John Trapp on Hosea 14:1

CHAP. XIV.

Verſe 1. OIſrael, return unto the Lord,] Ʋſque ad Dominum, as far as to the Lord: give not the half but the whole turn; and take it for a mercy that you are yet called upon to return, and may be received: that yet there is hope in Iſrael concerning this thing. All the former part of the Propheſie had been (moſt-what) Comminatory: this laſt Chapter is wholly Conſolatory: the Sun of righteouſneſſe loves not to ſet in a cloud.Ezr. 10.2.

return unto the Lord thy God;] He is yet thy God: no ſuch argument for our turning to God as his turning to us, Zach. 1.3. See the Note there Tantùm velis & Deus tibi praeoccurret. If ye be willing and obedient, ye ſhall eat, &c. The Fathers plenty brought home the Prodigall: he had but a purpoſe to return, and his father met him, Eſay 65.24. See Joel 2.12, 13. Eſay 55.6, 7. Jer. 31.18. Hoſ. 3.5. Acts 2.38. This is the uſe we ſhould make of mercy. Say not, He is my God, therefore I may preſume upon him: but, He is mine, therefore I muſt return unto him: Argue from mercy to duty, and not to liberty, for that's the Devils Logick, which the Apoſtle holds unreaſonable, yea to a good heart impoſſible, Rom. 6.1, 2. His mercy is bounded with his truth, with which it therefore goes commonly coupled in Scripture. It is a ſanctuary for the penitent; but not for the preſumptuous.

for thou haſt fallen by thine iniquity.] i. e. Conſumption is decreed, yet a remnant reſerved, Eſay 10.22, 23. Thou haſt fallen into great calamity, and that by thine iniquity, which puts a ſting into thy miſery. This it is fit thou ſhouldſt be ſenſible of: for conviction is the firſt ſtep to converſion. But if thou art fallen, wilt thou there lie and not riſe again by repentance, and return to him that ſmiteth thee? wilt thou not ſubmit to his juſtice, and implore his mercy? Here then is another motive to converſion; as indeed this verſe abounds with arguments to that purpoſe, as Pareus well obſerveth. Firſt, thou art Iſrael, a Prince of God, who hath greatly graced thee above all people: Return to him therefore. 2 Thou haſt run away from him by thine iniquity: ad turned upon him the back, and not the face: Return therefore. 3. He is Iehovah, the Authour of thy being, and well-being. 4 He is God, to whom thou muſt either turn, or burn for ever: aut poenitendum, aut pereundum: he can fetch in his rebels. 5 He is thy God in covenant with thee, and will accept of pence for pounds, deſires for deeds, ſincerity for perfection. 6 Thou haſt fallen by thine iniquity: and yet wilt fall further, and never riſe again, as Am. 8.14. if thou ſtop not, ſtep not back by repentance, and ſtir up thy ſelf to take hold of God.