A61391:100
The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandmanThe husbandmans calling shewing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman
The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman : being the substance of XII sermons preached to a country congregation / by Richard Steele.The husbandmans calling shewing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman : being the substance of XII sermons preached to a country congregation / by Richard Steele.
London: printed by M.S., 1668
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.
SECT. III.1
- 1§ 3.
The Third Excellency of the Husbandman 1is, That he lives and depends most upon God. From Seedness to Harvest, he is bound to a constant dependence on God, and from Harvest to Seedness again. He wants Rain, and he goes to God; next he needs fair weather, and to God he must go again. This month he would have Frost, it will cherish his Corn: Another Month the Frost would spoil his Orchard; One while he should have Snow, it would keep his ground as warm as Wool, at another time it would starve his Cattle; At one time he longs for Wind, to purify the Air, at another time he is afraid of it, least it beat down his Corn: And this continual need sends him unto God, who giveth his Snow like wool, and scattereth the hoary Frost like ashes, who giveth his Wind to blow, and the Waters flow, and filleth him with the finest of the Wheat, Psal. 147. 14, 16, 17. So that we may say of the Husbandman, as 'twas said ⟨p. 27⟩of the Land of Canaan, Deut. 11, 11, 12. The Land is a Land of Hills and Valleys (not like Egypt, which being a Plain, depended upon the constant overflowings of Nilus, to make it fruitful, but this) drinketh water of the Rain of Heaven, a Land which the Lord thy God careth for, the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the Year to the end of the Year. Even so the Husbandman hath a Calling, that the Lord must care for him, from the beginning of the Year to the end of the Year, And this is the Excellency of it. They are base Callings that depend on Man, (though many cringing Courtiers will not think so) but they are royal Callings that depend on God. Servants know their wages, but the Child depends; and who hath the more excellent place, think ye? The good Husbandman exercises, his Faith and Patience every day. Some Callings find exercise for Corruption, but this Calling finds exercise for Graces; And he when he cannot pray for Grace for his Soul, yet can pray for fair weather for his business. Of all men he had need to learn to pray, and that in earnest.