God Giveth the Increase
" Doth the ploughman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?" — Isaiah 28:24 [KJV] "The L ORD of hosts hath decreed to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth." — Isaiah 23:9 . Therefore His word sends us to the common transactions in life, that we may gather instruction in humility, and be taught to bow to His sovereignty. Every dispute against the latter is a strong evidence of the want of the former. When the mouth is not stopped, but daringly opened against sovereign purposes and eternal decrees, it is an awful sign that the plough of God's law hath not cut deep into such sinners' hearts; for, instead of pleading guilty and being speechless, the pride of nature urges vain pleas against free-grace truth, everlasting love, the finished salvation of Jesus, and the certain glory of all His chosen members. But verily, as the ploughman plows at a proper season, and sows...