An Exposition of Hosea 4-7, Table of contents – Biblical commentary 2
THE CONTENTS
CHAP. VI.
VERS. I.
Obſerv. 1.
WHen Gods time of mercy is come, He puts a ſpirit of ſeeking into men Page 531
Obſ. 2 A joynt turning to God is very honorable Ibid
Obſ. 3 Times of mercy are joyning times Page 532
Obſ. 4 A true penitent heart ſeeks to get others to joyn with him. ibid
Obſ. 5 A penitent heart retains good thoughts of God in time of ſuffering ibid
Obſ. 6 A penitent heart is not diſcouraged Page 534
Obſ. 7 When God intends good to a people, he leaves them intimation of his love Page 536
Obſ. 8. Apprehenſion of merciemercy cauſes the heart to turn Page 537
Obſ. 9 The Saints make their healing not a fruit of their returning but of Gods mercy ib.
VERS. II.
Opened Page 538
Obſ. 1 Gods own people may lie for dead in their own eyes. Page 540
Uſe 1 Do not draw dark concluſions from Gods dealing ibid
Uſe 2 Be not impatient in prayer Page 541
Obſ. 2 Gods reviving his people is not long in Gods, nor the Saints eyes Page 542
Obſ. 3 Faith makes Gods reviving real in the ſaddeſt condition ibid
Obſ. 4 Mercies after two daies death are reviving mercies. Page 544
Obſ. 5 The real ſight of deliverance puts the ſoul upon returning Page 547
Obſ. 6 The apprehenſion of the death and reſurrection of Chriſt is a ſpecial help to faith in affliction Page 549
Obſ. 7 When God grants mercies he would have his people to be of lively ſpirits Page 549
Obſ. 8 When God is reconciled to a people his face is towards them ibid
Obſ. 9 The eye of God upon his people is their ſafety Page 550
Obſ. 10 Gods peoples life conſiſts in Gods favor ib.
Obſ. 11 Faith raiſeth the ſoul high ibid
Obſ. 12 It is the care of the Saints to walk as in Gods ſight Page 551
VERS. III.
Obſ. 1. True penitents turn to God that they may know God. Page 554
Obſ. 2 No man can turn to God but as Gods face is towards him Page 555
Obſ. 3 The knowledg of God is a very comfortable thing to the Saints. ibid
Obſ. 4 The more men turn to God the more they ſhall know of him ibid
Obſ. 5 Thoſe that know ſomthing of God deſire to know more. Page 556
Obſ. 6 A gracious heart endeavors ſtrongly after the knowledg of God ibid
Obſ. 7 It is a bleſſed thing for a man to take notice of Gods revealings Page 557
Obſ. 8 Thoſe that follow on to know God ſhall know more of him ib.
Obſ. 9 One mercy makes way for another Page 558
Obſ. 10 The times of Gods delivery is in the morning Page 561.
Obſ. 11 The Church hath no afflictions but there comes a morning after them ibid
Obſ. 12 It is Gods preſence that makes the morning to the Saints ibid
Obſ. 13. Gods mercies to his people are prepared and decreed Page 562
Obſ. 14 The Saints in affliction comfort themſelves that morning is coming ibid
Obſ. 15 The Saints night is darkeſt a little before their deliverance ibid
Obſ. 16 Gods delivery is by degrees ibid
Obſ. 17 Gods deliverance is like rain to the corn. ibid
Obſ. 18 Gods mercies to his people are ſeaſonable and ſutable Page 563
Uſe, Let us be ſeaſonable in duty Page 565
Obſ. 19 When God hath begun with mercy to his people he will go on Page 566
Uſe, Let us do ſo with God in obedience ibid
Obſ. 20 Gods mercies to his people procure much good ib.
Obſ. 21 Gods peoples deliverance comes from heaven ib.
Obſ. 22 Gods peoples deliverance cannot be hindred Page 567
Obſ. 23 We ſhould make a ſpiritual uſe of Gods works in his creatures. ibid
VERS. IV.
Obſ. 1 God doth not willingly grieve men Page 569
Obſ. 2 We ſhould not think much to loſe our pains with others ibid
Obſ. 3 It it a ſpeceal means to humble men to conſider what means hath been uſed to do them good Page 570
Obſ. 4 God many times ſeems to be in a ſtraight what to do with men ib.
Obſ. 5 The condition of people is ſad when no means will do them good Page 572
Obſ. 6 It goes nigh the heart of God to ſee men perverſe ibid
Obſ. 7 For a man to make good beginnings and let them fall, is grievous to God and dangerous to a mans ſelf Page 581
Grievous to God
1 Becauſe God is holy Page 582
2 He is unchangable ib.
3 It ſtifles the conceptions of the ſpirit ibid
4 Such people cannot be truſted ibid
5 There is no fear of God before their eyes ibid
6 It pollutes Gods Name. ib.
7 Religion is looked upon by ſuch, as a thing indifferent ibid
8 They never had good beginnings ibid
Dangerous to a mans ſelf.
1 Becauſe we loſe many opportunities Page 583
2 We ſhall never grow to any eminency ibid
3 It hardens the heart. ibid
4 It aggravates ſin ibid
5 It ſpoils the acception of our ſervices ibid
6 It damps our hearts in duty ibid
Means to perſevere.
1 Truſt not in ſuddain flaſhes Page 584
2 Get your hearts off from earthly engagements. Page 585
3 Take heed of ſecret ſins ib.
4. Take often accompt of your hearts ib
5 Never truſt your hearts after reviving ib.
6 Humble your ſelves after good deſires Page 586
7 Reſt not in beginnings Page 587
VERS. V
Obſ. 1 When God comes againſt falſe Prophets, he looks the people ſhould not be led by them. Page 588
Obſ. 2 Inconſtancy in Religion provokes Gods anger Page 592
Obſ. 3 Many mens hearts are like knotty timber Page 593
Obſ. 4 Gods Miniſters are hewers ibid
Obſ. 5 When Miniſters hew, God hews Page 594
Obſ. 6 Gods Miniſters are Gods tools Page 595
Obſ. 7 Gods Miniſters are Gods mouth Page 596
Obſ. 8 The Word of God is of great power ibid
Obſ. 9 Gods judgments lie dark when men go on in a proſperous way of ſinning Page 597
Obſ. 10 God hath his time to puniſh openly ibid
Obſ. 11 God will have his time to convince men ibid
Obſ. 12. Gods judgements are gradual ibid
Obſ. 13. The more powerful the Miniſtry is, the more ſharp ſhall the judgment be if deſpiſed. Page 598
VERS. VI.
Opened Page 600
Objections anſwered Page 601
Obſ. 1 Carnal hearts are verie cruel in their dealings Page 614
Obſ. 2 Carnal hearts think to ſatisfie their conſciences by obſerving outward Ordinances ibid
Obſ. 3 God and mens conſciences will not be put off ibid
Obſ. 4 The Lord hath an higheſteem of mercy Page 615
Obſ. 5 It is a Chriſtians skill, when two duties come together, which to chuſe ibid
Obſ 6. If Gods Worſhip may be forborn in caſe of mercy; how much more mens Inſtitutions. ibid
Obſ. 7 God will have mercy rather than deſputing about ſacrifice Page 616
Obſ. 8 Mercy muſt be preferred before our own wils Page 617
Objections anſwered Page 619
Obſ. 9 The duties of the firſt and ſecond Table are joyned together ibid
Uſe, Inſtruct your children and ſervants in this knowledge Page 620
Obſ. 10 Men may be very diligent in worſhip and yet very ignorant ibid
Obſ. 11. Soul-worſhip muſt be preferred before all other. ibid
VERS. VII
Obſ. 1 It is Gods goodneſs that He enters into covenant with ſuch poor creatures as we are Page 623
Obſ. 2. God is conſtant in His Covenant with men. ibid
Obſ. 3 Mans nature is very weak Page 624
Obſ. 4 The apprehenſion of our obligation ſhould keep us within covenant ibid
Obſ. 5 Breach of covenant is a grievous agravation of ſin ib.
Obſ. 6 God expects that of His people which every one cannot do. Page 625
Obſ. 7 Men may do many ſervices and yet be Covenant breakers ibid
Obſ. 8. The ſins of Saints which break Covenant are ſins of a double dye ibid
Obſ. 9. The want of the right knowledg of God is the cauſe of breach of Covenant ib.
Obſ. 10 There can be no Covenant kept where there is no mercy. Page 626
Obſ. 11. We ſhould be humbled becauſe we break Covenant with God ibid
VERS. VIII.
Obſ. 1 Through mans wickedneſs the beſt of Gods Ordinances ar corrupted Page 628
Obſ. 2 We muſt not judg of places as they have been heretofore ibid
Obſ. 3 Places of Religion, if corrupted, are the worſt of all others ibid
Obſ. 4 It is abominable to be a worker of iniquity ibid
Obſ. 5 Clergie men (if wicked) are the worſt of all others ib.
Obſ. 6 Wicked Clergie men overthrow whol Nations Page 629
Obſ. 7 Falſe worſhip and tyranny are joyned together ibid
Obſ. 8 None ſo cruel as Clergie men ibid
VERS. IX.
Obſ. 1 Wicked Miniſters are moſt outragious againſt thoſe that leave them Page 630
Obſ. 2 Wicked Miniſters wait to do miſchief ibid
Obſ. 3 Many men are neereſt undoing when moſt ſecure ibid
Obſ. 4 Wicked men abuſe the eſteem others have of them ib.
Obſ. 5 Judges are leaſt called to an accompt for wrongs ib.
Obſ. 6. None plot miſchief ſo much as Clergie men Page 631
Obſ. 7 Plotted wickedneſs is moſt vile ibid
VERS. X.
Obſ. 1 Idolatry is a horrible ſin Page 632
VERS. XI.
Obſ, 1 The ſins of the people are ſeeds for a harveſt of judgment Page 635
Obſ. 2 God hath a ſet time for judgment ibid
Obſ. 3 In judgment the Lord remembers mercy for his people ibid
CHAP. VII.
VERS. I.
Obſ. 1 In great Cities there is all manner of evils Page 637
Obſ. 2 The ſins of a Kingdom are the ſores of a Kingdom. Page 638
Obſ. 3 The Lord is the healer of a Kingdom Page 639
Obſ. 4 God doth not will things according to his omnipotency Page 640
Obſ. 5 Much wickedneſs lies hid many times in a Kingdom Page 641
Englands wickedneſs.
1 Bitterneſs againſt the power of godlineſs Page 641
2 A ſordid ſpirit. Page 642
3 A trtacherous ſpirit ibid
4 A blaſphemous ſpirit ib.
5 A bloody ſpirit ib.
6 A ſpirit of diviſion ib.
7 An oppreſſing ſpirit Page 643
8 A ſpirit of envy ib.
9 A ſpirit of ſuperſtition ib.
10 A wanton ſpirit ib.
11 An unmerciful ſpirit ib.
Obſ. 6 It is a forerunner of miſchief when people are falſe in their relations Page 647
Obſ. 7 There is much ſecret wickedneſs in men of falſe Religions ib.
VERS. II.
Obſ. 1 It is a good thing to be often ſpeaking with ones own heart Page 648
Obſ. 2 God remembers wickedneſs a long time. Page 649
Obſ. 3 Wicked men conſider not that God remembers their wickedneſs ib.
Obſ. 4 When God puniſheth ſin be manifeſteth that he remembers it Page 650
VERS. III.
Obſ. 1 Wicked people are eaſily led aſide by their Governors Page 655
Obſ. 2. Governors ought not to be obeyed when their comands are unlawful. ibid
Obſ. 3 It is a vile wickedneſs to flatter Princes Page 653
Obſ. 4 It is a vile thing to be made glad with wickedneſs Page 654
Obſ. 5 That King is in a ſad condition when his ends muſt be accompliſhed by wickedneſs ibid
Obſ. 6 Idolatry is a lye in Gods account Page 656
Obſ. 7 Idolaters further their worſhip with lyes ibid
Obſ. 8 It is an evil thing to make men glad with lyes. Page 657
VERS. IV.
Opened and applied Page 658
VERS. V
Obſ. 1 Feſtival daies are uſually diſtempering daies Page 662
Obſ. 2 Drunkenneſſe is an old Court ſin Page 663
Obſ. 3 Drunkenneſſe breeds diſeaſes ibid
Obſ. 4 Senſual Courtiers are for the moſt part great ſcorners Page 666
Obſ. 5 Times of feaſting are times of contemning Religion ibid
Obſ. 6 The right way of worſhip is ſlighted by carnal hearts. ib.
Obſ. 7 When Kings hearts are againſt Relegion, they ſhall never want peſtilent wits to further their deſigns Page 667
VERS. VI.
Obſ. 1 God will be hot in judgment as men are hot in ſin. Page 668
VERS. VII.
Obſ. When Governors ſet up falſe worſhip it ſhould quicken our prayers Page 670
VERS. VIII.
Opened Page 673
VERS IX.
Obſ. 1 The hearts of wicked men work ſtrongly after their luſts
VERS. X.
Obſ. 1 God expects we ſhould turn upon afflictions Page 679
Obſ. 2 Afflictions if not ſanctified never turn the heart ib.
Obſ. 3 Not to turn in Affliction is a great aggravation of ſin ibid
VERS. XI.
Obſ. 1 Men are not excuſed though ſeduced by others. Page 680
VERS. XII.
Obſ. 1 It is juſt that thoſe which go out of Gods way ſhould be enſnared Page 682
Obſ. 2 God may for a time let wicked men proſper in their waies Page 685
Obſ. 3 Sinners had need regard what they hear out of Gods Word Page 684
Obſ. 4. When judgements come upon impenitent ſinners, 'tis an humbling conſideration ib.
VERS. XIII.
Obſ. 1 Gods redeeming mercies are great aggravations of our ſins Page 687
Obſ. 2 Such as ſin freely after deliverance give God the ly. ib.
Obſ. 3 For a man to urge another to a falſe opinion is a lying againſt God. ibid
Obſ. 4. The great evil of ſin is that it is againſt God ibid
Obſ. 5. The more directly a ſin is againſt God, the greater is the ſin. Page 688
VERS. XIV.
Opened Page 689
Obſ. 1 The vileſt men will aſſemble to prayer in publick miſeries Page 691
Obſ. 2 When hypocrites aſſemble, 'tis for themſelves, not for God ibid
Obſ. 3 Hypocrites ſeek God more for ſenſual things than for others ibid
VERS. XV.
Obſ. 1 It is God only can bind up broken arms Page 693
Obſ. 2 To be ſinful after mercies is a great aggravation of ſin. ibid
Obſ. 3 It is an excellent thing to glorifie God after ſtrength is reſtored ibid
Obſ. 4 A true repenting ſinner ſhould have God alwaies before his eyes Page 605
For then:
1 He would be ſerious ibid
2 He would abhor himſelf ib.
3 He would ſee the infinite evil of ſin ibid
4 There is no ſtanding out againſt God ibid
5 God is worthy of all he can do. ibid
6 Slight ſorrow will not ſerve the turn Page 696
7 God hath power to raiſe the ſoul ibid
8 There is enough in God to make him bleſſed. ib.