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

To the Promises he may say, you are sweet things indeed, but what have I to do with you? I could once indeed rejoice in you, as my portion; but now I doubt I grasped a shadow, a fancy instead of you. To Saints he may say, turn away from me, labour not to comfort me, O do not spill your precious ointment of consolation upon my head, for what have I to do with comfort? to former experiences, he may say in his haft, you are all liars. To the light of God's countenance, he may say, farewell sweet light, I shall behold thee no more. To Sa•an, he may say, O mine enemy, thou ha•t at last prevailed against me, thou art stronger than I, and haft overcome, To duties and ordinances, he may say, where is the sweetness I once found in you? you were once sweeter to me than the honey comb; but now as tasteless, as the white of an egg. O sad relapse? deplored change! quantum mutatus ab illo?

To the Promises he may say, you are sweet things indeed, but what have I to do with you? I could once indeed rejoyce in you, as my portion; but now I doubt I grasped a shadow, a fancy instead of you. To Saints he may say, turn away from me, labour not to comfort me, O do not spill your precious ointment of consolation upon my head, for what have I to do with comfort? to former experiences, he may say in his haft, you are all lyars. To the light of God's countenance, he may say, farewell sweet light, I shall behold thee no more. To Sa•an, he may say, O mine enemy, thou ha•t at last prevailed against me, thou art stronger than I, and haft overcome, To duties and ordinances, he may say, where is the sweetness I once found in you? you were once sweeter to me than the hony comb; but now as tastless, as the white of an egg. O sad relaspe? deplored change! quantum mutatus ab illo?

But will God leave his poor creatures helpless in such a case as this? Shall their leaf fall, their branches wither, their joy, their life, their heart depart? will he see their graces fainting, their hopes gasping, the new creature panting, the things that are in them ready to dye, and will he not regard it? yes, yes, There is hope of a tree if it be cut down, and the root thereof wax old in the earth, yet by the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs, like a plant, Job 14. 89. This poor declined soul, as sad as it sits at the gates of hell, may rouse up it self at last, and say to Satan that stands triumphing over him, Rejoice not over me, O mine enemy, for though I fall, yet I shall arise; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a