd's coming, who intends To lead you hence unto that fragrant hill, Where, with green pastures, he his flocks will fill ; Or which he from celestial casements pours The sweetest dews, and constant gracious show'rs ; Along whose banks rivers of pleasures glide. There his bless'd flocks for ever shall abide, O envy not the Avorldlings present joys. Which to your future mercies are but toys, Their pasture now is green, your's dry and burn'd. But then the scene is changed, the tables turn'd.
Upon the Husbandman's Care for Posterity.
Good husbands labour Jbr 'posterity ; To after-ages saints must have aji eye.
Jl ROVIDENT and careful husbandmen do not only labour to supply their own necessities, while living, but lay up something for their posterity when they are gone : they do not only leave to their children what their progenitors left them, but they desire to leave it improved and bettered. None but bad husbands and spend-thrifts are of the mind with that heathen emperor Tiberius, who having put all into such confusions in the empire, that it might be thought the world would end M^ith him ; yet pleased liimself with this appre- hension, That he should be out of the reach of it ; and would often say. When I am dead, let heaven and eartli mingle ; if the world will but hold my time, let it break when I am gone. But provi- dent men look beyond their own time, and do very much concern themselves in the good or evil of their posterity.
T T HAT careful husbands do, with respect to the provisions they make for their children, that all prudent Christians are bound to do, with respect to the truths committed to them, and by them to be transmitted to succeeding saints.
In the first ages of the world, even till the law was given, faithful men were instead of books and records ; they did, by oral tradition,
THE HEAVENLV USE OF EARTHLY THINGS. 1 la