fore, though the judgement falls out to be inflicted just at that time. It may be a concourse of many passages of Gods providence might so fall out as might sue with Gods ends, that the destruction of this nation should be at this time rather then before, yet the nation not more sinful then before, but to fulfill other passages of providence that God intends; and then he comes to reckon with them for sins that were along time ago committed, & for their present sinnes altogether. As hee doth sometimes with particular persons: perhaps they have been drunkards, unclean, wicked, 20. yeers agone, God hath spared them, afterward upon some lesser sins, God may take advan∣tage to come against them for all their other sins together. We use to say, It is not the last blow of the axe that fells the oak,Vltimus ictus non dejicit queteum. perhaps the last may be a weaker blow then any of the former, but the oake was a felling down all the while before, the other blowes made way for the felling of it, and at length a little blow comes and doth it. So our former sinnes may be the things that make way for our ruine, and then at length some lesser sinnes may do it.You that have been guilty of grosse sins, take heed of small sins; for though God hath pared you when you were guilty of great sins, do not say that he will spare you now you commit lesser sins; but at this time of committing lesser sins, you may be called to an account for grosser. Did you never know a house stand out against many strong and blustring winds, yet afterward some little puffe of wind hath tumbled it down? So it is with Nations and people that somtimes stand out (through Gods patience when their sins are grosse and vile, & afterwards upon some lesser sins they are utterly undone.VVhat is the name of his son?Quest. Ans.The name of this son is Lo-ammi, and the word signifieth (as it is inter∣preted here by God himselfe) You are not my people, and I will not be your God.The people to whom Hosea prophesied, they might have objected against him thus: What, Hosea doe you say that God will not have any more mer∣cy upon us? what will not God have mercy upon his own people? Is not God our God? What doe you threaten such-things as these are?The Prophet answers, It is true, God hath been your God, and you have been his people, but there is an end of those dayes, God now degradeth you from those glorious priviledges that formerly you had, he willowne you no more to be his, and you shall have no further right to own him to be yours.From whenceFirst this, A people that have been once a people dear to God, may be so rejected as never to become a people of God more:Obs. For so these did not, though afterwards wee shall bear of the promise for others in other Ages. God hath no need of men. God is able to raise up a people what wayes he pleases, even from the very stones in the street, to raise up children unto A∣braham. Though Rome may boast that they have been a glorious Church; True, there hath been heretofore a glorious Church in Rome, what then? Those that were his people are now no more his people.0