N02451:185
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.
But I may not leave this Thorny Ground without some Essays of Cultivation upon it. There are two Essays to be made.
I. 'Tis Time for us to Examine ourselves whether our Heart have not the Lusts of a worldly Heart, reigning in it, and rendering it as a Barren So•l before the Lord. It is too, too Evident, That the good Word of our GOD and SAVIOUR, misses of doing much of that Good, that should be done among us. As the Prophet of old complained, ⟨p. 68⟩Lord, who hath Believed? The complaint may be renewed at this Day. Lord, How few do, Turn and Live unto GOD and Cleanse their ways by taking Heed according to his Word? How few do prize a precious CHRIST, and lay hold on the Salvation, which is prepared before the Face of all People, in the Word of GOD? How few do Behave themselves as the Word of GOD has directed them; and as Believing the Eye of GOD always upon them, to see how Circumspectly they Walk, and how much they seek to be Blessings unto all about them; and as Believing, the awful Things of a Future State, whereof GOD has given Assurance unto all Men? Lord, who is there that strives to enter the straight Gate, and lay hold on Eternal Life? Now, what is the Cause of this? Whence does it come to pass, that the Dispensations of the Gospel, are so deplorably unsuccessful among us? Is there not a Cause? Doubtless, The Thorns of a worldly Heart are the Things that Choke the Blessed Seed of Life in our Souls. Here, Here is that Mother-Sin, which may indeed be called, A Mother of Abominations. 'Tis hinted in that passage; Psal. CXIX. 36. Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies, and not unto Covetousness. 'Tis because we have an Heart so much Inclined unto Covetousness, and full of Covetous Inclinations to Propound a Felicity in the Fruition of This World, that our Heart is no more Inclined unto Compliances with the Word of GOD. Examine yourselves, O unfruitful Hearers, Examine yourselves, how far the Characters of a worldly Heart are to be found upon you; And, because when GOD hath sown much, there is but little brought in,