Matthew Poole and continuators on Hosea 14

1 O Israel , return unto the LORD thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity .

You that are the true Israel of God, you that are the [illegible: 2 letters]mnant amidst so great a Body of incurable Rebels.

Repent [illegible: 2 letters]e throughly, not hypocritically, turn ye from all your sins [illegible: 1 letter]n which with others you have been defiled, and turn to the Lord.

The Everlasting living God, who is worthy to be worshipt and obey'd; your Idols were never worth your love, but the Lord, the Fountain of Being and Life is worthy of it.

Turn to him as thy God in covenant with thee, to get pardon for past sins according to Covenant promise, to renew Covenant for time to come, and to ingage thy self sincerely and heartily to be his people.

Thy sins against the Lord thy God have enkindled his Wrath against thee, have involved thee in endless troubles, have turn'd thy prosperity into extream adversity; sin hath cast thee from the height of Glory to the depth of reproach and contempt, thus thou art fallen.

It is singular number either because all their sins were so link't together, they were as one huge mass of sin, or it refers particularly to their Idolatry, which [illegible: 1 letter]s by way of eminency, and above any one other sin, a [illegible: 2 letters]lling from God, and here punisht with a fall into calamities.

Marginal references: chap. 12.6.

2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD , and say unto him , take away all iniquity , and receive us graciously : so will we render the calves of our lips .

Bethink your selves what words will best set out your sins, Gods patience towards you, and your present sorrow and Repentance for sin; prepare your selves to make Confessions, Petitions, Vows, and Praises to God,

with words join deeds, let your hearts be in your words, turn, do not as the incorrigible Hypocrite.

See ver. 1. let. c.

Pray, present your Petitions to him who heareth Prayer; here is no mention of Sheep or Oxen, or any legal Sacrifices, True Repentance is required which is much better, faith and hope through the great Sacrifice, in vertue of which these Converts expect the Grace they need and seek.

This Petition for pardon of sin includes confession of it, sorrow for it, hope that God will of meer Grace forgive it, and take away the guilt, prevent the punishment, and abolish the power of sin, not of some, but of all; Sincere Converts seek full Justification, and full Sanctification.

Into thy protection, guidance, and benediction.

And this of thy meer Grace and Goodness, having taken away sin, take also graciously our persons as reconciled, and well-pleasing to thee.

This will qualifie and encourage us to give the Sacrifices which are to God much more pleasing than an Ox that hath horns and hoofs; Psal. 69.31. with these calves of our lips we will give our hearts also, for those praises of the lips are fruits of what praise the heart of the Convert first gives, and these here are signs of their heart given to God, that so they may be Spiritual Sacrifices, such as Ps. 50.13. or Heb. 13.15.

Marginal references: Or, give good.

3 Ashur shall not save us , we will not ride upon horses , neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods : for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy .

It had been one great sin of Israel that they did trust to an arm of flesh, Ashur is particularly named for that he was the last with whom they made a Covenant fairly, or above-board, but any other Forreign aids and friendships may be here understood. God promis'd his peculiar protection, and would have continued it if they had not cast him off, and trusted to man.

Another fault of theirs was, they multiplyed horses, and trusted to their strength which God forbad, this includes their home, strength, and provision of all sorts.

They had most brutishly thought their Idols would be Gods to help them; this the particular confession of their great comprehensive sins which brought on many others with them; Now they renounce as well as confess them, and such renouncing is necessary, and grounded on hope of finding mercy; as appears by

The reason they give of their renouncing these sins, and vain confidencies in God, to whom they return, in him onely there is help to be had.

All that are destitute of strength in themselves, and destitute of help from others; all that being sensible of their own helpless condition, look for it from God who hath Power, Mercy, and Wisdom to help and relieve.

Obtaineth as often as he doe's rightly sue for.

Both Fountain and streams of goodness too, Free Grace, and rich bounty.

Marginal references: Ps. 33.17. Isa. 31.1.

4 I will heal their backslidings , I will love them freely : for mine anger is turned away from him .

It is a usual Metaphor in Scripture, sin is our Disease, God is the Physician who healeth us, Psal. 103.3. and Ier. 3.22. and he doth it through Christ, in whom this promise is made to returning Backsliders. This promise God maketh by his Prophet to encourage them to hearken to his advice of repenting.

Aversions, voluntary and wilful turning away from God; well exprest here, and called rebellions by some other Interpreters, these voluntary, continued, and obstinate aversions, or backslidings are instances of greatest sins and sinners, yet God promiseth to heal these old putrifying sores, that we might be assur'd that he will heal all other lesser wounds: He will fully heal by pardoning and purifying.

Though before he hated, could take no pleasure in them, now he will shew that his mind and heart are towards them to accept them, and do them good.

Without their desert, and without bounds of time or measure, or kind. All kinds of Mercies fruit of his Love, Infinite Mercy in Grace and Glory, Eternal Mercies his Love will afford to them. This is liberal love indeed, this promised here.

I am reconciled to them, my displeasure is turned away.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel : he shall grow as the lilly , and cast forth his roots as Lebanon .

The Lord, who have pardoned, am appeased,

refresh and water, that they may grow, and that they may be fruitful, and flourish as the dew in those Countreys, where 'twas more abundant than with us, and for some Moneths together supplyed the want of rain; God will refresh and comfort, and make fruitful in good works, through his Grace, such as return to him.

Those that do unfeignedly, not hypocritically confess, pray, and repent.

Which grows apace, is fragrant, beautiful, and delights in Valleys, often grows among thorns, so the Israel of God among troubles in low state, yet comely, and fragrant to the Lord, and grows up in him speedily.

Put for the Trees of Lebanon, as those Trees spread forth their Roots, grow up to strength, are most beautiful, odoriferous, and durable, Cedars in Lebanon are these Trees, so shall the true Israel, converted Backsliders be blessed of God: So flourishing, and happy shall the Church be under Christ.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 span]; Heb. [illegible: 1 word]

6 His branches shall spread , and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree , and his smell as Lebanon .

His tenderest branches which are new sprung out, shall gather strength, not be broken off, but by these shall they multiply in number of boughs,

grow great and beautiful, and excellent for shade;

which retains his verdure all the Winter, and is rich in Fruit; so the true Israel of God shall flourish not in fruitless beauty, and stateliness, but in desirable and lovely Fruit, even in Winters of Affliction and Troubles.

The Mountain famous for Cedars, where also were the Trees that afford the Frankincense, which sweat out that excellent aromatick, the air, such shall the spiritual Fragrance of the Church be to God and man.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word]; Psa. [illegible: 1 span]

7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return , they shall revive as the corn , and grow as the vine , the sent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

As many as unite to the Church, are members of it, shall dwell under these spreading Trees: The Churches planted and spreading shall be to new Converts, as such Trees to fainting Travellers, almost spent with toyl and heat; they shall find rest in this shadow, which may refer to Christ and the Church.

Revive and recover new strength and life; so do souls weary and heavy laden with sin and fears find comfort and life coming to Christ, conversing with such as have been eased and comforted by Christ in like manner formerly.

Which dyeth ere it liveth to bring forth fruit, so converts die indeed to sin that they may live to God, die to all legal Righteousness, that they may live on rich Grace; or else it may refer to the increase of the Church, which shall be as many stalks from one ear of Wheat,

which in Winter seems dead, is pruin'd, and promiseth little to the eye, but yet life, sap, and a fructifying vertue is in it, and it will spring and bring forth Fruit, so the Church of Christ is used that it may bring forth Fruit more abundantly, Ioh. 15.2, 3.

The Savour of it to God and good men shall be pleasing as the scent of the delicious Wines of Lebanon, which are mentioned by prophane Authors with a great praise for their sweetness and deliciousness.

Marginal references: Or, [illegible: 1 word]; Or, [illegible: 1 word]

8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols ? I have heard him, and observed him : I am like a green fir-tree , from me is thy fruit found .

Not the whole Body of Ephraim, but converted Ephraim those who ver. 1, 2. were sensible of sin, confessed it, and sued for pardon;

i. e. I have no more to do with them, nor ever will; they have been, first, my sin, and next my sorrows; and my sorrows have been multiplyed by hasting after other Gods; I will no more do so, and with detestation against Idols doth Ephraim speak as the question implyeth.

Some refer these words to Ephraim, owning what he had found, and observed in God; what Grace, and Mercy in pardon, deliverance from miseries, and comfortable revival of his State: Others refer it to God, and make it a gracious promise from God of hearing Prayers, and taking especial care of converted Ephraim, either way suits the words and matter▪ and I leave it to your choice.

These words also as the former are either Israels giving praise to God, who had on Israels return changed his Dead, withered state into a flourishing, lovely, and beautiful state; others say 'tis God's Promise to be to Ephraim as such a tree is to a weary Traveller, who may with delight and safety sit under the shadow of it. A tree say some, that grows with very thick boughs, that rain, or heat pierceth not, and whose smell drives away wild beasts; so there is safety and refreshment under the protection of the Lord, under his shadow.

This also is differently interpreted, Israel confe[illegible: 1 letter]seth that the fruit of Gods grace is seen from what Israel now is, and doth; others say, God promiseth the fruits of comfort Israel enjoyes▪ and still shall enjoy from God, and his Grace toward Israel: I determine neither, but sure I am, such is the correspondence of Gods grace to the converted, that they cannot more readily acknowledge what God hath done for them, nor more readily engage to do what God adviseth and requireth, then God is ready to encourage them by gracious, and rich, and suitable promises.

9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things ? prudent, and he shall know them ? for the wayes of the LORD are right , and the just shall walk in them : but the transgressors shall fall therein .

Though not many wise, yet some methinks, now of those few who is there that will consider what sins God complains of, and threatens to punish in his people, what sins God forbad them, so much as once to commit and p[illegible: 1 letter]remptorily commanded them to turn from when once committed; what duties he required, what promises he proposed, what patience he used toward them, while any hope of their amendment, what severity upon their incorrigible sins. Who so with any tolerable degree of wisdom will view these things, and seriously consider of them, they will understand, and know that the Prophet hath given best advice▪ and that 'tis safest course to follow it.

The same thing doubled with elegancy and to confirm the word as is usuall in Scripture.

The wayes which he would have us walk in towards him, his Law, his Ordinances of Worship, his whole doctrine which directeth our walk are all Righteous, and equal. And the wayes wherein God walketh toward us in corrections for sins committed in suspending his promises of Grace on conditions of duty, in afflicting or comforting are all righteous and very equal,

Will approve them all justifying the Righteousness of Gods displeasure, and confessing he remembreth mercy in the midst of judgment. And justifying the Righteousness of his precepts by endeavouring to observe them.

Wilful▪ obstinate, and inconsiderate sinners.

Eventually it proves so, they stumble and are offended somewhat at his precepts and commands but more at his severe judgments, they cast off the one, and vainly hope to shift off the other, till at last they fall under the weight of their own sins and Gods wrath.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 107.43. [illegible: 1 word] 9.12. [illegible: 1 word] 12.10.