An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

And reap in Mercy.

For the opening of this,* 1.1 I find many carry it, Mercy to men: that is, Do you sow the seeds of Righteousness, and let the fruits of Mercy be abundant amongst you. But to carry it according to that that is more like to be the scope of the holy Ghost.

By Mercy,* 1.2 we are to understand, the Mercy of God. Now there's Two things that is to be observed in this phrase.

First,* 1.3 That it is in the Imparative Mood, Reap in Mercy, not, Ye shall reap in Mercy.

Secondly,* 1.4 In the Original it is, The Mouth of Mercy.

Now for the opening of the words according to these phrases.

For the First, That it is in the Imparative Mood, Reap in Mercy; not, Ye shall reap in Mercy.

This signifies these two things.

1. The certainty of the Mercy they shall have. And

2. The readiness of the mercy, that it is ready at hand for them to possess; just as if one should say to you in your shops, Let me have this commodity and here take your mo∣ney, that is, here's your money readie and certain.

And then, from the other word, In the mouth of Mer∣cie.

Now if the Translators had translated it thus, Sow in Righteousness, and reap in the mouth of Mercy, it would have been obscure: but those that understand the Hebrew tongue, know the meaning of this Phrase to be nothing but thus much. The mouth of a thing is used for the propor∣tion and measure of a thing,* 1.5 you shall have it thus in Lev. 27. 16. (the same Scripture that I quoted before for ano∣ther purpose) Thy estimation shall be according to the seed there∣of. Now the word in the Hebrew is, The estimation shall be to the mouth of the seed, that is, according to the proporti∣on of the seed so shall the estimation be. And so you have it in Exod. 16. 16. Gather every man according to what he shall eat.* 1.6 It is the same here, To the mouth of every man, in a pro∣portion according to what's fit for every man.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Expos. 1.
• * 1.2

  Expos. 2.
• * 1.3

  Opened.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ad os mise∣ricordiae.
• * 1.5

  Levit. 27. 16.
• * 1.6

  Exod. 16. 16.