Viewed as a moral precept, it would guide our efforts to suitable soils for intellectual culture; it would be serviceable in the selection of those stations, where attempts to civilize and improve by inferior means, such as are not strictly religious, would be most productive; and induce us to avoid rather than invite difficulties, in our endeavors to do good. Moreover, while we might discern the gracious permission to repose after great exertions, we should be reminded that the only warranted and laudable design of permitted recreation and rest is, that our fruitfulness may abound. The land is fallowed to ensure a larger crop; the bow is unbent that it may not break or lose its elasticity; and the human mind, if not relaxed, will despair.

Religiously to improve and apply the sentiment and similitude in our text, comports best with the intention of the sacred writer.

The prophet Jeremiah, in this and the foregoing chapter, warned the ten tribes of Israel, and the two of Judah, of the approach of Nebuchadnezzar the Monarch of Babylon; and had repentance and reformation been the happy results of his admonitions, their awful destiny denounced by God's messenger, would have been either suspended or totally averted. Had they ploughed their fields in good earnest, and removed the offensive

weeds, the accursed products of their hearts, the impending storm would have been diverted; or as clouds filled from the river of God, which is full of water, broken with benefit and blessing on their heads. Judgment is his strange work: nor is it until after repeated rejection and obstinate resistance to divine mercy, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from us, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.*

I. The necessity of fallowing the ground, is obvious to all who are practically acquainted with tillage; and such as are experimentally informed on the more important subject of the evil and barrenness of their own hearts, will admit the absolute requirement of a similar mental process.

Long have many of you sat under the means of grace; convictions of sin have ploughed up your feelings, and repeatedly harrowed your hearts; and hitherto, what has sprung up? irresolute purposes; timid determinations; idle hopes; if not hatred to God, dislike to his word and ways; and a confirmed rebellion of heart. These are the weeds, the thorns, the thistles, which the powerful ploughing of the law occasions to arise. "What shall "we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid.

* Matthew, xxi. 43.

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Nay, I had not known sin but by the law: for "I had not known lust, except the law had said,

But sin, taking occasion

"Thou shalt not covet. by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin "was dead."*

All your carnal hopes and criminal opposition to the divine will, must be completely eradicated. The human heart is not prepared for the rich seed of gospel consolation, until entirely exhausted of all self-confidence-the most pernicious weed, which is a native of the human breast; and of that insubmission to the revealed plan of salvation, which is the great glory of God, and the only safety of the fallen sons of apostate Adam.

The mind of the illustrious apostle of the Gentiles, furnishes us with conclusive proof and ready explanation of these facts. Difficult and tedious was the toil engaged in before his heart was perfect--that is, sincere, and fitted for the reception of the Saviour." Though I might also have con"fidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh "that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, "I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock "of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew

* Romans, vii. 7, 8.

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"of the Hebrews: as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, "blameless. But what things were gain to me, "those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, " and I count all things but loss for the excellency " of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for "whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and "do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, "and be found in him; not having mine own

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righteousness, which is of the law, but that "which is through the faith of Christ, the right"eousness which is of God by faith; that I may "know him, and the power of his resurrection, " and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made "conformable unto his death; if by any means I

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might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. "Not as though I had already attained, either "were already perfect; but I follow after, if that "I may apprehend that for which also I am ap"prehended of Christ Jesus."* Here he details with much exactness, the repeated efforts which were necessary, to induce him to renounce his natural and legal hopes of acceptance towards God; and so completely was the fallow broken, so fine was the tilth, the ground of his heart presented, that we are prepared to expect that luxuriant

* Philippians, iii. 4-12.

produce of hope, happiness, and holiness, which adorned his subsequent character.

II. The nature of this part of a farmer's business, will well illustrate the correspondent toil of a believer.

Deeply must the ploughshare be driven; in different directions must the furrows be made, and again cross and intersect each other; the harrow is used to collect the remains of weeds, to break the clods of earth, and loosen the soil; and in fine, no effort is omitted to expose the ground fully to the various influences of the seasons and the weather.

No attempt to cleanse the heart, however difficult or disagreeable, is intentionally neglected by the sincere believer-no effort is relied upon; all is in concurrence with and subservient to the expected influences of heaven.

The most laborious toils of tillage, indeed but feebly represent the repeated and indefatigable efforts of the upright to detect what is wrong, to subdue what is evil, and to cut up by the roots all that would prevent their desired fruitfulness.

The all-penetrating inspection of God is fervently implored; "Search me, O God, and know