A77979:1453
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the prophesy of Hosea· Being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhill London. By Jeremiah Burroughs. Being the fifth book, published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simson William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the prophesy of Hosea· Being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil London. By Jeremiah Burroughs. Being the fifth book, published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simson William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed for Peter Cole, 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN EXPOSITION Of the PROPHESY of HOSEA. › Chapter 6 › Verse 4
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.
I desire to press this the more, because the Scripture is pleased to make use of this expression of the dew, to set out the sweetness of a Christian spirit, Psal. 133.3. Behold, how good and pleasant a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity: How pleasant is it? It is like the dew of Hermon, and like the dew that descended upon the mountain of Zion; as that refreshed the grass, so is this affection of mercy and love in the Saints: He compares it not to a dew that dried up presently, but to a dew which descended down; and there the Lord commanded his blessing,1 even life for evermore. There: Where? Even in the communion of his Saints: This is spoken particularly of Church fellowship, Oh then take heed that your mercy and bounty in relieving your brethren and persecuted Saints, be not as the dew that passeth away; the Lord hath not made his mercy, no not his mercy in dewing the earth as a morning cloud that vanisheth away and comes to nothing; Oh let not our mercy and love be only in shows and proffers without any truth and reality; our mercies should come like showers upon those who have been parched with the burning rage nnd malice of the adversary:2 Now the Lord expects more from us in this duty than at other times, we must not only pity them and give them good words, saying, Alas my Brother, and alas my Sister, and no more, I would I could help you, the Lord pity you and help you; you must not only do thus, but in actions and reality you must relieve them with your money, and provisions. Is it not with too to many of us as it was with those in James, 2.15. who say to a brother, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, but give them not wherewith to do it? what good doth this passing cloud do them? it is but an overture: ⟨p. 575⟩but perhaps you will say, that you have not been as an overture, a cloud passing away, you have bedewed the Saints in their need, you have given something; but perhaps tis but a poor pittance and that out of your abundance, know that this is not sufficient, it must be a constant dew, and proceed on in degrees of mercy, we should rejoice that God gives us an opportunity to show our love and mercy, and not think much at it, doing that you do forcedly or repiningly; therefore let not our mercy be as the dew that passeth away. Thus much of the words in this signification of mercy.