mh_parser/vol_split/28 - Hosea/Chapter 14.xml

<div2 id="Hos.xv" n="xv" next="Joel" prev="Hos.xiv" progress="79.43%" title="Chapter XIV">
<h2 id="Hos.xv-p0.1">H O S E A.</h2>
<h3 id="Hos.xv-p0.2">CHAP. XIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Hos.xv-p1" shownumber="no">The strain of this chapter differs from that of
the foregoing chapters. Those were generally made up of reproofs
for sin and threatenings of wrath; but this is made up of
exhortations to repentance and promises of mercy, and with these
the prophet closes; for all the foregoing convictions and terrors
he had spoken were designed to prepare and make way for these. He
wounds that he may heal. The Spirit convinces that he may comfort.
This chapter is a lesson for penitents; and some such there were in
Israel at this day, bad as things were. We have here, I. Directions
in repenting, what to do and what to say, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.1-Hos.14.3" parsed="|Hos|14|1|14|3" passage="Ho 14:1-3">ver. 1-3</scripRef>. II. Encouragements to repent taken
from God's readiness to receive returning sinners (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.4 Bible:Hos.14.8" parsed="|Hos|14|4|0|0;|Hos|14|8|0|0" passage="Ho 14:4,8">ver. 4, 8</scripRef>) and the comforts he has
treasured up for them, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.5-Hos.14.7" parsed="|Hos|14|5|14|7" passage="Ho 14:5-7">ver.
5-7</scripRef>. III. A solemn recommendation of these things to our
serious thoughts, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.9" parsed="|Hos|14|9|0|0" passage="Ho 14:9">ver.
9</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Hos.xv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14" parsed="|Hos|14|0|0|0" passage="Ho 14" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Hos.xv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.1-Hos.14.3" parsed="|Hos|14|1|14|3" passage="Ho 14:1-3" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Hos.xv-p1.7">
<h4 id="Hos.xv-p1.8">Penitents Encouraged. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Hos.xv-p1.9">b. c.</span> 720.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Hos.xv-p2" shownumber="no">1 O Israel, return unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hos.xv-p2.1">Lord</span> thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine
iniquity.   2 Take with you words, and turn to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hos.xv-p2.2">Lord</span>: say unto him, Take away all
iniquity, and receive <i>us</i> graciously: so will we render the
calves of our lips.   3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not
ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our
hands, <i>Ye are</i> our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth
mercy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p3" shownumber="no">Here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p4" shownumber="no">I. A kind invitation given to sinners to
repent, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.1" parsed="|Hos|14|1|0|0" passage="Ho 14:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. It is
directed to Israel, God's professing people. They are called to
<i>return.</i> Note, Conversion must be preached even to those that
are within the pale of the church as well as to heathen. "Thou are
Israel, and therefore art bound to thy God in duty, gratitude, and
interest; thy revolt from him is so much the more heinous, and thy
return to him so much the more necessary." Let Israel see, 1. What
work he has made for repentance: "<i>Thou has fallen by thy
iniquity." Thou has stumbled;</i> so some read it. Their idols were
their <i>stumbling-blocks.</i> "Thou has fallen from God into sin,
fallen off from all good, fallen down under the load of guilt and
the curse." Note, Sin is a fall; and it concerns those that have
fallen by sin to get up again by repentance. 2. What work he has to
do in his repentance: "<i>Return to the Lord thy God;</i> return to
him as <i>the Lord</i> whom thou has a dependence upon, as <i>thy
God,</i> thine in covenant, whom thou has an interest in." Note, It
is the great concern of those that have revolted from God to
<i>return to God,</i> and so to do their <i>first works.</i>
"Return to him from whom thou has fallen, and who alone is able to
raise thee up. Return <i>even to the Lord,</i> or <i>quite home</i>
to the Lord; do not only look to him, or take some steps towards
him, but make thorough work of it." The ancient Jews had a saying
grounded on this, <i>Repentance is a great thing, for it brings men
quite up to the throne of glory.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p5" shownumber="no">II. Necessary instructions given them how
to repent. 1. They must bethink themselves what to say to God when
they come to him: <i>Take with you words.</i> They are required to
bring, not sacrifices and offerings, but penitential prayers and
supplications, the <i>fruit of thy lips,</i> yet not of the lips
only, but of the heart, else words are but wind. One of the rabbin
says, They must be such words as proceed <i>from what is spoken
first in the inner man;</i> the heart must dictate to the tongue.
We must take good words with us, by taking good thoughts and good
affections with us. <i>Verbaque prævisam rem non invita
sequentur—Those who master a subject are seldom at a loss for
language.</i> Note, When we come to God we should consider what we
have to say to him; for, if we come without an errand, we are
likely to go without an answer. <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.9.10" parsed="|Ezra|9|10|0|0" passage="Ezr 9:10">Ezra
ix. 10</scripRef>, <i>What shall we say?</i> We must take with us
words from the scripture, take them from the Spirit of grace and
supplication, who teaches us to cry, Abba, Father, and makes
intercession in us. 2. They must bethink themselves what to do.
They must not only take with them words, but must <i>turn to the
Lord;</i> inwardly in their hearts, outwardly in their lives.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p6" shownumber="no">III. For their assistance herein, and
encouragement, God is pleased to put words into their mouths, to
teach them what they shall say. Surely we may hope to speed with
God, when he himself has ordered our address to be drawn up ready
to our hands, and his own Spirit has indited it for us; and no
doubt we shall speed if the workings of our souls agree with the
words here recommended to us. They are,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p7" shownumber="no">1. Petitioning words. Two things we are
here directed to petition for:—(1.) To be acquitted from guilt.
When we return to the Lord we must say to him, Lord, <i>take away
all iniquity.</i> They were now smarting for sin, under the load of
affliction, but are taught to pray, not as Pharaoh, Take away
<i>this death,</i> but, <i>Take away this</i> sin. Note, When we
are in affliction we should be more concerned for the forgiveness
of our sins than for the removal of our trouble. "<i>Take away
iniquity,</i> lift it off as a <i>burden</i> we are ready to sink
under or as the stumbling-block which we have often fallen over.
Lord, take it away, that it may not appear against us, to our
confusion and condemnation. Take it all away by a free and full
remission, for we cannot pretend to strike any of it off by a
satisfaction of our own." When God pardons sin he pardons
<i>all,</i> that <i>great debt;</i> and when we pray against sin we
must pray against it all and not except any. (2.) To be accepted as
righteous in God's sight: "<i>Receive us graciously.</i> Let us
have thy favour and love, and have thou respect to us and to our
performances. Receive our prayer graciously; be well pleased with
that good which by thy grace we are enabled to do." <i>Take
good</i> (so the word is); take it to bestow upon us, so the margin
reads it—<i>Give good.</i> This follows upon the petition for the
taking away of iniquity; for, till iniquity is taken away, we have
no reason to expect any good from God, but the taking away of
iniquity makes way for the conferring of good <i>removendo
prohibens—by taking that out of the way which hindered. Give
good;</i> they do not say what good, but refer themselves to God;
it is not good of the world's showing (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.4.6" parsed="|Ps|4|6|0|0" passage="Ps 4:6">Ps. iv. 6</scripRef>), but good of God's giving. "<i>Give
good,</i> that good which we have forfeited, and which thou has
promised, and which the necessity of our case calls for." Note,
God's gracious acceptance, and the blessed fruits and tokens of
that acceptance, are to be earnestly desired and prayed for by us
in our returning to God. "<i>Give good,</i> that good which will
make us good and keep us from returning to iniquity again."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p8" shownumber="no">2. Promising words. These also are put into
their mouths, not to move God, or to oblige him to show them mercy,
but to move themselves, and oblige themselves to returns of duty.
Note, Our prayers for pardon and acceptance with God should be
always accompanied with sincere purposes and vows of new obedience.
Two things they are to promise and vow:—(1.) Thanksgiving.
"Pardon our sins, and accept of us, so <i>will we render the calves
of our lips.</i>" The <i>fruit of our lips</i> (so the LXX.), a
word they used for <i>burnt-offerings,</i> and so it agrees with
the Hebrew. The apostle quotes this phrase (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.13.15" parsed="|Heb|13|15|0|0" passage="Heb 13:15">Heb. xiii. 15</scripRef>), and by the <i>fruit of our
lips</i> understands the <i>sacrifice of praise to God, giving
thanks to his name.</i> Note, Praise and thanksgiving are our
spiritual sacrifice, and, if they come from an upright heart, shall
please the Lord <i>better than an ox or bullock,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.69.30 Bible:Ps.69.32" parsed="|Ps|69|30|0|0;|Ps|69|32|0|0" passage="Ps 69:30,32">Ps. lxxix. 30, 32</scripRef>. And the sense
of our pardon and acceptance with God will enlarge our hearts in
praise and thankfulness. Those that are <i>received graciously</i>
may, and must, <i>render the calves of their lips</i>—poor returns
for rich receivings, yet, if sincere, more acceptable than the
calves of the stall. (2.) Amendment of life. They are taught to
promise, not only verbal acknowledgements, but a real reformation.
And we are taught here, [1.] In our returns to God to covenant
against sin. We cannot expect that God should take it away by
forgiving it if we do not put it away by forsaking it. [2.] To be
particular in our covenants and resolutions against sin, as we
ought to be in our confession, because deceit lies in generals.
[3.] To covenant especially and expressly against those sins which
we have been most subject to, which have most easily beset us, and
which we have been most frequently overcome by. We must keep
ourselves from, and therefore must thus fortify ourselves against,
<i>our own iniquity,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.23" parsed="|Ps|18|23|0|0" passage="Ps 18:23">Ps. xviii.
23</scripRef>. The sin they here covenant against, owning thereby
that they had been guilty of it, is giving that glory to another
which is due to God only; this they promise they will never do,
<i>First,</i> By putting that confidence in creatures which should
be put in God only. They will not trust to their alliances abroad:
<i>Asshur</i> (that is, Assyria) <i>shall not save us.</i> "We will
not court the help of the Assyrians when we are in distress, as we
have done (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Hos.5.13 Bible:Hos.7.11 Bible:Hos.8.9" parsed="|Hos|5|13|0|0;|Hos|7|11|0|0;|Hos|8|9|0|0" passage="Ho 5:13,7:11,8:9"><i>ch.</i> v. 13;
vii. 11; viii. 9</scripRef>); we will not contract for it, nor will
we confide in it, or depend upon it. Having a God to go to, a God
all-sufficient to trust to, we scorn to be beholden to the
Assyrians for help." They will not trust to their warlike
preparations at home, especially not those which they were
forbidden to multiply: "<i>We will not ride upon horses,</i> that
is, we will not make court to Egypt," for thence they fetched their
horses, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.17.16 Bible:Isa.30.16 Bible:Isa.31.1 Bible:Isa.31.3" parsed="|Deut|17|16|0|0;|Isa|30|16|0|0;|Isa|31|1|0|0;|Isa|31|3|0|0" passage="De 17:16,Isa 30:16,31:1,3">Deut. xvii.
16; Isa. xxx. 16; xxxi. 1, 3</scripRef>. "When our enemies invade
us we will depend upon our God to succour our infantry, and will be
in no care to remount our cavalry." Or, "We will not <i>post on
horseback,</i> for haste, from one creature to another, to seek
relief, but will take the nearest way, and the only sure way, by
addressing ourselves to God," <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.20.5" parsed="|Isa|20|5|0|0" passage="Isa 20:5">Isa. xx.
5</scripRef>. Note, True repentance takes us off from trusting to
an arm of flesh, and brings us to rely on God only for all the good
we stand in need of. <i>Secondly,</i> Nor will they do it by paying
that homage to creatures which is due to God only. We <i>will not
say any more to the works of our hands, You are our gods.</i> They
must promise never to worship idols again, and for a good reason,
because it is the most absurd and senseless thing in the world to
pray to that as a god which is the work of our hands. We must
promise that we will not set our hearts upon the gains of this
world, nor pride ourselves in our external performances in
religion, for that is, in effect, to say to the work of our hands,
<i>You are our gods.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p9" shownumber="no">3. Pleading words are here put into their
mouths: For <i>in thee the fatherless find mercy.</i> We must take
our encouragement in prayer, not from any merit God finds in us,
but purely from the mercy we hope to find in God. This contains in
itself a great truth, that God takes special care of fatherless
children, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.4-Ps.68.5" parsed="|Ps|68|4|68|5" passage="Ps 68:4,5">Ps. lxviii. 4,
5</scripRef>. So he did in his law, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.22.22" parsed="|Exod|22|22|0|0" passage="Ex 22:22">Exod. xxii. 22</scripRef>. So he does in his providence,
<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.10" parsed="|Ps|27|10|0|0" passage="Ps 27:10">Ps. xxvii. 10</scripRef>. It is God's
prerogative to help the helpless. In him there is mercy for such,
for they are proper objects of mercy. In him they find it; there it
is laid up for them, and there they must seek it; <i>seek and you
shall find.</i> It comes in here as a good plea for mercy and grace
and an encouraging one to their faith. (1.) They plead the distress
of their state and condition: "We are fatherless orphans, destitute
of help." Those may expect to find help in God that are truly
sensible of their helplessness in themselves and are willing to
acknowledge it. This is a good step towards comfort. "If we have
not yet boldness to call God <i>Father,</i> yet we look upon
ourselves as fatherless without him, and therefore lay ourselves at
his feet, to be looked upon by him with compassion." (2.) They
plead God's wonted lovingkindness to such as were in that
condition: <i>With thee the fatherless</i> not only may find, but
<i>does find,</i> and shall find, <i>mercy.</i> It is a great
encouragement to our faith and hope, in returning to God, that it
is his glory to father the fatherless and help the helpless.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Hos.xv-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.4-Hos.14.7" parsed="|Hos|14|4|14|7" passage="Ho 14:4-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Hos.xv-p9.5">
<h4 id="Hos.xv-p9.6">Assurance of Mercy; Repentance of
Ephraim. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Hos.xv-p9.7">b. c.</span> 720.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Hos.xv-p10" shownumber="no">4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love
them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.   5 I
will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast
forth his roots as Lebanon.   6 His branches shall spread, and
his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
  7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall
revive <i>as</i> the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof
<i>shall be</i> as the wine of Lebanon.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p11" shownumber="no">We have here an answer of peace to the
prayers of returning Israel. They seek God's face, and they shall
not <i>seek in vain.</i> God will be sure to meet those in a way of
mercy who return to him in a way of duty. If we speak to God in
good prayers, God will speak to us in good promises, as he
<i>answered the angel with good words and comfortable words,</i>
<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Zech.1.13" parsed="|Zech|1|13|0|0" passage="Zec 1:13">Zech. i. 13</scripRef>. If we take
with us the foregoing words in our coming to God, we may take home
with us these following words for our faith to feast upon; and see
how these answer those.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p12" shownumber="no">I. Do they dread and deprecate God's
displeasure, and therefore return to him? He assures them that,
upon their submission, his <i>anger is turned away from them.</i>
This is laid as the ground of all the other favours here promised.
I will do so and so, for my <i>anger is turned away,</i> and
thereby a door is opened for all good to flow to them, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.12.1" parsed="|Isa|12|1|0|0" passage="Isa 12:1">Isa. xii. 1</scripRef>. Note, Though God is
justly and greatly angry with sinners, yet he is not implacable in
his anger; it may be turned away; it shall be turned away, from
those that turn away from their iniquity. God will be reconciled to
those that are reconciled to him and to his whole will.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p13" shownumber="no">II. Do they pray for the <i>taking away of
iniquity?</i> He assures them that he will <i>heal their
backslidings;</i> so he promised, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.3.22" parsed="|Jer|3|22|0|0" passage="Jer 3:22">Jer.
iii. 22</scripRef>. Note, Though backslidings from God are the
dangerous diseases and wounds of the soul, yet they are not
incurable, for God has graciously promised that if backsliding
sinners will apply to him as their physician, and comply with his
methods, he will heal their backslidings. He will heal the guilt of
their backslidings by pardoning mercy and their <i>bent to
backslide</i> by renewing grace. Their <i>iniquity</i> shall <i>not
be their ruin.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p14" shownumber="no">III. Do they pray that God will receive
them graciously? In answer to that, behold, it is promised, <i>I
will love them freely.</i> God had hated them while they went on
sin (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.9.15" parsed="|Hos|9|15|0|0" passage="Ho 9:15"><i>ch.</i> ix. 15</scripRef>); but
now that they return and repent he loves them, not only ceases to
be <i>angry</i> with them, but takes complacency in them and
designs their good. He <i>loves them freely,</i> with an
<i>absolute entire</i> love (so some), so that there are no remains
of his former displeasure, with a <i>liberal bountiful</i> love (so
others); he will be open-handed in his love to them, and will think
nothing too much to bestow upon them or to do for them. Or with a
<i>cheerful willing</i> love; he will love them without reluctancy
or renitency. He will not say in the day of thy repentance, <i>How
shall I receive thee again?</i> as he said in the day of thy
apostasy, <i>How shall I give thee up?</i> Or with an <i>unmerited
preventing</i> love. Whom God loves he loves <i>freely,</i> not
because they deserve it, but of his own good pleasure. He loves
because he <i>will</i> love, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.7.7-Deut.7.8" parsed="|Deut|7|7|7|8" passage="De 7:7,8">Deut.
vii. 7, 8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p15" shownumber="no">IV. Do they pray that God will <i>give
good,</i> will make them good? In answer to that, behold, it is
promised, <i>I will be as the dew unto Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.5" parsed="|Hos|14|5|0|0" passage="Ho 14:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p16" shownumber="no">1. What shall be the favour God will bestow
upon them. It is the blessing of their father Jacob, <i>God give
thee the dew of heaven,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.28" parsed="|Gen|27|28|0|0" passage="Ge 27:28">Gen.
xxvii. 28</scripRef>. Nay, what they need God will not only give
them, but he will himself be <i>that</i> to them, all that which
they need: I <i>will be as the dew unto Israel.</i> This ensures
<i>spiritual blessings in heavenly things;</i> and it follows upon
the healing of their backslidings, for pardoning mercy is always
accompanied with renewing grace. Note, To Israelites indeed God
himself will be <i>as the dew.</i> He will instruct them; his
doctrine shall drop upon them as the dew, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.2" parsed="|Deut|32|2|0|0" passage="De 32:2">Deut. xxxii. 2</scripRef>. They shall know more and more
of him, for he will come to them <i>as the rain,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.6.3" parsed="|Hos|6|3|0|0" passage="Hos 6:3">Hos. vi. 3</scripRef>. He will refresh them with
his comforts, so that their souls shall be as a <i>watered
garden,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.11" parsed="|Isa|58|11|0|0" passage="Isa 58:11">Isa. lviii.
11</scripRef>. He will be to true penitents <i>as the dew to
Israel</i> when they were in the wilderness, dew that had manna in
it, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.16.14 Bible:Num.11.9" parsed="|Exod|16|14|0|0;|Num|11|9|0|0" passage="Ex 16:14,Nu 11:9">Exod. xvi. 14; Num. xi.
9</scripRef>. The graces of the Spirit are the hidden manna, hidden
in the dew; God will give them bread from heaven, as he did to
Israel in the dew in abundance, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:John.1.16" parsed="|John|1|16|0|0" passage="Joh 1:16">John
i. 16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p17" shownumber="no">2. What shall be the fruit of that favour
which shall be produced in them. The grace thus freely bestowed on
them <i>shall not be in vain.</i> Those souls, those Israelites, to
whom God is as the dew, on whom his grace distils,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p18" shownumber="no">(1.) Shall be growing. The bad being by the
grace of God made good, they shall by the same grace be made
better; for grace, wherever it is true, is growing. [1.] They shall
grow upwards, and be more flourishing, <i>shall grow as the
lily,</i> or (as some read it) shall <i>blossom as the rose.</i>
The growth of the lily, as that of all bulbous roots, is very quick
and speedy. The root of the lily seems lost in the ground all
winter, but, when it is refreshed with the dews of the spring, it
starts up in a little time; so the grace of God improves young
converts sometimes very fast. The lily, when it has come to its
height, is a lovely flower (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.6.29" parsed="|Matt|6|29|0|0" passage="Mt 6:29">Matt. vi.
29</scripRef>), so grace is the comeliness of the soul, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.16.14" parsed="|Ezek|16|14|0|0" passage="Eze 16:14">Ezek. xvi. 14</scripRef>. It is the <i>beauty
of holiness</i> that is produced by the <i>dew of the morning,</i>
<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.3" parsed="|Ps|110|3|0|0" passage="Ps 110:3">Ps. cx. 3</scripRef>. [2.] They shall
grow downwards, and be more firm. The lily indeed grows fast, and
grows fine, but it soon fades and is easily plucked up; and
therefore it is here promised to Israel that with the flower of the
lily he shall have the root of the cedar: He shall <i>cast forth
his roots as Lebanon,</i> as the <i>trees of Lebanon,</i> which,
having taken deep root, cannot be plucked up, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Amos.9.15" parsed="|Amos|9|15|0|0" passage="Am 9:15">Amos ix. 15</scripRef>. Note, Spiritual growth consists
most in the growth of the root, which is out of sight. The more we
depend upon Christ and draw sap and virtue from him, the more we
act in religion from a principle and the more steadfast and
resolved we are in it, the more we <i>cast forth our roots.</i>
[3.] They shall grow round about (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.6" parsed="|Hos|14|6|0|0" passage="Ho 14:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>His branches shall spread</i>
on all sides. And (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.7" parsed="|Hos|14|7|0|0" passage="Ho 14:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>) he shall <i>grow as the vine,</i> whose branches
extend furthest of any tree. Joseph was to be <i>a fruitful
bough,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.22" parsed="|Gen|49|22|0|0" passage="Ge 49:22">Gen. xlix. 22</scripRef>.
When many are added to the church from without, when a hopeful
generation rises up, then Israel's branches spread. When particular
believers abound in good works, and increase in the knowledge of
God and in every good gift, then their branches may be said to
spread. The <i>inward man is renewed day by day.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p19" shownumber="no">(2.) They shall be graceful and acceptable
both to God and man. Grace is the amiable thing, and makes those
that have it truly amiable. They are here compared to such trees as
are pleasant, [1.] To the sight: <i>His beauty shall be as the
olive-tree,</i> which is always green. <i>The Lord called thy name
a green olive-tree,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.11.16" parsed="|Jer|11|16|0|0" passage="Jer 11:16">Jer. xi.
16</scripRef>. Ordinances are the beauty of the church, and in them
it is, and shall be, ever green. Holiness is the beauty of a soul;
when those that believe with the heart make profession with the
mouth, and justify and adorn that profession with an agreeable
conversation, then their beauty is as the olive-tree, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.52.8" parsed="|Ps|52|8|0|0" passage="Ps 52:8">Ps. lii. 8</scripRef>. It is a promise to the
trees of righteousness that their leaf shall not wither. [2.] To
the smell: <i>His smell</i> shall be <i>as Lebanon</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.6" parsed="|Hos|14|6|0|0" passage="Ho 14:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>) and his <i>scent as the
wine of Lebanon,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.7" parsed="|Hos|14|7|0|0" passage="Ho 14:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. This was the praise of their father Jacob, <i>The
smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord has
blessed,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.27.27" parsed="|Gen|27|27|0|0" passage="Ge 27:27">Gen. xxvii.
27</scripRef>. The church is compared to a <i>garden of spices</i>
(<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Song.4.12 Bible:Song.4.14" parsed="|Song|4|12|0|0;|Song|4|14|0|0" passage="So 4:12,14">Cant. iv. 12, 14</scripRef>), which
<i>all her garments smell of.</i> True believers are <i>acceptable
to God</i> and <i>approved of men.</i> God <i>smells a sweet
savour</i> from their <i>spiritual sacrifices</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.8.21" parsed="|Gen|8|21|0|0" passage="Ge 8:21">Gen. viii. 21</scripRef>), and they are
<i>accepted of the multitude of the brethren.</i> Grace is the
perfume of the soul, the perfume of the name, makes it like a
precious ointment, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.7.1" parsed="|Eccl|7|1|0|0" passage="Ec 7:1">Eccl. vii.
1</scripRef>. <i>The memorial thereof shall be as the wine of
Lebanon</i> (so the margin reads it), not only their reviving
comforts now, but their surviving honours when they are gone, shall
be as <i>the wine of Lebanon,</i> that has a delicate flavour.
Flourishing churches have <i>their faith spoken of throughout the
world</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Rom.1.8" parsed="|Rom|1|8|0|0" passage="Ro 1:8">Rom. i. 8</scripRef>) and
<i>leave their name to be remembered</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.45.17" parsed="|Ps|45|17|0|0" passage="Ps 45:17">Ps. xlv. 17</scripRef>); and <i>the memory of</i>
flourishing saints is <i>blessed,</i> and shall be so, as theirs
who <i>by faith obtained a good report.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p20" shownumber="no">(3.) They shall be fruitful and useful. The
church is compared here to the vine and the olive, which brings
forth useful fruits, to the honour of God and man. Nay, the very
shadow of the church shall be agreeable (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.7" parsed="|Hos|14|7|0|0" passage="Ho 14:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <i>Those that dwell under his
shadow shall return</i>—under God's <i>shadow</i> (so some), under
the shadow of the Messias, so the Chaldee. Believers <i>dwell under
God's shadow</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1" parsed="|Ps|91|1|0|0" passage="Ps 91:1">Ps. xci.
1</scripRef>), and there they are and may be safe and easy. But it
is rather <i>under the shadow of Israel,</i> under the shadow of
the church. Note, God's promises pertain to those, and those only,
that dwell under the church's shadow, that attend on God's
ordinances and adhere to his people, not those that flee to that
shadow only for shelter in a hot gleam, but those that <i>dwell
under it.</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.4" parsed="|Ps|27|4|0|0" passage="Ps 27:4">Ps. xxvii. 4</scripRef>.
We may apply it to particular believers; when a man is effectually
brought home to God all that <i>dwell under his
shadow</i>—children, servants, subjects, friends. <i>This day has
salvation come to this house.</i> Those that dwell under the shadow
of the church shall return; their drooping spirits shall return,
and they shall be refreshed and comforted. He <i>restores my
soul,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.3" parsed="|Ps|23|3|0|0" passage="Ps 23:3">Ps. xxiii. 3</scripRef>.
<i>They shall revive as the corn,</i> which, when it is sown, dies
first, and then revives, and <i>brings forth much fruit,</i>
<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:John.12.24" parsed="|John|12|24|0|0" passage="Joh 12:24">John xii. 24</scripRef>. It is
promised that God's people shall be blessings to the world, as corn
and wine are. And a very great and valuable mercy it is to be
serviceable to our generation. Comfort and honour attend it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Hos.xv-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.8-Hos.14.9" parsed="|Hos|14|8|14|9" passage="Ho 14:8-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Hos.xv-p20.7">
<h4 id="Hos.xv-p20.8">Assurances of Mercy. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Hos.xv-p20.9">b. c.</span> 720.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Hos.xv-p21" shownumber="no">8 Ephraim <i>shall say,</i> What have I to do
any more with idols? I have heard <i>him,</i> and observed him: I
<i>am</i> like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.  
9 Who <i>is</i> wise, and he shall understand these <i>things?</i>
prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Hos.xv-p21.1">Lord</span> <i>are</i> right, and the just shall walk
in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p22" shownumber="no">Let us now hear the conclusion of the whole
matter.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p23" shownumber="no">I. Concerning Ephraim; he is spoken of and
spoken to, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.8" parsed="|Hos|14|8|0|0" passage="Ho 14:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Here
we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p24" shownumber="no">1. His repentance and reformation:
<i>Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols?</i> As
some read it, God here reasons and argues with him, why he should
renounce idolatry: "<i>O Ephraim! what to me and idols? What
concord</i> or agreement can there be <i>between me and idols? What
communion between light and darkness, between Christ and
Belial?</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.6.14-2Cor.6.15" parsed="|2Cor|6|14|6|15" passage="2Co 6:14,15">2 Cor. vi. 14,
15</scripRef>. Therefore thou must break off thy league with them
if thou wilt come into covenant with me." As we read it, God
promises to bring Ephraim and keep him to this: <i>Ephraim shall
say,</i> God will put it into his heart to say it, <i>What have I
to do any more with idols?</i> He has promised (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.3" parsed="|Hos|14|3|0|0" passage="Ho 14:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>) not to <i>say any more to the
works of his hands, You are my gods.</i> But God's promises to us
are much more our security and our strength for the mortifying of
sin than our promises to God; and therefore God himself is here
<i>surety for his servant to good,</i> will put in into his heart
and into his mouth. And, whatever good we say or do at any time, it
is he that works it in us. Ephraim had solemnly engaged not to call
his idols <i>his gods;</i> but God here engages further for him
that he shall resolve to have <i>no more to do with them.</i> He
shall abolish them, he shall abandon them, and that with the utmost
detestation; for it is necessary not only that in our lives we be
turned from sin, but that in our hearts we be turned against sin.
See here, (1.) The power of divine grace. Ephraim had been
<i>joined to his idols</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.4.17" parsed="|Hos|4|17|0|0" passage="Ho 4:17"><i>ch.</i>
iv. 17</scripRef>), was so fond of them that one would have thought
he could never fall out with them; and yet God will work such a
change in him that he shall loathe them as much as ever he loved
them. (2.) See the benefit of sanctified afflictions. Ephraim had
smarted for his idolatry; it had brought one judgment after another
upon him, and this at length is the fruit, even the <i>taking away
of his sin,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p24.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.27.9" parsed="|Isa|27|9|0|0" passage="Isa 27:9">Isa. xxvii.
9</scripRef>. (3.) See the nature of repentance; it is a firm and
fixed resolution to have no more to do with sin. This is the
language of the penitent: "I am ashamed that ever I had to do with
sin; but I have had enough of it; I hate it, and by the grace of
God I will never have any thing to do with it again, no, not with
the occasions of it." Thou shalt say to thy idol, <i>Get thee
hence</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p24.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.30.22" parsed="|Isa|30|22|0|0" passage="Isa 30:22">Isa. xxx. 22</scripRef>),
shalt say to the tempter, <i>Get thee behind me, Satan.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p25" shownumber="no">2. The gracious notice God is pleased to
take of it: <i>I have heard him, and observed him. I have heard,
and will look upon him;</i> so some read it. Note, The God of
heaven takes cognizance of the penitent reflections and resolutions
of returning sinners. He expects and desires the repentance of
sinners, because he has no pleasure in their ruin. <i>He looks upon
men</i> (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.33.27" parsed="|Job|33|27|0|0" passage="Job 33:27">Job xxxiii. 27</scripRef>),
<i>hearkens and hears,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.8.6" parsed="|Jer|8|6|0|0" passage="Jer 8:6">Jer. viii.
6</scripRef>. And, if there be any disposition to repent, he is
well pleased with it. When <i>Ephraim bemoans himself</i> before
God, he is a <i>dear son,</i> he is a <i>pleasant child,</i>
<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.20" parsed="|Jer|31|20|0|0" passage="Jer 31:20">Jer. xxxi. 20</scripRef>. He meets
penitents with mercy, as the father of the prodigal met his
returning son. God <i>observed</i> Ephraim, to see whether he would
bring forth fruits meet for this profession of repentance that he
made, and whether he would continue in this good mind. He observed
him to do him good, and comfort him, according to the exigencies of
his case.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p26" shownumber="no">3. The mercy of God designed for him, in
order to his comfort and perseverance in his resolutions; still God
will be all in all to him. Before, Israel was compared to a tree,
now God compares himself to one. He will be to his people, (1.) As
the branches of a tree: "<i>I am like a green fir-tree,</i> and
will be so to thee." The fir-trees, in those countries, were
exceedingly large and thick, and a shelter against sun and rain.
God will be to all true converts both a delight and a defence;
under his protection and influence they shall both dwell in safety
and dwell in ease. He with be either <i>a sun and a shield</i> or a
<i>shade and a shield,</i> according as their case requires. They
shall sit down <i>under his shadow with delight,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Song.2.3" parsed="|Song|2|3|0|0" passage="So 2:3">Cant. ii. 3</scripRef>. He will be so all
weathers, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.4.6" parsed="|Isa|4|6|0|0" passage="Isa 4:6">Isa. iv. 6</scripRef>. (2.)
As the root of a tree: <i>From me is thy fruit found,</i> which may
be understood either of the fruit brought forth to us (to him we
owe all our comforts) or of the fruit brought forth by us—from him
we receive grace and strength to enable us to do our duty. Whatever
fruits of righteousness we brought forth, all the praise of them is
due to God; for he works in us both to will and to do that which is
good.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Hos.xv-p27" shownumber="no">II. Concerning every one that hears and
reads the words of the prophecy of this book (<scripRef id="Hos.xv-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.9" parsed="|Hos|14|9|0|0" passage="Ho 14:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>Who is wise? and he shall
understand these things.</i> Perhaps the prophet was wont to
conclude that sermons he preached with these words, and now he
closes with them the whole book, in which he has committed to
writing some fragments of the many sermons he had preached.
Observe, 1. The character of those that do profit by the truths he
delivered: <i>Who is wise</i> and <i>prudent? He shall understand
these things, he shall know them.</i> Those that set themselves to
understand and know these things thereby make it to appear that
they are truly wise and prudent, and will thereby be made more so;
and, if any do not understand and know them, it is because they are
foolish and unwise. Those that are wise in the doing of their duty,
that are prudent in practical religion, are most likely to know and
understand both the truths and providences of God, which are a
mystery to others, <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:John.7.17" parsed="|John|7|17|0|0" passage="Joh 7:17">John vii.
17</scripRef>. <i>The secret of the Lord is with those that fear
him,</i> <scripRef id="Hos.xv-p27.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.14" parsed="|Ps|25|14|0|0" passage="Ps 25:14">Ps. xxv. 14</scripRef>.
<i>Who is wise?</i> This intimates a desire that those who read and
hear these things would understand them (<i>O that they were
wise!</i>) and a complaint that few were so—<i>Who has believed
our report?</i> 2. The excellency of these things concerning which
we are here instructed: <i>The ways of the Lord are right;</i> and
therefore it is our wisdom and duty to know and understand them.
The way of God's precepts, in which he requires us to walk, is
right, agreeing with the rules of eternal reason and equity and
having a direct tendency to our eternal felicity. The ways of God's
providence, in which he walks toward us, are all right; no fault is
to be found with any thing that God does, for it is all well done.
His judgments upon the impenitent, his favours to the penitent, are
all right; however they may be perverted and misinterpreted, God
will at last be justified and glorified in them all. His <i>ways
are equal.</i> 3. The different use which men make of them. (1.)
The right ways of God to those that are good are, and will be, a
savour of life unto life: <i>The just shall walk in them;</i> they
shall conform to the will of God both in his precepts and in his
providences, and shall have the comfort of so doing. They shall
well understand the mind of God both in his word and in his works;
they shall be well reconciled to both, and shall accommodate
themselves to God's intention in both. <i>The just shall walk</i>
in <i>those ways</i> towards their great end, and shall not come
short of it. (2.) The right ways of God will be to those that are
wicked a savour of death unto death: <i>The transgressors shall
fall</i> not only in their own wrong ways, but even <i>in the right
ways of the Lord.</i> Christ, who is a foundation stone to some, is
to others a <i>stone of stumbling</i> and a <i>rock of offence.</i>
That which was <i>ordained to life</i> becomes through their abuse
of it, death to them. God's providences, being not duly improved by
them, harden them in sin and contribute to their ruin. God's
discovery of himself both in the judgments of his mouth and in the
judgments of his hand is to us according as we are affected under
it. <i>Recipitur ad modum recipientis—What is received influences
according to the qualities of the receiver.</i> The same sun
softens wax and hardens clay. But of all transgressors those
certainly have the most dangerous fatal falls that fall <i>in the
ways of God,</i> that split on the rock of ages, and suck poison
out of the balm of Gilead. <i>Let the sinners in Zion be afraid</i>
of this.</p>
</div></div2>