N02451:37
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.
You take it for granted, The Word of GOD, accompanied with the Influences of the Holy SPIRIT, is the Plough with which this work of GOD is carried on. And now,
You take it for granted, The Word of GOD, accompanied with the Influences of the Holy SPIRIT, is the Plow with which this work of GOD is carried on. And now,
First; In a true Repentance, the Heart is broken, with a sense and grief of the Sins, which the great GOD has been offended at. There is a compunction of the Heart, and a contrition of the Heart, in that Repentance, which therefore, O Transgressor, thou art so loth to come unto, Of Penitents we read, Act. II. 37. They are pierced in their Heart. And of Penitents we read, Psal. XXXIV. 18. The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken Heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit. We are advised; By sorrow of Heart, the Spirit is broken. The Earth is not more broken by the Plough tearing of it, than the Heart of a Repenting one, is broken with the sorrow of Repentance. There is a godly sorrow working of and in Repentance. The Repenting one makes a sorrowful Reflection, on what he has done in sinning against the glorious GOD. With an Heart-breaking Regret, and Remorse, and sorrow, he thinks; I have sinned, and I have done very foolishly. But, Oh! What have I done, when I have sinned! I have denied the GOD that is above, and set my self and my Idols above him. I have trampled on the Authority of my Maker; defied his Power, derided his Wisdom, despised his Goodness, disputed his Faithfulness; and opposed his Holiness. I have slighted the SON of GOD, and scorned all his gracious Tenders. I have vexed the SPIRIT of ⟨p. 7⟩GOD, and stifled all his gracious Motions. I have disobliged the Angels, and gratified the Devils. I have wronged my own Soul, and ruined all my Interests. I have refused eternal Pleasures, and incurred eternal Torments; all for a mere shadow of a delight, which is but for a Moment. Oh! What madness has possessed me! Such sentiments as these enter with the wounding force of a Plough-share into the Heart of a Repenting one. He feels that anguish from them, that makes him cry out, My Heart is broken, O GOD, my Heart is broken. My wounded Spirit; Oh! I cannot bear it! This, O thou that hast gone on in thy Trespasses, This is what the Plough must bring thee to; Psal LI. 17. The Sacrifices of GOD, a broken Spirit; a broken and a contrite Heart. And let not this be forgotten; One conspicuous and perpetual mark of the broken Heart, will be This; The Heart is, like the Earth yielding to the Plough and what follows upon it, made willing to comply with the whole Will of GOD: Willing to come into whatever shape GOD would have it brought into;