Page:Sketch of Connecticut, Forty Years Since.djvu/66

 and profusion. Labour promoted his health, and providence of comforts for his family inspired a soothing self satisfaction. His untutored mind also found the connexion, which has been thought to exist between agriculture and natural religion. While committing his seed to the earth, he thought of Him who made both the earth and her son who feeds upon her bosom. He remembered that all his toil would be fruitless, unless that Great Spirit should give his smile to the sun, and to the rain that matured the harvest. Softened by such contemplations, his heart became prepared for the truths of revealed religion. Mr. Occom found him a docile student in the school of his Saviour, and imparted to him with delight the knowledge of the word that bringeth salvation. The husbandman submitted himself to the teaching of the Spirit, and embraced the Christian faith. His employment became dearer than ever, and he was continually drawing from it spiritual emblems, to animate gratitude, or to deepen humility. When subjecting to cultivation an unbroken piece of ground, the brambles which invested it, would remind him of the spontaneous vices of the unrenovated heart. "Their end is to be burned," he would say internally, "and such had been mine, but for thy mercy, my God." The pure spring that gave refreshment to his weariness, restored to his thought "that fountain, which cleanseth from sin, and of which he who drinketh shall thirst no more." In the storm which frustrated his hopes, he traced the wisdom of Him, who giveth not account of his ways unto man, but