Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 11:8

8 How shall I give thee up , Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me , my repentings are kindled together.

O Ephraim, thou hast deserved to be destroyed for ever, thy sins call for this, and my Justice threatens it, I may do it, but my mercy interposeth, and I would rather spare in mercy, then destroy in justice, there is still a debate between these two; How shall I give up to J[illegible: 1 letter] stice, saith Mercy, and ho[illegible: 1 letter] shall I not give up (saith Justice) into the han[illegible: 1 letter]s of enemies? Justice must be executed that I must do, saith God▪ and Mercy shall be Magnified that I will do▪ but how shall this be done, if I deliver thee, O Israel, to thine enemies, they will utterly destroy, and where then is mercy? If I deliver thee not, thy sins will not be chastised, and where then is Justice? If I punish thee, as I pun[illegible: 1 letter]sht Admah and Zeb[illegible: 1 letter]im with fire from Heaven, I do what is just, but then I shew no mercy; for these are two of the four Cities which suffer the vengeance of Eternal Fire, of these, Genesis 19.24.

After the manner of man God speaks, we know what 'tis to have a heart turn'd from wrath into kindness and compassions, so God speaks of himself here, and Isa. 63.15. Ier. 31.2[illegible: 1 letter].

After such unparallel'd abuse of infinite mercy and patience, what could be expected, but unrelenting wrath and fiercest indignation, but here is a wonder above all the rest. Bowels troubled, and strugling with anger, and contesting on behalf of most inexcusable sinners.

Still like a compassionate man, he could wish his threats in again, his bowels are now as in a flame for them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 6.4.; [illegible: 1 word] 14.8.29.23.4.11.