John Trapp on Hosea 10:12

Verſe 12. Sowe to your ſelves in righteouſneſſe, reap in mercy:] Righteouſneſſe is a ſure ſeed, a precious grain, which thoſe that ſowe (and every action of our life is a ſowing) ſhall doubtleſſe come again with rejoycing, and bring their ſheaves with them, Pſal. 126.6. Onely they muſt not look to ſowe and reap all in one day; as one ſaith of the Hyperborean people far North, that they ſowe ſhortly after the Sun-riſing with them, and reap before the Sun-ſet: that is, becauſe the whole half year is one continuall day with them. The Church is Gods husbandry, Heresbach. de. re rust. 1 Cor. 3.9. the ſeed is the Word of God, Luke 8.11. Miniſters are Gods husband-men, harveſtmen, Matth. 9.37, 38. the plough, Luke 9.62. plough-ſtaff, Luke 13.8. axe, Mat. 3.10. are the Lawes threatnings: the fruit-cauſing rain, are the promiſes of the Goſpel, Eſay 55.10, 11. faith that works by love, are the fruits: the laſt day, the harveſt, Mat. 13.39, 40, 41. Then, at utmoſt, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. thoſe that ſowe bountifully (or, in bleſſings, as the Greek hath it) ſhall reap bountifully, 2 Cor. 9.6. He that ſoweth ſeemeth to caſt away his ſeed: but if he ſowe in locis irriguis, (as Eccleſ. 11. 1. Ezek. 34.26.) upon fat and fertile places, he knowes he ſhall receive his own, with uſury. In ſome parts of Egypt, where the river Nilus overfloweth, they do but throw in their ſeed, and they have four rich harveſts in leſſe then four moneths.S. H. Blounts voyag. 77. Oh ſowe bountifully the ſeeds of piety and charity into Gods bleſſed boſome: and then be ſure to reap plentifull mercy, in thy greateſt neceſſity: reap in the month of mercy (as the Originall here hath it) that is, according to the meaſure of divine mercy (ſee Levit. 27.16. Exod. 16.16.) proportionably to the infiniteneſſe of Gods mercy. Now the Scripture hath three notable words to expreſſe the fulneſſe of Gods mercy in Chriſt, to thoſe that ſowe in righteouſneſſe, Epheſ. 2.7. the abundant riches of his grace, that are caſt in over and above, Rom. 5.20. The grace of God hath been more then exceeding: there's a ſecond [non-Latin text not transcribed], 1 Tim. 1.14. The grace of God was exceeding abundant. It had a pleonaſme before: yea, but here's a ſuperpleonaſme; here's good meaſure, preſſed down,Luk. 6.38. ſhaken together and running over ſhall God give into mens boſomes: Like as when a poor man asked Mr. Fox for an alms, he (finding him religious) gave him his horſe: Or as Alexander gave one (that craved ſome ſmall courteſie of him) a whole citie. And when the poor man ſaid, It was too much for him to receive: yea,Non quaero quid te accipere deceat, ſed quid me dare. Sen. de benef. l. 2. c. 16. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. but not for me to give, ſaid he. So God giveth liberally and like himſelf, Jam. 1.5. He doth not ſhift off his ſuiters, as once a great Prince did a bold begging Philoſopher. He asked a groat of him, and the king told him, it was too little for a king to give. He requeſted the king then to give him a talent: the king replied, It was too much for a begger to crave. Certain it is, that God in his ſpirituall bleſſings and mercies to us is wont to regard not ſo much what is fit for his to ask or expect, as what ſtandeth with his goodneſſe, and greatneſſe to beſtow. If Iſrael had a hundred-fold increaſe of his ſeed, thoſe that ſowe to themſelves in righteouſneſſe,Gen. 26.1[illegible: 1 letter]. by doing and ſuffering Gods will ſhall have much more: Even an hundred-fold here, and eternall life hereafter, Matth. 19.29. ſo great a gain is godlineſſe: ſo ſure a grain is righteouſneſſe: who would not then turn ſpirituall ſeeds-man?

break up your fallow ground,] ſc. of your hearts, that ye ſowe not among the thornes, Jee. 4.3. The breaking up of ſinfull hearts, is a ſingular meanes to prevent the breaking down of a ſinfull nation. Hence the Prophet, though almoſt out of hope of any good to be done, upon his deſperate countreymen, reſolves to try one more exhortation to them: and as in the morning he had ſowed his ſeed, Eccleſ. 11.6. ſo in the evening he with-holdeth not his hand: for who can tell whether it may not proſper? and whether in the midſt of threats, they might not ſuffer a word of exhortation, Heb. 13.22. and whether it might not leave ſome impreſſion, being delivered in few words? Sowe (therefore ſaith he) to your ſelves in righteouſneſſe, &c. but firſt break up your fallow ground,] Innovate vobis novale. Repent, and be renued in the ſpirit of your mindes; in ſpirit and ſpeech, in mindes and manners, in conſtitution and converſation, in the purpoſe of your hearts, and practiſe of your lives. Old things are paſt,2 Cor. 5.17. let all things become new: turn up the turf, ſtock up, and ſtub up the roots and weeds; get into Chriſt, and become a new creature. Till this be done, men are in an undone condition, though they ſhould ſpend their whole time in gathering up pearls and jewels.

for it is time to ſeek the Lord,] High time, ſith your ſouls lie upon it. Plowmen, we know are carefull to take their time: ſo are all others, wiſe enough in their generation. The wayfaring-man travelleth while it is light. The Seafaring-man takes his opportunity of winde and tide. The Smith ſmites whiles the iron is hot. The Lawyer takes his terme-time to entertaine Clients, diſpatch ſuits. The men of Iſſachar were in great account with David, becauſe they had underſtanding of the times, to know what Iſrael ought to do, 1 Chron. 12.32. ſo are they with God, that regard and uſe the ſeaſons of grace; that ſeek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near: Eſay 55.6. that put in the plough, ſet upon the practiſe of repentance, after a ſhowre, when the heart is beſt affected; after God by his Word and Spirit hath taught (ſo ſome render the Text) or rained righteouſneſſe upon them. Rain comes from heaven: ſo doth every good and perfect giving. Rain poures down plentifully, Pſal. 68.9. thou didſt ſend a plentifull rain on thine inheritance: ſo do the ſhowres of righeouſneſſe on good hearts. Not a drop of rain falls in vain, or in a wrong place, but by a divine decree, Job 28.26. ſo here. Seek it in time, and we ſhall not fail of it. Onely we muſt not ſet God a time when to come, but wait upon him, who waiteth to be gracious. Elijah ſent ſeven times ere the rain came. Seek till God comes: Limit not the holy One of Iſrael. As he ſeldom comes at our time, ſo he never failes in his own. Hold out therefore faith and patience: for behold he cometh on the clouds, on the wings of the winde, and his reward is with him. To him that ſoweth righteouſneſſe, ſhall be a ſure reward, Prov. 11.18.