ON HOSEA XIV.- -VERSE 8. 261 my people," saith David, " that we should be able W offer so willingly ? for all things come of thee," 1 Chron. xxix. 14. and the apostle prays for the Ephesians, that God would grant them to be strength- ened with might by his Spirit in the inward man, Eph. iii. 16. the principles of duty are the fruits of prayer, and therefore the performance of duty Both much depend on the hearing and answering of prayer. 3. We learn from God's observing, or having a careful and vigilant eye upon Ephraim, that when we renounce all carnal and sinful confidence, and cast ourselves wholly upon God, engaging his eye of fa- vour and providence unto us, this will be a most suf- ficient protection against all the cruelties of men. One would think when we hear a sword threatened, dashing of infants, murder of women, the prophet should have called on them to take unto them weapons to make resistance, (and certainly the use of means in such cases is necessary ; the sword of the Lord Both not exclude the sword of Gideon.) One would think, " Take to you words," were but a poor prepa- ration against a destroying enemy : yet this is all that the prophet insists on ; when the Assyrian comes against you, do you take with you words your lips shall be able to defend more than his armies can annoy. Words uttered from a penitent heart, in time of trouble, unto God, are stronger than all the prepa- rations of flesh and blood, because the way that prayer and repentance go, that way God goeth too. Amalek fights, and Moses speaks unto God in the behalf of Israel, and the lifting up of his hands prevails more than the strength of Israel besides, Exod. xvii. 11, 12. One man of God who knows how to manage the cause of Israel with him, is the chariots and horsemen of Israel, 2 Kings ii. 12. What huge armies did Asa
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