An Exposition of the Fourteenth Chapter of the Prophet Hosea, the Whole Chapter Sermonized

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 edition. Excerpt: ... SERMON II. HOSEA XIV, v. 2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lo, DEGREES. .v unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. VV E have in these words a continuation of the former subject. Israel was fallen from the Lord by transgression. They could not by any means or power of their own return unto him. The Lord, out of his own free and sovereign grace, and from himself alone, is pleased most graciously to address them; and he calls upon them to return to him. This hath been opened in the former sermon, As they were altogether incapacitated by any power of their own to obey the Lord's command, neither knew they the course they should pursue, or how to draw nigh unto the Lord, and approach him; it pleased the Lord to draw up for them a form of prayer, which he puts into their mouths, and with which he sends them, that they might present themselves before him at his throne and mercy-seat, and there repeat it They could not, in the case they were in, pray without words. They could not express themselves with these words, but they must turn unto the Lord. This is the principal thing intended by the Lord himself. They are to pray unto him agreeable to their cases. It is to be expressed in the Lord's own words, with their own lips, that they may have an inward feeling and sense of their own backsliding cases, and of what alone could do them good. They are at this time under guilt, and the burden of their inherent and personal iniquities: this oppresses them. They are directed by the Lord to request him to take away from them all their iniquities. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so will we render the calve