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

V. The Fifth Temptation of the Husbandman ¹is, Negligence and Deadness in holy Duties. I say this is his Temptation; not that it is his usual sin, if he fear God: for you shall most commonly at his door hear as grave and serious and pathetical a Prayer, as at the Parsons of the Parish; but yet through the multitude of his business, and the weariness of his spirits, he is often tempted to deadness in the Service of God in his Family, and in secret, and sometimes to neglect and pass it over. Alas you can have of a man but his strength; and that ere the Sun be set, is most an end spent and gone; so that when he comes to Prayer, his heart is a sleep, and a little thing would hire him, if he durst, to skip over that good work; by which in very deed he gets and saves more, than by all his days work besides. As when Moses spake of sacrificing to God, Pharaoh still spake of work to put them off: So when God calls to worship, the World calls to work, or the Flesh to sleep. Or if the fear of God, or a constant custom do engage him in his Duty, he dreams through it, and is contented that its over, though he have done nothing but displeased God the rein. If the Day had been two hours longer, he would have found strength, to do more work; but he hath no might for God, or ability for heavenly business. ⟨p. 85⟩The Fish is scarce ever weary of swimming, because the water is her Element; but on the dry ground she is soon weary: So our poor Husbandman hath strength for two days in the Earth, which is his Element; but hardly vivacity and ability for half an hour in the precious service of his God: He is like a Bee that hath lost her sting, dull and dronish: Alas he hath lost his spirits, and hath nothing, but weary limbs, and a dead heart, to present to God.

V. THe Fifth Temptation of the Husbandman ¹is, Negligence and Deadness in holy Duties. I say this is his Temptation; not that it is his usual sin, if he fear God: for you shall most commonly at his door hear as grave and serious and pathetical a Prayer, as at the Parsons of the Parish; but yet through the multitude of his business, and the weariness of his spirits, he is often tempted to deadness in the Service of God in his Family, and in secret, and somtimes to neglect and pass it over. Alas you can have of a man but his strength; and that ere the Sun be set, is most an end spent and gone; so that when he comes to Prayer, his heart is a sleep, and a little thing would hire him, if he durst, to skip over that good work; by which in very deed he gets and saves more, than by all his dayes work besides. As when Moses spake of sacrificing to God, Pharaoh still spake of work to put them off: So when God calls to worship, the World calls to work, or the Flesh to sleep. Or if the fear of God, or a constant custome do engage him in his Duty, he dreams through it, and is contented that its over, though he have done nothing but displeased God the rein. If the Day had been two hours longer, he would have found strength, to do more work; but he hath no might for God, or ability for heavenly business.