Homilist Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD… — Sowing and reaping are figures here used to denote the spiritual and moral conduct of this people. All human life consists of sowing and reaping. Every intelligent act embodies a moral principle, contains a seed that must germinate and grow. I. A WRETCHED MORAL STATE. "Fallow ground," uncultivated earth. A state of — 1. Unloveliness. It is either an expanse of grey earth, or of weeds, thistles, and thorns. 2. Unfruitfulness. Unless the soil is cultivated there is no fruit, and the land is worthless. 3. Wastefulness. "On fallow ground the rain, dew, and sunshine fall, but all in vain. How much Divine grace is wasted on unregenerate men: sermons, books, Bibles, providences, means of grace, all wasted. II. AN URGENT MORAL DUTY. 1. Moral ploughing. Think on two things. What God has been to us. What we have been to Him. 2. Moral sowing. 3. Moral reaping. III. A SOLEMN MORAL SUGGESTION. 1. No time to lose. 2. Much has been lost. 3. It is only now the work can be effectively done. IV. A GLORIOUS MORAL PROSPECT. "He will rain righteousness," or "teach you righteousness." Pursue this work of moral agriculture properly, and God Himself will come and teach you righteousness. (Homilist.) 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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