John Trapp on Hosea 14:4

Verſe 4. I will heal their back-ſlidings,] Relapſes, we know, are dangerous: and Apoſtaſie little leſſe then incurable, 2 Pet. 2.20, 21. Heb. 6.6. Biſhop Latimer, in a ſermon afore King Edw. 6. tells of one notorious back-ſlider that repented: but beware of this ſinne, ſaith he, for I have known no more but one that did ſo. To fall forward is nothing ſo dangerous, as to fall backward with old Eli. Hence Paul ſo thundreth againſt the Galathians, and Peter againſt apoſtatizing Libertines, 2 Epiſt. 2.22.Omnipotenti medico nullus inſanabilis occurrit morbus Iſidor. But if Jehovah the Phyſitian, (as he is called, Exod. 15.26.) undertake the cure, and ſay, I will heal their back-ſlidings, what can hinder? Chriſt in the Goſpel, cured the moſt deſperate diſeaſes: ſuch as all the Phyſicians in the countrey might have caſt their caps at, Matt. 4.23, 24. and 8.16. He refuſed none that came to him, Matt. 12.15. no not his enemies, as Malchus. Will he then reject his Ephraim, a child, bemoaning himſelf, though not a pleaſant childe, a towardly ſonne, Jer. 31.18, 20. a back-ſlider indeed, but ſuch an one, as crieth now, that God bindeth him, Job 36.13. No ſooner doth God cry, Return ye back-ſliding children, and I will heal your back-ſlidings, I will love you freely: but Ephraim, melted with ſuch a love, replieth, Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God, Ier. 3.22. O moſt happy compliance! See the like, Zach. 13.9. with the Note there. They ſhall return even to the Lord (from whom they had deeply revolted) and he ſhall be intreated of them, and ſhall heal them, Eſay 19.22. They had beg'd of him to take away all iniquity, verſe 2. And He here (in anſwer) promiſeth to heal their back-ſlidings, that compound of all iniquities, that fallingſickneſſe, that oft hales hell at the heels of it, Heb. 10.38.

I will love them freely:] Ephraim might remember, and Satan would be ſure to ſuggeſt, that the Prophet had ſaid before, Ephraim is ſmitten, or wounded, My God will caſt them away, or hate them. Mine anger is kindled againſt them, Chap. 8.5. and 9.16, 17. Here therefore, upon their repentance, all this is graciouſly taken off in one breath, and Satan ſilenced. Be it that they are back-ſliden, and ſore wounded by their fall; I will heal their back-ſlidings, and make their broken bones to rejoyce. Be it that there is nothing at all in them that is laudable, or love-worthy, yet I will love them freely, ex mero motu, of mine own free, abſolute, and independent grace, and favour, out of pure and unexcited love, without any the leaſt reſpect to their merit, which is nothing better then hell. Be it that they have bitterly provoked me to anger, and (as angry people uſe to do) I have both threatened them, and puniſhed them: yet now mine anger is turned away from them.] I am fully reconciled unto them in Chriſt, will clear up my countenance toward them, and remove mine heavy judgements from them. Gods favour is no empty favour. It is not like the Winter-Sun, that caſts a goodly countenance when it ſhineth, but gives little heat or comfort. If he love a man freely, and out of the good-pleaſure of his will, cum ſpontaneitate (as he doth all His, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Epheſ. 2.8. making them accepted in the Beloved, Epheſ. 1.6.) ſuch a man may promiſe himſelf all the bleſſings of this and a better life. Excellent is that of Bernard; Qui miſit vnigenitum, immiſit ſpiritum, promiſit vultum, &c. Bern. de Temp. Aug. Confeſ. lib. 5. c. 8. Pſal. 20.4. He that ſent his Son for thee, poured his Spirit into thee, promiſed to clear up his countenance upon thee, quid tandem tibi negaturus eſt? What can he deny thee? He that inviteth thee to feed upon the fatted-calf, will not onely take away all iniquity, but give good. That was the ſecond Petition they preferred, and they have it anſwered in the next verſe, ad cardinem deſiderij God not onely grants their prayer, but fulfills their counſell.