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

There is a care of the Head, a care of Providence, Prov. 31.16. That's commendable. There is a care of the Hand, a care of diligence, Prov. 21.5. That's profitable. And a care of the Heart, a care of diffidence, Phil. 4.6. That's abominable: Much of this care molests our Husbandman: many cares about his house, many about his ground, care fills his heart in Seed time, care overfills it in Harvest: but when his Rent day approaches, his cares press him down, care sometimes to borrow it, and then care to repay it. These invade him in the worship of God, and make long Parentheses in his Prayers; these wait upon him to his bed, and sometimes trouble him in it; and these visit him next his heart in the Morning. When he should be full of the thoughts of Heaven, these fill him with thoughts of the Earth, ^†and the Body robs the Soul of the cares that are needful for it; as how it should be f•d; wherewith it should be clothed, or how its deadly wounds shall be healed: how seldom do these break his sleep! When the Husbandman is Reading, or at Prayer, and running quite towards Heaven, these like a rub to the Bowl, make him fall short of his Mark. O says he, if this Rent were paid, or if I had ⟨p. 100⟩no Rent at all to pay, how freely and cheerfully could I serve God, and take care about my soul! but this world, this world takes me off, and whatsoever my soul doth, Rent must be paid, and care must be taken: As if he should say, If I were a Gentleman, I would be a Christian; I would take care of my soul, if I had nothing else to do.

There is a care of the Head, a care of Providence, Prov. 31.16. That's commendable. There is a care of the Hand, a care of diligence, Prov. 21.5. That's profitable. And a care of the Heart, a care of diffidence,