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

(•) The work of the plough is but opus ordinabile: a preparative work in order to fruit. Should the Husbandman plough his ground never so often, yet if the seed be not cast in ⟨p. 66⟩and quickened, in vain is the Harvest expected. Thus conviction also is but a preparative to a farther work upon the soul of a sinner. If it stick there, and go no farther, it proves but an abortive or untimely birth. Many have gone thus far, and there they have stuck; they have been like a field ploughed, but not sowed, which is a matter of trembling consideration; for hereby their sin is greatly aggravated, and their eternal misery so much the more increased. O when a poor damned creature shall with horror reflect upon himself in hell, how near was I once under such a Sermon, to conversion? My sins were set in order before me, my conscience awakened and terrified with the guilt of them; many purposes and resolves I had then to turn to God, which had they been perfected by answerable executions, I had never come to this place of torment; but there I stuck, and that was my eternal undoing. Many souls have I known so terrified with the guilt of sin, that they have come roaring under horrors of conscience to the Preacher; so that one would think such a breach had been made between them and sin, as could never be reconciled; and yet, as angry as they were in that fit with sin, they have hugged and embraced them again.

(•) The work of the plow is but opus ordinabile: a preparative work in order to fruit. Should the Husbandman plow his ground never so often, yet if the seed be not cast in ⟨p. 66⟩and quickned, in vain is the Harvest expected. Thus conviction also is but a preparative to a farther work upon the soul of a sinner. If it stick there, and go no farther, it proves but an abortive or untimely birth. Many have gone thus far, and there they have stuck; they have been like a field plowed, but not sowed, which is a matter of trembling consideration; for hereby their sin is greatly aggravated, and their eternal misery so much the more increased. O when a poor damned creature shall with horror reflect upon himself in hell, how near was I once under such a Sermon, to conversion? My sins were set in order before me, my conscience awakened and terrified with the guilt of them; many prposes and resolves I had then to turn to God, which had they been perfected by answerable executions, I had never come to this place of torment; but there I stuck, and that was my eternal undoing. Many souls have I known so terrified with the guilt of sin, that they have come roaring under horrors of conscience to the Preacher; so that one would think such a breach had been made between them and sin, as could never be reconciled; and yet, as angry as they were in that fit with sin, they have hug'd and imbraced them again.