Husbandry spiritualized, or, The heavenly use of earthly things consisting of many pleasant observations,…

Meditation upon this lower part of the Works ⟨image 10⟩of God, and his wonderful Providences about them, may raise our souls very high; and while we wisely consider these natural things, we may grow more and more wise, in and for Spirituals and Eternals.

The worthy and ingenious Author of the ensuing Discourse, hath supplied us with an excellent help, for the Spiritualizing of the providential Works of God in natural things, by godly Meditation; we chiefly want the help of the holy Spirit (without which all other helps and helpers are altogether insufficient) to frame and wind up our hearts, for this, both profitable and delightful duty; yet the help which the Lord is pleased to give us for our direction in it, by the Ministry of man, is not only, not to be refused, but thankfully received and improved; and all little enough to bring our minds to, or keep them at this work: The best of Saints (on this side heaven) have (though they are not earthly minded) much earth in their minds, which like a heavy clog at their heels, or a weight at their hearts, presseth them down when they would make an Essay to mount upward in Meditation. We find it no easy matter to keep off earthly thoughts, when we are most seriously engaged in heavenly work; how hard is it then to get in, and be fixed upon heavenly thoughts while we are engaged about earthly work; yea, are (for so is the Husbandman) working the very earth, and raking in the bowels of it. 'Tis a great part of our holiness to be spiritually minded, while we are conversing with God through Jesus Christ in spiritual duties; but to be spiritually minded, and to mind spiritual things, when we are conversing with the clods of the earth, and the furrows ⟨image 10⟩of the field, when we have to do with Corn and Grass, with Trees and Plants, with Sheep and Oxen, when we behold the birds and fowls of the Air, the worms, and all that creep upon the ground, then (I say) to be spiritually minded, and thence to have our thoughts ascending and soaring up to God, in heart-affecting and quickening contemplations, witnesseth an high degree of holiness, and of gracious attainments. To make a ladder out to earthly materials, for the raising of our selves in spirit up to heaven, is the Art of Arts. Holy and happy indeed are they! who (being taught of God) have learned this Art, and live in the daily practise of it. Earthly objects usually hinder us in our way, sometimes turn us quite out of our way to heaven. Many plough and sow, dig and delve the earth, till their hearts become as earthly as the earth it self: many deal about the beasts of the field, till themselves become even brutish.