The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 314

flesh, they shall reap corruption; if to the Spirit, they ehall reap life everlasting. As we sow we reap, and what we sow we reap. Our reaping shall be according to the measure of God's morcy. Not a reward of merit, but of mercy; not a recompense of desert, but of grace. Men often sow in tears, but if the seed be that of righteousness, and the sowing after the right method and with the right motive, they shall reap in joy. " Blessed," says the saintly Burroughs, " are those who have sown much for God in their lifetime I Oh, the glorious harvest that these shall have I The very angels shall help them to take iu their harvest at the great day; and they need not take thought for barns-the very heavens shall be their barns. And oh, the joy that there shall be in that harvest I The angels will help to sing the harvest-song that they shall sing who have been sowers in righteousness." 4. Reformation is the effect and evidence of repentance. If reformation be genuine, repentance mu.~t go before; a change of life that is real and permanent must be preceded by a change of heart. Thus, in order to sow in righteous- ness, the fallow ground must be broken up. If the seed is to take root in the soil, grow up and yield an abundant increase at the time of harvest, the soil must be carefully prepared. 'l'he ploughing, though mentioned after the sowing, must precede it, other- wise the seed of truth will be lost or choked by the weeds of sin. Dropping the figure, or realizing the fact set forth by it, we must break up the fallow ground of the heart. The weeds and thorns and thistles that overspread it in its natural state must be rooted out; the evil passions, corrupt affections, and hateful lusts mnst be eradicated ; the heart itself must be broken and contrite on account of sin; the spirit must be subdued by a sense of sin ; shame and sorrow must penetrate the soul because of sin; like land long untilled, and so hard and difficult to plough, the hard heart must be broken with contrition and softened, and the stubborn will subdued. Thus, too, the field that had lain fallow after a first ploughing must be broken up anew and made to shine (as the original word, from ,u, according to Gesenius and Ewald, signifies). and prepared for future and abundant fruitfulness. 5. The exhortation is enforced by two arguments- the past loss of time, and prospective spiritual prosperity. (1) Much time bad been misspent; the duty of seeking God had been sadly and sinfully neglected. The language of the prophet here is expanded and enforced by the apostle, when he says, u The time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries." We are now called to redeem the time. It is our duty at all times to seek the Lord, but especially so after such long delay on our part, and such forbearance and long-suffering on God's part. And yet there is time. It is of his mercy that we are still allowed opportunity to repent and return to him. Even now is the accepted time ; but soon it may be too late. Let us, then, seek the Lord while he may be found. and call upon him while he is near, before he withdraws himself, and swears in his wrath that we shall not enter into his rest. (2) Another source of encouragement is here pre- sented. If we seek him he shall be found of us, according to the promise, "Seek, and ye shall find." Thus encouraged, let us seek him presently, patiently, and perseveringly until he comes, as he will be sure to do, and rain righteousness upon us. In the fulness of time the Saviour came, who is "the Lord our Righteousness;" he came as "a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of his people Israel." He will come to the indi- vidual soul, Gentile or Jew, that seeks him, and when he comes he will rain righteous- ness upon us. 6. Righteousness, like the rain, descends from abo'>e; for "every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from above, even from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." He will bestow it in great abundance, for he will rain it upon us; sending down, not merely a few drops, but a plentiful rain and copious showers. The riahteousness so abundantly vouchsafed in_cludes his righteous fulfilment of his promise;; the righteousness, moreover, t~at \s w1tn~ssed bot~ by the Law and the prophets-rig~teou_sness reckoned to us ~or Just1- ficat1on, and nghteousness wrought in us for sanct1ficat1on. The effect of this right- eousness is blessed and beneficent. As the natural seeds sown in the soil of the earth which has been ploughed and prepared for them require, besides, the rain of heaven tu make them bud and bring forth the blade, the ear, and the full corn in the ear ; so the spiritunl seeds that men sow in riahteousness require the rain of righteousness. sad tl1e rich blessing of heaven to fructify and refresh.  Tli'.E 1'00'.lt Ol<' HOSEA~ [oR, X, 1-16,