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

2. Their troubles are proportionable to their greatness: You have small debts to pay, and they have great debts to pay, and find it as hard to discharge them, as you find yours; and for one Husbandman, there are two or three Gentlemen that dye in debt: You have crosses in your Children; why, they have greater: And the Sun and Moon in their habitations, do sometimes eclipse one another, and cannot be sixth in the same firmament: You have injuries offered you, and so you are drawn into suit; Alas! they are seldom out of suit: You are provoked by evil words ⟨p. 81⟩now and then, they likewise have their affronts, that pierce them far deeper than yours do. And then for health, that epitome of mercy; you are indeed sometimes sick, alas, they are seldom well: they must eat and drink by rule, and do find far less sweetness in their meat, and sleep than you do; and must these be envied? And then you must needs imagine their cares do exceed yours; and cares, you know, are the heaviest of your load, and herein they do as much exceed you, as in their estates; care to get, care to keep their own, care to borrow, and care to pay, care to get and keep their reputation, and household cares must needs be many: and all these cares and troubles are herein heavier than yours, in that they are more unexpected, and they are less prepared for them; and you know the more tender the skin, the deeper the iron enters thereinto.

2. Their troubles are proportionable to their greatness: You have small debts to pay, and they have great debts to pay, and find it as hard to discharge them, as you find yours; and for one Husbandman, there are two or three Gentlemen that dye in debt: You have crosses in your Children; why, they have greater: And the Sun and Moon in their habitations, do sometimes ecclipse one another, and cannot be fixt in the same firmament: You have injuries offered you, and so you are drawn into suit; Alas! they are seldome out of suit: You are provoked by evil words ⟨p. 81⟩now and then, they likewise have their affronts, that pierce them far deeper than yours do. And then for health, that epitome of mercy; you are indeed sometimes sick, alas, they are seldome well: they must eat and drink by rule, and do find far less sweetness in their meat, and sleep than you do; and must these be envyed? And then you must needs imagine their cares do exceed yours; and cares, you know, are the heaviest of your load, and herein they do as much exceed you, as in their estates; care to get, care to keep their own, care to borrow, and care to pay, care to get and keep their reputation, and houshold cares must needs be many: and all these cares and troubles are herein heavier than yours, in that they are more unexpected, and they are less prepar'd for them; and you know the more tender the skin, the deeper the iron enters thereinto.