A61391:395
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.
SECT. VI.1
- 1§. 6.
VI. The Sixth Grace that the Husbandman 1hath special need of, is, Contentedness with his Calling. He finds his labour so great, and his profit so small, that he is sometimes on very bad terms with his very Calling. He rises early, is up late, toils like a horse, is sunk with Cares, worn out with Crosses, and yet all hardly reaches, he can hardly get food and raiment for him and his: who would embrace such a Calling? The Lawyer he can get as much in one day, as he can in three months, every Tradesman hath a better ⟨p. 198⟩life than he. But all this is no ground […] thee, to be discontent with thy Calling. […] flect upon the Excellencies before showed, and thou wilt find thy Calling is more wo• thy of thee, than thou art of thy Calling That the meanness and painfulness thereof, i•fully compensated by the innocency, healthfulness and safety of it: and thou mayest come to Heaven from the Plough, as well as from the Throne. And take heed lest it be the pride of thy heart, that thinks thy Calling below thee. Prince Adam grudged not at it, who was the top of all thy Kin. Entertain not therefore a discontented thought against thy Calling: For a man ought to believe […] God hath led him into a Calling, that it is the best calling for him in the world, till the same God lead him out of it. It was therefore wise answer of Bishop Grosthead of Lincoln to a Kinsman of his, an Husbandman that came to him, expecting some preferment from him, being so dignified and able to advance […] Cousin, says he, If your Cart be broken, […] mend it; If your Plough be old, I'll give you new one, and Seed to sow your Land: but […] Husbandman I found you, and an Husbandman I'll leave you, and so he did.