A61391:318
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
The husbandmans calling showing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman : being the substance of XII sermons preached to a country congregation / by Richard Steele.The husbandmans calling shewing the excellencies, temptations, graces, duties &c. of the Christian husbandman : being the substance of XII sermons preached to a country congregation / by Richard Steele.
London: printed by M.S., 1668
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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 ⟨p. 150⟩minds the Husbandman of frequenting all the means of Grace he can, and there he lays his soul under the droppings of heaven with unspeakable delight, and goes away from every Ordinance more green and fresh than he was before.
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 e're long it comes up, but he knows not how. Just thus, cryes 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