Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

The Sin of Ephraim is hid. Hosea 13.12.13. i. e. God doth not presently take notice of it, to order punishment; he lays it in a secret place from the Eye of his Justice, that Ephraim might not be his unwise Son, and stay long in the place of the breaking forth of Children. i. e. That he should speedily reclaim himself and not continue in the way of destruction. God hath no need to abuse any, he doth not lie to the Sons of men, if he would have men perish, he could easily destroy them, and have done it long ago. He did not leave the woman Jezebel in being, nor lengthened out her time, but as a space to Repent. Revelations 2.21. That she might reflect upon her ways, and devote her self seriously to his service, and her own happiness. His patience stands between the offending Creature and Eternal misery a long time, that men might not foolishly throw away their Souls, and be damned for their impenitency; by this he shows himself ready to receive men to mercy upon their return. To what purpose doth he invite men to Repentance, if he intended to deceive them, and damn them after they Repent?

The Sin of Ephraim is hid. Hosea 13.12.13. i. e. God doth not presently take notice of it, to order punishment; he lays it in a secret place from the Eye of his Justice, that Ephraim might not be his unwise Son, and stay long in the place of the breaking forth of Children. i. e. That he should speedily reclaim himself and not continue in the way of destruction. God hath no need to abuse any, he doth not lie to the Sons of men, if he would have men perish, he could easily destroy them, and have done it long ago. He did not leave the woman Jezabel in being, nor lengthned out her time, but as a space to Repent. Revelations 2.21. That she might reflect upon her ways, and devote her self seriously to his service, and her own happiness. His patience stands between the offending Creature and Eternal misery a long time, that men might not foolishly throw away their Souls, and be damned for their impenitency; by this he shews himself ready to receive men to mercy upon their return. To what purpose doth he invite men to Repentance, if he intended to deceive them, and damn them after they Repent?