First,1 to admonish Gods children not to be dismayed and discouraged,2 or to grow discontent, if they cannot find and feel yet that large measure of spiritual joy and comfort, that they desire, and expected, yea and in the word of God is oft promised. It is but our Seed-time yet. And would we have Seed-time and Harvest concur? No,z Behold the Husbandman, saith Saint James, how he waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth; and expecteth patiently till athe first and latter rain be passed on it. And in like manner must we have patience till Gods Harvest-time come, and then shall we be sure to have our full crop, whatsoever it please God to impart unto us of it before; in the mean while looking constantly after the spiritualb rain of the Word, and praying instantly for the sweet dues of his Spirit, to descend down upon our ⟨p. 50⟩souls, for the cherishing and improving of this seed of joy sown in us. When we have laid our grain into the ground, we do not look to see it the same day again, much less to reap the same day, (as he saith of the Hyperborean people far North, thatc they sow shortly after the Sun rising with them, and reap before the Sun set, that is because the whole half year is one continual day with them:) no, we expect not the next day, nor the next week neither, to see it again above ground; but we are content to wait patiently till the year come about; and are glad when we see it but after a month it may be, begin to peep out of the ground, living in hope still of the further growth of it, and to enjoy at length, after the spire and the blade, a full ear. So must we learn likewise herein patiently to wait Gods good leisure, and though we see a long time but slender growth, scarce any sight at all of it, yet not to be dismayed therefore or discouraged, butd live in hope, as the Husband-man doth, of further increase of it, and of a full crop at length, when God shall see it good. And the rather by much may we live in hope, ande live by hope here than there, because the seed that is there sown, after it is so sown may miscarry; it may be cast into the ground, and die there, and so never come up again: (f The grain, saith Joel, is rotted under the clods:) it may spring up well, andg be blasted, while it is yet in the blade: it may be eared, and yet perish ere it come to be cut:h
First,1 to admonish Gods children not to be dismaid and discouraged,2 or to grow discontent, if they cannot find and feele yet that large measure of spirituall ioy and comfort, that they desire, and expected, yea and in the word of God is oft promised. It is but our Seed-time yet. And would we haue Seed-time and Haruest concurre? No,z Behold the Husbandman, saith Saint Iames, how hee waiteth fon the pretious fruit of the earth; and expecteth patiently till athe first and latter raine be passed on it. And in like manner must wee haue patience till Gods Haruest-time come, and then shall wee be sure to haue our full crop, whatsoeuer it please God to impart vnto vs of it before; in the meane while looking constantly after the spirituallb raine of the Word, and praying instantly for the sweet dewes of his Spirit, to descend downe vpon our ⟨p. 50⟩soules, for the cherishing and improuing of this seed of ioy sowen in vs. When we haue laid our graine into the ground, we doe not looke to see it the same day againe, much lesse to reape the same day, (as he saith of the Hyperborean people farre North, thatc they sow shortly after the Sunne rising with them, and reape before the Sunne set, that is because the whole halfe yeere is one continuall day with them:) no, wee expect not the next day, nor the next weeke neither, to see it againe aboue ground; but we are content to wait patiently till the yeere come about; and are glad when wee see it but after a month it may be, beginne to peepe out of the ground, liuing in hope stil of the further growth of it, and to enioy at length, after the spire and the blade, a full eare. So must we learne likewise herein patiently to wait Gods good leisure, and though wee see a long time but slender growth, scarce any sight at all of it, yet not to be dismaid therefore or discouraged, butd liue in hope, as the Husband-man doth, of further increase of it, and of a full crop at length, when God shall see it good. And the rather by much may wee liue in hope, ande
- 1Use 1.Vse 1.
- 2Admonition.
- zJam. 5. 7.Iam. 5. 7.
- aZech. 10. 1.
- bDeut. 32. 2. Hebr. 6. 7.
- cHeresbach. de re rust.
- dSpes alit agricolas: spes sulcis credil aratis Semina, quae magno samore reddit ager. Tibull. 2. 6.
- eRom. 4. 24. -credula vitam Spes fevet. - Tibull. ibid.
- fJoel 1. 17.Ioel 1. 17.
- gExod. 9 31.
- hJoel 1. 5, 16. - s•pè est Spē mentita seges. Horat. l. 1. ep. 7.Ioel 1. 5, 16. - s•pè est Spē mentita seges. Horat. l. 1. ep. 7.
