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 Fifth Inconvenience of the Husbandmans ¹Calling is, That he bath more Will, then Power to be a public Good, & to mend what is amiss in the World. To be a public Good is the highest pitch of happiness in this world, and herein only the High and Mighty have the advantage of the poor Husbandman. The one may have as long life, as good health, as much comfort in the Creatures, as cheerful an heart, and as happy a life as the other, with less danger here, and a less account hereafter; but here is the Husbandmans disadvantage, he can but little promote any public good, nor hinder little public evil; he cannot build Hospitals, endow Churches, erect Schools, enact good Laws, preach Sermons, nor encourage piety: Nor on the other hand can he reform Sin, if his life lay on it; he sees them drunk when he goes to Market, and he hears them swear, and beholds the Sabbath broken, but he cannot remedy it, he doth as far as he can; he, where he sees it likely, attempts to ⟨p. 54⟩them, and where it is otherwise, mourns for them: he comes home oft with a sad heart, and wonders at the Patience of God, that lets men alone; and when he cannot bow the hearts of others, can break his own about it. As Lot (good man) could vex his righteous soul, when he could not cure their unrighteous ones. Our Husbandman hath a public Spirit, though he cannot be of public use; and where many have more power than will, which will make for their Judgment, he hath more will than power, which will make for his comfort.