N02451:179
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.
Secondly. There are worldly Lusts more peculiar to Rich People, which hinder the Word of GOD from having a good Effect, especially upon that sort of People. The Riches which fill the Hearts of these, tho' they afford no better nor longer Enjoyments than the Crackling of Thorns under a Pot; yet these Riches are most Bewitching Things unto them. Awful, Awful is the Warning, which the Lord who has the Keys of Heaven in his Hand, has given unto us; Mat. XIX. 23. Verily, I say unto you, That a Rich Man shall hardly Enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Even so; A Rich Man will hardly be affected with the Miseries of an Unregenerate Soul, of which the Word of GOD, is a Roll filled with Lamentation and Mourning, and Wo. A Rich Man will hardly Abstain from those Liberties, of which the Word of GOD requires our Flesh to bear some Abridgements and Abatements. A Rich Man will bardly make it his Main Aims to lay up a Treasure in Heaven, which the Word of GOD enjoins upon every one that would come to Heaven. Our Apostle Paul never Preached more unsuccessfully, than when he had an Auditory of Rich Folks, to Preach the Word unto. Rich Folks have many Employments, many Diversions; If the Word of GOD come unto them they say like that Unhappy Man, I will hear thee at a more convenient season. Rich Folks have High Spirits; They are too ready to despise the Word of GOD, when it is brought unto them; like Pharaoh who said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his Voice? Rich Folks have much of a Temporal Happiness in their hands. The Word of GOD urges them, to nothing so much, as to seek after a Eternal Happiness. 'Tis to little purpose; ⟨p. 63⟩They have already what is Temporal: This they think may be sufficient; They taste the sweet of it; they know no better. Nor will a Rich Nabal easily be so Humble, so Thankful, so Bountiful, as the Word of GOD commands them to be, who are the Rich in this World. There is one thing in the Condition of many Rich Men which cannot be with sufficient Horror thought upon Great Estates, like to great Rivers, often are swelled by Muddy Streams running into them. Some of the Wealth is Ill gotten Wealth. Dishonest Gain has increased it. Unfair and unjust Things have been done in the amassing of it. A Restitution is now requisite; A Restitution as far as the Robber is able; either to the wronged parties, or if they can't be found, in Deodands:
Secondly. There are worldly Lusts more peculiar to Rich People, which hinder the Word of GOD from having a good Effect, especially upon that sort of People. The Riches which fill the Hearts of these, tho' they afford no better nor longer Enjoyments than the Crackling of Thorns under a Pot; yet these Riches are most Bewitching Things unto them. Awful, Awful is the Warning, which the Lord who has the Keys of Heaven in his Hand, has given unto us;