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 Restip●●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 is set downe a further effect of this Repentance , and gratious worke in them : A sound and strong well rooted Indignation against their former darling sinnes [ Ephraim shall say , what have I any more to doe with Idols ? ] Backt with a strong Consolation : [ I have heard him , and observed him , &c. ] Verse . 8.

6. The Divers Event and Jssue of this Gods so Gratious Dealing is shewed : both in the godly and Wicked . 1. The Wise and Prudent , understand and know , that the wayes of the Lord are right , and shall walke in them . But 2. [ The Transgressors shall fall therein . ] Ver. 9.

O Israel , Returne unto the Lord thy God : for thou hast fallen by thine Iniquity .

Every word hath his waight , and in a manner is an Argument to inforce this Returning .

Israel we know is a word of Covenant : Iacob was Israel , a Prince and Wrestler with God , ( as they also ought to be ) Therefore he enforceth , you also ought to Returne , because you are Israel . And 2. It was also an Incouragement for them to Returne , because God so acknowledgeth them to be Israel : and will be Gratious unto them , though they were such hideous siners .

Returne ( saith Hee ) unto the Lord Iehovah , Who is the chiefe good ; for when a man returneth to the creature , which is a particular changable good unsatisfying the soule , he is restlesse still untill he come unto Iehovah , who is the all-sufficient universall good , who fills and fills the soule abundantly : therefore , Returne to him who is the fountaine of all good , and giveth a Beeing unto all things : Ierem. 2.13 and not to broken Cisternes . Hee is Iehovah , like himselfe and changeth not . And then He is thy God . Therefore Returne to him who is thy God in Covenant , who will make good his gratious Covenant unto thee , and did choose thee to be his people , before all the nations of the world ; this therefore is also an Incouragement to Returne . And then Thou hast fallen by thine Iniquity .

Therefore because thou art fallen by thy Iniquities , and thine owne Inventions have brought these Miseries upon thee , and none but God can helpe thee out of these Miseries , seeing he only can , and is willing to forgive thy sinnes , and revive thee : Therefore ,

O Israel , Returne unto the Lord thy God ; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity .

Now in that he forewarneth them of the fearefull Iudgements to come , which were to fall upon them , unlesse they were prevented by true Repentance ; hence in generall it is to be observed ;

Obser . That God comes not as a suddaine storme upon his people , but gives them warning before hee smites them .

This is verified in Scripture : when the crie of Sodome and Gomorrah was great , Gen. 18.20.21 The Lord said , Because the Cry of Sodome and Gomorrah is great , and because their sinne is very grievous : I will goe downe now and see whether they have done altogether according to the crie of it which is come unto me ; and if not , I will know . And wherefore was the Arke of Noah so long in building , but to give warning to that sinnefull age , which were nothing bettered by it . The like we have of Pharaoh , Exod. 11.1 . and all the Egyptians who had so many warnings and miracles shewed before their destruction came . Thus God dealt in Amos : Therfore thus will I do unto thee ; and because I will doe this unto thee ; Amos. 4.12 . Prepare to meet thy God O Israell . O Hierusalem , Matth. 23.37 . Hierusalem ( saith Christ ) thou that killest the Prophets , and stonest them which are sent unto thee ; how often would I have gathered thy children together : even as a henne gathereth the chickens under her wings , and ye would not ? What need wee stand upon proofes ? are not all the Threatnings of Scripture , as so many warning peeces of approaching Iudgements .

The Reason hereof is , His owne nature , hee is a Reason . 1 God of long suffering , Exod. 34 6. he made the world in six dayes ; yet hath continued it six thousand yeares , notwithstanding the many sinnes and provocations thereof , His mercies being over all his works . Psal. 145.9 .

And partly , from a speciall regard to his owne Reason . 2 deare children , these terrible thretnings not being killing and wounding , but like Ionathans warning Arrowes , who though he shot , yet ment no other harme to David , 1. Sam. 20. Vse . save to forewarne him of harme .

Let us therefore observe Gods gratious and milde dealing in so much mercy , who giveth us so many warnings by his servants , & lesser judgments , which wee have had amongst us , Let us take notice and believe , so as beliefe may stirre up feare , and feare may provoke care , and care stirre up indeavours , to provide us an Arke even a hiding place beimes before winter and worse times come upon us .

Hence issueth another generall Point : Observ . That

The best provision for preventing of destruction is spirituall meanes .

God himselfe is a Spirit , and spirituall means reach unto him , who is the first mover of the great wheele of all the affaires of this world : It is preposterous to beginne at the second cause , we trouble our selves in vaine there , when wee neglect the first . Wee should therefore begin the worke in Heaven , and first of all , Take up that quarrell which is betwixt God and our soules : If this be done first , we need not feare the carriage of second things , Rom. 8.28 . all which God out of his good providence , and gratious care will frame to worke for good to his : for whose sakes ( rather then helpe should faile ) he will create new helpes . Isa. 4.5 . Wherefore in all things it is best to beginne with God .

The third generall point , is this : That

Obser . Of all Spirituall meanes , The best is to returne to the Lord .

In Returning , 1 There must be a stop . In this Returning , 1. There must be a stop : those who have run on in evill waies , must first stop their lewd courses , for naturally from our birth and childhood we are posting on to Hell ; and yet such is our madnesse , ( unlesse the Spirit of God shew us our selves ) to be angry with these who stand in our way .

To make this stop then ( which is alwayes before Returning ) 1. There must be Examination and Consideration whether our wayes tend : there be stopping Considerations , which both waken a man , and likewise put rubs in his way . If a man upon Examination find his waies displeasing unto God , disagreeing from the Rule , and consider what will be the end and issue of them , ( nothing but death and damnation ) and withall consider of the day of Iudgment , The houre of Death , The all-seeing eye of God and the like . So the Consideration of a mans owne wayes , and of Gods wayes towards him , partly when God meetes him with goodnesse : I have hitherto beene a vile wretch ; and God hath beene good to me , and spared me : and partly when God stops a wicked mans waies with thornes , meetes him with crosses and afflictions , these will worke upon an ingenious spirit to make him have better thoughts and deeper considerations of true happinesse and the way unto it . God puts into the heart of a man ( whom he intends to save ) serious and sad considerations , what estate he is in , whither his course leads ; and withall , hee lets them feele some displeasure of his towards them in those waies , by his wayes towards them . where upon they make a stop .

2. There must be Humiliation , 2. Humiliation . with displeasure against our selves , judging and taking revenge of our selves , working and reflecting on our hearts , taking shame to our selves , for our wayes and courses . And withall , there must concurre some hope of mercy : for , so long as there is hue and crie ( as we say ) after a Traitor , he returnes not , but flyes still and hasts away ; but offer a pardon , Luk. 15. and he Returneth . So , unlesse there be hope of pardon to draw a man againe to God , as the Prodigall was moved to Returne by hope of mercie and favour from his father , wee will not , wee dare not else Returne .

3. 3. Resolution . There must be a Resolution to overcome impediments , for when a man thinks or resolves to turne to God , Satan will stirre up all his instruments , and labour to kill Christ in his Infancie , and to quench good while it is in the purpose only the Dragon stood watching for the Birth of the Childe so doth Satan observe the birth of every good resolution and purpose so farre as he can know them to destroy them .

Vse . Let it be thought of by us in all our distresses , and in whatsoever other evidences of Gods anger , whether this meanes have bin taken up by us . It will be thus knowne .

1. Turning is a change of the posture of the body , so is this of the frame of the mind , by this we know a man is in a state of turning , the looke of his Intentions , Purposes , the whole bent of his soule is set another way , even upon God , and his word is the starre of Direction towards which he bends all his thoughts .

2. His present actions also be contrary to his former : there is not only a change of the disposition of his soule : There is a Change of Actions . Behold all things are become new . Not some things but all , not only new , but with a Behold new . 2. Cor. 5.17 . This change undoubtedly sheweth that there is a true conversion and unfained .

By our association . 3. By our association , he that turnes to God , turnes presently to the company of Gods people : together with the change of his nature and course of life , there is a change of company , that is of such as we make choice of for amity and friendship ; Isa. 11. other company by reason of our callings , and occasionally may be frequented .

4. It is a signe that one is not only Turned , but hath gon backwards from sinne a great way , when the things of Heaven only are great things in his eyes , for , as the further a man goeth from a place , the lesser the things behind him seeme , so the greater the things before , he being neerer to them . The more sublime and high thoughts a man hath of the wayes of God , and the meaner thoughts of the world and worldly matters hee esteemed so highly of in the daies of his vanity : the more hee is Turned unto God .

This Returning is further inforced , saying , Returne , unto the Lord thy God .

It is very emphaticall and significant in the Originall , returne [ usquè ad Iehovam ] even to Iehovah , as though he should say , do not only beginne to Returne towards Iehovah : but so Returne , as you never cease comming till you come to Iehovah .

Even unto the Lord thy God . Obser .

It is not enough to make a stop and to forbeare the practising of our former sinnes : but wee must come home , even unto the Lord our God , to be pardoned , and healed of him .

The Prodigall serue , Luk. 15. had beene never a whit the better , to see his sinne and misery , and to be grieved for his wicked life past , unlesse hee had come unto his father for Pardon and Comfort . Act. 2.38 . And when those were pricked in their hearts at Peters Sermon , asking Peter what they should do ? hee exhorted them , To Repent , every one to be Baptised in the name of Iesus Christ , for the Remission of sins : and so they should receive the Holy Ghost . And when Christ invites all those who are wearie and heavie laden to come unto him ; Matt. 11.28 . he bids them not now be further humbled and grieved for their sinnes : but by Faith to come unto him to be healed , and so they should find rest and peace to their soules . It is not sufficient for a wounded man to be sorry for his brawling and fighting , and to say he will fight no more : but he must come to the Surgeon to have his wounds stopt , dressed and healed , or else it may cost him his life : So it is not enough to be humbled and grieved for sinne ; and to resolve against it : we shall relapse againe do what we can , unlesse wee come under the wing of Christ to be healed by his blood .

Vse . Many think they have repented and are deceived upon this false ground : they are and have bin grieved for their sins and offences , are determined to leave and forsake them , and that is all they do , they never lay hold on Christ and come home to God .

Here divers points might be insisted on . 1. that

Obser . Where there is a falling into sinne , there will be a falling into miserie and judgement .

This is made good in the experience of all times , ages , persons , and states , still the more sinnfull any were , the more fearefull judgements fell upon them : and as soone as any man came into a sinfull state , he entered into a declining state , as Iacob said of his sonne Reuben who had defiled his bed : unstable as water , Thou shalt not excell ; Genes. 49.4 . because thou wentest up to thy fathers bed So sinne still debaseth a man : so much sinne so much losse of excellencie .