ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 2, 3. 111 It is founded on the due apprehensions of a° God's being good, and of his doing good," Psa. cxix. 68. or on his excellency in himself, and his goodness unto us. In the former respect it standeth in adoring and extolling the great name of God, ascribing in our hearts and mouths blessedness unto him, acknowledg- ing his infinite majesty in himself, and his sovereignty over us his poor creatures, Exod. xv. 11. Mic. vii. 18. and so covering our faces, and abhorring ourselves in his sight, Isa. vi. 5. Job. xlii. 5, 6. not daring to ques- tion any of his deep, absolute, and most unsearchable counsels ; but because all things are of him, to acknowledge that all things ought to be for and to him, and are to be reduced to the ends of his glory by the counsel of his own will, Rom. ix. 20, 21. xi. 33. 36. Matt. xi. 25, 26. Psa. cxxxv. 5, 6. Job ix. 12. Eph. i. 11. In the latter respect, as he is the God in whom we live, and move, and have our being, and hope for our blessedness ; so it imported', First, A glorying and rejoicing in him as our alone felicity, Psa. xxxiii. 1. Hab. iii. 18. Phil. iv. 4. Second, A choosing and preferring him above all other good things, making him our end and aim, in life, in death, in doing, in suffering, Rom. iv. 7, 8. Third, A thank- ful acknowledgment of all his mercies, as most bene- ficial unto us, and most gratuitous and free in regard of him, 2 Sam. vii. 18. Lam. iii. 22, 23. Last, A constant endeavour of a holy life, so to bring forth fruit to do the will of God, and to finish his work which he hath set us, so to order our conversation aright before him, as that he may have ascribed unto him the glory of his authority over the consciences of men, and of the power of his love shed abroad in their hearts, and that all who see our conversation may say, Doubtless the God whom these men serve K2
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