hath supplied us with an excellent help, for the spiritualizing of the providential works of God in natural things, by godly meditations; we chiefly want the help of the holy Spirit (with out which all other helps and helpers are altogether insufficient) to frame and wind up our hearts, for this both profitable and delightful duty; yet the help which the Lord is pleased to give us for our direction in it, by the ministry of man, is not only not to be refused, but thankfully received and improved; and all little enough to bring our minds to, or keep them at this work: The best of saints (on this side heaven) have (though they are not only earthly-minded) much earth in their minds; which like a heavy clog at their heels, or a weight at their hearts, preflèth them down when they

would make an effay to mount upward in meditation. We find it no easy matter to keep of earthly thoughts, when we are most seriously engag. ed in heavenly work; how hard it is then to get in, and be fixed upon heavenly thoughts, while we are engaged about earthly work; yea, are (for so is the husbandman) working the very earth, and raking in the bowels of it. 'T'is a great part of our holiness to be fpiritually-minded, while we are converfing with God through Jesus Christ in spiritual duties; but to be spiritually-minded, and to mind spiritual things, when we are conversing with the clods of the earth, and the

furrows of the field; when we have to do with corn and grass, with trees and plants, with sheep and oxen ; when we behold the birds and fowls of the air, the worms, and all that creep upon the ground; then (I fay) to be fpiritually-minded, and thence to have our thoughts afcending and foaring up to God, in heart affecting and quickening contemplations, witnesseth an high degree of holiness, and of gracious attainments. To make a ladder out of earthly materials, for the raising of ourselves in fpirit up to heaven, is the art of arts. Holy and happy indeed are they who (being taught of God) have learned this art, and live in daily practice of it. Earthly objects usually hinder us in our way, sometimes turn us quite out of our way to heaven. Many plow and low, dig and delve the earth, till their hearts become as earthly as the earth itself: Many deal about the beasts of the field, till themselves become even brutish. Is it not then a blefled design which this Author aims and drives at, so to spiritualize all sorts, or the whole compads of earthly husbandry, that all sorts of husbandmen may become spiritual and heavenly ? It seems to me a token for good, that God hath an intendment of some special good to the souls of such as are by profession proper husbandmen, seeing he hath

lately put it into the hearts of two faithful ministers (who with all of that profeffion, Mr. Richard Steel,

and this Author. are husbandmen in a figure) to undertake, tho' in a different way, this subject, and to publish their

a labours in print, that they may be of use, not only for the present age, but for pofterity.

And that the husbandman may be pleased as well as profited, in perusing the labours of this author ; he hath, with singular aptness, and acuteness, contrived and contracted the fum and scope of every chapter into an elegant distich, or pair of verses, placed at the head of it, and concluded it with a choice melodious poem, suitable to, and dilating upon the whole matter of it. These the husbandman, who can but read, may quickly learn and sing for his folace, instead of those vain ballads, and corrupting rhimes, which many of that rank are apt to buy, and folace themselves withal, without any benefit, yea, much to their hurt, making their hearts more corrupt, carnal, and vain thereby.

Let me add one word more to the reader. This book of Husbandry Spiritualized, is not calculated only for the common husbandman; persons of any calling, or condition, may find the author working out such searching reflections and strong convictions, from almost every part and particular of the husbandman's work, as may prove, if faithfully improved, very useful to them; to some for their awakening, to consider the state of their souls, whether in grace, or in nature ; to others for their instruction, confolation, and encouragement in the ways of grace, as also for their proficiency and growth in those ways. That the blessing of the Lord, and the breathings of his good Spirit may go out with it, for all those gracious purposes, is the heart's delire, and prayer of him, who is, Christian Reader, a fincere well-wisher to thy precious and immortal foul,

JOSEPH CARYL.

To his Reverend and Learned Friend, Mr. John Flavel, on his

Spiritual Navigation and Husbandry.

L

ETTERS of mark to his dear servant given,

By him that lists the ruffling winds of heaven:
To fight, and take all such as would not deign
Tacknowledge him the sea's great Sovereign.
He launch'd his little pinace, and began
VOL. VI.

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one

T attack the-vaffals of Leviathan.
Auspicious gales swelling his winged fails,
Searches all creeks, and ev'ry bark he hails;
That scarce a ship our Western coast afford, -
Which his brave pinace hath not laid aboard.
And what among our riddles fome might count,
Was seen at once at Berwick, and the Mount.
Yea, in more ports hath in one lustre been,
Than Hawkins, Drake, or Cavendish have feen.
And prizes of more worth brought home again,
Than all the plate-fleets of the Kings of Spain.
But that which makes the wonder swell the more,
Those whom he took were beggars all before.
But rests he here? No, no, our friend doth know,
'Tis good to have two strings unto his bow.
Our rare Amphibion loves not to be pent
Within the bounds of

poor

element.
Besides, the learned author understood,
That of an idle band there comes no good.
The law to him no pulpit doth allow,
And now he cannot preach, he means to plow,
Though preaching were a crime, yet he foresaw
Against the plowman there could be no law.
Nor stays he on resolves, but out-of-hand
He yoaks his teem, plows up the stubborn land;
Sows it with precious seed, barrows again
The tougher clods, takes pleasure in his pain.
Whilft, Orpheus-like, (which doth his art advance)
Rocks, fields, and woods, after bis pipe do dance.

Industrious spirit; to what a rich account
With thy bleft Lord, wil} all these labours mount?
That ev'ry nerve of thy best soul dost ply,
To further heav'n's spiritual husbandry.
This kind of tillage which thou teacheft us,
Was never dreamt of by Triptolemus.
Go, reader, turn the leaves, and me allow
To pray (whilst at work) God fpeed the plow.

NICHOLAS WATTS.

a

In Authoris O PER A.
ET Paracelsus and Van Helmont's name,

No more ride triumph on the wings of fame..
Lo, here's a chymist, whose diviner skill
Doth hallowed, from unhallowed things distil.

L

Spiritualizeth sea-affairs; again,
Makes the rude ground turn tutor unto men.
Shews Mariners, as by a compass, how
They may unto the port of glory row.
Teacheth the plowman, from their work, to know
What duties unto God, and man they owe.
Rare artist! who, when many tongues are mute,
Mak’st things, that are inanimate, confute
The age's fins: by preaching unto eyes,
Truths, which, in other modes, their ears defpife.
Prosper his pious labours, Lord! howe'er
Do not forget to crown the labourer,

Sic raptim canit,

DAN. CONDY

I

To his Reverend and Invaluable Friend, Mr. J. F. upon his

Husbandry Spiritualized.
NGENIOUS Sir, What do I see? What now!

Are you come from the pulpit to the plow?
11 so, then pardon me, if I profess,
The plow deserves to be sent to the press.
'Tis not long Gince you went to sea, they say,
Compos'd a compass, which directs the way,
And steers the course to heaven; Oblest art !
And bravely done that you did that impart
To us, who take it kindly at your hand,
And bless the Lord that you are come to land,
To be an husbandman, wherein your skill,
With admiration doth your readers fill.
One grain will yield increase, it's ten times ten,
When the earth's manur'd by such husbandmen.
We may expect rich harvests, and full crops,

,
When heav'nly dew descendeth in such drops
Of spiritual rain, to water ev'ry field,
That it full heaps of grace to God may yield.
I must adore the wisdom of that God
That makes men wise, who, even from a clod
Of earth, can raise such heavenly meditation
Unto a pitch of highest elevation.
Besides, I mark the goodness of the Lord,
Performing unto us his faithful word,
That all should work for good unto the saints,

a

a

Which, in some measure, leffens our complaints.
For though our Pulpit mercies be grown less,
We have some gracious helps yet from the prefs.
And herein all the world may plainly see,
That faithful servants will not idle be.
We have some bricks, although the straw be gone,
The church, at last, shall be of polish'd stone.
Whatever men or devils act, or fay,
Sion, at last, will have a glorious day.
The wretched muck-worm, that from morn to night
Labours, as if 'twere for an heav'nly weight;
And, when he hath got all he can, the moft
Amounts to little more than a poor crust,
To'feed his tired carcass: If himself
Have, by his carking, got a little pelf,
Leave it he muft, to one he knows not whom,
And then must come to an eternal doom ;
And hear his poor neglected wretched soul
Tell him at last, that he hath play'd the fool.
But here he's taught, how he, before he die,
May lay up treasure for eternity;
Wherein he