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

2. The Husbandman is taught Bountiful Alms-giving, for as much as he finds by experience, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap bountifully. He observes the Increase ⟨p. 149⟩is treble to the laying out, and the thicker he sows, (observing rules of prudence,) the thicker it comes up, and pays him fully, both for his labour, and his forbearance. And he that can trust his Seed in the bosom of the Earth, can trust his Charity in the hands of God; and therefore of that little he hath, his poor Neighbours shall have part. Heaven will repay it all, Eccles. 11.4.

2. The Husbandman is taught Bountiful Almes-giving, for as much as he finds by experience, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully, shall reap bountifully. He observes the Increase ⟨p. 149⟩is treble to the laying out, and the thicker he sows, (observing rules of prudence,) the thicker it comes up, and pays him fully, both for his labour, and his forbearance. And he that can trust his Seed in the bosome of the Earth, can trust his Charity in the hands of God; and therefore of that little he hath, his poor Neighbours shall have part. Heaven will repay it all, Eccles. 11.4.

3. The Third Lesson which the Husbandman learns from his Corn, is from the Springing of it; and hence he learns the Nature, both of the first and second Resurrection. First, he perceives hence the strange working of Grace in his soul, Mark 4.26. So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring, and grow up he knoweth not how. There he throws his seed into the cold ground, and goes his way, and behold ere long it comes up, but he knows not how. Just thus, cries he, was it with my heart; I feel some supernatural work in me, but I know not how 'twas wrought. Seed I remember was cast upon me, but how this sorrow, this faith, this love is wrought in me, I know not. What a blessed change is here? a field of thorns, into a field of corn? Sure Lord thy hand has been here; And 'tis thou must perfect the work of thy own hands. This green corn must have many a shower, before it be ripe; this must have the former and the latter rain: and so must I. And this