ON HOSEA XIV. -VERSE 8. 247 Psa. k. 8. lxxvii. 2 -4. It was so with Heman, Psa. lxxxviii. and divers others. See Job xxxiii. 19. 22. Psa. x. 3. 11. Isa. liv. 6. 11. Jonah ii. 3, 4. Therefore we should still remember in a calm to pro- vide for a storm ; to stir up the graces of God con- tinually in ourselves that they be not quenched, 2 Tim. i. 6. So to rejoice in the Lord, as withal to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, Psa. ii. 11. Phil. ii. 12, 13. never to let the grace of God puff us up, or make us forgetful of our own weakness; but as the apostle saith of himself in regard of God's grace, " When I am weak, then am I strong," 2 Cor. xii. 10. so to say -of ourselves in regard of our own natural corruption, When I am strong, then I am weak. Again, this must not so humble us as to deject and . dismay us, or make us give over the hope of holding out to the end, when our nature is so weak, our enej mies so strong, our temptations so many : but we must withal be quickened by these considerations, with prayer to implore, and with faith to rely on and draw strength from the word and grace of God, to have always the wnndow of the soul open towards the Sun of righteousness, whereby the supplies of his grace to prevent, excite, assist, follow, establish us, and carry on every good thing which he hath begun for us, may be continually admitted. This is one of the most necessary duties for a christian, to hold constant and fixed purposes in godliness : the scripture frequently calls upon us for them, that with purpose of heart we should cleave unto God, Acts xi. 23. That we should continue in the grace of God, Acts xiii. 43. That we would be rooted and grounded in love, Eph. iii. 17. that we would hold fast the pro- fession of our faith without wavering, Heb. x. 23
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