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

Now the Husbandman seldom meets with this ingenuous breeding; in so much as in respect of understanding, he is rather-ignorant ⟨p. 56⟩than knowing, in Wisdom rather simple than Judicious, in his Will rather surly than malleable, in his behaviour rather rude and homely than smooth and polite; In Learning, the highest degree he hath taken, is in Writing and Arithmetic; and by reason of his hand-work and small estate, he can seldom bring up his children further: and no small pains he takes to help his children to write and read, and ¹then puts them to a Trade, and (it is good Mr Dods phrase) gives them each a Bible, and God be with them. Not but that excellent Parts are sometimes found in persons and children of this rank, and excellent Scholars have proceeded hence, that have honoured every of the Liberal Arts and the more honourable employments, but the usual genius and breeding of the Husbandman is but rustic.

Now the Husbandman seldome meets with this ingenuous breeding; in so much as in respect of understanding, he is rather-ignorant ⟨p. 56⟩than knowing, in Wisdom rather simple than Judicious, in his Will rather surly than malleable, in his behaviour rather rude and homely than smooth and polite; In Learning, the highest degree he hath taken, is in Writing and Arithmetick; and by reason of his hand-work and small estate, he can seldome bring up his children further: and no small pains he takes to help his children to write and read, and ¹then puts them to a Trade, and (it is good Mr Dods phrase) gives them each a Bible, and God be with them. Not but that excellent Parts are somtimes found in persons and children of this rank, and excellent Schollars have proceeded hence, that have honoured every of the Liberal Arts and the more honourable imployments, but the usual genius and breeding of the Husbandman is but rustick.

1. 1C. •titius Serranus was sowing his Corn field when Q. Cincinnatus brought him Letters of his Dictatorship, bareheaded & open breasted, and full of dust, so that he said to him, Vela corpus ut preseram Senatus mandata. Plin. 1. 18. c. 3. And the old Romans were often taken from the Plough to Rule, and when they have done, they have returned to it again. Yea, it was observed, there was never greater plenty in Rome, then when there were Ploughs laureat and Ploughmen triumphant. Id.