N02451:175
Agricola. Or, The religious husbandman: the main intentions of religion, served in the business…
Agricola. Or, The religious husbandman: the main intentions of religion, served in the business and language of husbandry. A work adapted unto the grand purposes of piety; and commended therefore by a number of ministers, to be entertained in the families of the country. : [One line from I Corinthians]Agricola. Or, The religious husbandman: the main intentions of religion, served in the business and language of husbandry. A work adapted unto the grand purposes of piety; and commended therefore by a number of ministers, to be entertained in the families of the countrey. : [One line from I Corinthians]
Boston: printed by T. Fleet for D. Henchman, 1727
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Georgica Sacra. The SOWING Of the Field. › The Thorny Ground.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
O you that serve diverse Lusts; How can you bear to have such Thorns continually harassing of you? Methinks, we should be as uneasy as they that sit upon Thorns, or as they that lie down on a Bed of Thorns, till we are delivered from the Lusts of Indwelling Sin. O wretched ones that we are; who shall deliver us?
II. These Lusts of Men towards the Things of This World, are the Things by which the Word of GOD falling on the Souls of Men, is rendered Ineffectual. It is a rare thing for them that are much concerned in and for the Things of This World, or worldly-minded ones, to get much Good by the Word of GOD. The Things of This World, either hinder People from Hearing the Word of GOD. The Opportunities for Hearing, especially at the Lectures, which are set up, that they may not go too many Days together without the Bread, which strengthens the Heart of Man, these are shamefully neglected, because like Martha, we are careful and troubled about may things. Or, These Things hinder People from Heeding the Word of GOD, when they Hear it. GOD may say of them, They sit before thee as my People, and they hear thy words; but their Heart goeth after their Covetousness. Or, These Things hinder People from Doing the Word of GOD, tho' they Heed it. So, They ihat will be Rich, fall into Temptation, and are drowned in Perdition. But, where is the Fault of all this? It is not in the Things themselves: The Things of This World are Good Things, when they be not abused. No; The Fault is in those Lusts, by which our Hearts are Inordinately carried out after these Things. Our SAVIOUR having ranked the Thorns into Three Classes, The Cares of this World, and The Deceitfulness of Riches, and, The Lusts of other Things, I find an Invitation to rank my Hearers, into Three Orders, and bring the Solemn Warnings of GOD unto them.
II. These Lusts of Men towards the Things of This World, are the Things by which the Word of GOD falling on the Souls of Men, is rendred Ineffectual. It is a rare thing for them that are much concerned in and for the Things of This World, or worldly-minded ones, to get much Good by the Word of GOD. The Things of This World, either hinder People from Hearing the Word of GOD. The Opportunities for Hearing, especially at the Lectures, which are set up, that they may not go too many Days together without the Bread, which strengthens the Heart of Man, these are shamefully neglected, because like Martha, we are careful and troubled about may things. Or, These Things hinder People from Heeding the Word of GOD, when they Hear it. GOD may say of them, They sit before thee as my People, and they hear thy words; but their Heart goeth after their Covetousness. Or, These Things hinder People from Doing the Word of GOD, tho' they Heed it. So, They ihat will be Rich, fall into Temptation, and are drowned in Perdition. But, where is the Fault of all this? It is not in the Things themselves: The Things of This World are Good Things, when they be not abused. No; The Fault is in those Lusts, by which our Hearts are Inordinately carried out after these Things. Our SAVIOUR having rank'd the Thorns into Three Classes, The Cares of this World, and The Deceitfulness of Riches, and, The Lusts of other Things, I find an Invitation to rank my Hearers, into Three Orders, and bring the Solemn Warnings of GOD unto them.