8. Prop. Husbandmen are much delighted to see the success of their labors, it comforts them over all their hard pains, and many weary days, to see a good increase.

Reddit. Much more is God delighted in beholding the flourishing graces of his people; it pleases him to see his plants laden with fruit, and his valleys sing with corn.Cant. vi. 2. " My beloved is gone down to the garden, into his beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.”—These beds of spices, say *expositors, are the particular churches, the companies of believers; he goes to feed in these gardens, like as men go to their gardens to make merry, or to gather fruit. Cant. iv. 16. "He eats his pleasant fruit," viz. His people's holy performances, sweeter to him than any ambrosia; thus he feeds in the gardens, and he gathers lilies when he translates good souls into his kingdom above; "for the Lord takes pleasure in his saints, and will beautify the meek with salvation."

9. Prop. The husbandman is exceedingly grieved, when he sees the hopes of a good crop disappointed, and his fields prove barren, or blasted.

Reddit. So the Lord expresses his grief for, and anger against his people, when they bring forth no fruits, or wild fruits, worse than none. Hosea ix. 16. "Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up." Christ was exceedingly displeased with the fig-tree, and cursed it for its barrenness; It grieves him to the heart when his servants return to him with such complaints as these, We have labored in vain, we have spent our strength for nought.

* Christ is fed when he sees the graces of his people; he gathers lilies when he translates any good soul out of this life. Trap. on the place.

10. Prop. Husbandmen employ many laborers to work in their fields, there is need of many hands for such a multiplicity of business.

Reddit. God hath diversity of workmen also in the churches, whom he sends forth to labor in his spiritual fields. Eph. iv. 12. "He gave some apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry." Amos iii. 7. "I have sent [my servants] the prophets." It is usual with the apostles to place this title of a servant among their honorary titles, though a profane mouth once called it probosum artificium, a sordid artifice. Christ bath stampt a great deal of dignity upon his ministers, in retaining them for the nearest service to himself. 1 Cor. iv. 1. "Let a man so account of us, as the ministers of Christ;" they are workers together with God: The husbandman works in the field among his laborers, and the great God disdaineth not to work in and with his poor servants, in the work of the ministry.

11. Prop. The work about which husbandmen employ their servants in the field, is toilsome and spending. And although they may not be weary of the service, yet are they sometimes wearied in it. How often do they feel as if they should be obliged to give out, before the object for which they labor, is effected.

Reddit. But O how much more toilsome and spending is the work of God's servants. It was said of Epaphroditus. That for the work of Christ he was sick, and nigh unto death, not regarding his life to supply their lack of service. How applicable is the expression of the apostle, Whereurto I also labor, striving, according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. The servants

of God sometimes become so weary and spent, through much constant and hard labor, that it seems as if they would be obliged to relinquish their pursuits without effecting their desired object. Though they may have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, yet they sometimes feel desirous to abide longer in the flesh, that they may have an opportunity of doing something more for God and his church.

12. Prop. The immediate end of the husbandman's labor, and his servant's labor, is for the improvement of his land, to make it more flourishing and fruitful.

Reddit. The scope and end of the ministry is for the church's benefit and advantage. They must not lord it over God's heritage, as if the church were for them, and not they for the church; nor serve themselves of it, but be the church's servants for Jesus' sake. 2 Cor. iv. 6. The power they have received being for edification, and not for destruction. 2 Cor. x. 8. Christ hath given them to the churches; their gifts, their time, their strength, and all their ministerial talents, are not their own, but the church's stock and treasure.

13. Prop. The workmen that labor in the fields are accountable for their work to him that employed them.

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accountable to God

for all the souls committed to them. They are stewards of the mysteries of God, 1 Cor. iv. 1. and stewards are accountable. "We watch for your souls," saith the apostle, as they that must give an account." Heb. xiii. 7. If these servants be unfaithful in their work and trust, the blood of souls shall be required at their hands, Ezek. iii. 17, 18. which are fulmina, non verba, (saith Erasmus,) thunderbolts, rather than words. The guilt of

blood is the greatest guilt; and of all blood, the blood of souls.

14. Prop. Those that spend their time and strength all their days, in manuring and ploughing the fields, do maintain themselves and their families by their labors their hands are sufficient for themselves and theirs.

Reddit. "Even so hath God ordained, that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gospel." 1 Cor. ix. "The workman is worthy of his meat." Mat. x.

14. 10. It is a sad thing, if those who break the bread of life to souls, should be suffered to want bread themselves. God would not have the mouth of an ox muzzled that treads out the corn, but have liberty to eat as well as work Yet if any pretender to the ministry be like the heifer that loves to tread out the corn, (i. e.) cares to do no work, but such as brings in present pay, he therein sufficiently discovers his beast-like disposition. Ministers must be faithful in their master's work, and if men do not, God will reward them. For "he is not unrighteous to forget their work, and labor of love." Heb. vi. 10.

15. Prop. It is a great trouble to husbandmen in a busy time, to be put off from their labors by stormy weather, which drives them out of the fields, and makes them let all lie, till it clear up again; yet, mean while, they are not idle, but employ themselves in home-work.

Reddit. Even so in God's husbandry, it is an unspeakable affliction to God's workmen to be rendered useless and unserviceable to the churches, by those storms of trouble, which drive them from their public ministerial work. With what a heavy heart did Paul go off from his work at Ephesus, Acts xx. It spends a minister to preach, but more to be silent. It is a loud speaking judgment, when God shall say to them as to Ezekiel-Son of man,

I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, and thou shalt be dumb. Ezek. iii. 26. Such silencing providences, speaking thundering language to gracious hearts; yet, even then, the keepers of the vineyard have a private vineyard of their own to look after, they have much home-work, when no out-work.

16. Prop. There is a vast difference betwixt those fields which have been well husbanded and dressed by a skilful and diligent husbandman; and those that have been long out of husbandry. How fragrant is the one? How dry and barren the other? When you pass by a field well dressed and fenced, every thing prosperous, and in exquisite order, you may know, without further inquiry, that a good husbandman lives there.

Reddit. Thus stands the case betwixt those places which God hath blessed with a faithful painful ministry, and such as have none, or worse than none; for as the husbandman's cost and pains appear in the verdant and fragrant hue of his fields; so a minister's pains and diligence are, ordinarily, seen in the heavenly lives and flourishing graces of the people. The churches of Corinth and Thessalonica, where Paul, and other holy instruments, spent much of their time and pains, became famous and flourishing churches. 2 Cor. ix. 2. A special blessing comes along with a godly minister, to the place where special providence assigns him.-Such places, like Gideon's fleece, have the dew of heaven lying on them, whilst others round about are dry and barren.

17. Prop. The husbandman is not discouraged, though the seed lie long under the clods; he knows it will spring up at last, and reward him, or those that come after him, for their pains and patience in waiting for it.

Reddit. Ministers should not be presently discouraged