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

REFLECTIONS.

O Grace, for ever to b• admired! that God should send forth his Word and Spirit to plough up my hard and stony heart!¹ yea, mine, when he hath lest so many of more tender, ingenious, sweet, and melting tempers without any culture or means of grace. O blessed Gospel! heart dissolving voice! I have felt thine efficacy, I have experienced thy divine and irresistible power, thou art indeed sharper than any two edged sword, and woundest to the heart; but thy wounds are the wounds of a friend. All the wounds thou hast made in my soul, were so many doors opened to let in Christ, all the blows thou gavest my consciences, were but to beat off my soul from sin, which I embraced and had retained to my everlasting ruin, hadst thou not separated them and me. O wise and merciful Phy•••ian, thou didst indeed bind me with cords of conviction and sorrow; but it was only to cut out that stone in my heart, which had killed me if it had continued there. O how did I struggle and oppose thee, as if thou hadst come with the sword of an enemy, rather than the lanc• and probe of a skilful and tender hearted Physician? Blessed by the day wherein my sin was discovered and embittered! O happy sorrows which prepared for such matchless joys! O blessed hand: which turned my salt waters into pleasant wine! and after many pangs and sorrows of sou• didst •ring forth the man child of deliverance and peace […]

OGrace, for ever to b• admired! that God should send forth his Word and Spirit to plow up my hard and stony heart!¹ yea, mine, when he hath lest so many of more tender, ingenious, sweet, and melting tempers without any culture or meanes of grace. O blessed Gospel! heart dissolving voice! I have felt thine efficacy, I have experienced thy divine and irresistible power, thou art indeed sharper than any two edged sword, and woundest to the heart; but thy wounds are the wounds of a friend. All the wounds thou hast made in my soul, were so many doors opened to let in Christ, all the blows thou gavest my consciences, were but to beat off my soul from sin, which I embraced and had retained to my everlasting ruine, hadst thou not separated them and me. O wise and merciful Phyian, thou didst indeed bind me with cords of conviction and sorrow; but it was only to cut out that stone in my heart, which had killed me if it had continued there. O how did I struggle and oppose thee, as if thou hadst come with the sword of an enemy, rather than the lanc and probe of a skilful and tender hearted Physician? Blessed by the day wherein my sin was discovered and imbittered! O happy sorrows which prepared for such matchless joyes! O blessed hand: which turned my salt waters into pleasant wine! and after many pangs and sorrows of sou didst ring forth the man child of deliverance and peace