ON HOSEA XIV: VERSE S. 253 direct us with prayer, faith, and patience to implore, and in his good time to expect such an issue and close, as we are sure shall be for his own glory, and for the manifestation of his mercy towards his people, and his justice towards all that are implacable enemies unto Sion. In the troubles of the church, this is matter of sin- gular comfort, that however enemies may say, this and that we will do, hither and thither we will go, though they may combine together and be mutually confederate, Psa. lxxxiii. 2. 5. and gird themselves, and take counsel, and speak the word, yet in all this God hath the casting voice. There is little heed to be given unto what Ephraim saith, except God say the same : without him whatsoever is counselled shall come to nought ; whatsoever is decreed or spoken, shall not stand, Isa. viii. 9, 10. We have a lively description of the swift, confident, and furious march of the great host of Sennacherib towards Jerusalem, with the great terrors and consternation of the inha- bitants in every place where they came, weeping, flying, removing their habitations, Isa. x. 28 -31. and when he is advanced unto Nob, from which place the city Jerusalem might be seen, he there shook his hand against Jerusalem, threatening what he would do unto it. And then when the waters were come to the very neck, and the Assyrian was in the height of pride and fury, God sent forth a prohibition against all their resolutions, and that huge army which was, for pride and number, like the thick trees of Lebanon, were suddenly cut down by the mighty one, to wit, by the angel of the Lord, ver. 33, 34. compared with Ezek. xxxi. 3. 10. Isa. xvii. 12 -14. xxxvii. 36. Therefore, Our greatest business is to apply ourselves to God, Y
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