15 © I will go and return to my place «, t * till they acknowledge their offence x, and ſeek my face y - in their ; atiliftion they will ſeek me early z. u After the manner of Man God ſpeaks, he will do that which ſhall 2, be like a Man's going away from ſuch as refuſe, though they need his 9, Help, he retires 3 God will withdraw his ſaving Help. x Till they , confeſs, hymble themſelves for their Sins. y Me their God, my Mer- I, Cy, and my Law ; me their Soveraign as well as Saviour, xg In deep -Diſtreſs they will, at leaſt ſome will ſcek me diligently ; as indeed they Gil at the end of Fudab's 70 Years Captivity.
promiſed to the Fews after their Return out of OR and theic ſeeking the Lord, Fer. 24. 5, 6, 7+ and 3I. 34s EJ&R; Ll. 17, 18, 19, 20. and 36. 26. Hab, 2. 14. Zeph. 3-9.©c. 0 It ſhall be an increa- ſing Knowledge, which by a diligent Attendance to the Word and Works of God theſe thall attain, and improve by doing the Will of God, and by Worſhipping him they ſhall know experimentally and practically. how holy, how good, how faithful God is, Fobn 8. 31, 33s before this they knew not God, and finnd, provoked God, and un- did themſelves; but now they ſhall know, obey, and pleaſe their God and Saviour. p Before his People who know him, and endeavour to encreaſe that Knowledge z his gracious, faithful, holy,juft and wiſe Providences, and Manifetrations ot himſelf in the Conduct of them for his Peoples Good and Comfort. q As ſure, ſeaſonable, beautiful, gratetul, and as clear as the Morning, which dilpels the Darknels, and proclaims irs own Approach. r Which reviveth, maketh it fruitful, beautifieth it, and gives a new Face to all. .. So God will abundantly bleſs his repenting 4/7ael, his returning People ; this Bleſſing he pro- miled over and over to the mr ng the Captivity ; Exch. 34. 25» Hof. 2: 18, 19. and I4. 5, 6. Md. 3. 10.
J] » Ig &$+ 52 . « * O
Chap. \l.
* he hath torn c, and he will heal us 4; he hath *Deut- 32
2 .* After two days g will he revive os h, in the third + x Cor. day he will raiſe us up z, and we ſhall live & in his fight 4, 75 &
ing q; and * he ſhall come unto us as the rain; as the : Plale 72.
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Chap. YT.
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+ © * © Lyhraim, what ſhall | do unto thees? O
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Judah, what ſhail 1 do unto thee ? for your \\ goodneſs t 5s * as a morning-cloud, and as the early dew 1t goeth away Uu,
« The Lord now enters a Debate with both 7jr4e! (here called Ephra» im) and with the two Tribes, with all that were his People antiently ; much atter the manner of Men, who having to do with frowarc! and ungovernable Children or Servants whom they pity, and would not calt oF after mucl! Kindneſs and Patience ſhewed to them, and abuted by them, at laſt ſeem at a ſtand, what mere to do, or appeal to By- ftanders, whether more might be done, or demand of the untrattable on2s what they can deſire more to be done ? $0 //z. 5. 3, 4, 5, 0 and Mi h. 6.3, 5. whet is it I may do becoming my holy, juſt and wiſe Procedu es with my reaſonable Creatures ? What ſhould I do more ro fave you 'rom Rnine, and ſalve my own Honour, Truth and Juftice ? Would you of tie ren Tribes, and you of the two 1 ribes, have me caſe to be God, and reſign to your Idols ? or repeal my own Laws, and ſubſcribe to your Idols Rites. ? Or wonld you have Satan the wick- ec one, (who hath ſeduced your Kings, Prophets, Prieſts and People,) whom you worſhip in your Idols, would you that: he ſhould ftill retain your Love and Service, and I maintain you in it? _ I would do, as appears by what 1 have done, any thing that may be done to reduce, reclaim, and reform vou, who are as impudent Adultereſles, that will -ot be lincere and faithtul to their reconciled Husband. 2 Or, your
X#ndneis, your Love to me, my Law, Worſhip and Honour, your Pro- |
miſes of Love and Loyalty. u Vaniſheth without Effect, it 15 deceit- ful, you are Hypocrites, nothing but ſhort and empty Signs of Good-
neſs, Piety and Amendment ; their Hypocriſy ant Unconftancy ele-
gantly expreſs'd in this double Allufion, renders them uncapable of tarther Gentlenets. |
5 Therefore x have I hewed them y by the pro- |
hets z: I have flain them a by the Words of my
P | : [| Or, that qguth b \| and thy: Judgments c are as che light that thy judg- wn | | ; ments might be, C.
goeth forth.
x Becauſe T would do for you whatever might be done, becauſe I would cure you of your Obftinacy and Hypocriſy, and make you up- right and conſtant. y I have lererely, continually, and unweariedly. by the Prophets, reproved, warned and threatned, your Hearts have been like knotty Trees, or, hardeſt Stones : Thave made my Pro hets like Labourers, and my Words like Axcs, or Hammers to cut 0 the Knots, and to hew off the RoughneG which make unfit for Uſe, but all to ao purpoſe, the defired,Efett hath not been attained. x Some that
were before 4#ofca, Jeroboam firſt was by a Prophet reproved, and |