Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	evil_a	good_a	tree_n	33,809	5	11.7409	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A62903	The absolute necessity of spiritual husbandry in breaking up our fallow ground. Together with a discourse of the terrible coming of Christ, to execute vengeance on all that remain fallow ground, and obey not the gospel. By Samuel Tomlyns, M.A. and minister of the gospel in Marlborough.	Tomlyns, Samuel, 1632 or 3-1700.	1699 (1699)	Wing T1857; ESTC R219739	76,560	161

Righteousness and was not this to lower and set them back to call on them to break up their fallow ground as tho' they had yet done nothing had not yet begun or done the first work in Religion or taken the first step in the way of God but were to begin all anew and set their hand to the Plough to break up their fallow ground 3. This is observable that this Exhortation is given to the Men of Judah and Jerusalem that were then the only Church of God this intimates that in the Church only there is the spiritual Plow the Plow-men and the right Seed to sow the Soil and no where else there is a direction and dehortation Sow not among Thorns Some do think that if they hear Sermons read the Scriptures and good Books and do some Actions materially good that this is Seed sown for a Harvest of Glory but yet all is labour lost if the Ground be not cleansed if the Soul be not purified from base Lusts and Affections these Thorns do bedwarf rob starve the good Seed so that no Fruit is brought to perfection Holy Duties do not sanctifie a carnal Man but are defiled by him Hag. 2.13 14 they that are unclean themselves do pollute all they meddle with the Plague that is in the heart infects thoughts intentions words and actions 1 Kin. 18.38 The fore-skin of the Heart will carnalize all we meddle with Jer. 4.4 The words may vield us these two Doctrines 1. That the Hearts of unregenerate Men are like to fallow Ground 2. That it is their Duty to break up their fallow Ground For the prosecuting of the first Doctrin I shall shew why the Hearts of unregenerate Men are compar'd to fallow Ground 1. A fallow Ground is that which once was plow'd and sow'd Mankind in our first Parents were once sow'd with original Righteousness beautified with the Image of God and enobled with a divine life The first Tables that Moses receiv'd were the Work of God and the Writing was the Writing of God Exod. 32.16 The Writings and the Tables seem to be created together so our first Parents had their Soil and spiritual Seed created together the Tables and the Writing were fram'd at once the Law of God was engraven on the Mind and Will of Adam and Eve the Meal of the faculties of their Souls was always leaven'd with holiness and righteousness Man's Soul was once sowed by and became a fruitful field to God 2. This is implied that now this holy Seed is killed or rooted out as when Wheat and Barley is ripe and cut the stalks and root dies and it will never bring forth any more Wheat or Barley so the Law of God is blotted out of the Image of God defaced from the Life of God extinguished in our Souls so that we shall never please God or bring forth any acceptable Fruit to him if we are not broken up and sowed anew our Souls are like the second Tables that Moses brought to God meer blanks till God doth again write his Law in them 3. As a fallow Ground ordinarily brings forth only Briars Thistles Thorns and so is useless and unprofitable to the Husbandman so our Nature is so void and destitute of what is good so prone and inclinable to that which is evil that they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Ro. 8.9 A corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good Fruit Mat. 7.18 Original Sin dwells in us it dwells alone hath possession of the whole Soul and all its faculties and it hath not only a House but a Throne in us naturally it works in us all manner of Concupiscence Rom. 7.8 but in this Flesh of ours dwelleth nothing that is good Rom. 7.18 but the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy and all unrighteousness Jam. 4.5 4. As a fallow Ground must be plow'd and sow'd else 't will not bear Wheat or yield Bread so our Hearts must be broken and sowed with good Seed else Holiness will never root deep in the Heart and spring up in the Life we must have the Law of God written in us Jer. 31.33 we must have the Fear of God put into us Jer. 32.39 40. and the Spirit of God Ezek. 36.27 or else we shall yield no Harvest of Righteousness or Obedience to God Use 1. Be convinc'd of this that you are a fallow Ground that you have Souls poor and empty of that which is good and that your carnal Minds are Enmity to God are not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be Rom. 8.7 yea tho' in some sence you may be said to be sowed as the Highway-ground the Stony the Thorny Ground were Mat. 13.20 21 22. yet you may be said still to be a fallow because the Seed withers is starved and choked so that no Fruit is brought forth to please and delight the heavenly Husbandman 2. Be humbled deeply for this that you have so long continued a fallow so that God hath had no Harvest of Righteousness no sheaves or gleanings of good Works you have done nothing of all that God hath commanded you Jer. 32.23 have only done Evil and wrought Iniquity Jer. 32.30 your thoughts have been only evil Gen. 6.5 your words evil How can a corrupt generation speak good things Mat. 12.34 your actions evil a corrupt Tree bringeth forth corrupt Fruit Matt. 7.17 The Prodigal that went into a far Country did neither perform service to his Father nor enjoy communion with him Luke 15.13 3. Do not remain a fallow Ground it will be sad to enjoy no good hereafter for God to reap no Fruits of Righteousness from you and you to reap no fruits of Mercy from him therefore be not contented to lie in the ruines of your Falls and not to be better'd or benefited at all by the Word of Grace the Gospel of Reconciliation It will be bad for the Founder to melt in vain Jer. 6.29 Because wickedness is not separated from you and you refined from your Dross it will be sad for Christ and his Ministers to labour in vain because you are not gather'd in for the Dew and Rain to come often on you and yet you bring forth only Briars and Thorns Heb. 6.8 O consider these following things 1. Your fallow Ground is capable of manuring and improvement as Isaac by plowing and sowing in Canaan did make a great advantage to himself that Land which before did only yield Herbage and feed his Flock did now bear Corn and did nourish himself and his large Family he sow'd in that Land and receiv'd in the same year an hundred fold Gen. 26.12 that is he had reap'd a hundred bushels of Corn for one that he sow'd how was the ground advanc'd from feeding Cattel to feed Isaac and his Family so how is a Soul exalted and enobled by spiritual Tillage by being plow'd and sow'd it brings forth Fruit for Christ to gather and eat Cant. 4. ult Let my beloved come into his garden and eat