mercifull unto our sinnes and allay his anger as it is in this text Therefore it is said Those that know thy name will trust in thee Psal 9.10 for thou never failest those who put their trust in thee Let us then open our hearts unto God and confesse our sinnes unto him and if wee resolve amendment wee shall finde the truth of his gratious promises hee will turne aside his anger and will never faile us if wee put our trust in him Pro. 18.10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous fly to it and are safe This name of mercy grace and favour is a strong tower to distressed consciences let us therefore remember to fly unto it when our consciences are awaked and distressed with sinne and sence of Gods displeasure Seeing these kinds of promises are as a citie of refuge let us runne unto them and wee shall not bee puld from the hornes of this altar as Ioab once was from his but shall at all times finde grace and mercy to helpe us at the time of neede it is a comfortable Point Mine anger is turned away from him Quest But it may bee said How is Gods anger turned away from his children when they feele it oft-times after in the course of their lives Answ The answer is that there is a double Anger of God whereby wee must judge of things for either it is 1. Vindicative or Anger 2. Fatherly Anger God after our first conversion he remooveth his Vindicative anger How anger felt may yet be said to be removed after which though sometimes hee threaten and frowne upon us yet it is with a Fatherly anger which God also removes with the shame and correction attending it when wee reforme and amend our wicked wayes There is 1. A Child of Anger 2. A Child under Anger Gods Children are never children of wrath and anger after their first conversion but sometimes children under wrath if they make bold with sinne so as they cannot use their right of sonship to go boldly to the throne of grace because then though they have the right of sons they conceive of God as angry with them and cannot use it so long as they live in any sinne against conscience and so continue untill they reforme and humble themselves as the Church doth heere after which they can and doe rejoyce againe claime their right and are not either children of wrath or under wrath David after he had sinned that foule sinne was a child under wrath not a child of wrath So if wee make bold to sinne we are children under wrath for oft-times God begins correction at his owne house 1 Pet. 4 17. Num 20.12 2 Sam. 24.1 1 Cor. 11.30 if there be any disorder there You know God was so angry with Moses that he was not suffered to enter into the land of Canaan And David when he had numbred the people God was angry with him and with the Corinthians also for unreverent receiving of the Lords-supper But here is a course prescribed to remove his fatherly anger and to enjoy the beames of his countenance and Sun-shine of his favour in Christ if we humble our selves confesse our sinnes and fly unto him as the Church heere doth then we shall finde this made good For mine Anger is turned away from him But it may be asked Quest In times of affliction how may wee know Gods Anger to bee remooved when yet wee endure the affliction Answ The answer is that God is infinitely wise and in one affliction hath many ends as 1. When he afflicts them it is to correct them for their sinnes after which when they have puld out the sting of sinne by confession and humiliation if afflictions continue his anger doth not continue 2. Affliction sometimes is for an exercise of Patience and Faith and tryall of their graces and for the exemplarie manifestation to others of Gods goodnesse to them But even then they may know that things come not in anger unto them by this How to know afflictions are not in wrath though they continue that after Repentance God speakes peace unto their conscience so that though the grievance continue it is with much joy in the Holy Ghost and peace of conscience in which case the soule knowes that it is for other ends that God continues it Therefore the first thing in any affliction is to remoove away the coare and sting thereof by humbling our selves as the Church here doth After which our consciences will be at peace for other things God hath many ends in correcting us he will humble us improove our afflictions to the good of others and will gaine himselfe honour by our afflictions sufferings Rom 5.5 and crosses When God hath shed abroad his love in our hearts by his Spirit then wee can rejoyce in tribulation and rejoyce under hope though the affliction continue because the sting is gone anger is remooved For mine anger is turned away from him The last Point we observe from hence and gather from all these generall truths is this Observ Where there is not Humiliation for sinne and hearty Prayer to God with reformation of our wayes flying unto God for mercy who is mercifull to the Fatherlesse there Gods wrath continues For as where they are performed his anger is turned away so must it needs follow that where they are not performed his anger continueth Therefore let us examine our selves The Spirit of God here speakes of healing backeslidings and of turning away iniquity let us looke well to our selves and to the present state of things that our diseases be soundly cured our personall diseases and then let us be sensible of the diseases of the land and pray for them for there are universall diseases and sinnes of a kingdome as well as personall And we are guilty of the sinnes of the times as farre as we are not humbled for them Paul tels those who did not punish the incestuous person 1 Cor. 5.2 Why are yee not humbled rather for this deed Where there is a publicke disease there is a publicke anger hanging over upon that disease the cure whereof is here prescribed to be humbled as for our selves so for others Therefore let us beware of sinne if we would shun wrath especially of Idolatry or els we shall be sure to smart for it as Ephraim did of whom the Spirit of God saith When Ephraim spake trembling Hos 13.1 he exalted himselfe in Israel but when he offended in Baall he dyed Ephraim had got such authority what with his former victories and by the signes of Gods favour among them that when he spake there was trembling and he exalted himselfe in Israel But when he offended once in Baall that is when he became an Idolater he dyed It is meant of the civill death especially that he lost his former credit and reputation We see then the dangerous effects of sinne especially of Idolatrie wherfore let us
RIC SIBBS S THEOL D AVL KATHARINAE CANTAB MAG NEC NON HOSPITIO GRAI A S CONCIONIBVS Aetat Suae 58. THE RETVRNING BACKSLIDER OR A COMMENTARIE upon the whole XIIII Chapter of the Prophecy of the Prophet HOSEA Wherein is shewed the large extent of GODS free Mercy even unto the most miserable forlorne and wretched sinners that may be upon their Humiliation and Repentance Preached by that Learned and Judicious Divine Dr. SIBBS late Preacher to the Honourable Society of Grayes Inne and Master of Katherine Hall in CAMBRIDGE Published by his owne Permission before his Death JEREM. 3. 10 11. Goe and Proclaime these words towards the North and say Returne thou Backsliding Israel saith the LORD and I will not cause mine Anger to fall upon you for I am mercifull saith the LORD and I will not keepe Anger for ever Onely acknowledge thine Iniquity c. LONDON Printed by G. M for George Edwards in the Old Baily in Greene-Arbour at the signe of the Angell MDCXXXIX To the Reader GOod Reader this Treatise begs the favour of those concerning whom especially it is said Christ came for poore trembling siners the blind the prisoners of hope such who by the assiduity iteration and multitude of Satans discouragements temptations sit as it were in darknes in the valley of death to whom every sowre thing is sweet Because these most of all relish and stand in need of mercy for when the least flame of that unsupportable wrath breakes forth in shew which is powred out like fire and kindled by the breath of the Lord of Hostes like a river of brimstone which can make the mountaines quake the hils melt burne up the earth and all that is therein the poore soule for the time thinking on nothing but blackenesse and darkenesse of tempest whilst by past sinnes without sight of the Mediator stares them in the face with millions of unconceiveable horrors and astonishments then to see light in darknesse Mercy in wrath the Sun-shine of righteousnesse a gratious God appeased by a Mediator with some sight and sense of its interest therin this must needs overjoy the troubled soule which is the maine subject of this booke how gratious God is to encourage miserable sinners to returne what incouragements and helps hee gives them what effects his gratious working hath in them and how sweetly they close with him againe Wherefore though this messe comes not unto thee set forth in a Lordly dish not having passed since the preaching thereof under the exquisite hand of the most worthy Author yet despise it not for many times though things of greater judgement affect the understanding most yet things of lesser concisenesse worke more upon the affections in a plaine flowing way which happinesse with all other felicities he wisheth thee who is ever Thine in the best bonds J H. THE SVMME OF THIS TREATISE THE time when Hosea prophesied pag. 2. The people of God are exhorted to repentance by many motives pag. 3. Gods answer to their petitions pag. 4. God comes not suddenly upon his children but gives them warning pag. 6. Which ariseth from the goodnesse of his nature pag. 7. Spirituall meanes best for preventing judgments pag. 7. In returning to God there must be a stop pag. 8. Humiliation what it is pag. 9. Resolution what it is pag. 9. How to know the truth of our Humiliation pag. 10. Where there is a falling into sinne there will be a falling into misery pag 12 c. God is willing to be at peace with us pag. 16. In all our distresses we must come to God in praier pag. 17 18 c. Why we must bring words with us though God knowes our mind pag. 22. That words and purposes must concurre in prayer pag. 23. Confession how it is to be made pag. 24. Why all iniquity is to be praid against pag. 25. The tryall of a sound desire pag. 26. Mercy begged above all pag. 27. Whether we ought not to thinke of our former sins pag. 28. How we may know our sinnes are forgiven pag. 29 c. The misery of those that have not their sinnes forgiven pag. 32. Gods favours are compleate to his children pag. 33. The loadstone of the soule is good pag. 34 c. How we may know blessings come from the love of God pag. 37 38 c. The use of vowes pag. 42 c. of a broken heart pag. 45 c What the sacrifice of praise is pag. 48 49. Why lips are mentioned for praise pag. 50. Helps to praise God pag. 51 52 Doubting kils thankefulnesse pag. 53. Assurance is the nurse of thanksgiving pag. 54. We should take advantage of our dispositions pa. 59. Incouragements to praise God pag 60 c. How to know when praise is accepted pag. 63. Reformation must be joyned with prayer pag. 66. True repentance is of the particular sin pag. 67 68 c. The creature cannot helpe of it selfe pag. 71 c. We are not to place our confidence in forces at home or abroad pag. 77. Warre is lawfull pag. 78 79. How we shall know when we exceed in confidence in the creature pag. 80 81. Boasting is Idolatry pag. 82 83. The danger of carnall confidence pag. 84. The emptinesse of the creature pag 85 c Men naturally prone to Idolatry pag. 92 93 c. Bitternesse of sinne causeth repentance pag. 99 100 101. Our affiance ought not to be upon the creature but upon God pag. 102. What Religion is pag. 103 104. Why the world hates Christians pag. 105. Mercy a most sweet object pag. 106 107 c. Why God shewes mercy to the distressed pag. 110 111 c. Worldlinesse to be hated pag. 115 116 c. How to retort Satans pollicy in our extreamity pag. 119. Where God gives a spirit of prayer he will answer pag. 126 127. Why we should come before God in prayer pag. 128 129. That Gods Church and Children are prone to backesliding pag. 131 c. How shall we know we are sicke of this pag. 134 c. Repentance not to be delayed pag. 139. Want of conviction makes us carelesse pag. 150 151 152. God is willing to save us pag 143 c. The scope of the new Covenant pag. 149. The greatest sinne is to deny God the glory of his Mercy pag. 150. An incouragement to search our sins deepely pag. 151 c. How to know God hath pardoned our sins pag. 156 157 158. Why carnall men are so quiet pag. 159. How to know the pardon of sin pag. 160. Why God suffers infirmities pag. 161 c. Why the soule must be humbled pag. 165. How God loves freely pag. 172 173 c. Gods anger against sinne pag. 183 184 c. Repentance turnes away Gods anger pag. 188 189. c. How anger felt may be remooved pag. 193. How to know afflictions are not in wrath though continued pag 195 196 197. That God hath a salve for every sore pag. 202. Gods love is
God Doe good to us spirituall that needs no limitation because wee cannot more honour God then to depend upon him for all spirituall good things Thou art wiser and knowest what is good for us better then we our selves beggars ought to be no choosers therefore Doe good to us for the particulars wee leave them to thy wisedome O Beloved it is a happy and blessed priviledge to be under the conduct of so wise and All-sufficient a God who is good and as hee is good knowes best what is good for us We would have riches liberty and health I but it may bee it is not good for us Doe good to us Thou Lord knowest what is best doe in thine owne wisedome what is best Vse Which should teach us not to limit the Holy one of Israel in our desires of any outward thing whatsoever Especially desire forgivenesse and spirituall good things leaving the rest to his wise disposing Yet notwithstanding out of the sense of paine and griefe wee may pray either for the mitigation or remooving of a crosse if God bee so pleased because hee hath put in us selfe-love not sinnefull but love of preserving our nature therefore he permits us if it may stand with his good pleasure to desire the good of our outward man as Lord give us bodily health for we cannot else bee instruments of serving thee With reservation of Gods good pleasure wee may desire such and such things conditionally that when we see God will have it otherwise we rest contented sit downe quietly knowing that whatsoever health sicknesse or crosses hee sends it comes from his goodnesse and love and shall turne to our good at length if wee love God all shall worke for good Take away our iniquity and doe us good wee should make this petition for the Church and our selves pardon our sinnes and doe good to us to our persons to the state to the times wherein we live to the Church at home and abroad doe good to all How to know when blessings enjoyed come from Gods love Anâ— we may observe this from the order and know what good wee have it comes from God in love when it comes after forgivenesse of sinnes How then may wee take comfort of all the good things we have enjoyed having seene many good daies enjoyed many good blessings in health wealth good Magistracie Ministery Peace plenty and the like If all this goodnesse of God leade us to God and draw us neerer unto him after forgivenesse of sinnes grounded on the former evidences I spake of then they come in love But never let us thinke to have true comfort with a blessing or any good thing we enjoy till wee have assurance of Gods love and mercy in the forgivenesse of sinnes least God strip us naked of all the good things wee have and make us as naked as Dives in Hell who had not any thing that was good to refresh his body or soule So that all good things wee enjoy here without this will onely aggravate our condemnation Let us observe therefore how all our good things are joyned with spirituall good whether wee our selves are made better by them or not having our sinnes pardoned I beseech you let us renew our requests for forgivenesse of sinnes every day making our accounts even with God desiring grace to set our soules in a holy and sanctified frame with God that our selves may bee good our conversation good and that then he would doe good to us all other waies and sanctifie all other things This is the Method of Gods Spirit in setting us right onwards in our heavenly journey first to have forgivenesse of sins then sanctification to be better our selves and then to looke for peaceable and comfortable daies in this world if God see it good What can bee more Take away all iniquity and doe us good all manner of good Therefore since all good comes from God the first and chiefe good let us labour to have communion with him by all sanctified meanes that so hee may take away our ill and doe us every way good to our soules bodies conditions O what a blessed thing is it for a Christian to keepe a strict and neere communion with the fountaine of goodnesse who can doe more for us then all the world besides When we are sick on our death beds or when conscience is throughly awaked then to speake peace comfortably to us in this great extremitie is more worth then all this world Therefore let us labour to keepe communion with God that he may speake peace to our soules when nothing else can I beseech you therefore let us take heed how we breake or walke loosely with God seeing wee can have no further comfort of any good thing we enjoy then wee are carefull to keepe and maintaine our peace and communion with him at all times and when we run into arrerages with God then bee sure we lie not in sinne but say Take away all iniquity and doe good to us labouring to bee in such an estate as God may give us his holy Spirit both to make us good and sanctifie unto us all other good There bee good things which are are good of themselves and which make all other things good Thus by communion with God we our selves are made good and all other things likewise are made good to us all his waies being mercy and truth unto those who feare him Therefore resigne we our selves and all that we have unto his wisedome and disposing because oftimes there is good where wee imagine the worst of evills to be as it is sometimes good to have a veine opened Simile to be purged the Physitian thinkes so when yet the Patient impatient of Reasons issue thinkes not so But as the Physitian is wiser then the Patient to know what is best for him so God is wiser then man to know what is good for him who intends us no hurt when he purgeth us by affliction All our care therefore should be to annihilate our selves to come with empty poore soules to God Doe good to us In which case it is no matter what our ill bee if hee doe us good who hath both pardon and rich grace to remoove the evill of sinne and convey all grace unto us out of his rich Treasurie So will we render the calves of our lips Here is the Restipulation or promise they Returne backe againe to God for there is no friendship maintained without rendring when God hath entred into Covenant with us then there is a kinde of friendship knit up betwixt him and us he becomming our friend We must not therefore be like graves to swallow up all and returne nothing for then the inter-course betwixt God and us is cut off Therefore the same Spirit which teaches them to pray and to Take to them words teacheth them likewise to take unto them words of Praise that there may bee a Rendring according to Receiving without which we are worse then
his shadow shall returne Now those that shall thus returne they revive in returning for they turne to the fountaine of life to the Sonne of Righteousnesse they come under Gods grace therefore they must needs returne and revive in vigor as they returne to God which vigor is especially meant here when he saith Those that dwell under his shadow shall returne They shall revive as the corne Now how doth the corne revive nor to speake of that comparison that the godly are corne and not chaffe as the wicked are who are driven too and fro without any solidity which though true is not here especially aimed at For it is supposed that they who are good and gratious have a substance soliditie usefulnesse and goodnesse in them like the corne Psal 1. not being emptie chaffe which the wind blowes away This is usefull to mention but to come to the scope intended by the Prophet They shall revive as the corne In this first that as the corne when unsowne it lies dead in the granarie fructifieth not but when it is sown springs up to an hundred fold as we reade of in Isaacks time who received so much increase Gen. 26.12 So it is with converted Christians before they were under any gratious meanes or in a good place they lay as it were dead and did not spring forth But afterwards being planted and sowen under gratious meanes in good company in a good family then they increase and grow up and multiplie They revive like the Corne. And then againe as it is with the Corne though it seeme to die and doth indeed die in some sort covered with winter stormes ere it spring out from the oppressions of frost and snow and hard weather as if it were altogether perished yet notwithstanding it is all the while a preparing for springing up againe more gloriously So it is with the Church which seemes to die often in regard of spirituall mortification by afflictions whereby it is dead to the world yet all this while there is a blessed life in the spirit preparing the soule under the hard pressures of all weathers to a glorious springing up againe Therefore the Church hath no hurt by afflictions no more then the corne hath by the winter which is as necessary for it as the spring-time or summer For else how should the earth be ripened and prepared how should the wormes and weeds bee killed if it were not for hard weather So it is with a Christian those afflictions that he suffers and under which he seemes to be buried they are as usefull to him as all his comforts Nay a Chistian is more beholding to afflictions for his graces and comforts then he is to outward blessings One would thinke that the goldsmith were a spoyling his plate when he is a burning of it when all that while the drosse is but a consuming out of it and the vessell so hammered and beaten out is but a preparing to be a vessell of honour to stand before some great man So it is with a Christian an ignorant person looking but one way thinks God neglects such a one and that if God cared for such a one or such a one would or could such and such things befall them they conclude hence as the Psalmist saith God hath forsaken him and forgotten him Psa 71 11. And as Christ the head of the Church was thought to be forgotten and neglected even when he was most deare and pretious unto God so even they all this while the Spirit of God is working an excellent worke in them preparing and fitting them for grace and glory Therefore in that respect also They shall revive as the Corne. Thirdly They shall revive as the corne in regard of fructification It is true both of the Church and of particular graces We see one graine of corne when it is almost perished and turn'd to froth nothing in a manner presently out of it springs a stalke and thence an eare and in that many eares God giving it a body sixtie or a hundred fold as he pleaseth So it is with a Christian when he is planted he will leaven others and those others and others A few Apostles leavened the whole world scattering the Gospell like lightning all over the same So it is true of grace in Gods Children it is like a graine of mustard-seed at the first yet it growes up and fructifies Mat. 13.31 from knowledge to knowledge faith to faith and grace to grace from vertue to vertue from strength to strength from one degree to another nothing lesse at first and nothing more great or glorious in this world in progresse of time nothing so admired of God and pleasing unto man as this which makes one all glorious and without spot O! what can be said more to incourage us to come under gratious meanes to love God and his Ordinances good company and the communion of Saints considering they are such happy people Those that are under their shadow shall returne revive and bee vigorous They shall revive as the corne which doth when it seemeth to bee dead notwithstanding all weathers grow up and multiply And whereas it seem'd dead before and lay hid being sowen it growes So being planted in the Church we shall grow for there is a hidden vertue in the least grace in the least of Gods Ordinances more then we are aware off saith Christ Where two or three are gathered together in my name Mat. 18.20 there am I in the middest of them Much more is this made good in great Congregations and families But this is not all he saith They shall grow as the Vine Howsoever the Church which is the mother Church growes before in the former words the new Church that comes under her shadow shall grow in the same manner They shall grow as the Lillie their Branches shall spread and more it is said heere They shall grow as the Vine It is a comparison delightfull to the Holy Ghost to compare Christ to a Uine the Church to a Uineyard and Christians unto vines but such as draw all their moysture and fatnesse in them from Christ the true Uine their sweetnesse being a derivated sweetnesse They shall grow as the Vine The Uine we know is a fruitfull plant The Vine is fruitfull so Christians Iud. 9.9 13. as we reade in the Judges The Olive and the Vine would not forsake their sweetnesse to be a king for it is said by them that they revive God and man being pleasing to them So every true Christian is like a vine for fruitfullnesse he is a tree of Righteousnesse a plant of Gods owne planting a vine that spends himselfe in bearing fruit Againe as it is fruitfull so it is exceeding fruitfull abounding in fruit so Christians are vines not onely for a little fruit that they beare but because they are aboundantly fruitfull which is premised that if they doe as they should do they shall be vines aboundant in the
a fruitfull love pag. 205 206. Why Gods grace is compared unto the Dew pag. 207. Grace comes insensibly and invisibly pag. 209. â—â—0 c How to come to have grace to sanctifie and alter our nature pag. 218. Christians grow like Lillies pag. 219 220. The first spring of the Gospell was speedie pag. 221. Water every yeare turned into wine pag. 222. Of a necessity in growth pag. 224. We must claime the promises pag. 225. Whence comes the stability of Gods children pag. 227 228 229. Why Gods children are not comfortable pag. 230 231 c. How to be rooted in grace pag. 237. VVe must labour to know the promises pag. 239. Why Christians feare their estate is not good pag. 241 242 243. The benefit of fruitfulnesse pag. 256 257 c. The Church yeelds a shadow pag. 264 265 c. The family the better for a good governour pag. 271 272 c. Gods children shall revive as corne pag. 279 280 281. Christians compared to the Vine in fruitfulnesse pag. 283 284 c. VVhy Christians send forth so sweet a sent pag. 292 293 c. A fruitfull conversation very savoury pag. 297 298 c. True renouncing of sinne must be with indignation pag. 307. The soules aime pag. 308 309. VVee must not onely leave sinne but loath sinne pag. 310 311 312 c. Limitation for expressing our hatred to sinne pag. 317 318 c. How we may come to hate sinne pag. 321 c. The consideration of what we are and hope to be will keepe us in good temper pag. 328. Of Idolatry pag. 333. The reasons of Ephraims hatred of Idolatry pa. 334 335 c. The Idolatry of Christians 344 c. The scope of the new covenant pag. 355 c. Corporall and spirituall adultery pag. 359. VVhy we must not have any more to doe with Idols pag. 366 367. Helps to hate sinne pag. 368 369 c. Nothing lost by renouncing Idolatry p. 373 c. Never better with a Christian then when he hath renounced all wicked courses pag 378 379. How God sees the afflictions of his children pag. 380 381 c. The most comfortable creature in the excesse harmefull pag. 385. Renouncing Idolatry brings protection pag. 386 387 c. VVe are subject to scorchings here pag. 391. The misery of those that have not God for a shadow pag 392 393 c. From man comes nothing that is good p. 403 c. VVhy some have more grace then others pa. 408. 409 c. Against future feares pag. 416 417 c. There are but few truly wise pag. 426 427 c. VVorldly wisedome what it is pag. 432 433. True wisdome carries men to Gods word pa. 435. Gods wayes to us pag. 441 c. The word of the Lord perfect pag. 445 446 447. The best way to a right end is to take in Gods waies pag. 448 449. VVho be just men pag. 450 451 c. The disposition of just men pag. 457 458 459. Men must have spirituall life before they can walke pag. 461 462 c. Helps to walke pag. 467 468 c. VVhy we should walke in Gods wayes pag. 472. 473 c. THE RETVRNING BACKSLIDER SERMON I. Hos. 14.1 2. O Israel Returne unto the Lord thy God For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Take with you words and turne to the Lord say unto him take away all iniquity c. THE whole frame of Godlinesse is a Mysterie The Apostle calleth it a great Mysterie comprehending all under these particulars God was manifested in the flesh Iustified in the Spirit 1 Tim. 3.16 Seene of Angels Preached unto the Gentiles Beleeved on in the world received up into Glory Amongst which Mysteries this may well be the Mysterie of Mysteries God was manifest in the flesh which includeth also another Mysterie The Gratiousnesse and abundant tender Mercy of God towards miserable wretched and sinnefull Creatures even in the heigth of their Rebellion appointing such a remedie to heale them which is the subject of this Chapter and last part of this Prophecie which as in thunders out Terrible Iudgments against hard-hearted impenitent sinners such as were the most part of Israel So is it mingled full of many and sweet Consolations to the faithfull in those times scattered amongst the wicked troup of Idolaters then living The time when Hosea prophecied was under the Reigne of Vzziah Iotham Ahaz and HeZekiah Kings of Iudah and in the daies of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash King of Israel In whose daies Idolatry was first universally set up and countenanced by Regall power This Ieroboam who caused Israel to sinne that he might strengthen himselfe made use of Religion and profanely mixed it with his civill assures in carnall pollicie and so leavened the whole lump of Israell with Idolatry that shortly after the whole Ten Tribes for their sin and their injustice cruelty lust securitie and such other sins as accompanied and sprang from this brutish Idolatry were led away captive by the King of Assyria and the Lords Righteous judgment made manifest upon them There being notwithstanding amongst these some faithfull ones though thinly scattered who mourned for and by their good examples reproved these abhominable courses There being also a seed of the Elect unconverted and of the converted some that were carried down to farr in the strength of this streame of wickednesse In this Chapter therefore being the conclusion of this Prophesie there are many excellent and heavenly incouragements also many earnest incitements to repentance and returning to the Lord with free and gratious promises not only of pardon and acceptance but of great rewards in things spirituall and temporall to such as should thus returne O Israel Returne unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Take with you words and turne to the Lord say unto him Take away all iniquity c. In this Chapter 1. We have an Exhortation to Repentance with the Motives enforcing the same O Israel Returne unto the Lord thy God V. 1. 2. The Forme Take with you words and say unto the Lord c. Uer. 2. 3. A Restipâ—â—ation what they should Doe and Returne backe againe having their Prayers granted 1. Thankesgiving So will wee render the Calves of our life 2. Sound Reformation of their beloved Sin Ashur shall not save us c. with the Reason thereof For in that the Fatherlesse findeth Mercy Uerse 3. 4. Gods Answer to their Petitions 1. In what Hee will doe for them Heale their backsliding Love them freely and be as the Dew unto Israel with the Reason thereof For mine Anger is turned away from him V. 4. 2. What hee will Worke in them A proportionable speedie growth in height bredth and depth He shall grow as the Lillie and Cast forth his rootes as Lebanon c. Which Mercy is further Amplified by a blessing powred out also upon their Families They that dwell under his shadow shall returne Verse 5. 6. 7. 5. There