Exposition of the 12 Small Prophets, Exposition Hoſea
Hoſea. The ARGUMENT.
THis Prophet was ſent out among the firſt of thoſe whoſe writings are recorded in Scripture, being employed at the ſame time; at firſt with Iſaiah, and then with him and Micah in Judah, and with Amos in Iſrael, as the ſeveral Titles of theſe Prophecies hold forth. Whether Jonah, (the accompliſhment of whoſe prediction we read of in the time wherein Hoſea Propheſied. 2 Kings 14.25.) Propheſied with him, or rather a little before him, I will not determine; but that Prophecie of Jonah, recorded among leſſer Prophets; ſeemeth to have been after Hoſea began. This Prophets Commiſſion is chiefly to Iſrael, and therefore he ſpeaks but little to Judah; and albeit theſe Tribes, after their rent and defection from Davids Family; did alſo make Apoſtaſy from the true Worſhip of God, ſometime following after Baal and other Idols, and conſtantly cleaving to the Calves at Dan and Bethel, erected by Jeroboam; Yet the Lord was pleaſed to ſend extraordinary Prophets unto them, yea, and many of them, (who are mentioned in the Hiſtory of the Kings and Cronicles,) partly to ſupply the want of the ordinary Miniſtery of Prieſts and Levits; partly to keep up ſome face of a Church among them, during the time of his patience toward them, and to invite the body of the people unto repentance; and partly, for the encouragement of the godly among them: If not alſo with relation to their long and ſad captivity which hath ſince followed; it being uſual that there be very faire Sun-blenkes before ſuch a ſtorme; for which as the body of a people are ripened by the abuſe of ſuch mercies, ſo the godly are fortified thereby, to endure them with more patience and hope.
The Commiſſion of this Prophet is delivered partly in Types, Chap. 1, 2, 3 and parlty in expreſſe termes in the reſt of the Book. In the firſt of theſe, he more briefly challengeth them for their ſin, eſpecially Idolatry, denounceth judgements againſt them, and foretels their rejection; and yet comforts the godly with predictions of Goſpel-mercies, and particularly with promiſes of the converſion of that Nation, and of Gods renewing the Covenant with them after their long rejection and ſequeſtration. In the ſecond, he doth more at large proſecute Gods Controverſie againſt Iſrael, eſpecially in ſharp accuſations, and ſad ſentences for the many hainous iniquities, committed both by private and publick perſons, againſt both firſt and ſecond Tables of the Law: His Scope in all, which is to invite them to repentance, and if they continued obſtinate, that God might be juſtified in his judgements, and they rendered inexcuſable. This taske he performes in ſuch ſharp and conciſe termes, as might teſtifie how his heart filled with zeal and love to God, ſtood affected to their way; and with very little intimation of any hope of future merciemercy, till towards the end, wherein he brings forth Gods purpoſe of love, and in the very cloſe ſummeth up all with Evangelical, and ample promiſes to them.