7. The Seventh lesson that our Husbandman learns is from the Thorns in his ground It is said, Judg. 8.16. That Gideon took […] Elders, and thorns of the Wilderness, and b•, and with them he taught the men of S•. Hebr. He threshed them, he taught them what it was to affront God and his instruments. And much may a good Husband, an holy man learn out of a Theme, God being the teacher. And here 1. The Husbandman […] taught to remember his fall in Adam. One of the Fathers would weep at the sight of the Rose, because before Adam fell, he thought the Rose had no prickles, but the Fall bred them: certain it is, the curse of Thorns began at the Fall, Gen. 3.18. Thorns also and Thistles shall it bring forth to thee. So that every prick with the Thorn, may wound thy heart with the remembrance, of that woeful Shipwreck in thy Father Adam. Thy Rebellion against God breeds their Rebellion against thee; every Briar bending its sting against their Creators Enemy, or at least giving thee a sharp memento of that Apostasy. And 2. By them he learns the nature, use, and end of wicked men, whom the Lord accounts but as a brake of thorns, Ezek. 2.6. Son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briars and thorns be with thee. The Husbandman is not afraid of a Bush of Thorns: The knows the Thorns original is but from the curse; though their use may be to fence the Field, their end is to be cast into the Fire. And hereby he ⟨p. 141⟩•earns, that wicked men are no wonder• Since the curse there have been thorns in the Wood, as sure as Corn in the Field, but he is content to suffer by them, foreseeing their end to be lamentable. And at present their joys, are but like the crackling of Thorns under a Pot. A great noise, but little heat, and less continuance: especially considering, that God makes divers of them fences and safeguards to the good, against their own wills, and that God stops a gap sometimes with a wicked man, whereby his godly neighbour is preserved: And so he is kept from envy at them, seeing he knows the thorns grow green but till the Husbandman hath need to use them for the Hedge, and then lye there only till they be rotten and ripe for the Fire.
7. The Seventh lesson that our Husbandman learnes is from the Thorns in his ground It is said, Judg. 8.16. That Gideon took 〈…〉 Elders, and thorns of the Wilderness, and b•, and with them he taught the men of S•. Hebr. He threshed them, he taught them what it was to affront God and his instruments. And much may a good Husband, an holy man learn out of a Theme, God being the teacher. And here 1. The Husbandman 〈…〉 taught to remember his fall in Adam. One of the Fathers would weep at the sight of the Rose, because before Adam fell, he thought the Rose had no prickles, but the Fall bred them: certain it is, the curse of Thorns began at the Fall, Gen. 3.18. Thorns also and This•les shall it bring forth to thee. So that every prick with the Thorn, may wound thy heart with the remembrance, of that woful Shipwrack in thy Father Adam. Thy Rebellion against God breeds their Rebellion against thee; every Bryar bending its sting against their Creators Enemy, or at least giving thee a sharp memento of that Apostacy. And 2. By them he learns the nature, use, and end of wickedmen, whom the Lord accounts but as a brake of thorns, Ezek. 2.6. Son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briars and thorns be with thee. The Husbandman is not afraid of a Bush of Thorns: The knows the Thorns original is but from the curse; though their use may be to fence the Field, their end is to be cast into the Fire. And hereby he ⟨p. 141⟩•earns, that wicked men are no wonder• Since the curse there have been thorns in the Wood, as sure as Corn in the Field, but he is content to suffer by them, foreseeing their end to be lamentable. And at present their joyes, are but like the crackling of Thorns under a Pot. A great noyse, but little heat, and less continuance: especially considering, that God makes divers of them fences and safeguards to the good, against their own wills, and that God stops a gap somtimes with a wicked man, whereby his godly neighbour is preserved: And so he is kept from envy at them, seeing he knows the thorns grow green but till the Husbandman hath need to use them for the Hedge, and then lye there only till they be rotten and ripe for the Fire.
