A30574:1015
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhill, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
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.
An empty Vine, and brings forth fruit to her self.
This is very strange, Empty, and yet bring forth fruit; If she brings forth fruit,1 how empty? Yes, it may very well stand together, she brings forth fruit to her self, but she is empty in regard of any fruit she brings forth to me, but yet she hath juice and sap enough, to bring forth fruit to her self. Oh! how many people that are barren towards ⟨p. 311⟩God, and have no abilities to do any thing for God, but when they come to themselves to do any thing, Oh how active and stirring are they? but when you put them upon any duty for God then they are weak and unable, & the like: but if it was in a matter that concerned themselves there they have spirit enough & to much a great deal; If parents have children that sin against God,2 they are not sensible at all, but if they do any thing against themselves, Oh! how do their spirits rise, and what rage is there in the family? The truth is, were our hearts as they should be, if we have no strength for God we should have none for our selves, yea, we would even reason so, when as we complain, Oh! that we are weak in our memories, and are not able to resist temptation, and we can do nothing for God, we should take a holy revenge upon our selves and say, Certainly if I can do nothing for God, I will do nothing for my self neither, If I cannot rejoice in God I will not rejoice in my self, and if I cannot take care for God I will not take care for my self; to be barren to God and fruitful to our selves, this is a great disproportion.