Hosea 6

Many zealous professors today, but tomorrow as cold as water. And the complaint of the Lord touching times past, agrees to our days (Hosea 6): O Ephraim, What shall I say to you? Your righteousness is like the morning dew.

A little season (Revelation 6:11). Three days (Hosea 6:1). A short time, and the vision will speak, and will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3; Hebrews 10:37).

Christ alone can help us, and confirm us against our fears: the disciples did not stir, but lay prostrate upon their faces, till he came and touched them, and said, arise, be not afraid. In all the troubles and perplexities of his people, he will be owned as the causer and curer…

While Moses tarried in the mount, Aaron and the people set up a golden calf, and departed from God. Hosea says, The righteousness of the Israelites, was like the morning dew, which the rising of the sun consumes (Hosea 6:4). John was a burning light, and the Jews rejoiced in thi…

God hauing wounded and slaine vs, first bindes vs vp, then he revives vs, and the third day he raiss vs vp. Hos 6:1. Againe, nature feeles not nature, nor corruption feeles corruption, but grace: therefore it is the life of Christ in vs that makes vs feele the masse, and bodie o…

Mark here how God works one contrary by the other. In the creation, he made something, not of something, but of nothing: he called light out of darkness: he kills, and then makes alive (Hosea 6): he sends men to heaven, by the gates of hell: he gave sight by a mixture of spittle…

Like Ephraim and Iudah, whose goodnes was as a morning cloud, and as the morning dowe which vanishs away. Hos 6:4. This wearisomnes in well doing has seased upon the most: euen upon all drowsie professours, (which are the greatest part,) as may appeare by this, in that some, if…

Ans. I answer, that they still keep their order and dignity: but by these of the second, which Christ strictly requires, and upon which he also insists, the hypocrisy of hypocrites is chiefly discovered, so as a man may more plainly discern thereby whether the true fear of God b…

Isaiah pursues that which he has already begun to treat of, namely, that the Jews should prosper in all things, if they live in such equity, and so abstain from all wrong, that from there men may take notice of their piety and religion. For he pronounces that which is said by Ho…

But in the mean while, the most part of men do but trifle and dally with God, and labor to satisfy him with pretty gauds and toys. Isaiah therefore condemns and detests such a hypocrisy; and teaches that the Lord rather requires mercy of us, than sacrifices (Hosea 6:7; Matthew 9…

Or rather he explains to them, that they are contending with God and the Prophet, when, in pride and cruelty, they are offended at relief which is given to the wretched, and at medicine which is administered to the sick. This quotation is made from Hosea 6:6: For I desired mercy…

But while Christ, in recommending to us the exercise of charity, does not exclude those duties which belong to the worship of God, he reminds his disciples that it will be an authentic evidence of a holy life, if they practice charity, agreeably to those words of the prophet, I…

He hath showed thee, O Man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and love Mercy, and walk humbly with thy God? And also that, Hosea 6. 6. For I desired Mercy, and not Sacrifice.

James 1. 27. 'Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, To visit the Fatherless and Widows in their Affliction, etc.' Hosea 6. 6. 'For I desired Mercy, and not Sacrifice; and the Knowledge of God, more than Burnt-Offerings.' Matthew 5. 7. 'Blessed are the M…

Sect. 14 By these and the like means does God oft-times put the wildness of Corrupted Nature to a stand, and stirs up the Faculties of the Soul by an effectual though not saving Impression upon them, seriously to consider of its self, and its Relation to Him and his Will. And he…

And in these spiritual Habits of Faith and Love it is so moreover by Gods Appointment. They grow and thrive in and by their exercise, Hos. 6. 3. The want thereof is the principal means of their decay.

"Show us the Father and it suffices us." When their desires are towards God only, it is with this aim in the first place, that they may know him, which is supposed when that is given as an encouragement to the pursuit of this knowledge: "We shall know if we follow on to know the…

As in (Isaiah 8:17): I will wait upon the Lord, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. The Prophet Hosea applies the word to robbers and thieves, who stand watching and longing for the traveller, and looking at every turning (Hosea 6:9): As troops o…

Again, we may look on wine as used in the ceremonial services and drink-offerings (Leviticus 23:13, etc.). Thus the meaning is, your love is preferable to all outward performances and sacrifices, as (Hosea 6:7). Love being the principle within, from which all our performances sh…

Again in the eighth place, whereas in the first Table there is one command partly moral and natural, partly positive and instituted, and that is our observation of the Sabbath: we may observe that our obligation to the duties of the second Table does often times supersede our ob…

The ground of this and other like cases is that rule laid down by the Prophets, and by Christ himself, namely I will have mercy and not sacrifice. If God in case of mercy dispenses with a duty due to himself, will he not much more dispense with a duty due to a husband (Hosea 6:6…

Psalm 19:9 and 43:3 and 119:105, 130. Proverbs 6:23. Isaiah 9:2. Hosea 6:5. Matthew 4:16 and 5:14. John 3:20, 21: It is a Light so shining with the majesty of its Author, as that it manifests itself to be his.

David a grown Christian, he desires more understanding of God's will. Certainly we should still follow on to know the Lord (Hosea 6:3). Heathens that only knew natural and moral things, yet they saw a need of growth; and the more they knew, the more they discovered their ignoran…

Adam hid himself when God came into the garden; and when he could shift no longer, he will not declare it, but transfers the fault upon Eve, and obliquely upon God himself; and ever since there are many tergiversations in man's heart; and therefore it is said, (Job 31:33) If I h…

And he said, I beseech you show me your glory. And (Hosea 6:3): Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord. They are not cloyed, but desire more.

We should count all charges, and resolve upon the worst. 2. It reproves Aguish Christians, whose purity and devotion comes upon them by fits (Hosea 6:4). Their righteousness is as the morning dew.

If any man think that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know: they study their own hearts, and so are conscious to many weaknesses, they know how easily they are misled by the wiles of Satan, and the darkness of their own hearts, whereas a presumptuous forma…

We should sit down and count the charges, make God a good allowance, resolve that nothing shall withdraw us from him (Romans 8:35-36). 2. It reproves feverish Christians, whose piety and devotion takes them by fits: their righteousness is like the morning dew (Hosea 6:4) that ca…

4. From the temper of a gracious heart: a taste of this knowledge will make us desire a further supply, that we may be taught more, and the soul may be more sanctified: therefore does David deal with God for the increase of saving knowledge. We are contented with a little taste…

In the foregoing verse he had acknowledged that God had afflicted him, and now he prays that God would comfort him. The same hand that wounds must heal; and from whom we have our affliction, we must have our comfort; (Hosea 6:1) Come let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, a…

The very purpose and bent of the heart, is the fruit of regeneration. Free-will has its pangs, its velleities, which are like a little morning-dew that is soon dried up (Hosea 6:4). Our righteousness is as the morning-cloud, and as the early dew it goes away. But the will and re…

2. He obeyed universally] not this or that command, but both this and that, he did not halve it with God, or pick and choose which were easiest to be done, and leave the rest, no, but he obeys all, all these things have I kept. 3. He obeyed constantly] not in a fit of zeal only,…

It's the part of a good husband to grow rich out of his revenues and [illegible], especially if many [illegible] great that appertain to him: to make both ends meet at year's end, to make but one of one, and yet live from hand to mouth, and yet born to so fair an estate, and [il…

- 2 The effectual settling of it upon the heart. The search of the truth: Meditation is a coming in with the truth or any cause that comes to hand, that we may inquire the full state of it before our thoughts part with it, so that we see more of it or more clearly [illegible] fu…

We must keep the heart with watch and ward, because it is not only false but fickle. God complains of Israel that their goodness was as the early dew (Hosea 6:4); the sun arises and the dew vanishes. The heart sometimes seems to be in a good frame, but it soon alters; set the wa…

2. A fixed love: alas, how soon is our love taken off from God! other objects presenting themselves steal away our love. Your goodness is like a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away (Hosea 6:4): in the morning you shall see the grass covered with drops of dew, as so…

The mysteries of Christ are not learnt in a day. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, Hosea 6:3. Some are in a good mood (may be) and they will look into the Bible, and read a chapter or two, and away they go for a week, and never practise it more; like some boy…

As we say a man carries himself worthy of his place, when answerable to what is required of him in it. That place cited out of Hosea further acquaints us with the true ground, why their fruits (though green, which Hosea 6:4 is called goodness also, yet) were not to be accounted…

And so thirdly, from him we look for deliverance out of affliction: whatever our own means be, yet from his hand we look for deliverance (2 Chronicles 20:12). We know not what to do, but our eyes are towards you, and yet then Jehoshaphat had great means to help himself, he had a…