ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 3, 4. 133 stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel in truth, and should return unto the mighty God," Isa. x. 20, 21. They resolve . the Lord shall save them, and not the Assyrian. So say the godly in the psalmist, " A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither shall he deliver any by his great strength," &c. " Our soul waiteth for the Lord, he is our help and shield," Psa. xxxiii. 17. 20. They will not say any more, " We will fly upon horses, we will ride upon the swift," Isa. xxx. 16. Lastly, " At that day," saith the prophet, speaking of the penitent remnant and gleanings of Jacob, " shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have re- spect to the Holy One of Israel ; and he shall not look to the altars the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, the groves or the images," Isa. xvii. 7, 8. And again, " Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains," that is, from the idols which they had set up and worshipped in high places, " Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel," Jer. iii. 23. They will not say any more to the work of their hands, " Ye are our gods." So then, the plain duties of the text are these : 1. To trust in God who is all- sufficient to help, who is Jehovah, the fountain of being, and can give being to any promise, to any mercy which he intends for his people, cannot only work, but command ; not only command, but create deliverance, and fetch it out of darkness and desolation. He hath everlasting strength ; there is no time, no case, no condition, wherein his help is not at hand, whenever he shall command it, Isa. xxvi. 4. 2. We must not trust in any creature. (1.) Not in Asshur, in any confederacy or combi- nation with God's enemies, be they otherwise ever so
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