John Trapp on Hosea 2:23

Verſe 23. And I will ſow her unto me in the earth] Not in the [illegible: 1 letter]ir, as once, when they were ſcattered into the four winds of heaven, but in the earth, which the heavens ſhould hear verſe 21. the inhabitants whereof ſhould [illegible: 2 letters] multip[illegible: 2 letters]ed: and become as the ſand of the ſea which cannot be meaſured, nor numbred, Chap. 1.10. See the Note there, and Jer. 31.27. Ezek. 36.37. The Preaching of the Goſpel i[illegible: 1 letter] a kind of ſowing of ſeed,Pſal. 129.7. 1 Pet. 1.23. and this ſeeding is in the earth that they may be gathered into heaven, where the mower ſhall fill his hand and he that bindeth ſheaves his boſom. And although Gods e[illegible: 1 letter]ect lie here for a time under the clo[illegible: 1 letter]s, yet at length they ſhal fructifie, and many ſpring from them by whom the name of Chriſt ſhall be ſo propagated. He ſhall ſee his ſeed, he ſhall prolong his dayes, and the pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand Eſay 53.10.

and I will have mercy upon her] Her unhappy name Lorubamah ſhall be done away, and the contrary come in place. Lo this is as it were the collogue of the Sermon, and it is very comfortable. The Sun of righteouſneſs loves not to ſet in a cloud. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous, yea our God is mercifull. Be it that he is once righteous, yet he is both gracious and mercifull for it. Pſal. 116.5. The Jewes, for their ſeventie years captivity in Babylon, had ſeven ſeventies of yeers (ſet forth by Daniels weeks) granted for the enjoying of their own country. Gods mercie bear the ſame proportion to his puniſhments (when he hath to deal with his elect people) which ſeven a complete number, hath to an unity. This promiſe here made, the Apoſtle teſtifieth Rom. 9.25. to be begun to be fulfilled in his time by the converſion of ſome Jewes, and calling of ſome Gentiles. The full accompliſhment thereof we daily expect and pray for.

and I will ſay to them] that is, I will make them ſo: as when he ſaid to Lazarus come forth of the grave, he brought him forth: together with his word there went forth a power.

and they ſhall ſay] Dicere nſtrum eſt fides et obedientia noſtra, ſaith Pareus here; we ſay thus when we beleeve and obey. There ſhall be reſtored therefore between God and his people, a moſt ſweet harmony, and an intimate conjunction: ſuch as he had before deſcribed to be betwixt himſelf and all the ſecond cauſes, for his Churches ſake; And truly it is never will with us indeed, till the heavens anſwer the earth, till Chriſt the Sun of righteouſneſs ſo ſhine into our hearts, that we melt and comply as here, and as Zach. 13, 9. See the Note.