ON HOSEA XIV. -VERSE 1, 2. 9 that are penitent. When a consumption is decreed, yet a remnant is reserved to return, Isa. x. 22, 23. The Lord will keep his vineyard, when he will burn up the thorns and the briers together, Isa. xxvii. 3, 4. When a day of fierce anger is determined, the meek of the earth are called upon to seek the Lord, Zeph. ii. 3. When the Lord is coming out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, he -calls upon his people to hide themselves in their chambers, until the indignation be overpast, Isa. xxvi. 20, 21. The angel who was sent to destroy Sodom, had withal a commission to deliver Lot, Gen. xix. 15. God made full provision for those who mourned for public abominations, before he gave order to destroy the rest, Ezek. ix. 4. 6. Men in their wrath will many times rather strike a friend than spare a foe ; but God's proceedings are without disorder, he will rather spare his foes than strike his servants, as he showed himself willing to have done in the case of Sodom, Gen. xviii. 26. Moses stood in the gap, and diverted judgments from Israel, Psal. cvi. 23. Yea, God seeks for such, Ezek. xxii. 30. and complains when they cannot be found, Ezek. xiii. 5. And if he deliver others for them, certainly he will not destroy them for others. However it go with the world and with wicked men, it shall go well with the righteous, there shall be a sanctuary for them when others stumble, and they shall pass through the fire, when others are consumed by it, Isa. iii. 10, 11. viii.14 -16. Zech. xii. 8, 9. The reasons hereof are, first, God's justice he will not punish the righteous with the wicked ; he will have it appear that there is a " difference between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not," Gen. xviii. 23. Mal. iii. 18. Also, God's love unto his people.
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