Epistle to the Country Reader
You have here the fruit of some of my spare hours, which were thus employed, when by a sad providence I was thrust from the society of many dear friends, into a solitary country dwelling. I hope none will envy me these innocent delights, which I made out of my lonely walks, whereby the Lord sweetened my solitudes there. It is likely you will find some passages here, that are harmlessly pleasant; yet, I assure you, I know of none that the most cynical reader can censure as sinfully light and vain. I must acknowledge to the praise of God, that I have found some of those (which possibly some of my readers will call the slightest and most trifling subjects of meditation) to be the ordinances for instruction, caution, and consolation to my own soul: indeed, such a degree of comfort, I do profess, to have found by these things, as has much endeared the country life to me, and made me much better to understand that saying of Horace, than when I learned it at school, Novistine locum potiorem rure beato? Est ubi plus tapeant hyems? ubi gracior aura? O rus, quando te ad spiciam? quandoque licebit Nunc veterum libris, nunc somno, & inertibus hortis Ducere solicitae jucunda oblivio vitae, (that is,) What life can with the country life compare? Where breathes the purest, and most healthful air. Where undisturbed, my studies I pursue; and when I sleep, bid all my cares adieu.
And what I have found so beneficial to myself, I cannot but think may be so to others. I assure you reader, I am not fond of any of these conceptions; and yet I think I may modestly enough say, that the emptiest leaf in this book, may serve for more and better uses than a mere diversion, when you can find leisure to peruse it. I know your troubles and cares are many, and though your condition of life has many innocent comforts, and outward mercies to sweeten it, yet I believe most of you have found, that ancient saying of Anaxion experimentally true, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉].
Some bitter troubles country men do meet,
With which the Lord does intermix their sweet.
The cares of your minds, are commonly no less than the pains of your bodies; it concerns you therefore, to sweeten what you cannot avoid; and I know no better way for that than what is here directed to. O friends! what advantages have you, for a spiritual life? Why may you not have two harvests every year? one for your souls, another for your bodies; if you could thus learn to husband your husbandry. Methinks spiritual meditations do even put themselves upon you. Husbandmen of old were generally presumed to be honest and good men; what else means that saying of Menander, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉].
Profess yourself a husbandman,
And wicked too! believe it that can.
What you are, godly or wicked is not for me (that am a stranger to most of you) to determine; but if you are not godly, it's my desire and design to make you so; and I could not think on a more probable means to accomplish this honest design, than what I have here used. Methinks it should be a pleasure to you, when you come weary out of the fields from plow, or any other labour, to sit down in the evening, and read that chapter which concerns that particular business, and refresh your souls even from that which has wearied your bodies. Were your hearts but heavenly, and more time allowed for spiritual husbandry your inward comforts, would be much more, and your outward gains not a jot less; for if the success of all your civil labours and employments depend upon the pleasure and will of God; (as all that are not atheists do acknowledge) then certainly, your business can succeed never the worse, for your endeavours to please him, upon whose pleasure it so entirely depends. I have many times [reconstructed: lifted] up my heart to heaven, while these papers were under my hand, for a special blessing to accompany them, when they should be in yours. If the Lord accomplish my desires by them upon your souls, you shall enjoy two heavens, one here, and another hereafter. Would not that be sweet? The historian tells us, that Altitius Serarius was sowing corn in the field, when Q. Cincinnatus came to him bare headed, with letters from the Senate, signifying that he was chosen to the dictatorship. I hope the Lord will so bless and succeed these labours, that many of you will be called from holding the plow on earth, to wear the crown of glory in heaven; which is the sincere desire
Of your hearty well-wisher, John Flavell.
