CONTENTS The opening of this Chapter is most blessed indeed, and carries with it evident tokens of grace. The other parts are somewhat like the preceding Chapter s, the Lord's expostulations with his people. Hosea 6:1 Every word in this verse is important and interesting, and I beg the Reader to p... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is an abundance of most blessed things contained in this verse. Certainly the Prophet had an eye to Christ in his resurrection, as the first fruits of them that sleep. He had an eye also to the spiritual resurrection of every sinner that is made to hear the voice of the Son of God and live. Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
I beg the Reader at the very entrance upon this verse, to observe with me, that the little word if is in Italics; consequently hath no right to be there, and certainly ought not to be there, if the sense be injured by it, or lessened, or destroyed. And that it doth all this is very evident. For if i... [ Continue Reading ]
If the Reader recollects what I humbly observed in my Commentary on Hosea 4:17 and compares it with this verse, perhaps he may be led to think as I do. Certain it is, we shall think alike, if God the Holy Ghost be the teacher of both. But when I read the gracious, the tender expressions of the Lord,... [ Continue Reading ]
Probably the hewing by the words of the Prophets, hath a reference to the powerful effects of preaching. We have a striking instance: Acts 7:51. And the Lord compares his word to a fire, and to an hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces. Jeremiah 23:29. See also Hebrews 4:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Our blessed Jesus hath made this scripture memorable by twice quoting it. Matthew 9:13 and again, Matthew 12:7. But it should seem, as if by our Lord's expression on both occasions, the sense of it was not then well understood; neither is it now. Some have ventured to suppose, that the sense of it i... [ Continue Reading ]
We find here the same melancholy account, as in the other parts of this prophecy; the Lord complaining of his people's apostacy; Gilead and the house of Israel; Ephraim and Judah; all alike transgressors. Alas! what but the blood of Christ can expiate the offences of the Lord's people!... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS READER! it is blessed amidst the general; yea, universal corruption of our poor fallen nature, to behold, even in a few instances here and there afforded, of the sovereignty of the Lord's grace. And when we hear the cry issuing from the heart, come, and let us return unto the Lord, we m... [ Continue Reading ]