John Trapp on Hosea 12:6

Verſe 6. Therefore turn thou to thy God,] The premiſes conſidered, Repent: and ſo return to God from whom thou haſt deeply revolted. It is to thy God, to whom thou art exhorted to turn; not to a tyrant, but to a God in covenant: yea it is with thy God (as the Hebrew hath it) with his good help, that thou ſhalt turn. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Onely cry unto him, Turn us Lord, and we ſhall be turned, draw us, and we will run after thee, &c. Of turning to the Lord, ſee the Note on Zach. 1.3.

Keep mercy and judgement,] Thoſe magnalia legis, thoſe weightier matters of the Law (as our Saviour calleth them, Matth. 23.23.) which Ephraim had made light of, chap. 4.1. He is therefore called upon to evidence the truth of his turning to God, by bringing forth fruits meet for repentance, Matth. 3.8. ſuch as are tantamount, and weigh juſt as much as repentance comes to. Optima & aptiſſima poenitentia eſt nova vita, ſaith Luther; The beſt and righteſt repentance is a new life, univerſall obedience to both Tables of the Law: Mercy and judgement are here put (by a figure) for the duties of the ſecond Table: as conſtant waiting upon God for the duties of the firſt: for the Prophet here obſerveth not the order of nature,Donande. Condonands. but of our knowledge, when he inſtanceth firſt in the ſecond Table, as doth alſo the Prophet Micah, chap. 6.8. Mercy muſt be kept and exerciſed, by 1 Giving, 2 Forgiving: This God prefers before ſacrifice, Hoſ. 6.7. This Chryſoſtom ſaith, is a more glorious work then to raiſe from the dead. And here let thoſe that would keep mercy (and not ſhew it onely ſometimes, when they are in a good mood) ſteep their thoughts in the mercies of God: and ſo ſtrive to be mercifull, as their heavenly Father is, Matth. 6. Judgement alſo muſt be kept, and juſtice done, Eſay 56.1. after the example of God, who is ſaid to exerciſe loving-kindneſſe, but withall judgement, and righteouſneſſe in the earth, Ier. 9.24. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous, yea our God is mercifull, Pſal. 116.5. the mixture of mercy and judgement is very comely: as in publike perſons, Pſal. 101.1. (where we ſee, that Davids ditty was compoſed of diſcords, which made an excellent harmony) ſo in others of all ſorts, Prov. 21.21. who are required to be mercifully juſt, and juſtly mercifull in all their enterdealings: according to that golden rule, given by our Saviour, Luke 6.31. Whatever ye would that men ſhould do unto you, do ye to them likewiſe. This is the ſtandard.

and wait on thy God continually.] Firſt, beleeve Him to be thy God, by a particular individuating faith: and then thou wilt be eaſily drawn to wait upon him, who waiteth to be gracious: or to draw near unto him, (as the Seventy here render it) and come boldly to the throne of grace, Heb 4.16. for as the Ark of the Covenant, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. and the Mercy-ſeat, were never ſeparated: to neither is the mercy of God from thoſe that are in covenant with him, and can truely call him Theirs. Hope is compared to a line (the ſame Hebrew word that ſignifieth the one ſignifieth the other) and waiting on God is nothing elſe but Hope and Truſt lengthened, or drawn out. Sure it is that Truſt in God at length will triumph: and all his diſpenſations will appear beautifull in their ſeaſon. Hold out therefore faith and patience. Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage, and he ſhall ſtrengthen thy heart: Wait I ſay upon the Lord. Pſal. 27.14. Ponder that ſweet promiſe, Habak. 2.3. not delivered only, but doubled, and trebled for more ſurety. And then conſider firſt thy diſtance from God in worth, and degree: next thy dependance upon him, thine undone condition, if he deſert thee: and then thou wilt be content to wait upon him continually, to ſtay his leiſure as David did for the kingdom, and as thoſe in Eſther did for deliverance: to ſay with thoſe good ſouls in the Acts, The will of the Lord be done.