ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 5 -7. 191 beauty ; even so the word and spirit of grace distil- ling upon the soul, as small rain upon tender herbs, and as showers on the grass, cause it to live the life of God, and to bring forth the fruits of holiness and obedience, Isa. lv. 10, 11. Those parts of the world which are under either perpetual frosts or perpetual scorchings are barren and fruitless, the earth being thus closed up, and the sap thereof dried away. Such is the condition of a soul under wrath, which hath no apprehensions of God but in frost or fire ; for " who can stand before his cold ?" Psa. cxlvii. 17. " who can dwell with everlasting burnings ?" Isa. xxxiii. 14. Fear contracteth and bindeth up the powers of the soul ; it is the greatest indisposer of all other unto re- gular action. But when the soul can apprehend God as love, find healing in his wings, and reviving in his ordinances, this love is of an opening and expansive quality, calling forth the heart unto duty, love within as it were hastening to meet and close with love with- out ; the love of obedience in us, with the love of favour and grace in God. I shut and bar my door against an enemy whom I fear and look upon as armed to hurt me ; but I open wide my doors, my bosom, unto a friend whom I love, and look upon as furnished with counsel, and comfort and benefits to revive me. There is a kind of mutual love between dew and the earth ; dew loves the earth with a love of beneficence, doing it good, and earth loves the dew with a love of concupiscence, earnestly desiring it, and opening unto it. Such is the love between Christ and the soul when he appears as dew unto it. He visits the soul with a love of mercy, reviving it, and the soul puts forth itself towards him in a love of duty, earnestly coveting as well to serve as to enjoy him. (7.) It is of a refreshing and comforting nature,
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