A39665:569
Husbandry spiritualized, or, The heavenly use of earthly things consisting of many pleasant observations,…
Husbandry spiritualized, or, The heavenly use of earthly things consisting of many pleasant observations, pertinent applications, and serious reflections and each chapter concluded with a divine and suitable poem : directing husband-men to the most excellent improvements of their common employments : whereunto is added ... several choice occasional meditations / by John Flavell.Husbandry spiritualized, or, The heavenly use of earthly things consisting of many pleasant observations, pertinent applications, and serious reflections and each chapter concluded with a divine and suitable poem : directing husband-men to the most excellent improvements of their common imployments : whereunto is added ... several choice occasional meditations / by John Flavell.
London : Printed and are to be sold by Robert Boulter, l674
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I cannot remember a Sermon as another can, but blessed be God that I am able to savour it, and feel it; that I have an heart to love, and a will to obey, all that God discovers to be my duty.
I cannot remember a Sermon as another can, but blessed be God that I am able to s•vour it, and feel it; that I have an heart to love, and a will to obey, all that God discovers to be my duty.
O,1 then, how little cause have I to make my boast of Ordinances, and glory in my external privileges, who never bear spiritual fruit under them? If I well consider my condition, there is matter of trembling, and not of glorying in these things. It may be, while I have been glorying in them, and listing up my secure heart upon them, the Lord hath been secretly blasting my soul under them, and insensibly executing this horrible curse by them. Shall I boast, that with Capernaum, I am lifted up to heaven, since I may with her at last be cast down to hell? And if so, Lord, what a hell will my hell be? It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for me. It drew tears from the eyes of Christ, when he was looking upon Jerusalem, under the same consideration that I doubt I have cause to look upon my own soul, Luke 19. 41. He wept over it, saying, if thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes. So long I have been a hearer, a Professor of the Gospel, so many years I have enjoyed its distinguishing Ordinances, but have they not been all dry and empty things to me? hath not the spirit of formality acted me in them? Have not self ends, and worldly respects lain at the bottom of my best duties? Have not my discourses in communion with the Saints been Trade words, speaking what I have learnt, but not felt? sad is my condition now; but it would be desperate and irrecoverable, shouldst thou execute this curse upon me.