t. 378 Chap. 3q AnExpoftion upon the tookofJo x, Verf. reaped, and they bring it home or make it to return vertually when they labour and take pains about or for the lowing of ic. The Plahnia havingprayed (Pfeil. t44.verf. i 3.) That ourgar. nera may befull,affording all manner offlare, prefently adds (verf, r *)That our Oxen may beflronf to labour; for (Prov, 4.4.)where no Oxenare, the crib is clean. Not only, Firtt, Becaufe there is no need to fill the crib, where no oxen are to eat up the fodder, as was (hewed a littlebefore a But, Secondly, Becaufe where no Oxen are, there is nothing to fill it. The crib muff needs be empty, when the barn is empty ; food faileth both for man and beaft, where there arenoOxen. Barns and garners are full, when theOx is Wrong to labour, or becaufe the ftrong Ox bath been in labour r For (as it follóweth) Much increafe comethby theflrengtb of the Ox. Why Both Solomon impute increafe to the f}rength of the Ox ? Surely, becaufe the Ox being thong is alto willing to labour and lay out hisfirength, and fo, much increafe comethby the fîrength and labour of the Ox, though that alone will not do it. For that there may be an increafe, there five things mut§ concur. Firft, The skill and induf'cry of the Husband- man. Secondly, The flrength and labour of the Ox or Horfe,. Thirdly, The vertue and fatnefs of the earth. Fourthly, The fhowersand influences of heaven, Fifthly, And above all, the Welling of God. Old lfaac raid of his SonJacob (gen. 27. 27.) See, the [mil of my Son is al thefusel! of afield, which the LordbathWed. As there is no in creafe without the bletïïng of (sod, how much foever men or oxen labour,fo there is great increafe (theLord adding his blef- fing) by the labour ofmen and oxen. Labour and increafe ufual ly go together ; and where no labour is, there (except by mira- cle) is no increafe s Where no labour is, the barn is empty, the crib is empty, the belly is empty, the purfe is empty, Of doing nothing comes nothing, butwant andmifery, 'Tis faid, when the Ox iswearied, he treads fared : To be lure, they who are molt wearied by hone} pains-taking, tread furef uponhonelf profit.. Secondly, obferve ; Seedfawn is not loft, but returns and comes home again. 'Ott which was re attend abroad in theField, is garhéred into the
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