N02451:436
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.
One Thing to be Remarked is, That the Barren Tree, is an Offence unto the Glorious GOD. Of an Unfruitful Thing, we read, Heb. VI. 8. It is nigh unto cursing. Alas, The Unfruitful have the Wrath of GOD abiding on them. The Unfruitful are they with whom GOD is Angry every Day. Unfruitfulness is the Grand Crime, for which the Wrath of GOD comes on the Children of Disobedience. Even so provoking a Sight unto Heaven is a Barren Tree, that it is a Wonder the Fate of the Tree in the Vision of the Chaldean Emperor comes not upon it; A Wonder, that an Holy Watcher coming down from Heaven do not cry aloud, and say, Hew down the Tree. But yet it is Remarkable, That the Patience of the Glorious GOD bears One Year after another, with the Barren Tree. So is that Word fulfilled; Isa. XXX. 18. The Lord waits that He may be Gracious. The Axe is indeed lifted up The Barren Tree is ready for the stroke of the Axe. But there is obtained a Liberty for the Barren Tree, to stand yet One Year more. And how is it obtained? A Seasonable Intercession comes in ⟨p. 178⟩to obtain it; Lord, Let it alone this One Year also. So One Year more is added unto the Day of Patience. The Enquiry may be; Whose Intercession is it, that prevails on this Occasion? Be sure, No Intercession can signify any thing for a Sinner, without That of our SAVIOUR. 'Tis our SAVIOUR, who is our Intercessor. Tis He, of whom we are told, Heb. VII. 25. He ever lives to make Intercession for us. And indeed, an Authoritative Intercession can be made by none but Him. The Day of Patience indulged unto Reprobates, even This, is owing to our SAVIOUR. Our SAVIOUR Intercedes, that GOD may be Glorified, by lengthening out the Day of Patience, to those who after all will be Children of Wrath. The Pity, the Pity, in the Heart of the Blessed JESUS, for them, does move Him to Intercede for a Day of Patience to them. And then, for the Elect of GOD; The Day of Patience proves a Day of Salvation for them. Tis as we read, 2 Pet. III. 15. The Longsuffering of our Lord is Salvation. The Elect of GOD are for a while, and some of them for a long while, Barren Tre•. There must come a Year, wherein they shall Begin to bring forth Fruit unto GOD. With respect unto this Year, there is the Intercession of their SAVIOUR for them: Let them stand this Year also.