how and vpon what ground thou standest in what case thou art which way thou art trudging what is to be done to be saued hast had such feelings then certainly hath the Law been stirring in thee and thine heart beene broken somewhat though here 's not all required But if instead of these thou hast no more feeling of Gods wrath for thy sinnes threatned in the Law then hath an anuile of the hammers blowes canst heare noyses of iudgements thundred in the word against thy resolu'd prophanesse and like some Smiths dog sleeping vnder the anuile dost not so much as budge at it as a block without any sense or feeling thy heart certainly is an vnfallowed an vnbroken heart as yet 2 Intestine diuisions made in thy heart As when the earth is fallowed and broken vp one part is diuided ript and pluckt from t'other So here if thy heart be a broken heart there will be diuisions rents and ruptures made within thy corruptions will be pull'd in sunder bils of diuorce will bee sued out against them eternall separations plodded two contrary factions as t were will bee set vp in thee Flesh and Spirit the Captaines the vnderling thoughts motions variously siding some with the Flesh some with the Spirit and thy heart falling at ods with those domestique enemies thy lusts will disclaime all farther league hate dislike threaten plod and conspire against them But if on contrary the strong man hath all things in peace all be quiet within no Luk. 11. 21. mutiny no wrangling betweene thy heart and lusts no noyse so much within of ciuill discords and spirituall combates thine heart yet is no broken heart 3 The mastery and vpper hand of thine inordinate passions As in plowing of ground the spine and weeds that were vpward first are so turn'd ouer that they fall downe vnder whereby they rot die and wither So here Hast thou brought vnder thy vnruly passions wrath reuenge enuy frowardnesse impatience discontentednesse saying of them as Debora Iudg. 5. 21 of her enemies O my soule thou hast trodden downe strength hast conquered and trod vpon the neck of thy rebellious appetite hast laid thy adulterous lustfulnesse vnder thy feet a bleeding hast kil'd and quell'd the life and power of thy corrupt affections thy immoderate loue of the world thy delight in fleshly pleasures thy selfe-admiration and affectation of disguis'd attire and light-skirt immodest fashions Thou mayst with comfort conclude to thy selfe thy heart 's a broken heart But if on contrary thou bee one that art carried after the vnbridled swinge of vnruly lusts whirld about which way the impetuous blasts of thy passions driue thee without resistance drink'st in vanity as a fish doth water a shrewd argument of an heart as yet vnmortified an heart not broken vp 4 Softnesse of heart and tendernesse Ground you know that before the plowing could be hardly pierced with a stick or iron when broken vp t is soft and crummy that you may easily thrust your finger into it So here If thy heart be a broken heart it will be soft relentiue tender Try then Is thy heart mollified is' t ready melt at the experimentall sense of the spirituall sweetnesse of Gods loue to thee in Christ Doth it tremble at his word doth it dread his iudgements Is' t easily penetrable with Gods finger of correction that before as Adamant resisted the blowes of his rod of iron is' t tenderly compassionate relentingly pitifull towards the miseries and necessities of the poore a gracious marke of a broken heart But if on contrary that heart of thine bee yet brawnd ouer with insensible hardnesse vncapable yet of any distinct impression either of mercy or iudgement promises or threatnings heauen or hell God or the deuill thick listed as yet at the cryes of the poore If in a word insensibly hardned against all reproofe thou runst headlong on in drunkennesse whoring Sabbath breaking blafpheming swearing theeuing lying scoffing fashion flanting swaggering and this with greedinesse a poore euidence God knowes of any broken heartednesse 5 Changednesse of heart A field you know when t is newly broken vp t is quite of another hue and colour from what it was before all greene before now all red or somwhat like So here If thy heart be a broken heart t will be also another heart a changed heart for quality I meane not substance Let me demand thee then Canst finde an alteration in thy heart a change in thy life the old man off the new man on Stands the bent of thy disposions quite contrary to the point that before they did louing now what before thou hatedst God his word his children hating now what before thou likedst the pleasures of sinne and deeds of darknesse A drunkard before an whoremaster now continent sober chaste an Vsurer before a gamester a Sabbath breaker a rayler a persecutor now are claim'd man as forward now and zealous in acts of holinesse as before violent in sinne and wickednesse A faire character of a broken heart But if on contrary no such change bee to bee found art the same man that thou wert long since a tospot then and so art yet a wencher then and so art yet an old hell-scraping vsurer then and so abidest a scoffer a persecuter then and so continuest a pinching greedy earth worme then and so remaynest Certainly thou art yet as farre from a broken heart as thou art from heauen and that 's far enough 6 Lastly Discouery of new corruptions before vnspyed A field you know when t is broken vp how many stones and moores and wormes shall you see appeare that you neither saw before nor thought perhaps to haue had beene there So here If thy heart be truly broken many secret lusts and corruptions that lurkt before vnspied will now begin to shew themselues Consider thus then How stands it with thee dost in thy daily exercises of spirituall pursuit start new corruptions as strange wilde beasts that thou neuer saw'st before dost spy armies in ambush peep out that thou neuer so much as dreamst of before Vpon thy retired selfe-inspections comes that to thy view thou neuer feltst at least took'st no tice of in thy selfe before farther touches of spirituall pride of priuy hypocrisie more sense of secret vn willingnesse to good duties of wandringnesse of thoughts in prayer hearing meditation more sense then before of hanging incliningnesse to the loue of the world after regeneration with the like originall spawnes of thy defiled nature In a word dost in thy sequestred taske of priuy searching discouer daily more and more the rotten silthinesse of thy polluted heart and this with griefe what O what a sweet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is this or marke of a circumcised and broken heart But if on contrary thou seest no more stones nor roots nor wormes no more secret hardnesse guilt rottennesse in thee then before no farther sense nor acquaintance in the towardnesse of thy corrupt nature no new lurking
vp by him the Sunne of righteousnesse with good Iehosaphat what ere troopes bee comming say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet our eyes are vpon thee Christ in the Gospell is Gods present to penitent sinners make faith your hand to reach out and take him Christ is that brazen Serpent lift vp for healing let faith bee the eye of your sin-bitten soules to looke vp vnto him Christ is a rock your faith must hide you in its clefts Christ is the branch your faith must lodge you vnder its shadow He 's a Vine your faith must insert you into its stock No condemnation to them that are thus by faith in Christ come when he will but passage rather from death to life 5 Moderation T was Christs owne caueat Take heed to your selues lest at any time your hearts be ouer-charg'd Luk. 21. 34. with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and so that day come vpon you vnawares Goe then lure off the eager and greedy Vultures of your immoderate appetites from the carions of fleshly contents pluck off your horse-leech affections from the breasts of the world pin vp diet your insatiable desires from glutting on these things below thrust through the loynes of your earthly-distracting cares crucifie strangle your delights in the bewitching pleasures and profits of this life Full stomackes dispose to sleepe doe not fit for watching and woe be to you if Christ step in and take you napping 6 Sanctity You must now walke with God that would then sit with Christ now sow in the spirit Gal 6. 8. that would then reape life now write vp the fayre characters of good works in the bookes of your consciences that would haue them fayrely legible at the day of account to your euerlasting comfort Goe on then like wise Merchants emproue your stockes of grace adorne your high calling with all sauing fruitfulnes in well doing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith an Ancient out-run your sinnes as Iohn did Peter to Chrysost Ioh. 20. 4. our Sauiours Sepulchre by an vnwearied coursing on in the paths of piety to God mercy and loue to your brethren Cals not the Apostle eternall life the crowne of righteousnesse righteousnesse must then 2 Tim 4 8. precede where the crown must follow and if according to our works iudgment shall at last be executed Rom. 2. 6. Mat. 3 10. that Axe be sure will spare no tree that beares bad fruit 7 Time makes me let goe a seuenth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colos 4. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continued assiduity in prayer that which keepes in the fire of habituall graces and enliuens desires of Christs second comming 8 Faithfull attendance on each your places that 's the eighth and last Schoole boyes when but hearing their Master's comming how hye they to their places and ply their bookes lest taken tardy and stands it not vs in hand now that Christ stands at the doore with the strayned nerues of our best industry and faithfulnesse to be doing in our places those especially wherein God hath set vs for speciall aduancement of his glory Account must bee giuen vp of Luc. 16. 2. Mat. 25. 19. Mat. 24 46. each our Stewardships the employment of each our talents must be most strictly look't into Blessed O blessed then shall that seruant bee whom when his Master commeth he shall finde so doing ¶ Goe on then first yee sonnes of Levi who haue submitted your shoulders to the great work of preparing soules for the iudgment of the great day goe on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as good workmen that shall not need at that day to be ashamed approue both your selues and 2 Tim 2. 15. 1 Cor 4. 2. Heb. 13. 17. Zach. 11. 7. doctrine to God and your peoples consciences 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they that must giue account Take to you Zacharies two staues Beauty Bands Mercy and Iudgement and feed your slocks Preach the word Be instant in it in season and out of season that is as the Syriaque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bezabno wadlo zabno seem 2 Tim. 4. 2. to sound it as well when the people will not abide to heare it as when they will Let your Bels bee heard in your sound of doctrine your Pomegranates seene in your patternes of godlinesse Beloued our Lord and Master is now returning after his long absence and stands at the doore His reward is with him either a crowne incorruptible Reu 22. 12. for our faithfull labours in his Vineyard or fullvials of wrath to bring vpon our heads the blood of all those soules that through our insufficiency Ezek. 33. 6. lasinesse scandalousnesse haue miscarried perished Go on you Heroes you Ancients of the people our worthy Magistrates that haue taken the sword into your hands and the gouernment vpon your shoulders vnhood your eyes to the sight of sinne vnsheath your swords and hew it in peeces do valiantly as Gods Vicegerents in your Masters cause not fearing the face of sinne or men Know this Your places al with your exact accounts of them must be giuen vp before Christ the Iudge that 's now at the doore and ere long will enter And here giue leaue a little to be speake you Reuerend and our Learned Worthies whom clad in Scarlet Maiesty the supreme Iudge of men hath plac't as Iudges on his politicall bench of iudicature What Iehosaphat to his let mee to you our Iudges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take heed what ye doe T is not for man but 2 Chron. 19 6. for the Lord ye iudge whom be sure you haue presentem inspectorem futurum Iudicem your present be holder and future Iudge Set continue then his feare before your eyes Take to you Heroiquespirits and rise vp stoutly against the monsters of this age drunkennesse whoredome murders blasphemies Sabbath libertinisme filching swearing Stand you in the streame a little stop you the current of the time Bee like this great Iudge your Master 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom intuition neither of persons may sway nor of gifts corrupt Let iudg ment runne downe as water that 's free for any and righteousnesse as Amos 5. 24. Eph. 6. 9. a mighty riuer that feares no colours I le adde but this what Paul to Masters in behalfe of seruants 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euen you haue a Iudge in heauen too before whose iudgement ere long your selues must stand as doe others here before yours And you our worthy Iustices let me bespeak you too Go on I beseech you to make good your noble Titles by your practice Doing Iustice We yeeld you your honourable stile Custodes utriusque Tabuae But Isa 56. 1. seeke the promovall of Gods honour then aduance his worship in whose roome you be and before whose dreadfull Throne your selues must appeare ere long Encourage vertue looke big on vice set the point of your swords at the breasts of those
capcaine sinnes dunken nesse and prophanation of the Lords day Let the attracting Loadstones of your good examples draw or rather win conformity from the people and practise not in your selues what you should punish in others You learned Lawyers Counsellours Atturneyes Iury-men and who euer else whose concurrence needs for furthering an Assize suffer you too I beseech you a word in season You are now preparing to sollicite causes some some to plead some to search and enquire out matters of fact and misdemeanours Take this memento to the Castle with you Christ's neere at hand euen at the doore and these for ought you know may be the very last acts matters causes that euer you are like to deale on Do then vprightly Fingite adstantem Judicem imagine Christ before you alwayes and as a Iudge opening the doore and stepping in to iudgement In a word Consult with conscience con science with the word of God lest when you haue done pleading or dealing for others none at Christs comming bee found to plead for you Take all in summe Christ the Iudge stands before the doore will enter suddenly in his hands the keyes of life and death of saluation or damnation to euery man woman and child in the world Bee wise Amos 6. 31 Mar. 13. 37 in time then put not this euill day too farre off And what I say vnto you I say vnto all watch O Lord make O make vs fit and ready for this thy comming and then come when thou wilt Euen so come Lord Reu. 22. 20. Iesus come quickly FINIS THE SPIRITVALL PLOWMAN OR THE ART OF SPIrituall Fallowing Deliuered in a Sermon at St Peters in Exon Iune 24. 1631 BY Rychard Peck Master of Arts and Minister of Gods word at Columpton in Devon LONDON Printed by Thomas Harper for Ambrose Ritherdon and are to be sold at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the Signe of the Bull-head 1632. TO THE BEST AFFECTIoned Mrs Mary Arscot wife to the Right Worshipfull Edmund Arscot Esquire High Sheriffe of the County of Devon true grace and glory Worthy Mistresse IT may seeme vnsutable with your Sex and Rank to commend a Treatise of Fallowing to a Woman such a Woman But no matter Women somewhere pretend this way as much skill as men and shame not sometimes to goe forth into the field to hacking This poore messenger therefore admit I beseech you as from my Master sent to hire you to work as well as others if not to plowing at lest to hacking but thus interpreting The field you must worke in must bee your heart the furrowes to be beaten vp your sinnes corruptions lusts the sword of the spirit Gods word your mattock your taske mortification If wages you looke for no doubt at Euening when your work is ended the Penny-Royall of eternall life Come shame not such honest paynes for your spirituall liuing We stick not oft-times other wayes to bestow much more on temporall Your VVorships in the best bond Rychard Peck Columpton April 30. 1632. Hosea 10. 12. Break vp your fallow ground MAns heart in its first integrity was of so rich a mould that as a field which the Lord had blessed without enforcement by any supernaturall dressing it freely yeelded the most goodly crops of all euen the fairest graces created it seemes and and put into so diuine a temper that grace became as naturall then and propagable as corruption now Soone after when as that old theefe the Deuill had by his serpentine subtilty beguil'd man of this his field as Ahab Naboth of his Vineyard and had but got it in possession 't was mar'd instantly of a fruitfull field it became a wildernesse and ruinous heapes of a well-watred garden Since when instead of the good wholsome fruit of grace and righteousnesse the naturall burthen thereof in all mankinde hath beene none else but the filthy stinking weeds of all sinne and wickednesse So that now if euer we expect the haruest of any future happinesse wee must bid finall farewell to all hopes of any inherent strength and naturall power thereunto and must cast about for extrinsecall and aduentitiall helps in fallowing and plowing of this field vp whereby prepar'd and fitted for the seed of sauing grace it may bring forth at last the happy haruest of eternall peace and ioy and glory Break vp your fallow ground For coherence of which words with former I minde not to draw your thoughts farther then this present verse which is spent in two maine generalls 1 An Exhortation 2 a Motiue 1 In the Exhortation the Prophetinuites the Iewes to repentance and newnesse of life vnder a threefold continued Metaphor of plowing sowing reaping Sow to your selues righteousnesse reap in mercy break vp your fallow ground 2 The Motiue is an importuning opportunity for it is time amplified by its 1 Quid what to doe to seeke the Lord 2 Quousque how long till he come and raine righteousnesse vpon you You see now in what ranck stands my Text a branch namely of the Prophets exhortation and indeed the first for order of nature but for order of words the last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whose Logicall sense and order conceiue thus Sew in righteousnesse reap in mercy and to the end you may so both sow and reap doe this break vp your fallow ground The parts of the words are two 1 A painfull act break vp 2 A tough obiect your fallow ground In handling whereof here 's all Ile doe 1 Explaine the words by resoluing the Allegory 2 Next giue their summe in some doctrin all proposition and so lanch forth For the first that shall be dispatcht in the answere 1 of three questions 1 What 's this ground we are to break vp Quest 1. Answ T is answered Our hearts called ground perhaps for these or the like causes 1 For site and position of place The ground or earth is the center of the great world the heart is the middle center of man the little world 2 For natural temper and constitution The ground naturally is cold and dry so naturally our hearts icy-cold in good things without feruency heat or warmth of affection in holy duties and drie for want of the sap and moysture of originall righteous-nesse whereby like dry earth they are vnapt wholly in regard of any inherent actiue power to take any impression of grace 3 For naturall tendency and motion The earth naturally tends alwayes downeward So naturally our hearts downewards only to the world and earthly things 4 For its indeterminate and generall aptitude of bearing and bringing forth The ground you know is always in trauel to bring forth one thing or other if not good yet bad and that of diuers kinds thorns briars nettles thistles dockes c. So naturally our hearts prone to produce one thing or other though not good yet certaynly bad and that of diuers sorts too Pride hypocrisie lust enuy couetousnesse reuengefulnesse c. 5 Lastly for its need