Verse 13

VER. 13.

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity, you have eaten the fruit of lies.

Notwithstanding all exhortations, and all offers of mercy, yet you have gone quite contrary (says the Prophet:) Instead of breaking from your iniquities, you have plowed your iniquities. The meaning is this: You have taken pains to propagate that which is evil, you have taken pains to prepare for wicked things and to do all you can for the propagation of that which is evil, both in your selves and others. That is the plowing of wickedness. The plowing of the wicked is sin, their endeavors, (that is the meaning) their labor it is especially for the furtherance of sin, the very strength of their spirits is let out for the furtherance of their sin. In Job 4:8, Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness reap the same: to plow it is to endeavor, and labor for iniquity, for so the word that is here translated Plow, it signifies, to frame things, to work things, to endeavor any thing with all our might; that is the signification of the word. You have set your hearts altogether upon this work, for the furthering of wickedness, in thinking of it, in plodding about it, in stirring of one another, and doing all you can in your endeavors for the furtherance of wickedness.

Yes, you have been willing to go through all difficulties to accomplish your wicked intentions: As we read in Micah 7:3, it is a notable Scripture, it shows the strong endeavors of wicked men after their sin. They do evil (says the text) with both hands earnestly. It is a very strange text, they are willing to take pains and plow for their sin.

Oh! how many are there that take more pains to go to Hell, than others do that go to Heaven? They will so struggle, and suffer for their sin, willing to break with their friends to accomplish their sinful lusts, willing to venture their estates, to hazard their healths, willing to do any thing in the world, they are willing to go through all difficulties that they may have their sin: Yet they will not plow for God. Oh! they complain of any little difficulty in the ways of God; but complain of no difficulty in the ways of sin. Oh! what a wicked and wretched heart is this, to be offended with any hardness in God's ways, and yet be content to endure any hardness at all in the ways of sin! Oh! that we were but as instrumental for God, and willing to plow, as hard as others do for that which is sin. And oh! when you shall come to die, to reap the fruit of your labor, what terror do you think will this be to your consciences, when it must tell you that you have taken more pains in the ways of wickedness than ever you did in the ways of God? As it was said of Cardinal Wolsey, when he was to die, Oh! says he, Had I but served God as diligently as I have served the King, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. So when you shall come to die and your consciences shall say, Oh! that I had but broken as much sleep to prayer and seeking God, Oh! that I had but ventured my estate, and name, as much in the ways of God as in the ways of sin, it had been happy for me. Is it possible that any of you can die in peace of conscience, and yet your consciences shall tell you that you never took that pains for God as you have done for sin? In a good motion that is for God, if others do it you will agree and go on with them: I, but you will not plow hard for it; but in things that are suitable to your lusts, you will not only move such a thing, and join with others, but you will plow hard for it. Oh! what pity is it, that men's parts and strength should be laid out so much upon that which is evil! Men that have active spirits, oh! how instrumental might they be for God if their necks were but in God's yoke? But they, all the days of their lives, have their necks in the Devil's yoke, and are plowing for the Devil all their days, and they will reap accordingly.

Now this plowing wickedness was especially their way of false worship, oh! they endeavored there, they plowed hard to get up their false worship, their worship at Dan and Bethel, and not to go to Jerusalem to worship. It follows.