ON ROSEA XIV: VERSES 5 -7. 219 learning, where they had means as well of conversion, as of institution ; that they lived in such a family where the master of it was of Joshua's mind, " I and my house will serve the Lord," Josh. xxiv. 15. Sal- vation comes to a whole house, when the governor thereof is converted, Luke xix. 9. Acts xvi. 33, 34. I shall never look upon a church as reformed to pur- pose, till I find reformation work conversion ; till piety, and charity, and justice, and mercy, and truth, and humility, and gentleness, and goodness, and kindness, and meekness, and singleness of heart, and zeal for godliness, and mutual edification, and the life and power of religion are more conspicuous than before. When the very head -stone was brought forth, and the last work in the building of the temple was finished, yet the people must then cry " Grace, grace unto it," 'Lech. iv. 7. intimating that reformation is never indeed consummate till the blessing of God make it effec- tual unto those uses for which it was by him appointed. Church reformation should be like Paul's epistles, which always close in duties of obedience. [7.] He promiseth, that they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine : in which two expressions are set forth two excellent and wholesome conse- quences of affliction. 1. The corn, though it die first, and suffer much from frost, hail, snow, tempest, yet when the spring comes, it revives and breaks through it all ; so God promiseth to his church in the saddest condition, a reviving again, and that it shall be brought forth into the light, Ezek. xxxvii. 12. Mic. vii. 9. 2. The vine when it is pruned and lopped, will not only revive and spread again, but will bring forth the more fruit, and cast forth the more fragrant smell: so God promiseth unto his people not only a reviving out of their afflictions, (in which respect T2
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