Namque Ceres fertur fruges, Liberque liquoris Vitigeni laticem mortalibus instituisse.

LUCRETIUS, v. 14.

"Ceres has taught mortals how to produce fruits; and Bacchus has taught them how to cultivate the vine." �o d� hpiov anqrwpoisi dexia shmainei, laouv d� epi ergon egeirei mimnhskwn biotoio� legei d� ote bwlov aristh bousi te kai makelhsi� legei d� ote dexiai wrai kai futa gurwsai, kai spermata panta balesqai.

ARATUS, Phantom. v.

"He, Jupiter, to the human race Indulgent, prompts to necessary toil Man provident of life; with kindly signs The seasons marks, when best to turn the glebe With spade and plough, to nurse the tender plant, And cast o'er fostering earth the seeds abroad." Verses 27, 28. Four methods of threshing are here mentioned, by different instruments; the flail, the drag, the wain, and the treading of the cattle. The staff or flail was used for the infirmiora semina, says Jerome, the grain that was too tender to be treated in the other methods. The drag consisted of a sort of strong planks, made rough at the bottom, with hard stones or iron; it was drawn by horses or oxen over the corn sheaves spread on the floor, the driver sitting upon it. Kempfer has given a print representing the manner of using this instrument, Amaen. Exot. p. 682, fig. 3. The wain was much like the former; but had wheels with iron teeth, or edges like a saw: Ferrata carpenta rotis per medium in serrarum modum se volventibus. Hieron. in loc. From this it would seem that the axle was armed with iron teeth or serrated unheels throughout. See a description and print of such a machine used at present in Egypt for the same purpose in Niebuhr's Voyage en Arabie, Tab. xvii. p. 123; it moves upon three rollers armed with iron teeth or wheels to cut the straw. In Syria they make use of the drag, constructed in the very same manner as above described; Niebuhr, Description de l'Arabie, p. 140. This not only forced out the grain, but cut the straw in pieces for fodder for the cattle; for in the eastern countries they have no hay. See Harmer's Observ. i. p. 425. The last method is well known from the law of Moses, which "forbids the ox to be muzzled, when he treadeth out the corn; " Deut. xxv. 4.

Is. 28:1-4 What men are proud of, be it ever so mean, is to them as crown; but pride is the forerunner of destruction. How foolishl drunkards act! Those who are overcome with wine are overcome by Satan and there is not greater drudgery in the world than hard drinking Their health is ruined; men are broken in their callings and estates and their families are ruined by it. Their souls are in danger of being undone for ever, and all merely to gratify a base lust. In God' professing people, like Israel, it is worse than in any other. And he is just in taking away the plenty they thus abuse. The plenty they wer proud of, is but a fading flower. Like the early fruit, which, as soo as discovered, is plucked and eaten.

Is. 28:5-15 The prophet next turns to Judah, whom he calls the residu of his people. Happy are those alone, who glory in the Lord of host himself. Hence his people get wisdom and strength for every service an every conflict. But it is only in Christ Jesus that the holy God communicates with sinful man. And whether those that teach are drun with wine, or intoxicated with false doctrines and notions concernin the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah, they not only err themselves but lead multitudes astray. All places where such persons have taugh are filled with errors. For our instruction in the things of God, it is needful that the same precept and the same line should be ofte repeated to us, that we may the better understand them. God, by his word, calls us to what is really for our advantage; the service of God is the only true rest for those weary of the service of sin, and ther is no refreshment but under the easy yoke of the Lord Jesus. All thi had little effect upon the people. Those who will not understand what is plain, but scorn and despise it as mean and trifling, are justl punished. If we are at peace with God, we have, in effect, made covenant with death; whenever it comes, it cannot do us any rea damage, if we are Christ's. But to think of making death our friend while by sin we are making God our enemy, is absurd. And do not the make lies their refuge who trust in their own righteousness, or to death-bed repentance? which is a resolution to sin no more, when it is no longer in their power to do so.

Is. 28:16-22 Here is a promise of Christ, as the only foundation of hope for escaping the wrath to come. This foundation was laid in Zion in the eternal counsels of God. This foundation is a stone, firm an able to support his church. It is a tried stone, a chosen stone approved of God, and never failed any who made trial of it. A corne stone, binding together the whole building, and bearing the whol weight; precious in the sight of the Lord, and of every believer; sure foundation on which to build. And he who in any age or natio shall believe this testimony, and rest all his hopes, and his never-dying soul on this foundation, shall never be confounded. The right effect of faith in Christ is, to quiet and calm the soul, til events shall be timed by Him, who has all times in his own hand an power. Whatever men trust to for justification, except the righteousness of Christ; or for wisdom, strength, and holiness, excep the influences of the Holy Ghost; or for happiness, except the favou of God; that protection in which they thought to shelter themselves will prove not enough to answer the intention. Those who rest in righteousness of their own, will have deceived themselves: the bed i too short, the covering too narrow. God will be glorified in the fulfilling of his counsels. If those that profess to be members of God's church, make themselves like Philistines and Canaanites, the must expect to be dealt with as such. Then dare not to ridicule the reproofs of God's word, or the approaches of judgements.

Is. 28:23-29 The husbandman applies to his calling with pains an prudence, in all the works of it according to their nature. Thus the Lord, who has given men this wisdom, is wonderful in counsel, an excellent in his working. As the occasion requires, he threatens corrects, spares, shows mercy, or executes vengeance. Afflictions ar God's threshing instruments, to loosen us from the world, to par between us and our chaff, and to prepare us for use. God wil proportion them to our strength; they shall be no heavier than there is need. When his end is answered, the trials and sufferings of his people shall cease; his wheat shall be gathered into the garner, but the chaf shall be burned with unquenchable fire __________________________________________________________________

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