Hosea 3:5

REFLECTIONS

PRECIOUS, precious Lord Jesus! let me pass by and pass over every ether thought and consideration furnished by this Chapter, to attend to thee, and to that lovely character of thine set forth in this scripture, as the husband of thy people! It is thou, dearest Lord, and not thy servant Hosea, that is here set forth, as loving a woman, an adulteress, in thy love to thy Church and people. We have indeed all played the harlot, and done that which even the worshippers of the dunghill gods of the earth, never did; changed their gods, which were no gods; but we have changed that which is our glory, for that which cannot profit. But in the midst of all this rebellion, and apostacy, and departure; thou hast not changed thy love, nor given a bill of everlasting divorce, but if at all, yet only for a season. Every act of thine, in all ages of the Church, very fully shows, that thou hast not put away thy people whom thou didst foreknow. And after many days, thou wilt return and visit thine inheritance, and Israel shall again fear the Lord and his goodness, after many days. Oh! for faith in lively exercise, to be always on the lookout for the Lord's coming. Hasten, O Lord, the gracious promise, and arise and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come.