John Trapp on Hosea 5:3

Verſ. 3. I know Ephraim and Iſrael is not hid from me] Thoſe that by Ephraim underſtand the Princes, and by Iſrael the common people etiam hoc operae addant, et illud ex ſcriptura probent, ſaith Tarnovius, let them prove what they ſay by Scripture, and we will ſay with them: Till then we take them for Synonima's. An hypocritical nation they were Iſai. 9.17. and Athieſtically they thought, by hiding God from themſelves, to hide themſelves from God. Hear them elſe Chap. 12.8. And Ephraim ſaid, yet I am become rich, I have found me out ſubſtance; In all my labour they ſhall finde none iniquity in me: that were ſin, that were an hainous buſineſs, that iniquity ſhould be found in them, though they were a people laden with iniquity. But I know them through and through, intus et in cute ſaith God,Iſai. 1. I am privy to all their plots and policies. And although they are profound to make ſlaughter (Tindall reades it, They kill ſacrifices on heapes to deceive) yet let not them be deceived, I am not mocked. They muſt not think to put me off with ſhewes and ſhadowes: to colour and cover their baſe ſpirits and vile ends with ſpecious pretences. For I ſearch the hearts, and try the reines: neither is there any creature (no not the creature of the heart, the thoughts and intentions) that is not manifeſt in his ſight: but all things are naked and open (naked for the outſide, [non-Latin text not transcribed] Tectus clathratum. Luc. and open for the inſide; the Greek word ſignifieth diſſected, quartered, and as it were cleft through the back-bone) before the eyes of him with whom we have to deal. Heb. 4.13. Indeed he is all eye; and every man before God is all window: ſo that no man needeth a window in his breaſt (as the Heathen Momus wiſht) for God to look in at. For his eyes are upon the wayes of man: and he ſeeth all his goings. There is no darkneſſe nor ſhadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelves Job. 24.21.22. His eyes behold, his eye-lids try the children of men Pſal. 11.4. the former points out his knowledge, the later his critical deſcant. David Pſal. 139. findeth God not onely at his finger ends, but at his tongues end too verſ. 4. His knowledge ſtayes not here in the porch or lobbyes, but paſſeth into the preſence, yea privy-chamber ver. 2. yea my thoughts in poſſe before I think them. Deus intimo noſtro nobis intimior. The word is to God a ſea of glaſſe Rev. 4 6. a clear tranſparent body: and his eyes are as a flaming fire Reu. 1.14. which needs no outward light, becauſe it ſeeth extramittendo by ſending out a ray;Pſal. 139.12. ſo that the night ſhineth as the day, the darkneſſe and the light are both alike to him. What wonder therefore though he know Ephraim, and Iſrael is not hid from him? And how ſhould this both humble them (for which cauſe it is here urged) and caution them for the future, as it did that holy man, who had written upon the walls and windowes of his ſtudy theſe verſes, Ne pecces, Deus ipſe videt, bonns Angelus aſtat, Accuſat ſatanas, et lex, mens conſcia culpae, &c.

For now O Ephraim thou committeſt whoredom and Iſrael is defiled] in body and ſoul,Eph. 4.19. ruſhing into all impiety without reſtraint: working all uncleanneſs with greedineſs: being filled withall unrighteouſneſs, fornication wickedneſs, covetouſneſs, maliciouſneſs: full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, &c. Rom. 1.29.30. All theſe evil things come from within and defile a man Mar. 7.23. worſe then any leproſie, worſe then the vomit of a dog, or the mire of a ſwine. It is the pollution of fleſh and ſpirit, 2 Cor. 7.1. it is the putrefaction of a dead carcaſe, the ſanies of a plague-ſore, the devils excrement, and that which defileth far worſe then that which is caſt into the draught. Mar. 7.21. It ſets defilement upon our ſelves, others, the whole land, Jer. 3.1. yea upon the viſible heavens, which muſt therefore be purged by that laſt fire. And this was typified by thoſe many Leviticall waſhings and purification of garments, veſſels, perſons, &c. Waſh you therefore, make you clean put away the evil of your doings &c. Eſay 1.16. Waſh thy heart from wickedneſs O Jeruſalem, [illegible: 1 word] hands onely as Pilate, though thoſe too, Jam. 4.8. Jer. 4.14. Cleanſe your ſelves from all filthineſs of fleſh and ſpirit, 2 Cor. 17.1. Of the fleſh that is, fleſhly luſts and groſs evils, as uncleanneſs, earthly mindedneſs, or Of ſpirit, that is, thoſe more ſpirituall luſts that lie more up in the heart of the countrey, ſuch as are pride, creature-confidence, ſelf-deceit, preſumption, &c. Out with all theſe: there's both a ſtain and a ſting in them. Run to the Bath of Chriſts blood, that bleſſed fountain, Zech. 13.1. and there waſh and be clean. Look not upon Gods Jordan with Syrian eyes, as Naaman did. Abanah and Pharphar may waſh and ſcoure: but Jordan is for cure. And if God ſee fit to Iay us a froſting, to fetch out our filth, yea or caſt into the fire to take away our defilements, let us be contented.