John Trapp on Hosea 7:16

Verſ. 16. They return but not to the moſt High,] Gnal for Gnelion by contraction: as Jah for Jehovah, ſo afterwards, Chap. 11.7. and 2 Sam. 23.1. Return they do, or ſeem to do at leaſt (for it is their hypocriſie that is here deſcribed) but not to the moſt High: to whom then? to idols, or humane helps, or any thing rather, and ſooner, then to God. Jehu went farre in the work of Reformation, and made a great flaunt at firſt, as if he would have done as much that way, as ever Joſiah did: But he and his people came not up to the height, turned not to the moſt High God, honoured him not as a juſt and jealous God, that can endure no corrivals. They gave the half-turn, but returned not with all their hearts, Joel. 2.12. they turned from weſt to north, but not from weſt to eaſt, to the full counterpoint, ſetting their faces toward God, and having their backs towards their ſins. They had haply a kind of velleity, ſome ſhort-winded wiſhes and wamblings, as I may ſo ſay, but it boyled not up to the full height of a reſolution for God; they made beleeve they would caſt away their tranſgreſſions, but it was but as the mother makes her childe beleeve, that ſhe will caſt him to the puttock or into the water; when as ſhe holds him faſt enough, and means him no hurt at all. Theſe faint eſſayes of returning are not worthy of the moſt High; he delighteth not to be dallied with, but requireth the beſt of the beſt; and that we ſerve him like himſelf, that is, after a godly ſo[illegible: 1 letter]t, or worthy of God, [non-Latin text not transcribed] as Saint Iohn phraſeth it, 3 Ioh. 6. Thus if we do, we ſhall be drawn up to him, [non-Latin text not transcribed] and have cauſe to rejoyce in our ſublimity, or, in that we are exalted, Iam. 1.9. For indeed the moſt High ſtoopeth to the true convert (who conſidering his diſtance repents and abhors himſelf in duſt and aſhes) he dwelleth in the higheſt heavens and loweſt hearts,Job. 42.5. Eſa. 57.17.

They are like a deceitful bow] a rotten bow (though otherwiſe fair) when an arrow is drawn to the head, breaks and deceives the archer. Or thus, when a man ſhoots with a deceitful bow, though he level his eye and his arrow directly to the mark, and thinks with himſelf to hit it; yet indeed the arrow, by reaſon of his deceitfull bow goes a clean contrary way; yea, and ſometimes reflects upon the archer himſelf; ſemblably theſe falſe Iſraelites dealt with God. Their hearts were as the bow, their purpoſes and promiſes to return as arrows; the mark they aimed at converſion; to the which, they, in their afflictions looked with ſo accurate and intent an eye, as though they would repent indeed; but their hearts deceived them as being unſound: hence they ſtarted aſide like a deceitful bow, Pſal. 78.57. and the arrowes of their fair promiſes and pretences vaniſhed in the aire, as ſmoak. Some take the words in another ſenſe, as if puniſhment and diſappointment were here threatned: but I beſt like the former. Let us look to the ſecret warpings of our hearts, and, ſeeing we are Gods bow, Zach. 9.13. let us not be deceitful, &c.

Their princes ſhall fall by the ſword for the rage of their tongue,] and the people with them; for princes fall not alone, as we have ſeen in our late wars, wherein Lords and Loſels fel together not a few at Newbury-fight eſpecially [non-Latin text not transcribed], the ſword devoureth one as well as the other, 2 Sam. 11.25. God hangs up the heads of the people as it were in gibbets, Num. 25.4. their greatneſſe cannot bear them out,Thraſonicae aulicorum Dej erationes ronchi & blaſphemiae in Deum, & Prophetas. Rivet. Philip of Spain. Farneſius. Minerius. nor their life-guards defend them, for the deteſtation of their tongue (ſo ſome read this text) for the hatred that God beareth to them for their blaſphemies and great ſwelling words of vanity, uttered againſt him, his people, and his ordinances. With our tongue, ſay they, we will prevaile, our lips are our own: who is Lord over us? Lo this and worſe is the rage of their tongue: as his, that ſaid he would not leave one Lutheran in his dominions: another, that he would ride his horſe up to the ſaddle in the blood of the Lutherans: a third, that he would ſend them all to dine with the devil, &c. God will cut off the ſpirit of ſuch outragious Princes. They ſhall fall by the ſword, they ſhall be a portion for foxes, Pſal. 63.10. and a deriſion to the Egyptians.

this ſhall be their deriſion in the land of Egypt,] their confederates in whom they truſted; and upon whoſe help bearing themſelves over-bold, they had ſpoken loftily, ſetting their mouthes againſt heaven, and their tongues walked thorow the earth, Pſ. 73.9. Lo, theſe ſhould not onely faile them but jear them; not onely not ſuccour them, but ſcorn them; as the Monarch of Morocco did our King John, that ſent to him for help in the Barons wars. He grew into ſuch diſlike of our king (ſaith the ſtory) that ever after he abhorred the mention of him. Neither met he with better entertainment from the Pope, to whom he baſely ſubmitted and ſurrendred his kingdome. It is better to truſt in the Lord, then to put confidence in Princes. For, Deo confiſi nunquam confuſi, they that truſt in the Lord ſhall never be aſhamed.