N02451:329
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.
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.
The Book of GOD and of Truth, has taught us, That the Clouds are the Creatures of GOD. So we read; Joh. XXVI. 8. He bindeth up the Waters in His Thick Clouds, and the Cloud is not rent under them. So we read; Job XXXVII. 15. GOD causes the Light of His Cloud to shine. The Clouds are therefore called, The Chariots of GOD, and, The Chambers of GOD; and, The Treasures of GOD; and the Stories which are built by GOD. Of our GOD we read; Psal. CXLVII. 8. GOD covers the Heavens with Clouds; and prepareth Rain for the Earth. The Pagans called their Jupiter, by the Name of Nubicoga; He that Orders the Clouds. We challenge the Name for our JEHOVAH; Of whom we read, He commands the Clouds from Above.
And then, This Book of His, has taught us, That the Rains too are the Creatures of GOD. So we read; Job V. 10. GOD giveth Rain upon the Earth, and sendeth Waters upon the Field. So we read; Job XXXVI. 27, 28. GOD maketh small the drops of Water, they pour down Rain according to the Vapour thereof: Which the Clouds do drop, and distil upon Man abundantly. We are accordingly informed, That GOD is the Father of the Rain; and, That GOD makes a Decree for the Rain. When the Rain falls, there cometh to pass that thing; Psal. LXV. 9, 10. Lord, Thou visitest the Earth, and waterest it; Thou waterest the Ridges thereof abundantly, Thou settlest the Furrows thereof: Thou makest it soft with Showers. We forget the Original of the Rain, if we don't look above the Region, from which it falls upon us; and if we are Strangers to those Terms; Lord, It is Thou that causest the Rain to fall upon thy ⟨p. 123⟩Land. We ought then Religiously to acknowledge the Providence of the Glorious GOD, in His disposing of the Clouds and of the Rains. Behold the Distribution of the Clouds and of the Rains, in such agreeable Proportions, as to answer the Necessities of the World, and say, What a sensible Providence of the Glorious GOD! Man, Dost thou know the Balancings of the Clouds? They are the Wondrous Works of a GOD who is perfect in Knowledge. Behold the gentle and softly way, in which the Clouds do drop down the Rains; not in destructive Torrents! And again say, What a sensible Providence of a Glorious GOD! It is our GOD who does make small the drops of Water, and pours down Rain according to the Vapour thereof. He that owns not the Hand of GOD in the Clouds and the Rains, deserves to be struck with something else, that the Clouds are sometimes charged withal; deserves to see the Clouds darting down upon him their Thunderbolts!