N02451:430
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.
Let us, my Brethren, begin the Year, with some Admonitions of PIETY, which may be of use to us every Day of the Year, or, every Day that the GOD of our Life shall please to allow us in the Year.
I. Good Fruit is to be expected from all that have the means of growing Wiser and Better, employed upon them: A Good Fruit of such means. The Voice of GOD, Oh! Voice more than any Thunder to be trembled at! — is this, Behold, I come seeking for Fruit! People whom GOD places under the means of becoming what they should be, ought to be a Fruitful People.
I. Good Fruit is to be expected from all that have the means of growing Wiser and Better, employ'd upon them: A Good Fruit of such means. The Voice of GOD, Oh! Voice more than any Thunder to be trembled at! — is this, Behold, I come seeking for Fruit! People whom GOD places under the means of becoming what they should be, ought to be a Fruitful People.
But what is the Fruit that is to be looked for? PIETY does in one Word, express the Fruit which GOD expects from us all. PIETY and a Growth in PIETY. The Fruit looked for, is found in the Progress of a Soul Returning to GOD. GOD our Maker, has imprinted on our Soul, a Tendency for a Return to Him: In His Gospel, He does direct and Assist this Natural Tendency. We do in the ways of Sin Depart from Him, unto Creatures. We Return to GOD in the PIETY, which Remembers our Obligations to our GOD that made us, and Endeavours to find That in Him, which we vainly sought in Creatures. Just so much Progress as we make in this Return to GOD, just so much Fruit is to be found upon us. To Live unto GOD; This is to bring forth Fruit unto Him. Every Act of that Life, which lies in seeking and serving, and pleasing of GOD, is part of the Fruit which is required from us. Or, to use another Term for it: Good Fruit is found in every Religious Compliance with the Will of GOD. All manner of precious Fruits are laid up for the Belved of our Souls, in those Demands, Mic VI. 8. To Do Justice, and love Mercy, and walk Humbly with thy GOD. And,