Reason. The reason is strong, because they are the motions of his own Spirit, which he stirs up in us. For he dictates this prayer unto them, 'Take with you words,' &c., 'and say unto the Lord, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously.' So that, where God stirs up holy desires by his Spirit, he will answer exactly ; there shall not a sigh be lost. ' Likewise,' saith the apostle, ' the Spirit also helps our infii'mities : for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us, with groaniugs which cannot be uttered,' Rom. viii. 26. Therefore there cannot a groan be lost, nor a darting of a sigh. Whatso- ever is spiritual must be effectual, though it cannot be vented in words. For God hath an ear, not only near a man's tongue, to know what he saith ; but also in a man's heart, to know what he desires, or would have. As the observing, careful, tender mother many times knows what the child would have though it cannot speak ; so God, he knows the desires, sighs, and groans of the heart when we cannot speak. For sometimes there may be such a confusion upon the soul, by reason of divers disturb- ances, that it cannot express nor vent itself in words. Therefore the Spirit vents itself then in sighs and groans, which are heard and accepted, be- cause they are the desires of his own Spirit. Thus much the prophet David excellently sheweth, ' Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble : thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear,' Ps. X. 17. God, he first prepares the heart to pray, then his ear to hear their prayers and desires. If this will not encom'age us to be much in suit to God, and put up our petitions to him, to labour for a spirit of prayer, I know not what will prevail ; when we know that no petition shall be turned back again unanswered. "When we are to deal with princes upon earth, they oftentimes regard neither the persons nor their petitions, but turn their backs upon both. Oh ! but a Christian hath the ear of God and heaven open upon him ; such credit in heaven, that his desires and groans are respected and heard. And undoubtedly a man may know that he shall be heard when he hath a spirit of prayer ; in one kind or other, though not in the particulars or kinds we ask, hear he will for our good.
HOSEA XIV. 4.] THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER, 301
God will not lose the incense of his own Spirit, of a spirit of praj^er which he stirs up, it is so precious. Therefore let us labour to have a spirit of prayer, which God regards so much ; seeing for a certain, wheresoever he gives a spirit of prayer, he means to give that we pray for ; but according to his heavenly wisdom, as here his answer is,
' I will heal their backshding, I will love them freely,' &c.
God answers them exactly unto all they prayed for, beginning first with the gi-ound of all our comfort, * forgiveness of sins.' According to their petition, ' Take away all iniquity,' he answers, ' I will heal their backslid- ing,' or their rebelhon. Backsliding is an aggravation of sin. Every sin is not a rebelhon, apostasy, or backshding • for there be also sins of in- firmities. We usually rank sins thus, in
1. Sins of ignorance.
2. Sins of infirmity.
8. Sins against knowledge, with a higher hand ; and
4, The sins against the Holy Ghost.
Now, this is more than to cure sins of ignorance and of infirmity when he saith, ' I will heal their backsliding.'
Quest. But why doth he answer the higher pitch of an aggi*avation, when their petition was in a lower strain only, ' Take away all mine iniquity ' ?
Ans. To shew that he would answer them fully ; that is, that he would heal all sins whatsoever, not only of ignorance and of infirmity, but also sins willingly committed, their rebeUions and backslidings. For, indeed, they were backsliding. From the time of Jeroboam, that made the rent, the ten tribes grew worse and worse continually, so that they had been utterly ex- tinguished, but that God was wondrous gracious to send them prophets to preserve many that they should not bow the knee to Baal, being merciful to them to bear -^vith their backsliding so long. For besides their calves, they had false gods. They did not only worship the true God in a false manner by the calves, but they had Baals also. So that we see, God, when he will comfort, will comfort to purpose, and take away all objections that the soul can make, a guilty soul being full of objections. Oh ! my sins are many, great, rebellions and apostasies. But, be they what they will, God's mercy in Christ is greater and more. ' I will heal their backsliding,' or their rebellion. God is above conscience. Let Satan teri'ify the conscience as he will, and let conscience speak the worst it can against itself, yet God is greater. Therefore, let the sin be what it will, God will pardon all maimer of sins. As they pray to pardon all, so he will ' take away all iniquity, heal their backsliding.' But to come nearer the words.