SERMON I. O ISRAEL, RETURN UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, FOR THOU HAST FALLEN BY THINE INIQUITY. TAKE WITH YOU WORDS, AND TURN TO THE LORD, SAY UNTO HIM, TAKE AWAY ALL INIQUITY, AND RECEIVE US GRACIOUSLY: (OR GIVE GOOD: SO WILI. wE RENDER THE CALVES OF OUR LIPS. HOSEA XIV, 1, 2. THE blessing of Ephraim was according to his name, fruitfulness. The fruitfulness of the earth, a bough by a well, and the fruitfulness of the womb, and of the breasts, Gen. xlix. 22. 25. Deut. xxxiii. 13 -17. Contrary unto which two blessings, we find in our prophet two judgments threatened against him for his sins, chap. xìii. 15, 16. "Though he be fruitful amongst his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up, he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. Samaria shall become desolate, for she hath rebelled against her God : they shall fall by the sword ; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ript up." . And throughout the whole prophecy, if you read and observe it, you will find the judgments of God against Ephraim to be expressed by weeds, emptiness, barrenness, dryness of roots, of fruits, of branches, of springs, and by a curse upon their children, as on the other side, the
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