Hosea 14:9

REFLECTIONS

BLESSED be God for the sweet and precious doctrines contained in this Chapter. May God the Holy Ghost write their full import on the heart both of Writer and Reader. I would pray for grace to see my own state described in the first part of it. Indeed every child of God may truly exclaim, I am the man that hath fallen by my iniquity. The Lord help me therefore to take with me words, even God's own words, and come to the throne of grace, in the Lord Jesus Christ, and find grace, mercy, and peace from Him, in whom the fatherless findeth mercy.

And oh! thou blessed Emmanuel! speak to my soul, yea, speak to every regenerated soul in those reviving words of thine, I will heal thy backsliding; I will love thee freely; I will be as the dew unto Israel

And do thou grant, oh! thou blessed Spirit of truth, in thy sweet office of glorifying the Lord Jesus, that through thy gracious influences I may be kept from anymore going after my former idols. Yea, give me to see that Jesus is the source of all my strength, hope, and consolations; that in Him is my fruit found, and all my fresh springs are in Him.

Farewell Hosea! adieu thou faithful servant of the Lord! Well hast thou ministered to the Church by thy writings in all ages, from thy days to the present hour; and shown in what man's ruin is found, and in whom alone is salvation. And while I bless the Great Head of his Church for thy ministry: my soul desires to go forth in thanks-givings and praises to the Lord God, in whom alone thy ministry, or all the ministry of men or angels can be profitable; in that Jesus doth bless, and will bless his holy word by his servants the prophets. Praises be to Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for those blessed writings of inspiration! May the Lord go on to commission them to his glory, who in times past spake to the Fathers by the Prophets. But still more would we give praises to God, who hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son. Oh! thou Lord God of the Prophets! everlasting blessings be thine, to whom all the Prophets give witness, that whosoever believeth in thee, shall have eternal life. Amen.