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

The judgment will yet appear very heavy, if you consider the loss which God's own people sustain by the removal of the Gospel; for therein they lose (1) their chief glory, Rom. 3. 2. the principal thing in which the peculiar glory of Israel consisted was this, That unto them was committed the ⟨p. 93⟩Oracles of G•d On that account is was called the glorious Land, Dan. 11. 16. This made them greater than all the Nations rou•• about them. Deut. 4. 7. 8. (2) By losing the Ordinances, they lose their quickenings, comforts, and soul refreshments; for all these are sweet streams from the Gospel fountain, Psal. 119. 50. Col. 4. 8. No wonder then to hear the People of God Complain of dead hearts, when the Gospel is removed. (3) In the loss of the Gospel they lose their defence and safety. This is there is their hedge, their w•ll of protection, Isa. 5. 5. Walls and hedges (saith Musculus in loc.) are the Ordinances of God, which serve both ad se perationem & munitionem, to distinguish, and to defend them. When God plucks up this hedge, and breaks down this wall all mischiefs break in upon us presently. 2 Chron. 15. 3, 4, 5▪ 6. Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true Go•, and without a teaching Priest, and without Law—And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the Countries and Nations was destroyed of Nation, and City of City; for God did vex them with all adversity. How long did Jerusalem remain, after that voice was heard in the Temple, migremu hinc? Let us be gone. (4) With the Gospel, we lose our temporal enjoyments and creature comforts: These usually come and go with the Gospel. When God had once written Loammi upon Israel, the next news is this, I will recover my wool and my flax,