A39665:906
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.
Foolish soul, hath God given thee a body for a living tool or instrument, and art thou afraid to use it? wherein is the mercy of having a body, if not in spending and wearing it out in the service of God? to have an active vigorous body, and not to employ and exercise it for God, for fear of endangering its health, is as if one should give thee a handsome and sprightful horse, upon condition thou shouldst not ride or work him. O! if some of the Saints had enjoyed the blessing of such an healthy active body as mine, what excellent services would they have performed to God in it?
Foolish soul, hath God given thee a body for a living tool or instrument, and art thou afraid to use it? wherein is the mercy of having a body, if not in spending and wearing it out in the service of God? to have an active vigorous body, and not to imploy and exercise it for God, for fear of endangering its health, is as if one should give thee a handsom and sprightful horse, upon condition thou shouldst not ride or work him. O! if some of the Saints had enjoyed the blessing of such an healthy active body as mine, what excellent services would they have performed to God in it?
If my body shall as surely rise again in glory, vigour and §1excellent endowments as the seed which I sow doth,1 why should not this comfort me over all the pains, weaknesses and dullness with which my soul is now clogged? Thou knowest my God, what a grief it hath been to my soul, to be fettered and entangled with the distempers and manifold indispositions of this vile body. It hath made me sigh and say, with holy Anselm, when he saw the mounting bird weighed down by the stone hanging at her leg, Lord, thus it fares with the soul of thy servant! fain would I serve, glorify, and enjoy thee, but a distempered body will not let me. However, it is reviving to think, that though I am now forced to crawl like a worm in the discharge of my duties, I shall shortly fly like a Seraphim in the execution of thy will. Cheer up drooping soul, the time is at hand, when thou shalt be made more willing than thou art, and thy flesh not so weak as now it is.