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

1. The Husbandman learns something from his Ploughing for Corn. And this teaches him the use of Godly Sorrow, Jer. 4.3. Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. What is fallow good for? put in the Plough, says God to some spiritual Husbandman, I shall have no Rent hence until the plough go here; plough me a long furrow here: O Lord, cries the soul, I can sorrow for my sin, I am broken; plough deeper, says God, fetch up these weeds by the roots; now he cries, An undone sinner; The Law hath quite undone me; my heart is rent and torn within me: All the world for one smile of Christ. Now, says God, thou shalt have it. I meant thee no more hurt than the Husbandman means his field. Ploughing is hard work, but it brings sweet profit. So compunction is hard work indeed, letting one blood in the heart, this goes near; but it's profitable, the peaceable fruits of Righteousness pay for all: the plough makes one sweat, but the crop makes one sing; and without this ploughing in tears, we should never reap in joy, Amos 6.12. Shall Horses run upon the Rock? will one plough there with Oxen? no man will do it; and yet, says God, there I must plough, or no where: I must squeeze water out of a flint, and make a rocky heart mourn, or never cure it. Thus our Husbandman learns Humiliation at his plough, and studies a broken heart while he is breaking up his ground.

1. The Husbandman learns something from his Plowing for Corn. And this teaches him the use of Godly Sorrow, Jer. 4.3. Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. What is fallow good for? put in the Plough, sayes God to some spiritual Husbandman, I shall have no Rent hence untill the plough go here; plow me a long furrow here: O Lord, cryes the soul, I can sorrow for my sin, I am broken; plow deeper, sayes God, fetch up these weeds by the roots; now he cryes, An undone sinner; The Law hath quite undone me; my heart is rent and torn within me: All the world for one smile of Christ. Now, sayes God, thou shalt have it. I meant thee no more hurt than the Husbandman means his field. Plowing is hard work, but it brings sweet profit. So compunction is hard work indeed, letting one blood in the heart, this goes near; but it's profitable, the peaceable fruits of Righteousness pay for all: the plough makes one sweat, but the crop makes one sing; and without this plowing in tears, we should never reap in joy,