N02451:427
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 whole World had been very Barren of good Men, and of good Things, for no less than Three ⟨p. 173⟩Thousands of Years. In the Fourth, our SAVIOUR made Intercession for Mankind, which had hitherto stood as a Barren Fig tree. Upon this Intercession the Great GOD staid unto the End of the Fourth. But then our SAVIOUR Himself was brought forth, and the Effusions of the Holy SPIRIT upon Mankind, then produced those other Fruits, for which the World stands unto his Day.
The whole World had been very Barren of good Men, and of good Things, for no less than Three ⟨p. 173⟩Thousands of Years. In the Fourth, our SAVIOUR made Intercession for Mankind, which had hitherto stood as a Barren Fig tree. Upon this Intercession the Great GOD staid unto the End of the Fourth. But then our SAVIOUR Himself was brought forth, and the Effusions of the Holy SPIRIT upon Ma•kind, then produced those other Fruits, for which the World stands unto his Day.
In making this Observation, I do not say, That I have made an Exposition of the Parable now before us. But I will observe, That our SAVIOUR being thus brought forth, we have here set before us, in a Parable, some of the precious Fruits, which the Church of GOD has found, in Him and from Him, who is indeed the Tree of Life. Our Lord had newly warned the Jews, That if they did not Repent, they must perish. Now, since it might be Enquired, How and why they must perish, we have here in a Parable, an Answer to that Enquiry. The Prophet Isaiah, in his well-known Song had compared the Land of the Jews unto a Vineyard. Our SAVIOUR, not without some Allusion to that S•ng of Isaiah, here compares the Church of the Jews, unto a Barren Figtree in that Vineyard. It is here foretold, That GOD would by a Roman Axe cut down the Tree, for its Unfruitfulness. However, there is Hope of the Tree; tho' it be cut down, it shall sprout again, and the Tender Branches thereof will not cease. 'Twill do so at the Resurrection of the Dead. But the Comparison may be carried on, unto more of particularity. O Man, Thou art the Tree Every Person under the Means of Grace may be compared unto a Fig-tree. The Flight which our Fallen