Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD… The Church is God's husbandry. We are called upon — I. TO BREAK UP OUR FALLOW GROUND. The heart of man is represented — 1. As ground. Therefore expected to produce fruit that will benefit its owner. 2. As fallow ground. It is destitute of the fruit that it might produce. It is not only useless to its owner, it is prejudicial to neighbouring land that has good seed sown in it, in preventing the plants of righteousness from growing to perfection. 3. As our fallow ground. Because we all have ground committed to our cultivating care. And if it be not fallow now, there was a time when the term might have been applied to it with correctness and propriety.Breaking up our fallow ground implies a work — 1. Of labour; for which the Master of the land imparts strength. 2. Of sacrifice; for which the Proprietor communicates fortitude. 3. Of constancy and perseverance; for which the Lord of the soil supplies patience. 4. Of renovation; for which the Owner of the ground affords means. The soil in its present state is unfit to produce any useful plants; but when the weeds which now grow therein are destroyed, the ground shall be renewed, that it may bring forth the fruits of piety. II. SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. We have here a representation of right principles, under the figure of seed; the propriety of which may be discerned, if we notice — 1. Right principles are not indigenous to the human heart. They must be sown there. 2. The value of right principles. (1) Their author and giver — God. (2) Their price — the blood of the covenant. (3) Their result — plants of righteousness. 3. The care and attention they demand. How great is the solicitude of the husbandman in reference to his seed. 4. The vegetative power and productive quality. Right conduct is the offspring of these principles. "Sow to yourselves" means — (1) Allow these principles to sink deep into the heart; let all obstructions be removed out of the way. (2) Let every plant that grows in our heart be the result of this precious seed. (3) Though our anxiety should be principally on our own account, yet our conduct should be a union of piety and benevolence. III. REAP IN MERCY. If we plough and sow as directed, the result shall surely be a harvest of mercy. We shall reap — 1. In pardoning mercy, that cancels our sins. 2. In restraining mercy, that prevents us from running into error. 3. In preserving mercy, that preserves the faithful. 4. In rewarding mercy. The mercy of God is, like Himself, infinite.The time of reward is represented as harvest, because — 1. The time of ploughing and sowing is for ever over. 2. Because at that period all the produce of the soil will be presented to the Lord of the harvest. 3. Because reaping time is a season of joy and festivity. Eternity shall declare the advantages of sowing in righteousness. Observe — (1) This is the time to break up your fallow ground. (2) How great is the mercy of our God, that He will assist our endeavours to sow in righteousness. (3) How audacious is the conduct of those that despise the offers of mercy thus held out in the Gospel. (Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.) Parallel Verses KJV: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. |
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