ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 5-7. 203 but when God blesseth a man with riches, he takes away all the sorrow from it, Prov. x. 22. The gifts of God are all of them like his works, very good, Gen. i. 31. and bring after a sabbath, a rest, and peace into the soul with them. Further, we should from hence learn to show forth the fruits of this heavenly dew in those several ex- pressions which the prophet here useth, drawn from the consideration of a garden, forest, fruitful field, heavenly paradise, which is a similitude frequently used by the Holy Spirit, to note the beauty, sweetness, fruit, comfort, shelter, protection, which the church of Christ affordeth to the members of it, Isa. xxxv. 1, 2. lviii. 11. Cant. iv. 12. 16. vi. 2. as on the other side the wicked are compared unto a dry desert, and barren wilderness, Isa. xxxv. 6, 7. xli. 18. Jer. xvii. 8. For these things as they are promises in regard of God, and so matter of comfort, so are they duties in regard of us, and so matter of obedience. [1.] He promiseth, that his people shall grow as the lily, which is the most beautiful of all flowers, Matt. vi. 28, 29. That they shall be gloriously clothed like a king's daughter, with the garments of praise, and the Spirit of holiness, Isa. lxii. 3. set forth by various metaphors of broidered work, and fine linen, and silk, and ornaments, and bracelets, and chains, and jewels, and crowns, Ezek. xvi. 10 -13. And as it is his promise, so it ought to be our duty and endeavour to adorn the gospel of Christ,to be in his garden as a lily, and not as a nettle or bramble; to walk as becometh godliness ; to let our light shine before meli, that they may be won to admire the ami- ableness of the Lord's tabernacle, and glorify God in the hour of their visitation, to be as lights in the midst of a crooked generation, Phil. ii. 15. or as lilies
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