8 FIRST SERMON blessings here in this chapter renewed unto Ephraim repenting, are all expressed by metaphors of fruitful- ness, ver. 5 -7. From these two woful judgments, against the fruitfulness of their springs,and the fruitfulness oftheir wombs, by the desolations of a bloody sword, our prophet taketh occasion, once more for all, to awaken and drive them to a timely repentance ; that so they may recover the blessing of their name, Ephraim may be Ephraim again, a plentiful, a fruitful, a flourishing people that when God's judgments are in the earth, they would then at least set themselves to learn righteousness. Of all nations under heaven, this land of ours bath had the . blessing of Ephraim upon it, fruitfulness of the earth, abundance of plenty ; fruitfulness of the womb, abundance of people. But our misery is, that the abundance of our sins hath mightily outvied the abundance both of our plenty and of our people : sins, too, parallel to those of Ephraim, if you will but read this prophet, and compare the behaviour of this nation with him. And this parity of sins hath no doubt called upon God for a parity of judgments. Though I must read my text, " O Israel," yet I must apply it, " O England," " return unto the Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity, take with you words," &c. The whole context contains two general parts. I. An invitation unto repentance, ver. 1. and, II. An instruction how to perform it, in the two verses following. Before we come to the particulars of the invitation, let us first briefly observe, that in the midst of judg- ments proposed against sinners that are obstinate, God cloth reserve and proclaim mercy unto sinners
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