on the bounty of the farmer. Neither of these has earned the bread 

 with which his life is sustained. 



We see, from this standpoint, that the farmer is the most inde- 

 pendent man that treads the earth. He is the true lord of the manor, 

 and feeds the world. Thus the genuine wise farmer is the great 

 benefactor of the race. The world cannot live without him. The 

 land of the earth lying uncultivated one year, would probably nearly 

 end the race of man. 



The wise of all time have so regarded the farm, and the farmer ; 

 and, on the whole, the best of men have been devoted to practical 

 farming. George Chalmers, an early Scotch writer on agriculture, in 

 giving an account of the low condition of this industry in Scotland 

 and England, in the 13th century, says: "that in the northern part 

 of Scotland, as well as in the southern part of England the clergy 

 were by far the most skillful and industrious husbandmen." I con- 

 fess, taking the standpoint of the ministry of the present day, this 

 seems very strange ; but I regard this historic statement as a very 

 big compliment paid to the profession. And I think it might be paid 

 to the ministers nearer our times ; for many of the New England 

 clergy of the past generation were excellent farmers as well as good 

 preachers, and grand patriots. This compliment to the ministry is 

 not without good reason : for is there not a gospel of bread and 

 butter as well as one of grace and salvation ? Then the farm may 

 be regarded as not only the foundation of our material civilization, 

 but as a book of revelation as well, in the true study of which the 

 farmer may become a live, if not orthodox theologian. And I think 

 I have known some farmers who had a theology innnently more juicy, 

 blooming, fragrant and fruitful than some I have known coming from 

 orthodox Andover, or uncertain New Haveu, or old Harvard, whose 

 orthodoxy or heterodoxy is according to what is my doxy or your 

 doxy- But then, I must confess that I have known some farmers, as 

 well as ministers, who have no theology worth speaking of, and the 

 more the pity in both cases • for if "an undevout astronomer is mad," 

 I must be allowed to say as much for, or against the undevout farmer. 

 According to my way of thinking the two callings are closely related 

 — as closely related as the symbol is to the thing symbolized. Nay, 

 the true farmer, thorough and enthusiastic, is one of the best of 

 God's preachers. And what does he preach 1 Why, he preaches a 

 gospel of good things, of which the world must partake or die. He 

 preaches a gospel of life, varied, beautiful and abundant. He 

 preaches the doctrine of a resurrection, by consigning the seed to 



