ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 2, 3. 61. are now at last by their experience, and by their re- pentance, taught to abandon, as things which indeed cannot, and therefore they are resolved shall not save them. By the Assyrian is here intimated all human succour procured by sinful correspondence, by a synecdoche,* of the part for the whole. But he is particularly mentioned, 1. Because he was the chief monarch of the world, to show, that the greatest worldly succours are vain, when they are relied upon without, or against God ; 2. Because the scripture takes notice often of it as their particular sin, the sending unto, relying upon, and paying tribute unto him for aid and assist- ance, Hos. v. 13. vii. 11, 12. 2 Kings. xv. 19, 20 ; 3. Because, instead of helping, he did greatly afflict them. Their flying to him was like a bird's flying into a snare, or a fish' s avoiding the pole wherewith the water is troubled by swimming into the net, 2 Kings xv. 29. Hos. xiii. 4. By horses we are to understand the military pre- parations and provisions which they made for them- selves, both at home, and from Egypt, 2 Chron. i. 16. Isa. xxxi. 1. By the works of their hands are meant their idols, which were beholden to their hands for any shape or beauty that was in them. The same hands which formed them, were afterwards lifted up in worship unto them, Isa. xliv. 10. 17. xlvi. 6 -8. Jer. x. 3. 15. vi. 20. Acts xix. '26. Time was when we said, " These are our gods which brought us up out of Egypt," Exod. xxxii. 4. 1 Kings xii. 28. but now we will not say so any more ; for how can a man be the maker of his Maker. For in thee the fatherless findeth mercy." This is * A figure by which part is taken for the whole. F
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