ON HOSEA XIV. -VERSE 1, 2. 21 more upon that which is contrary to his image, than upon that which is contrary to our own nature ; more upon that which defiles, than upon that which pains us. Pharaoh cares for nothing but the removal of death : Simon Magus for nothing but to have perdition and the gall of bitterness kept from him. But good men, like wise physicians, cure the disease at the root, as Elisha did the waters by putting salt into the spring head. The angel was smiting the people with a plague ; David betakes himself to the right remedy, I have sinned, I have done wickedly : he goes not to the physicians, but to the altar to make atonement for sin ; and so the plague was stayed. Destruction was threatened against Israel for their calf, their mur- murings, their rebellions ; Moses stands in the gap to divert it. But how doth he do it ? surely by praying against their sins ; O this people have sinned a great sin, O that thou wouldest forgive them ! Exod.xxxii. 31. A sick man was brought to Christ to be healed, Matt. ix. 2 ; Christ overlooks the disease, and begins at the sin : Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee : and this being forgiven, the malignity of the disease was removed, though the matter should have remained. This was the usual method of David in his troubles, to throw over these Shebas that had wrought his woe ; Blot out, wash thoroughly, cleanse, create, renew. He is far more importunate for pardon and cleansing, than for ease and comfort. Complaining in trouble is the work of a man, but repenting is the work of a christian. The reasons of this point are these three : 1. If a judgment should be removed, while sin re- mains, it is not removed in mercy, but in anger : for many times God gives over punishing in displeasure; as a man throws away the rod when his scholar is
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