ggg THE RETUBNING BACKSLIDER. [SeRMON IX.
vigour is especially meant here, when he saith, * Those that dwell under his shadow shall return.'
' They shall revive as the corn.'
Now, how doth the com revive ? Not to speak of that comparison that the godly are com, and not chaff, as the wicked are, who are driven to and fro, Ps. i. 4, without any solidity, which, though true, is not here especially aimed at. For it is supposed that they who are good and gracious, have a substance, solidity, usefulness, and goodness in them, like com, not being empty chaff which the wind blows away. This is useful to mention ; but to come to the scope indeed* by the prophet.
1. ' They shall revive as the com.' In this, first, that as the com when unsown, it lies dead in the granary, fructifieth not, but when it is sown springs up to an hundredfold, as we read of in Isaac's time, who received so much increase. Gen. xx^^. 12. So it is with converted Christians. Before they were under any gracious means, or in a good place, they lay as it were dead, and did not spring forth. But afterwards, being planted and sown under gracious means, in good company, in a good family, then they increase and grow up and multiply. ' They revive like the corn.'
2. And then again, as it is with the com, though it seem to die, and doth indeed die in some sort, covered with winter storms, ere it spring out from the oppressions of frost and snow, and hard weather, as if it were altogether perished ; yet, notwithstanding, it is all the while a-preparing for springing up again more gloriously. So it is with the church, which seems to die often in regard of spiritual mortification by afflictions, whereby it is dead to the world ; yet all this while there is a blessed life in the spirit, preparing the soul, under the hard pressures of all weathers, to a glorious springing up again. Therefore the church hath no hurt by afiiictions, no more than the corn hath by the winter, which is as necessary for it as the spring-time or summer. For else, how should the earth be ripened and prepared ? How should the worms and weeds be killed, if it were not for hard weather ? So it is with a Christian : those afflictions that he suffers, and under which he seems to be buried, they are as useful to him as all his comforts. Nay, a Christian is more beholden to afiiictions for his graces and comforts than he is to outward blessings. One would think that the goldsmith were a- spoiling his plate when he is a-burning of it, when all that while the dross is but a-consuming out of it ; and the vessel so hammered and beaten out, is but a-preparing to be a vessel of honour, to stand before some great man. So it is with a Christian : an ignorant per- son looking but one way, thinks God neglects such a one ; and that if God cared for such a one, or such a one, would or could such and such things befall them ? they conclude hence, as the Psalmist saith, ' God hath forsaken him,' Ps. Ixxi. 11, and forgotten him. And as Christ the head of the church was thought to be forgotten and neglected, even when he was most dear and precious unto God, so even they all this while. The Spirit of God is working an excellent work in them, preparing and fitting them for grace and glory. Therefore, in that respect also, ' They shall revive as the com.'
3. Thu'dly, ' They shall revive as the com' in regard of fructification. It is true both of the church and of particular graces. We see one grain of com, when it is almost perished and turned to froth, nothing in a man- ner ; presently out of it springs a stalk, and thence an ear, and in that many ears, God giving it a body sixty or a hundredfold, as he pleaseth. So it is with a Christian : when he is planted, he will leaven others, and * Qu. 'intended?'— Er>. . '
HOSEA XrV. 7.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER. 359
those, others and others. A few apostles leavened the whole world, scatter- ing the gospel like lightning all over the same. So it is true of grace in God's children ; it is like a grain of mustard-seed at the first, yet it grows up and fructifies, Mat. xiii. 31, from knowledge to knowledge, faith to faith, and grace to grace ; from virtue to virtue, from strength to strength, from one degree to another ; nothing less at first, and nothing more great or glorious in this world in progress of time ; nothing so admired of God, and pleasing unto man, as this which makes one all glorious and without spot.
Oh, what can be said more to encourage us to come under gi'acious means, to love God and his ordinances, good company, and the communion of saints — considering they are such happy people ! ' Those that are under their shadow shall return,' re^dve, and be vigorous. ' They shall revive as the corn,' which doth, when it seemeth to be dead, notwithstanding all weathers, grow up and multiply. And whereas it seemed dead before and lay hid, being sown it grows. So being planted in the church, we shall grow. For there is a hidden virtue in the least grace, in the least of God's ordinances, more than we are aware of. Saith Christ, ' "WTiere two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,' Mat. xviii. 20. Much more is this made good in great congrega- tions and families. But this is not all ; he saith,