The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

and therefore when they went to plough in the morning, they did lay one hand upon the plough (to speak their own part to be painfulness) and hold the other hand up to Ceres, the Goddess of Corn, to testify their expectation of plenty to be from their supposed Deity. How easily can God blast all the corn in the field, or blow upon it in the barn! if he do but will it, it is done. The whole Creation indeed is but a glass without a bottom, which cannot stand of it self, but as God is pleased to hold it up. The Philosophers tell us, the Sun and man beget a man; the Sun and the earth bring forth corn; and speak of the Sun in every thing as a ⟨p. 487⟩principal efficient; But the Divines tell us more truly, God and the Heavens, God and the Earth cause harvest; God by the Creatures doth all things, God is the only principal efficient; the Sun it self, and all other Creatures, are but lifeless instruments, moved and acted by God according to his purpose and pleasure: Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: It is in vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, and to eat the bread of sorrows; Psal. 127.1, 2. Apricock trees that depend upon their own strength, leaning on nothing (as experience teacheth us) bring forth little or no fruit, when they that lean on the wall abound in clusters: The way to thrive in thy trade, is not to trust to thy own head or hands, but to trust in the Lord for a blessing on thy endeavours.

and therefore when they went to plough in the morning, they did lay one hand upon the plow (to speak their own part to be painfulness) and hold the other hand up to Ceres, the Goddess of Corn, to testifie their expectation of plenty to be from their supposed Deity. How easily can God blast all the corn in the field, or blow upon it in the barn! if he do but will it, it is done. The whole Creation indeed is but a glass without a bottom, which cannot stand of it self, but as God is pleased to hold it up. The Philosophers tell us, the Sun and man beget a man; the Sun and the earth bring forth corn; and speak of the Sun in every thing as a ⟨p. 487⟩principal efficient; But the Divines tell us more truly, God and the Heavens, God and the Earth cause harvest; God by the Creatures doth all things, God is the onely principal efficient; the Sun it self, and all other Creatures, are but liveless instruments, moved and acted by God according to his purpose and pleasure: Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: It is in vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, and to eat the bread of sorrows;