Reynolds - BX5133.R42 S4 1831

ON HOSEA XIV.- VEILSES 2, 3. 107 can return nothing unto God, but that which is his own, 1 Chron. xxix. 16. and it goes not with that purity from us as it came unto us. We cannot send forth a thought round about us, but it will return with a report of mercy, and that mercy calls for a return of praise. But above all, the goodness of God mentioned in the text, " taking away iniquity, and receiving gra- ciously," this calls for the calves of the lips to be offered, as in the new moons, with trumpets and solemnity, Num. x. 10. The beams of the sun the more directly they fall on the body of the moon, do fill it with the more abundant light : so the more copious and notable God's mercies are unto us, the more enlarged should our praises be unto him. There- fore true penitents that have more tasted of mercy, are more obliged unto thanksgiving, Psa. cxlvii. 20. " Excellent speech is not comely in the mouth of fools," Prov. xvii. 7: But " praise is comely for the upright," Psa. xxxiii. 1. For as God is most dis- honoured by the sins of holy men when they are com- mitted against light, and break forth into scandal, as a, spot in silk is a greater blemish than in sackcloth, 2 Sam. xii. 14. so is he most honoured by the con- fession and praises of holy men, because they know more of his glory and goodness than others, and can report greater things of him. Wicked men speak of God by hearsay and by notion only, but holy men by intimate experience : as the queen of Sheba knew more of Solomon's wisdom from his mouth than from his fame. He that sees but the outward court and buildings of a palace can say it is a glorious place ; but he that, like the ambassadors of the king of Babylon, in Hezekiah's time, shall be admitted to see the house of precious things, and all the treasures of the palace, can speak much more honourably of it. Every one

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