The Stroke of the Clock
“SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY; BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND: FOR IT 18 TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL, HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPO*
YOU.” — Hosea x. 12.
WHAT should we think of a farmer who allowed his finest fields to lie fallow year after year?
Yet men neglect their souls; and besides being unprofitable, these inward fields become full of weeds, and exceedingly foul.
You see to everything else, will you not see to your souls?
It is God who calls you to break up the fallow ground of your uncultivated heart, and he waits to aid you therein.
Regard attentively the argument which he uses: “for it is time to seek the Lord.” Thus God reasons with you. To this he adds Instructions which deserve our best attention.
1. WHEN IB IT TIME? “It is time.”
1. In the very first hour of responsibility it is none
too soon.
2. At the present it it late, but not too late.” It
is tints.’’
(233)
8. When chastening has come, seek the Lord instantly; for now it is high time, “lest a worse thing come unto thee:” John v. 14.
4. Before trial comes, let mercy and gentleness
lead to gratitude. Why should we need to
be flogged to our God? Isa. i. 5.
5. Have you not sinned long enough? May not
the time past suffice for us to have served the flesh? 1 Peter iv. 3.
6. When you assume great responsibilities, and
enter on a new stage of life: — married, made a master, a father, etc.: 1 Chron. xxii. 19.
7. When God’s Spirit is specially at work, and
therefore others are saved. Acts iii. 19. When you yourself feel holy stirrings in your
conscience, and hope in your heart. Ps.
xxvii. 8. 2 Sam. v. 24. When the gospel is aimed at you by an earnest
minister or friend.
II. WHAT is THE PECULIAR WOEK? — “to seek the Lord.”
1. To draw nigh unto God; seeking him in worship,
prayer, etc. Ps. cv. 4.
2. To ask pardon at his hands through the atonement of Jesus. Isa. Iv. 6.
8. To obtain the blessings connected with the new
birth. John i. 12, 13.
4. To live for his glory: seeking his honor in all things. Matt. vi. 38.
III. HOW LONG SHALL THIS BE DONE? * Till h«
come and reign righteousness upon you. ’
1. Until the blessing of righteousness be obtained.
“till he come.”
2. Until it be plenteously received: “rain righteousness.”
3. Until your soul is saturated: “rain righteousness upon you.”
Suppose a pause between the seeking and the blessing, do not look in some other direction, but seek the Lord still.
What else can you do? John vi. 68.
Is not God a Sovereign? May he not give when he pleases?
Even now some rain of grace falls on you. Be thankful for it.
Is it not worth waiting for this grace of life?
It is sure to come. He will come, and will not tarry. Heb. x. 37.
IV. WHAT WILL COME or IT?
1. He will come. This is implied in ne expression
“till he come.” God’s coming in grace is all you need.
2. He will come in righteousness. You need
purity and holiness, and he will bring these with him.
8. He will come in abundance of grace meeting your obedient sowing. Mark the precept, “Son in righteousness.” Then note the promise, “and rain righteousness upon you.”
4. In consequence of the Lord’s coming to you in righteousness, you shall “reap in mercy.” With joy you shall gather the fruits of his love; not because of your own righteousness, but because of his righteousness, which he rains upon you; not as merit, but as mercy.
Come then, and seek the Lord at this very hour! If thou wduldst find him, he is in Christ. Believe, and thou hast found him, and righteousness in him.
While Christ calls, it is not too late to come. Dost thou object, — “Is there not a set day, which, if sinners neglect, the door is shut I” I answer, — There is truth in this; but yet there is no day but a sinner ought to come in it. Though thou mayest think the day of Christ’s acceptance to be over, yet is not the day of thy submission over. Thy time to be subject to the divine precept is not over while thou livest. Thou art still under the command, and bound to yield obedience to God whatever he biddest thee do. ... So long as God calls thee, the day is not over. This should encourage thee to come at once, driven by duty, and drawn by grace. — Ralph Robinson.
Sir Thomas More, whilst he was a prisoner in the To war, would not so much as suffer himself to be trimmed, saying that there was a controversy betwixt the king and him for his head, and till that was at a happy end, he would be at no cost about it. Let us but scum off the froth of his wit, and we may make a solemn use of it; for certainly all the cost we bestow upon ourselves, to make our lives pleasurable and joyous to us, is but mere folly, till it be decided what will become of the suit betwixt God and us, what will be the issue of the controversy that God hath against us, and that not for our heads, but for our souls, whether for heaven or hell. Were it not, then, the wisest course to begin with making our peace; and then we may the sooner lead a happy life? It is said, “He who gets out of debt grows rich.” Most sure it is that the pardoned soul cannot be poor; for as soon as peace is concluded, a free trade is opened between God and the soul. If once pardoned, we may then sail to any port that lies in God’s dominions, and be welcome. All the promises stand * open with their treasures, and say, “Here, poor soul, take in full lading of all precious things, even as much as thy faith can bear and carry away I” — John Spencer.
A. little maiden stood trembling, weeping, timidly knocking at the door of a minister’s library. “Come in,” said a cheerful voice. The door handle slowly turned, and there she stood, sobbing with emotion. “What is the matter, my dear child?” said the sympathising pastor. “Oh, sir” was the reply, “1 have lived seven years without Jesus f” She had just been celebrating her seventh oirthday. — The British Messenger.
Moments seize;
Heaven’s on their wing: a moment we may wish, When worlds want wealth to buy. — Young.
Thomas fuller says, “God invites many with his golden sceptre whom he never bruises with his rod of iron.” If the invitations of his grace were more freely accepted, we should often escape the chastisements of his hand. Oh, that men did but know that a time of health, and happiness, and prosperity is as fit a season as can be for seeking the Lord, Indeed, any hour is a good time in which to seek the Lord, so long as it is present with us. He who would be wise will find no better day in the calendar for casting away folly than that which is now with him. But let no man trifle with time, for in an instant the die may be cast, and then it is written concerning the ungodly, “I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh:” Prov. i. 26.