In self-examination, the Christian as God's husbandry (1 Corinthians 3:9), has the divine plow (His Word and Spirit) put to ground and it goes to work on the ground of his own soul. "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12
"Let them cleanse their hearts from all corrupt affections and lusts, which are as weeds and thorns, and let them be humbled for their sins, and be of a broken and contrite spirit in the sense of them; let them be full of sorrow and shame at the remembrance of them, and prepare to receive the divine precepts, as the ground that is ploughed is to receive the seed, that it may take root. The husbandman sows in seed-time, and, if that time be far spent, he applies to the work with the more diligence. Note, Seeking the Lord is to be every day's work, but there are some special occasions given by the providence and grace of God when it is, in a particular manner, time to seek him." ~ Matthew Henry
This study was adapted from Matthew Henry's treatise, "The Communicant's Companion: Instruction for the Right Receiving of the Lord's Supper", 1704. |
