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

I. The first Grace necessary for the Husbandman ¹is Patience; he cannot live comfortably without it. 1. He must have patience to wait, Jam. 5.7. Be patient therefore, Brethren, to the coming of the Lord. Behold the Husbandman waiteth for the precious fruits of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and the latter rain. And Clemens is of opinion, that the Apostles ⟨p. 183⟩James and Jude were Husbandmen. Well, we see here the Husbandman hath need of patience, long patience to wait for the fruits of the Earth. Many a long day and night there is between Seedness and Harvest, and yet he is not in despair, he waits and hopes Harvest will come at length. The Heavens they frown upon the Earth, the Corn mourns, the Grass withers, but yet he waits with patience upon God. He knows the bottles of Heaven are in a good hand, and therefore relies on God, and does his duty. His ground is sometimes choked for Rain, and sometimes again choked with over-much Rain: But he frets not at, all, but quietly waits on Gods pleasure. He goes into his Barn, and sees his Corn almost gone, and then goes into the Field, and there its slow in ripening. He looks into his purse, and there's no money; and now his patience is tried. Yet in this case he considers the wisdom & providence of God, & arms his mind with patience till Harvest comes; and then sometimes excessive Rain keeps him and his Corn asunder, Week after Week; and when it comes, sometimes the poor yieldance of it utterly disappoints him, so that he hath need of patience to last another year; by that time his borrowed Corn is paid, and his Ground Seeded, his stock is almost gone. And therefore the Husbandman hath need of patience, great, long patience, patience to wait.