John Trapp on Hosea 9:15

Verſ. 15. All their wickedneſſe is in Gilgal,] We have had the prophets prayer: Followes now the Lords anſwer in this and the following verſe, where we have the former threats repeated, to ſhew that God was unchangeably reſolved upon their ruine; and that firſt for their Idolatry, ſecondly, for their other vile practiſes, thirdly, for the apoſtaſie of their Princes: All this here. Their Idolatry was the worſe, becauſe committed at Gilgal, where God had done much for their forefathers: See the Note above on Chap. 4.15. The quality of the place addes much to the greatneſſe of the ſinne, Eſay. 26. In the land of uprightneſſe they will deal unjuſtly, Eſay. 25.10. the faithfull city is become an harlot, Eſay. 1.21. Eſay. 5.7. he looked for judgement, but behold a ſcab, The devil deſireth to ſet up himſelf in ſuch places, as have been formerly eminent for Gods ſincere ſervice, as Gilgal once was, 1 Sam. 10.8. and 11.15. for the ark of the covenant was there, which theſe Idolaters had not. So in the holy land, (as they ſtill call it) which is poſſeſſed by Mahometans, and Papiſts: So Wittenberg, where Luther firſt began to reform, is now deformed by divers errours and hereſies, as Polanus obſerveth. Wilkinſon againſt the Familiſts reports the like of Colcheſter in Eſſex.

For there I hated them,] Angry I was with them before, and grieved for their other miſdoings: but their idolatry hath enraged me with an holy hatred of them, and that there, where I ſhewed greateſt love to their ſorefathers. God thinks the worſe of ſuch places wherein Idolaters reſt and rooſt: like as he thinks the better of the towns and houſes, where his faithful ſervants inhabit, as Eſay. 49.16. their wals are ever before him.

For the wickedneſſe of their doings I will drive them out,] Revenge and expulſion is the next effect of hatred. There is a great deal of other wicked doings, where idolatry (that wickedneſſe with a witneſſe as it is here ſtiled) is ſet up. Surely of this abominable thing we may well ſay as Saint James doth of diſcord; where envying and ſtrife is, there is confuſion and every evil work, Jam. 3.16. But God will not endure ſuch doings in his houſe: David would not in his, Pſal. 101. Solomon entertained Jeroboam into his houſe & ſervice, becauſe he ſaw the young man was meet for the work, 1 King. 11.28. but he proved a miſchief to and againſt his houſe. Many now adayes ſcruple not to entertain and harbour ſuch as are ſerviceable, though otherwiſe their religion be either a popiſh puppet and calf worſhip, or a flat irreligion. Theſe have little of God in them.

I will drive them out of mine houſe, ſaith he, I will love them no more,] A fearful ſentence, like that Jer. 16.13. I will ſhew them no favour: this was worſe to them, then their captivity there threatened. Ephraim had a great deal of outward peace and proſperity, but love they had none; becauſe none of thoſe graces that flow from election, and accompany ſalvation. Theſe are Gods love-tokens, that all muſt court: But oh I take heed (ſaith one) if thou add'ſt any more to thy wickedneſſes, leſt that this dreadful ſentence be pronounced in heaven againſt thee, I will love thee no more, Heb. I will adde no more to love thee.

All their Princes are revolters,] Col ſarehem ſorerim, an elegancy paſt engliſhing. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Dan. Hiſt. of Eng. fol. 207. the Princes were all rebellious and refractary, uncounſellable, unperſwadable (as the Seventy render it) like that king of Scotland that would ſeldom ask counſel, but never follow any: ſo wedded he was to his own will. Elati ſuperbiâ volebani ſuperiores eſſe verbo, ſaith Luther upon this text. Jeroboam-like they would ſtretch out their hand againſt a prophet, that ſhould crie againſt their altars,1 Kin. 13.4. and deal plainly with them, as Hoſea here doth: teſtifying to their faces that they were all Apoſtates, and made Iſrael ſin. Princes ſhould be the Lord-keepers of both tables of the Law; as it was written upon the ſword of Charles the Great:Decem praceptorum cuſtos Carolur. But when they are naught, as here, the people take after them. Principis vita cenſura eſt & cynoſura.