4. The Fourth Lesson that the Husbandman may learn from his Corn, is from the Reaping and In-gathering of it. And this effectually minds him of the End of the world, Mat. 13.39. The Harvest is the end of the World, and the Reapers are the Angels. Beloved, the world hath grown a long while; it hath grown longer than the Old world by two thousand years; so that now the fields are white to the harvest, and I doubt if it grow longer, it will grow worse every day then other. Now when the Husbandman sees his field is ripe, then he puts in his sickle, sets in his reapers, and down it goes: The weeds that have escaped till then, go down, and are bundled toge•hrr, and cast away. And so, when the holy and wise God sees his Elect ripe for glory, and the Reprobates for ruin; then he calls to his Angels, as Joel 3.13. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe, come, get you down, for the Press is full, for their wickedness is great. What a brave sight will it be, to see the Angels reaping? And then those hypocrites, that have grown in Gods field with the corn, and had their part in the showers above, and fatness beneath with the corn it self, shall be gathered into bundles; a bundle of proud creatures, a bundle of ⟨p. 152⟩worldly creatures, a bundle of wanton wretches, and cast into hell fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And then shall true Holiness be richly rewarded, which also the Husbandman hath occasion to think of in his harvest. What pains had he in sowing? how did he sweat at plough, but now he is richly paid. The Valleys are covered with corn, they shout for joy, they also sing, they make the Husbandman to sing. He went forth weeping, bearing precious Seed, Psal. 126. ult. But now he comes again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. And he learns by this, that his fasting and prayers, and self-denial, though sharp and difficult, yet will quit the cost at the long run. He hath a natural faith to believe his pains for the Earth will pay his charge, and make him merry once in the year, and he hath a spiritual faith, to believe his pains for Heaven, will bring much greater, surer and sweeter gains. Drudging at the harrow, that's sharp; but sweeping down the wheat, that's sweet. Prayers and tears he finds to cost him dear: but grace and glory pay him home. The Sluggard, Prov. 20.4.
4. The Fourth Lesson that the Husbandman may learn from his Corn, is from the Reaping and In-gathering of it. And this effectually minds him of the End of the world, Mat. 13.39. The Harvest is the end of the World, and the Reapers are the Angels. Beloved, the world hath grown a long while; it hath grown longer than the Old world by two thousand years; so that now the fields are white to the harvest, and I doubt if it grow longer, it will grow worse every day then other. Now when the Husbandman sees his field is ripe, then he puts in his sickle, sets in his reapers, and down it goes: The weeds that have escaped till then, go down, and are bundled toge•hrr, and cast away. And so, when the holy and wise God sees his Elect ripe for glory, and the Reprobates for ruine; then he calls to his Angels, as Joel 3.13. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe, come, get you down, for the Press is full, for their wickedness is great. What a brave sight will it be, to see the Angels reaping? And then those hypocrites, that have grown in Gods field with the corn, and had their part in the showers above, and fatness beneath with the corn it self, shall be gathered into bundles; a bundle of proud creatures, a bundle of ⟨p. 152⟩worldly creatures, a bundle of wanton wretches, and cast into hell fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And then shall true Holiness be richly rewarded, which also the Husbandman hath occasion to think of in his harvest. What pains had he in sowing? how did he sweat at plow, but now he is richly paid. The Vallies are covered with corn, they shout for joy, they also sing, they make the Husbandman to sing. He went forth weeping, bearing precious Seed, Psal. 126. ult. But now he comes again rejoycing, bringing his sheaves with him. And he learns by this, that his fasting and prayers, and self-denial, though sharp and difficult, yet will quit the cost at the long run. He hath a natural faith to believe his pains for the Earth will pay his charge, and make him merry once in the year, and he hath a spiritual faith, to believe his pains for Heaven, will bring much greater, surer and sweeter gains. Drudging at the harrow, that's sharp; but sweeping down the wheat, that's sweet. Prayers and tears he finds to cost him dear: but grace and glory pay him home. The Sluggard, Prov. 20.4.
