ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 2, 3. 67 make an escape, the stronger guard we keep upon him. Our hearts are exceedingly apt to be false with God. One while they melt into promises and resolutions of obedience, as Pharaoh and Israel did, Psa. lxxviii. 34. 37. and presently forget, and harden again. Lot's wife goes out of Sodom for fear of the judgments, but quickly looks back again, out of love to the place, or some other curiosity and distemper of mind. Saul relents towards David, and quickly after persecutes him again, 1 Sam. xxiv. 17. 19. This is the true picture of man's heart, under a strong conviction, or in a pang of devotion, or in time either of sickness, or some pressing affliction, on the rack, in the furnace, under the rod, nothing then but vows of better obedience ; all which do oftentimes dry suddenly away like a morning dew, and wither away like Jonah's gourd. Therefore both to acknowledge, and prevent this miserable perfidiousness of such revolting hearts ; it is very needful to bind them unto God with renewed covenants, and since they are so apt with Jonah to run away and start aside, to neglect Nineveh, and to flee to Tarshish, necessary it is to find them out, and to bring them home, and as David did, Psal. lvii. 7. to fix and fasten them to their business, that they may not run any more. 2. In regard of the natural sluggishness which is in us unto duty. We are apt to faint and be weary when we meet with any unexpected difficulties in God's service, to esteem the wilderness as bad as Egypt, to sit down, as Hagar did, and cry, to think that half way to heaven is far enough, and almost a Christian progress enough, that baking on one side will make the cake good enough, that God will accept of bankrupt payment, a shilling in the pound, part of our hearts and duties for all. We must sometimes venture
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=