N02451:336
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.
First. When the Clouds do distil Rains upon us, our Thankful Praises to the Glorious GOD are called for. My Brethren, Let our Praises go up in a greater Plenty than any Vapours, to the GOD of all Grace, who now opens and empties the Bottles of Heaven upon us. We read; Act XIV. 17. He left not Himself without a Witness, in that He did us Good, and gave us Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seasons filling our Hearts with Food and Gladness. The Showers of Heaven then bespeak from us ⟨p. 126⟩these Thankful Confessions; Great GOD; Thou art a good GOD! Oh! How much ought we to love and serve the GOD, who does good unto us, in giving us Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seasons! Verily, The Showers are worse thrown away, than those that fall upon the Rocks, if they produce not such Consequences from us.
But, Secondly. When the Clouds refuse to distil Rains upon us, the Glorious GOD requires the Dispositions of Repentance from us. It is GOD who commands the Clouds to distil no Rains upon us, when we undergo such a Calamity. It becomes us now, with Repenting Minds, humbly to enquire, what Controversy the Holy One may have with us, in such a Calamity? And, what Iniquity it may be, that such a Punishment is inflicted for? 'Tis true; No People under the New Testament are under such a Covenant for External Prosperity, upon Obedience to the Laws of GOD, as the Israelitish Nation were, under the Mosaic Dispensation. The Blessed GOD has not promised unto any People now, That if they will not scandalously Break His Covenant, they shall see no Unfruitful Seasons. People may have the Showers of Heaven, and other such Blessings denied unto them, and be brought low through' Oppression Affliction and Sorrow; And yet be able to say, All this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy Covenant. We see it, at this very Day. The People that have least of all paid respect unto the Covenant of GOD, yet have not the fewest Showers of Heaven upon them. Nevertheless, when Showers are withheld, it is frequently, it is commonly, a Punishment upon a Land, for having sinned grievously ⟨p. 127⟩