ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 5 -7. 205 should not prevail. And we may by the way observe, that most of the things here mentioned by our pro- phet, are also noted to have been in the temple, or in the services thereof ; lilies, 1 Kings vii. 19. 22. 26. olive trees, 1 Kings vi. 23. 32, 33. spices for incense, wheat and oil for meat offerings, wine for drink offer- ings. God furnisheth his people with those blessings which may be most properly dedicated unto him. Teaching us as often as we receive any gifts from God, presently to inquire what relation they have to his temple, how his name may be honoured, how his church may be served, how his gospel may be fur- thered, how his people may be edified and comforted by them, how all our enjoyments may be divided as spoils unto Christ. The power of great men, Isa. lx. 3. the swords of mighty men, 1 Sam. xviii. 17. xxv. 28. Judg. vii. 8. the wisdom of learned men, 1 Kings iii. 9. 28. the cunning of craftsmen, Exod. xxviii. 3. xxxi. 6. the wealth of rich men, Isa. xxiii. 18. Prov. iii. 9. Psa. xlv. 12. Isa. lx. 6. 9. 1 Tim. vi. 17 -19. Abraham gave of the spoils to Melchisedec, Heb. vii. 4. and Israel of all their wealth to the taber- nacle, Exod. xxxv. 21. and David and his people of their treasure to the temple, 1 Chron. xxix. 2. And as it is his promise, that the church should thus take root, 2 Kings xix. 30. Jer. xvii. 8. so we should account it our duty to be firm, stable, constant, unmovable in the truth, and in the work of the Lord, as a house built upon a rock. To stand fast and be rooted in the truth, that we may hold the profession thereof without wavering, not being carried about with every wind of doctrine ; but knowing whom and what we have believed, 1 Cor. xvi. 13. Eph. iv. 14. Col. ii. 7. Heb. x. 23. to stand fast and be rooted in the love of God, that we may be strengthened with might in his N
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=