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

Thirdly, Consider there is a present price put into thy hands, to get and increase grace, and therefore improve it. The wisdom of a Christian consisteth in observing his seasons; the High God sends man to School to the silly Ant, to learn this Art and piece of good Husbandry, Go to the Ant thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise, which having no Guide, Overseer, nor Ruler, provideth her food in the Summer, and gathereth her meat in the Harvest, Prov. 6.6, 7, 8. The Ants are a feeble folk, but famous for their forecast, and deserve saith one, to be fed with the finest of the Wheat, for the pattern they give to man. They labour not only all day, but even by Moon-light they gather huge heaps together, lay it out a drying in a warm day, least it should putrefy, & bite off the ends of the ends of the grain least it should grow; but observe the season of this care and diligence; She provideth ⟨p. 354⟩her food in the Summer, and gathereth her meat in the Harvest. Then that time is the Ants opportunity; if she do it not then, she cannot do it at all; therefore she makes use of that season. O that Friend, thou wert but as wise for the bread which came down from Heaven, as this poor Pismire is for the bread which springs out of the earth! Christians are called Doves. The Turtle Dove is called in the Hebrew Tor, of the Original Tur, and thence comes our Latin Turtur, which signifieth to observe or search, for so this Bird observeth her time of going and coming, Jer. 8.7. for she departeth before Winter into some warm climate. The Lords day is the Summer, thine Harvest time; Labour now for Christ and grace, or thou art lost for ever. The Farmer that loiters at other times, will work hard and sweat in Harvest. If he do not reap then, he knows he can never pay his rent and feed his Family, but is ruined. Reader, if thou dost not on a Lords day gather in grace, how wilt thou do to lay out grace in the week days? nay how wilt thou do to spend grace upon a dying bed, when thou art to step into the other World! He that gathereth in Summer, is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in Harvest, is a son that causeth shame, Prov. 10.5. The Jews might gather no Manna on the Sabbath, but Gentiles must then especially get the bread of life. The Water-man must observe when Wind and Tide are for his turn, and then bestir himself, or otherwise he must come short of his Haven.