The Calling of the Jews, Biblical commentary 2
The Prophecie of Hoſhea.
Chapters. 1. 2.
CHAP. 1.
1. The Word of Iehouah that came vntounto Hoſhea the ſonne of Beery in the dayes of Vzziah, Iotham, Achaz, Hezechiah, Kings of Iuda: and in the dayes of Ieroboam the ſonne of Ioaſh, King of Iſrael.
1. THe Title or Inſcription ſetteth forth the Author of the Prophecie, God: the Preacher or publiſher thereof, Hoſhea: the time that he executed his Propheticall function, 43. yeares at the leaſt: for ſo many there are from the very laſt yeare of Ieroboam the ſonne of Ioaſh, to the firſt yeare of Hezechias, to bee reckoned in this ſort. The laſt yeare of Ieroboam was the 39. of Uzzia or Azaria; Uzzia or Azaria raigned 13. yeares more (52. in all) Iotham (after him) 25. Achaz (Hezechiahs father) 14.
The knowledge of the time helpeth much, and bringeth a great light to the vnderſtanding of the Prophecie, becauſe of the many accidents that fell within that compaſſe in the Kingdome of Iſrael to the Kings thereof, of whom he maketh often mention, and liued himſelfe to ſee moſt of the things that heere he prophecieth, and ſo was able the better to make vſe of it vntounto the people; vnderunder that one of Ieroboam the ſonne of Ioaſh (when our Prophet firſt began) all the Kings of Iſrael are comprehended in this place, as many as raigned from him to Hezechiah.
The authority of this Prophet cannot be called in queſtion: He is cited by our Sauiour Chriſt, Math. 9 13. & 12. 7. by the Euangeliſt writing by Gods Spirit; Math. 2. 15. and laſtly, by the Apoſtle Paul, 1. Cor. 15. 55. & Rom. 25. 26. where he voucheth him by name.
2. The beginning of that which Iehouah ſpake by Hoſhea: And Iehouah ſaid vntounto Hoſhea; Goe take vntounto thee a aHebr. A Wife of whoredomes, and children of whoredomes.Wife, an Harlot, and children begot in fornication; for the Land hath greatly gone a whoring bFrom after Iehouah., departing from Iehouah.
3. So he went and tooke Gomer, a cDaughter.woman of Diblaim: who conceiued and bare him a ſonne.
4. Then ſaid Iehouah vntounto him, call his name Izreel: for yet a little while and I will viſite the dBloods.ſlaughters of Izreel vponupon the houſe of Iehu, and will make the Kingdome to ceaſe in the houſe of Iſrael.
5. And it ſhall be in that day: that I will breake the bow of Iſrael, becauſe of the valley of Izreel.
2. The ſumme of the Prophecie, is a fearefull denouncing of Gods iudgements againſt the people for their ſinnes, & a ſweet publiſhing of mercies to a ſmall remnant, the little handfull of Gods Elect, it is all typicall or declaratiue of the Type.
The typicall part, which hath alſo an application going with it) in the three firſt Chapters, vnderunder two types; whereof the firſt (in the firſt and ſecond Chapter) is of a Wife, an Harlot, and Children begot in fornication; whom the Prophet is willed to take, not as though hee ſhould take the mother and them together (which could not bee, they being borne after) but becauſe from a wicked and vncleane mother, hee was to hauehave baſe and miſbegotten Iſſue.
Whether the Prophet in truth tooke ſuch a wife, which God commanding, cannot be diſhoneſt; or as rather muſt be thought by way of ſimilitude only and comparing himſelfe with a man marrying in that ſort, to taxe the peoples infidelity and falling away from God by ſpirituall adultery with their falſe Gods and Idols.
This Wife, an Harlot figureth the Kingdome of the Iſraelites that went a whoring from God, their lawfull Huſband, to whom they were eſpouſed.
3. Shee is called Gomer, that is to ſay, entierty or perfection; for that the whole body of Iſrael was vouchſafed the honour of this ſpirituall marriage.
Shee is ſaid to be a woman of Diblaim, or out of Diblah, that waſt and huge wilderneſſe which you reade of, Ezech. 6. 24. to ſhew that, not their merit, but Gods free and gracious goodneſſe aduanced them to that eſtate and dignitie.
The three Children begot in fornication, figure the iudgements which by ſo many degrees were to light vponupon this people, eueryevery one heauier than the other.
4. The firſt Child is a ſon, whoſe name was Izreel, by the name of the ten Tribes Mother-Citie: figuring the ruine of Iehues houſe, and of the Kings of Iſrael in his line, which is ſet forth.
Firſt, by the circumſtance of time, that it ſhould come quickly to paſſe: for Zachariah, Ieroboams ſonne, raigned but 6. moneths; then Shallum the ſonne of Iabeſh conſpired againſt him, ſlue him, and raigned in his ſtead.
Secondly, by the effects, that from that time forward God will weaken the force of the whole State and Kingdome, by home diſſentions and forraigne warres.
Thirdly, by the cauſe of this iudgement, becauſe ſaith he, of the valley of Izreel, that is, the ſlaughters and maſſacres which Iehu made there; which, albeit God had commanded and was well pleaſed with, yet for that hee did it not with an vpright heart, God iuſtly puniſhed it in his poſteritie.
6. Afterwards ſhe conceiued againe and bare a Daughter, and Iehouah ſaid vntounto him, call her name Loruhamab: for I aI wil not adde any more towill no more hauehave mercy vponupon the houſe of Iſrael, that I ſhould any way forgiue them.
7. But on the houſe of Iuda I will hauehave mercy, and will ſaue them by Iehouah their God: and will not ſaue them by bowe, nor by ſword, nor by battaile, by horſes, nor by horſemen.
6. The ſecond Child is a Daughter, named Loruhamab, that is not obtaining mercy, it figureth the vtter deſolation of the tenne Tribes, begun by Tiglah Pileſer, King of Aſhur, when he carried away captiue the Reubenites, Gadites, & halfe tribe of Manaſſe. 1. Chron. 5. 26. and perfited by Salmanaſer, who vtterly ouerthrew the reſidue of the Kingdome of Iſrael, 1. King. 17.
This age is compared to a Daughter, becauſe from that time forward, after the bow of Iſrael, that is, all their power and ſtrength ſo broken, they ſhould bee no more able to defend themſelues, than if they were a common-wealth of women. Their miſery in this behalfe you hauehave aggrauated two wayes.
Firſt, that it ſhall be without hope of reſtitution. God will not hauehave mercy on them to pardon their ſinnes and graciouſly to reſtore them after they are once carried Captiues.
7. Secondly, by Gods contrary dealing with the houſe of Iuda, whom the Aramites, and they confederating together did moſt maliciouſly ſeeke to ruine.
Theſe he ſaith he, will ſaue for his mercies ſake, & ſheweth how and by whom; by Ieſus Chriſt true God and true man, the ground and foundation of the Couenant, and of all Gods promiſes, whom in the fulneſſe of time God would ſend among them: not by their owne forces, nor by any forraine helpes. The meaning is, the Tribe of Iuda, notwithſtanding their captiuity in Babylon, from the which he will ſet them free, ſhall continue a Tribe ſtill, and certaine ſome principality, and forme of Gouernment till Shiloh (which is his ſonne) doe come and that the Gentiles beleeue in him.
8. Now when ſhe had weined Loruhamah: Shee conceiued and bare a ſoune.
9. Then ſaid Iehouah, call his name Loammi: for yee are not my people neither will I be yours.
10. Yet the number of the Children of Iſraell ſhall be as the ſand of the ſea which cannot be meaſured, nor tould: and inſtead of that it was ſaid vntounto them, yee are not my people, it ſhall bee ſaid vntounto them, yee are the ſonnes of the liuing God Almighty.
11. When the Children of Iuda and the Children of Iſrael, gathering themſelues together and ſetting ouer them one head, ſhall come vp out of the Land: for great ſhall the day of Izreel bee.
8. The third Childe which ſhe bare after the weaning of the former, that is to ſay, after that the patience of God had long expected for their conuerſion, and found no amendment, but a deſperate going on in ſinne, is a ſonne.
9. Loammi, not my people, figuring the finall reiection and caſting off of the whole Nation of the Iewes for refuſing 2. Poſit. Reiection.the Lord of life, (whom the Father ſent to ſaue them) that they ſhould bee no longer his Church and people.
10. But the ſharpneſſe of this ſentence, the Prophet, by way of correction of his ſpeech doth qualifie and remper with moſt heauenly comforts, the ſweete promiſes of the Ghoſpell: for,
Firſt, howſoeuer the whole Nation of the Iewes is thus to bee abandoned, yet at the laſt a Church ſhall bee gathered 5. Poſit. Call.of them through grace, and that no ſmall multitude, but a number numberleſſe; when looking with ſorrow and true repentance vpō him whom they hauehave thruſt through: they ſhall be made not his people only, but the ſonnes of the liuing God.
Secondly, the Gentiles ſhall together with them embrace the Goſpell; for ſo is this place expounded: Rom. 9. 44 Poſit. All nations embracing Chriſt.24. 25. and 1. Pet. 2. 10. yet of neceſſity the calling of the Gentiles heere pointed at, muſt be entended that which is after the Iewes conuerſion; but that ſerueth well to warrant the firſt inceptions of their calling: to which purpoſe the Apoſtles doe there apply it.
Thirdly, the tenne Tribes as well as Iudah ſhall bee vouchſafed this honour, to bee called to the participation 8. Poſit. Ten Tribes.of Chriſt.
Fourthly, the vnion of them into one body and one Religion; 29. Poſit. One Kingdome.for they ſhall all ſubmit to one head Chriſt, and make but one Kingdome.
Fiftly, their returne vntounto Ieruſalem againe comming out 23 Poſit. Dwell in their Countrey.of the Countries whether they were diſperſed: there to re-edifie and ſet vp his ſpirituall worſhip and ſeruice.
Sixtly, the greatneſſe of this worke: for great, ſaith hee, ſhall the day of Izreel bee; great, in regard of their great diſtreſſe, the ſoreſt time of affliction that euer was; great, in regard of their great deliuery, farre to be preferred before their deliuerance out of Aegypt; great, in regard of the great deſtruction of their great enemie that ſhall fall before them. Laſtly, (which it ſeemeth the Prophet heere doth ſpecially reſpect) great in regard of the great and 38 Poſit. Multitude of of belieuers.maruellous encreaſe of the Church, the plentifull ſeede which God will ſow in the ſame (as Eſay did alſo prophecie, Eſay 49. 50. 51. &c. multiplying them with men as it were with flocks of ſheepe, Ezech. 36. 38. Ier. 31. 37. which is the number numberleſſe, whereof he ſpake in the former verſe.
Seauenthly, heerevpon a new name is giuen to this people to be called Izreel, or the ſeede of Gods owne ſowing: And ſo by a Paranomaſia or alluſion of ſpeech, hee doth elegantly open another, and a more ſweet etymologie of that name which before ſerued for the threatning of Iudgement, heere it is vſed to note the promiſes of grace from God, as it is Chapter. 2. 16. which place doth anſwer vntounto this, and openeth the meaning of it.
The receiued opinion is, that the ſecond Child Loruhamah figureth the captiuity of the Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manaſſeh, & the third child Loammi, the captiuity of the reſt of the ten Tribes: But that cānot ſtand: for,
Firſt, in the ſecond Childe hee expreſſly nameth the whole houſe of Iſrael, verſ. 6.
Secondly, he oppoſeth them to the houſe of Iuda, verſ. 7. not to the reſidue of thoſe tribes of Iſrael.
Thirdly, the iudgement threatned in the third Childe, is after Iehouah Chriſt his comming into the world, by whom Iuda ſhould bee ſaued; whilſt the other remained Captiues, verſ. 7. Therefore the captiuity of the ten tribes muſt go before the third Childe borne.
Fourthly, the reiection (ſpoken of in the third Childe) doth properly and aptly concerne the Iewes that were at Chriſts comming, not thoſe led away by Salmanazar.
Fiftly, the promiſe of reſtoring Iuda no leſſe than Iſrael ſheweth that they had their part in the former threatnings.
Sixtly, the mother of theſe Children is called Gomer, that is to ſay, entiertie or perfection, verſ. 3. The very name teaching vsus that the type extendeth as well to the tribe of Iuda as to the other tribes. And therefore they muſt needs bee meant by the third Childe, and Conſequently all Iſrael by the ſecond: vponupon this one thing well obſerued dependeth (in a manner) the true vnderſtanding of the whole Propheſie; for hereby is euident that the three firſt Chapters, and conſequently the laſt foure, which in effect are but an explanation of the promiſes in the former, are to be referred to the Kingdome of Chriſt to be ſet vp among the Iewes in the laſt dayes which we expect, & is yet to come.
CHAP. 2.
1. Say vntounto your brethren, O my people, and to your ſiſters, O thou that haſt obtained mercy.
2. Plead with your Mother, plead, how ſhe is not my wife, neihther am I her husband: That ſhe put away her fornications out of her ſight, and her adulteries from betweene her breaſts.
3. Leſt I ſtrippe her naked, and ſet her as the day ſhee was borne; and diſpoſing her as in a wilderneſſe, and ſetting her as in a drie land, doe make her dye for thirſt.
4. And ſhew no mercy to her Children, for they bee children aOf Whoredomes.be got infornication.
Hitherto of the Type: The Application ſtandeth of three parts; eueryevery one expreſſing more clearely than other, the Peoples Apoſtaſie, and falling away from God: the miſerable condition which this Apoſtaſie ſhould bring vppon them, and the gracious promiſe of reſtoring them againe. All which things were ſo handled in the three laſt verſes of the former Chapter.
Firſt, therefore is an exhortation to true repentance; for feare of Gods iudgements, vttered by an Apoſtrophe, or turning of the ſpeech to the poore remnant of Gods elect, 3. Poſit. Remnant.whereby is giuen to vnderſtand, that there ſhall ſtill remaine a holy ſeede in the middeſt of this dereliction, whom the Prophet heere inuiteth to a moſt religious and holy duty.
That by wholſome admonitions they would ſtay and hold vp their declined Synagogue from vtter falling away, O you my people of either ſort, not of the tribe of Iuda only, but euen of the other tribes; for to them alſo the promiſe doth belong, Ier. 37. &c. Ezech. 37. 16. &c. and elſewhere) as many of you as ſhall obtaine grace to eſcape out of the ſlauery of ſinne and Sathan, into the glorious libertie of the ſonnes of God, ſtirre vp one another by holy exhortation.
2. And all of you together ſtay and hold vp the declined Synagogue and Church of Iſrael; By reprouing her for her ſinnes, thoſe ſpirituall whoredomes that hauehave broken the marriage bond betweene God and her.
3. And by threatning betimes, before her fall and finall deſolation come, the Iudgements of God, both vponupon her ſelfe, by an vtter depriuing her of all his guifts and graces, (which in the Scriptures are compared with waters, and the lacke of them with the drie and barren deſert.)
And vponupon her Children the particular members of that Synagogue, who louelove and liue in the adulteries of their mother.
With ſome hope neuertheleſſe of grace and of forgiueneſſe, if ſhee returne and ſeeke the Lord, as by the word leaſt is ſecretly giuen to vnderſtand.
5. For their mother hath plaid the harlot, ſhee that conceiued them hath dealt ſhamefully: for ſhee ſaid, I will goe after my Louers, that giuegive me my bread and my waters, my wool and my flaxe, my oyle and my drinkings.
6. Therefore, behold, I will hedge thy way with thornes, and aWall, a wall.reare a wall that ſhe ſhall not finde her pathes.
7. And though ſhee follow after he Louers, yet ſhall ſhee not come at them, though ſhe ſeeke them, yet ſhall ſhee not finde them: that at the length ſhee ſhall ſay, I will goe and returne, to that my former huſband, for then was it better with mee, then now.
8. For ſhe knoweth not that I gaue vntounto her, the corne and the new wine and the oyle: alſo that I multiplied vntounto her ſiluer and gold wherewith they made Baal.
9. Therefore will I returne and take away my corne in the time thereof: and will deliuer my wooll and my flaxe, aTo hauehave couered.which ſhould hauehave couered her nakedneſſe.
10. That I may vncouer her leudneſſe in the ſight of her louers: and no man ſhall deliuer her out of my hand.
11. And I will cauſe all her mirth to ceaſe, her feſtiuall, her new moone, her Sabboth: and all her ſolemnitie.
12. And I will lay waſte her vines and her figtrees: whereof ſhe hath ſaid: Theſe are my rewards that my Louers hauehave giuen me: and I will make them a foreſt, and the beaſts of the field ſhall eate them.
13. So will I viſite vponupon her the dayes of Baalim, wherein ſhe burnt incenſe to them, and decking her ſelfewith her earing and her iewel, went after her Louers: but forgat mee, the ſpeech of Iehouah.
5. In the ſecond part, you hauehave a declaration of their ſin & of the miſeries inflicted for the ſame, which are the reaſon why God ſo calleth vpō his people, to vſe this exhortation.
The ſinne is expreſſed to be her going a whoring impudently and ſhameleſly after ſtrange Gods and People, contrarie to the dutie of a Wife. Not onelyonly ſo, but a wicked ſetling of her ſelfe to the like ſinnes heereafter, all mixed with extreame ingratitude; in that ſhee aſcribed vntounto theſe ſtrange ones the thankes of all ſhee did poſſeſſe.
6. Then come the miſeries inflicted for the ſame, wherein Gods purpoſe was to keepe her by croſſes and afflictions (as vnruly beaſts by walles and fenſes are kept within their paſtures) from being able to fulfill her deſire of committing fornication with them.
7. Though neuer ſo much ſhe hunt and follow after it, that by this meanes breaking her obſtinate and froward heart, ſhe may come vntounto repentance, and betake her ſelfe to God her lawfull huſband, whom to her loſſe ſhe had forſaken.
8. And the better to imprint theſe things in their mind he repeateth both the ſinne, their idolatry and blinde ingratitude, that not only would not know the hand from whence ſo many and ſo great bleſſings came, but to the diſhonour of God beſtowed them vponupon Idols.
And the miſerable condition which this ſhould bring vponupon them: for,4. Poſit. Deſolation.
9. Stripping them of all the comforts and commodiof this life, and freeing his creatures out of the poſſeſſion of thoſe vniuſtowners, who ſo wretchedly abuſed them to a wrong and contrary end then God hath giuen them: for,
10. Hee will expoſe them to publike ſhame and infamie.
11. Secondly all outward forme of Gods worſhip, (the ſolace, and ioy of their life ſhall be taken from them.
12. Thirdly, the Countrey they tooke ſuch pleaſure in, not looking vp to God that gaue it, their fruitfull and pleaſant Gardens, Orchards, and Vineyards, ſhall be turned into a wildernes.
All which things we ſee hauehave fallen more heaully vponupon this people, than euer they did vponupon any nation.
13. Idolatrie (wherevnto he reſorteth to ſhew how iuſt the ſentence is,) the cauſe of all this, which ſhee ſo diated on, thinking no paine too much, all coſt too little, to compaſſe her deſires, and followed it ſo hard making a trade of it, that tranſported with blinde louelove, ſhee forgat her lawband.
By this of Idols, which hee mentioneth according to the ſtate of thoſe times, is meant, the worſhip of falſe Gods whatſoeuer, as all worſhip is that looketh not to God in Chriſt.
14. Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the Wilderneſſe, and will ſpeake to her heart.
15. And I will giuegive her her Uineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor, for the doore of hope: that ſhee ſhall ſing there as in the dayes of her youth, that is, as in the day when ſhe came out of the Land of Aegypt.
14. The third part of the Chapter hath a promiſe of the Iewes reſtoring, vttered Allegorically by an elegant alluſion to the whole manner and courſe that it pleaſed God to vſe for the bringing of that people into the Land of Canaan when they came out of Aegypt.
Firſt, the power of his ſpirit mouing her as hee ſent Moſes, and Aaron to inuite them whilſt they were ſlaues in Egypt.
Secondly, the ſore diſtreſſe ſhe ſhall be in, vponupon making 16. Poſit. Sore diſtreſſe.head to repaire to her owne home, As the Iſraelites were when God led them into the wilderneſſe, and there made them to wander ſo vp and downe, ſee Ezech. 20 35. 36.
Thirdly, the promiſes of God vpholding her the whilſt, as his word and the Symbole of his preſence ſtrengthend the Iſraelites in their toyleſome iourneyes.
15. Fourthly, the bringing of her into her owne country againe, freed and deliuered out of that deſert, thoſe troubles 23. Poſit. Dwell in their Country.and calamities which he ſpake of the ſoreſt time of affliction, (as Daniel propheſieth, Dan. 12. 1.) that euer was ſince there was a nation vntounto that day: This the Prophet ſetteth before their eyes, by pointing at the ports and gates whereby this people, hauing wandered firſt a long time in the wilderneſſe, were brought from the deſert beyond Iordan vntounto the hither ſide: for the firſt doore and entrance as it were into the Land of promiſe which they ſo hoped and wiſhed for, after they were once paſſed Iordan, was the valley of Achor, famous for the ſtory of Achan ſtoned there.
Fiftly, faith, hope, and ſpirituall bleſſings, a pledge and earneſt pennie of the promiſed inheritance: as the firſt 36. Poſit. Spirituall graces.footing ouer Iordan and the fruitfulneſſe of thoſe ſoyles, lifted vp their hearts with a certaine expectation of a thorow poſſeſſing of the whole countrey.
Sixtly, the ioy of the Church reſtored to her ancient ſeates, as both men and women, Miriam and the maidens ſong when they came out of Aegypt.
And ſo hee lifteth vp their hearts to the waiting for of another, and a more famous deliuerance, when as in the yeare of Iubile, they ſhall not onelyonly returne to their poſſeſſions againe, but hauehave the ſame accompanied in their natiue ſoyle with ſpirtuall freedome from ſinne and Sathan, and with ſuch noble graces, and firſt fruits of the ſpirit.
16. And it ſhall bee in that day the ſpeech of Iehouah, that thou ſhalt call mee my Huſband, and ſhalt call mee no more 40. Poſit. Ioy.my Baal.
17. For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth: yea, they ſhall be no more remembred by their name.
18. And in that day will I make a couenant for them with the beaſts of the field, and with the foule of the heauen, and with that which creepeth vponupon the earth, and breaking the bow and the ſword, and the battell out of the Land, I will make them to lye downe in ſafety.
19. And I will eſpouſe thee vntounto me for euer: I will, I ſay, eſpouſe thee vntounto me in righteouſneſſe, and in iudgement, in kindneſſe and in mercy.
20. And will eſpouſe thee into mee in faith, that thou maiſt know Iehouah.
21. It ſhall bee alſo in that day, that I will heare the ſpeech of Iehouah, I will heare the heauens, and they ſhall heare the earth.
22. And the earth ſhall heare the Corne, and the new wine, and the oyle; and they ſhall heare Izreel.
23. For I will ſow her for me in the Land, and I will hauehave mercy vponupon Loruhamah: and will ſay vntounto Loammi, thou art my people, and he ſhall ſay, my God.
16. In the fourth part of the Chapter are Euangelicall promiſes made vntounto the Iewes being reſtored and brought home.
Firſt, her receiuing of Chriſt: acknowledging him 5. Poſit. Call.for her iuſt and lawfull Husband, and calling him by that name.
17. Secondly, Reformation of the Church from all 34. Poſit. Puritie.corruption in Gods ſeruice, noted by that one of rooting our Idolatry.
18. Thirdly, the Churches ſafety through God ſpeciall 41. Poſit. Safety of the Church.care and protection, making the verie beaſts of the field and all things, to be at peace with them.
19. Fourthly, hee will communicate vntounto them all good both the fountaine of good, and the ſtreames flowing from it.
The fountaine is the betrothing vntounto Chriſt, that is, their ſpirituall coniunction with him, which the Apoſtle calleth a taking of them to. Rom. 11. 15. enlarged.
Firſt, by the conſtancie and eternitie of it.43. Poſit. Perpetuity.
Secondly, by the fundamentall cauſe, the righteouſneſſe and mercy of God, to whom in my iudgement theſe words are to be referred: As Rom. 3. 24, 25, 26. 1. Pet. 1. 1. 1. Ioh. 1. 9. But if you liſt to vnderſtand them otherwiſe then is this ſpirituall coniunction with Chriſt heere ſecondly enlarged by the guifts and graces going there withall, and which hee will beſtow vponupon them, which are of two ſorts.
Firſt, righteouſneſſe and iudgement, then kindneſſe and mercy; one noting the ſincerity and integritie of their wayes: the other, their prompt and cheerfull performance of all brotherly duties. But the former ſence agreeth better.
20. Thirdly, by the inſtrument or means of apprehending all this, and making it their owne; euen faith which is the 26. Poſit. Spirituall graces.true and ſauing knowledge of God.
21. The ſtreames flowing from this fountaine of our coniunction with God, are all manner of bleſſings.
Firſt, temporall, in the fruitfulneſſe of their Land: all the creatures in heauen and in earth conſpiring as it were 17. Poſit. Fruitfulneſſe of the Land.together, and in their kinde deſiring it at his hands.
22. God will furniſh aboundantly for the Churches good the remnant of that Izreel, whereof hee ſpake before Chapter 1. 2. which are her Children of the ſeed of Iaacob, begotten through faith in Chriſt.
22. Secondly, Gods couenant with the whole Church, the naturall mother of the true Iſrael & with her children, whō 35. Poſit. Couenant.before hee ſaid, hee would hauehave no pitty of; nor they ſhould be none of his: But now hee promiſeth to except thoſe remnant, the true griffes, and Plants wherewith he wil ſow his Church.
And ſo hauehave you admirably ſet forth the beauty of the holy Citie, new Ieruſalem, comming down from God out of Heauen, furniſhed as a Bride trimmed for her husband, Reu. Chapt. 21. 23. that is of the Church of the Iewes when they ſhall embrace Chriſt.
CHAP. 3.
1. Afterwards Iehouah ſaid vntounto mee, yet goe, louelove a woman beloued of a friend, and playing the adultreſſe: Such as is Iehouahs louelove toward the Children of Iſrael, and they looke to other Gods, and louelove flaggons of aGrapes.wine.
2. So I bought her me for fifteene ſhekels of ſiluer; and for an homer and a halfe of Barley.
3. And I ſaid vntounto her, many dayes ſhalt thou abide for mee, play not the harlot, nor bee another mans: likewiſe will I for thee.
4. For many dayes ſhall the children of Iſrael abide without a King, and without a Prince, and without ſacrifice, and without a statue, and without an Ephod, and without Images.
5. Afterwards ſhall the children of Iſrael returne, and ſeeke Iehouah their God, and Dauid their King: and bShall feare to Iehouah.fearefully ſhall come to Iehouah and his goodneſſe in the laſt dayes.
1. The ſecond Type not much vnlike former, together with the declaration of the Type, are both in this Chapter.
For the Type hee taketh a woman eſpouſed, and to bee married, but long put off for her adulteries.
As God hath loued and betrothed the Iſraelites, but for their idolatries a great while neglected them, whom yet in the end hee will be pleaſed to ioyne to himſelfe in ſpirituall marriage.
It riſeth in theſe degrees.
Firſt, God in bidding the Prophet to louelove a woman that had plaid the Adultreſſe, intimateth his louelove and purpoſe to call them home, euen when they went a whoring after ſtrange Gods, forſaking the true worſhip & ſeruice of God in Chriſt.
That is meant after the manner of thoſe times, by looking to other Gods and louing bottles of wine: for in thoſe Sacrifices to Idols, the manner was to drinke wine aboundantly.
Secondly, the Prophet bought her, which I interprete to bee the ſetting apart of a remnant, whom hee 3. Poſit. Remnant.would afterwards call with a holy calling and marry vntounto himſelfe.
3. The price he paid 15. pieces of ſiluer, and an homer and a halfe of Barley: vnderunder that the Law requireth for a bond ſlaue, Exod. 21. 32. (and ſlaues onelyonly were ſaleable) noteth her vilde and baſe condition at the time, worſe then any ſlaue, whether you conſider her ſpirituall thraldome, or miſerable diſperſion among the nations: for of all people in the world they are now the baſeſt & moſt contemptible.
3. Fourthly, the long continuance of this their ſlauery; hauing beene in that eſtate almoſt 1600. yeares ſince the deſtruction of their Temple and Citie by Ueſpaſian.
Fiftly, the vtter deſolation which ſhall bee among them all that while: by alluſion to the law, Deut. 21. 13.4. Poſit. Deſolation.
Sixtly, Gods promiſe to call them home by faith and true repentance at the laſt, in that hee is pleaſed to ſtay for 5. Poſit. Call. …them till the time that they alſo ſhall be ioyned in ſpirituall wedlocke.
4. Thus farre of the Type: The ſignification of the Type expreſſeth cleerely.
Firſt, their long deſolation and miſerable ſtate of things 4. Poſit. Deſolation.all that while, in that they ſhall hauehave no forme nor face of Church or Common wealth, no, not of a corrupt, or depraued Church.
5. Secondly, the promiſe of their conuerſion, that in 5. Poſit. Call.the laſt dayes or laſt yeare as Ezechiel hath it, Ezech. 38 8. they ſhall embrace Chriſt their King (who is called heere Iehouah and Dauid) kiſſe the Sonne, and with feare and trembling ſubmit themſelues vntounto his Kingdome, for all the while they reiected him, they were without God in the world. Ephe. 2. 12.
CHAP. 4.
1. Heare the word of Iehouah, yee children of Iſrael: for Iehouah hath a controuerſie with the Inhabitants of the Land, becauſe there is no faithfulneſſe, nor kindneſſe, nor knowledge of God in the Land.
2. By ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and ſtealing, and whoring: they doe breake out, that aFrom vnderunder their God.aBlouds touch bloods.murders touch one another.
3. Therefore the Land ſhall mourne and eueryevery one that dwelleth therein ſhall become feeble, bWith the beaſts, and with foule.both the beaſts of the field, and the foule of the heauen: yea alſo, the fiſhes of the Sea ſhall bee taken away.
4. Yet let not a man contend, neither let a man rebuke: for thy people are as they that contend with the Prieſt.
5. Therefore ſhalt thou fall in the day, and the Prophet ſhall alſo fall with thee in the night, and I will cut off thy Mother.
6. My people ſhall be cut off for lack of knowledge: becauſe thou haſt reiected knowledge, I will alſo reiect thee from being a Prieſt to me: and ſeeing thou haſt forgotten the Law of thy God, I will alſo forget thy children.
7. As they were encreaſed, ſo they ſinned againſt mee: I will changs their glory into ſhame.
8. They eate vp the ſinne of my people: Therefore vponupon their iniquitie doe they ſet their heart.
9. Wherefore there ſhall bee like people, like Prieſts: when I ſhall viſite his wayes vponupon him, and render vntounto him his doings.
10. For though they eate, yet ſhall they not hauehave enough, though they commit fornication, yet ſhall they not breake forth in multitude: for they hauehave left of to obſerue Iehouah.
11. Whoredome, and wine, and new wine take away the heart.
12. My people aske counſell at their ſtock, that their ſtaffe may tell them: for the ſpirit of fornication cauſeth them to erre; that they goe a whoring, aFrom vnderunder their God.turning from their God.
13. They ſacrifice vponupon the toppes of the mountaines, and burne incenſe vponupon the hilles vnderunder the Oake, and Poplar, and Elme, becauſe the ſhadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlots, and your ſpouſes commit adulterie.
14. Should I not viſite your daughters becauſe they play the harlots, and your ſpouſes becauſe they commit adultery? Becauſe theſe with harlots doe ſeparate things which they may ſacrifice with whores: yes verily, the people that doth not vnderſtand ſhall bee ruined.
1. Hitherto of the typicall part of this Propheſie. That which is declaratiue of the Type ſtandeth vponupon two parts, as the Type it ſelfe doth.
Firſt, the ſinnes of the people and Gods iudgements vppon them for the ſame.
Secondly, the promiſe of grace, peace and reconciliation to a little remnant.
The former of the two hee comprehendeth in three Sermons.
Whereof the firſt (in this fourth Chapter) hath a notable reproofe of the Iſraelites ſinnes, three in number: vnfaithfulneſſe, inhumanitie, ignorance of God, and an enterlaced threatning of Iudgements for the ſame.
Both firſt propounded, and afterwards amplified and enlarged.
2. Their vnfaithfulneſſe and perfidious treachery: breaking all the duties of the ſecond Table, in moſt outragious manner like a current or a ſtreame that cannot bee kept within any bounds: inſomuch that euen bloudſhed, and murder were growne ſo common, that dead carcaſes lay by heapes one vponupon another.
3. But the puniſhment ſhould bee, a wofull calamitie and generall plague vponupon the whole Land, & all the commodities of it.
4. Their barbarous inhumanity, noted to bee ſo great that they can abide no reprehenſion, ſo as it were but loſt labour to goe about to admoniſh them: They are ſo fierce, that there is no dealing with them, but they doe all manner of wickedneſſe, obſtinately and with an high hand; and therefore are in as great fault as thoſe that hearken not to the Prieſt.
5. But ſince they will not be ſet to rights, they ſhall ſtumble and fall, and that preſently, both people and Prophet, one with another, yea their Kingdome and mother Citie.
6. The ignorance as well of the people as of the Prieſts, maketh that both Prieſts and people ſhall be reiected.
The Prieſts, from their Prieſtly function, which they hauehave ſo abuſed, for their lippes ought to hauehave preſerued knowledge, the people from being any more his.
7. An vnworthy thing that the Prieſts, eſpecially ſhould ſo much forget themſelues and ſinne ſo hainouſly againſt the Lord, by whom they were ſo much aduanced: But thoſe that honour God, hee will honour, and ſuch as deſpiſe him, ſhall be ſet light by.
8. They (which is horrible to imagine) becauſe their liuelihood groweth by the ſacrifices of the People, are ſo farre from finding fault with the peoples ſinnes, that contrariwiſe all their heart and minde is to hauehave them ſinne, and as much as in them lyeth they bring in a licenſe and impunity of ſinning, to ſerue their owne bellies and ambitions, becauſe by the peoples ſacrifices for ſinne, they hauehave wherewith to maintaine their gormandizing and filthy pleaſures.
9. But both Prieſt and People ſhall ſmart for it and reape according as they hauehave ſowne.
11. To gormandizors and voluptuous liuers, ſhall come famine and the plague, wherewith themſelues ſhall be conſumed, as at the ſiege of Samaria, ſo farre ſhall they be from being full or multiplying.
11. Howſoeuer, their whordome and gurmondizing ſo take away their heart that they heede not Gods threatnings, nor his iudgmēts, though the ſame lie neuer ſo much vponupon them, and that they are in the very middeſt of them.
12. Thoſe that commit ſpirituall fornication and forſaking God, runne a whoring after Idols, in eueryevery place where they can meete with them: God will pay it into their boſomes by home adulteries and fornications.
14. To the ruine of them and their families, iuſtly and righteouſly; when as they are carried ſo headlong to adulrie, that they ſtick not to make choyce at home of the beſt and ſweeteſt morſels, which vnderunder colour of religion, they deuoure openly with their ſtrumpets.
15. Though thou Iſrael play the harlot, yet let not Iudah offend: And goe not yee to Gilgal, nor goe vp to Bethauen, neither ſweare Iehouah liueth.
16. For as an vnruly heifer Iſrael is vnruly: now will Iehouah feede them as a Lambe in a large place.
17. Ephraim is conſociate to aBugges.Idols, let him alone.
18. Their bibbing of wine is vnruly: they bIn going a whoring they goe a whoring.continually goe a whoring, they louelove giuegive yee, her cShidde.protectors are ignominie it ſelfe.
19. The winde ſhall binde her vp in her wings: and they ſhall bee aſhamed becauſe of their ſacrifices.
15. From theſe premiſes groweth a concluſion, which may goe for a ſecond part of the Chapter, by way of Caueat to the tribe of Iuda, not to communicate with the Iſraelites in their ſinnes, not ſo much as to enter into their borders, (as Gilgal was their border towne) for Idolatry ſake, nor to runne a whoring after the Idoll of Bethel, which in ſcorne hee calleth Bethauen the houſe and manſion of iniquity, much leſſe to blaſpheme God, and to take his ſacred name in vaine, ſwearing and binding themſelues thereby into idolatry.
16. Of which Caueat there be two reaſons rendred; the obſtinate rebellion of the Iſraelites, and Gods ſeuere iudgements ready to ſeize vponupon them; for euen as they are like vntamed heyfers, ſo will God giuegive them ouer as a ſheepe left at large in the open paſtures for eueryevery one to pray vppon.
17. Wherfore their obſtinacy in ſinning is firſt ſet forth, in regard whereof, hee wiſheth Iuda to hauehave nothing to do with them: being Idolaters, rebellious, (for ſo their bibbing 18.of wine doth make them) fornicators, bribers, to conclude, ſhamefull offendors: yea the Princes themſelues, who for their place and dignity ought to excel in vertue, and to be the glory and protection of Gods people, are of all other the moſt infamous.
19. Then hee ſetteth forth the iudgement, that the winde as in her wings will binde them vp and reſerue them into puniſhment.
CHAP. 5. 6. 7.
1. Heare this, O yee Prieſts, and attend, O yee houſe of Iſrael and yee the Kings houſe giuegive eare, for to you pertaineth this iudgement: because yee hauehave beene a ſnare in Mizpah, and a net ſpred voon Tabor.
2. They that turning aſide to make ſlaughter aDeepen.goe into deepe places: Iam a correction to them all.
CHAP. 5.
1. The ſecond Sermon is in the 5. 6. and 7. Chapters, wherein being to declare grieuous crimes in both the kingdomes of Iſrael and Iuda, and the puniſhments of God vponupon them, he beginneth with an exordium to procure audience and attention to that which hee is to ſay, fetching arguments: firſt from their perſon, who all; to wit, the Prieſts, both the hedge Prieſts of Ieroboam, and the holy Prieſts of Leu…, the houſe of Iſrael, and the houſe of Iuda, which holding faſt to Dauid (the King ſet vp of God) are called the Kings houſe, doe well deſerue this ſentence, being as guilty of capitall crimes, as thieues and robbers by the high way ſide.
2. Next, from the perſon of God to whom it belongeth by his word and by his roddes, to chaſtiſe theſe robbers, that are like to thoſe that lurking in the caues and holes of the earth to murder poore ſoules.
3. I know Ephraim and Iſrael is not hid from mee: that now O Ephraim, thou playeſt the harlet, that Iſrael is defiled.
4. They aGeut.frame not their doings to turne vntounto their God; for the ſpirit of fornications is in the middeſt of them, and Iehovah they know not.
5. Yea, the pride of Iſrael doth teſtifie to his face: therefore ſhall Iſrael and Ephraim tumble downe in their iniquitie, Iudah alſo ſhall tumble with them.
6 Let them goe with their flocke, and with their heard to ſeeke Iehouah, but they ſhall not finde him; he withdraweth himſelfe from them.
7. Againſt Iehouah they hauehave dealt treacherouſlie; for they hauehave brought forth ſtrange children: now ſhall the monethmonth eate them vp, their parts.
8. Blow ye the Cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: ſhout at Bethaven, let Beuiamin behinde thee ſhout.
9. Ephraim ſhall be deſolate in the day of rebuke: when among the Tribes of Iſraell I ſhall make knowne the ſame to bee certaine.
10. The Princes of Iudah were like them that remooue the bound: vponupon them will I powre out as waters, mine indignation.
3. After the Exordium, in the ſecond place hee layeth downe their crimes; in body and ſoule ruſhing into all impietie.
4. Hauing no deſire of reformation, nor to bring forth the fruits of true repentance.
5. And therewithall the puniſhment for their pride and arrogancie, being ſo great that it may ſerue for a thouſand witneſſes to conuince their wickedneſſe: they ſhall therefore fall and be cut off, both ſorts of them, the ten Tribes, and Iuda.
6. So certainly, that they ſhall not be able with any externall ſeruice to appeaſe the wrath of God, nor to eſcape his hand and iudgement.
7. And euen as they make no bones to breake their faith to God by ſpirituall fornication, mingling, as it were, their ſeede with ſtrange Gods and forreine people: ſo it ſhall it come to them which happeneth to women worne with adulteries, as Ezechiel ſpeaketh that their monethly diſeaſes, procured by inordinate luſt eate vp and conſume their bodies.
8. Theſe Iudgements are garniſhed by a hypotipoſis, or a liuely pourtraiture and repreſentation thereof before their eyes: as if God did ſummon all the parts of the Land to prepare themſelues for an vnhappy war. Gibeah the bounder of Iuda, Rama the bounder of Iſrael; Bethauen, in the Deſert confining vponupon both, but longing to Bethel and vntounto Iſrael to conclude the Tribe of Iuda, ſcituate behind Beniamin.
9. For both Ephraim the flower of Iſrael, and all the Iſraelites, howſoeuer now they ſcorne my words and hold them for fables, ſhall one day feele the truth of them, being laid waſt and deſolate.
10. And vponupon the Princes of Iuda, that peruert Church and common wealth, and breake the bounds of all lawes diuine and humane, will I power forth my indignation in moſt plenteous and aboundant manner.
11. Ephraim is oppreſſed and cruſhed in iudgement: becauſe he will, he goeth after the commandement.
12. Therefore was I as a moth vntounto Ephraim: and as rottenneſſe to the houſe of Iuda.
13. But when Ephraim ſaw his diſeaſe and Iudah his ſore, then went Ephraim vntounto Aſhur, and Iuda ſent to a King that would protect: but hee ſhall not bee able to heale you, neither ſhall hee cure you of the ſore.
14. For I will be as a fierce Lyon to Ephraim, and as a young Lyon to the houſe of Iudah: I, I will teare and goe away, I will take vp and none ſhall reſcue.
15. I will goe returne to my place, till they acknowledge the offence, and ſeeke my face: aIn affliction vntounto them.when affliction is vponupon them, they will ſeeke me early, ſaying.
CHAP. 6.
1. Come and let vsus returne to Iehouah, for he hath torne and hee will heale vsus; hee hath ſmitten, and hee will binde vsus vp.
2. Hee will reſtore vsus to life within two dayes: the third day hee will raiſe vsus vp, and wee ſhall liue in his ſight.
3. And wee aShall know, follow after.ſhall know and proceed in the knowledge of Iehouah, as the morning whoſe going forth is ſteddy: and he ſhall come as the raine vntounto vsus, as the latter and ſeaſonable raine vntounto the earth.
4. What ſhould I doe to thee, O Ephraim? What ſhould I doe to thee, O Iudah; ſince your goodneſſe is as a morning cloud, and as the dew bMorning at a man may ſay.dropping early, goeth away.
5. Therefore hewed I by the Prophets, I ſlue them by the words of my mouth; and thy iudgements were as the light that breaketh forth.
6. That I am delighted with kindnes and not with ſacrifice; and with the knowledge of God more than with burnt offerings.
7. But they tranſgreſſed the couenant, as if it had beene a mans: there dealt they treacherouſly againſt me.
8. In Gilead they were eueryevery one, a City of workers of iniquity: aFootſtepped (if I may ſo ſay) with blood.with bloody footſteps.
9. And like to troopes waiting for a man, are the ſociety of Prieſts: they murder after the manner as it was at Sechem; for they worke abhomination.
10. In the houſe of Iſrael doe I ſee a horrible matter: There by the whoredome of Ephaim, Iſrael is defiled.
11. Yea, O Iudah, that Ephraim did put an harneſt in thee: whilſt I brought backe the captiue multitude of my people.
CHAP. 7.
1. Whilſt I heale Iſrael, then is the iniquity of Ephraim diſcouered, and the bWickedneſſes.exceeding wickedneſſe of Samaria; for they worke falſhood: and the thiefe commeth in, the troope ruſheth forth.
2. Neither doe they ſay cTo.in their heart, that I remember all their wickedneſſe: now their doings compaſſe them about, they are before my face.
3. With their wickedneſſe they make glad the King; and with their lies the Princes.
4. All of them are adulterers, as an ouen heated by the baker; who leaueth off watchings after hee hath kneaded the dough vntill it be leauened.
5. In the day of our King, the Princes hauehave made him ſicke, with heat caught of wine: hee hath ſtretched out his hand with ſcorners.
6. For they hauehave applied their heart to lying in waite, as an Ouen: which, whileſt their baker ſleepeth all night long, in the morning burneth as aA fire of a flame.a flaming fire.
7. They all waxe hot as the Ouen, and eat vp their Iudges: all their Kings fall, there is none among them that calleth vntounto me.
11. In the third place followeth a Narration of the offences of both theſe people, fiue in number, with iudgements ſuteable thereunto.
Firſt, will-worſhip and Idolatry; in preferring the ordinances of men before Gods inſtitution: That albeit his Iudgements lay heauy vponupon them, and cruſhed them to pieces, yet they were not therewith diſmayed, but with a full ſwing, and with their whole heart went after the traſh of mens inuentions only, becauſe it liked them better, then follow Gods Commandements.
12. Secondly, when God by chaſtiſements went about to reclaime them, waſting them as a moth doth a veſture, and as rottennes doth the bones.
13. They, though ſeeing and knowing it full well, betooke them not to God. But the Iſraelites and Menachen their King, they become tributaries vntounto Asſhur: Achaz the King of Iuda, hee flies vntounto the ſame, as vntounto a Bulwarke, though he ſhall not be able to doe them good.
14. Thirdly, neither Gods corrections nor his Word mouing them to repentance, can preuaile to make them from their heart to ſeeke vntounto him. Wherefore firſt hee ſpeaketh of correction, wherein God as a gracious and louing father, thought that partly by carying a hard hand vponupon them, renting and tearing them in peeces.
15. Partly by withdrawing his gracious preſence from them, keeping Court as it were, at another place, they would confeſſe themſelues guilty, and at the leaſt in their affliction earneſtly ſeeke his face.
CHAP. 6.
1. Secondly, he preſcribeth a forme of their conuerſion, what he would hauehave them to doe, and how to ſtirre vp one another.
Firſt, in acknowledging, by repentance, Gods iuſt and righteous hand before vponupon them.
Secondly, in apprehending through faith, the power of the ſame hand for their healing and repaire.
2. Grounding vponupon his kinde and gracious nature, eaſieto be intreated, and full of merciemercy and compaſſion to poore repentant ſinners: He will heale, hee will quicken, he will raiſe vp, we ſhall liue for euer before him.
3. And grow in faith and knowledge, as the light of the morning that groweth more and more vntounto the ſteddy day, Prou. 4. 18.
To conclude, hee will aboundantly beſtow vponupon vsus all ſpirituall bleſſings.
4. But neyther of theſe, his word nor chaſtiſements, or whatſoeuer God might doe elſe, could faſten vponupon his people a ſound and conſtant courſe of godlineſſe. If any good motions roſe within them, they quickly vaniſhed and came to nothing.
5. The fourth ſinne is, that albeit God ſeeing their inconſtancie and fickleneſſe in ſeruing him, cauſed his Prophets, their teachers and inſtructers, not onelyonly to ſlay and terrifie them with the horror of his deadly iudgements, that ſo they might be kept from euill, which is the firſt vſe of the Miniſter, but to hold forth the light and lanterne of the word, that they might know what they ought to doe, and be brought to vnderſtand and performe their duties, which is the ſecond vſe of the Miniſtery.
6. A thing more pleaſing vntounto God, than all ſacrifices and oblations.
7. Yet they brake the bonds of couenant betwene God and them, as if they had had to do but with a mortall man, yea (which mightilie encreaſeth the quality of their fault) where God ſo ſlew them, and ſhined vntounto them by his Prophets, euen there, in that place, they made no conſcience of tranſgreſſing againſt God, and falling to iniquity.
8. The whole land, euen all the parts of it; for in Gilead (the Country beyond Iordan) there was eueryevery Citie full of malefactors, bloudy men, and murderers. A man might trace them in their wickedneſſe, through the very ſtreets, for their footſteppes were in bloud.
9. The Colledge of Prieſts was a ſocietie and fraternity of robbers that ſtand by the high way ſide, they kill & ſlay after the manner as it was at Shechem, impudently, ſhameleſſly and audaciouſly, in barbarous and ſauage manner; a foule abhomination.
10. The people of Iſrael hauehave horribly tranſgreſſed, and committed ſpirituall fornication.
11. Yea Iuda alſo hath wrapped himſelfe in the ſame offences, and receiued from themthe ſeede of Idolatrie; when euen them, ſaith God, (which aggrauateth the offence) when I graciouſly brought backe my people from captiuity oppreſſed of Iſrael, and of Aram.
CHAP. 7.
1. Their fift offence is a greedineſſe in ſinning prouoking one another to all kinde of wickedneſſe: Set forth.
1. By a peeuiſh diſpoſition of theirs, when God meant moſt to doe them good. Euen as it fareth with a ſicke patient, who the more carefull the Phiſition is to preſcribe dyet for recouerie of his health, the more earneſtly is hee carried to all kinde of ſurfetting and diſorder, though it be the endangering of his life.
Secondly, by a diſtribution of their offences, for they abound both in flye and in open ſinnes, lying, theiuery, robbery.
2. Thirdly, they are ſo farre from being abaſhed to thinke that God ſeeth and remembreth all their iniquity, as contrarily they bragge and boaſt of the multitude of their ſinnes, euen as a man would doe of a guard of men that doe attend him.
3. Fourthly, all degrees, the King himſelfe and his nobles, and as the people of the Land adulterate themſelues.
4. Fiftly, all theſe runne as greedily after ſinne, (that ſin eſpecially the ſinne of adultery) as fire burneth in a hot ouen, when the Baker after hee hath kneaded his dough, ouertaken with ſleepe; forgetteth to make it cleaue.
5. Sixtly, by the circumſtance of time, euen that very day, when at the Kings Coronation, God is to bee ſerued and the Prince and people to bee put in minde of their dutie, then they doe moſt of all runne ryot. The Princes, who by their grauity and wiſedome ſhould bee the ſtayes, and proppes of the common wealth, hauehave their hand deepeſt in this offence; not only themſelues bibbers and toſſepots, but forcing one another to drink, till they fall into a ſurfet.
The pinte and quart, moderate and reaſonable meaſures will not ſerue their turne: but they muſt hauehave whole flaggons full of wine and drinke as wee ſay by the dozen. The King himſelfe quaffes as well as they and ioyneth hands with beaſtly drunkards: ſo impudent in their wickedneſſe, that they ſcorne both God and man.
6. Well did I therefore, ſaith the Prophet, reſemble them to an ouen; for they are as hot as any furnace, and furious vntounto euill.
The King indeed, as the Baker doth the ouen, ought to make cleane the common wealth, and by his power and authority to coole the heate and fury of the Princes.
But hee ſitteth ſtill and letteth all alone: that like the ouen which burneth all night long vntounto the morning.
7. They ſet a fire with wine, conſpire all of them againſt their King, his miniſters and ſeruants, whereby they change their kings apace: for by their conſpiracies many periſh in a ſhort time; wickedly if you reſpect the conſpirators: but iuſtly and righteouſly, if you looke vntounto the Kings themſelues; for they are all wicked Kings: there is none of them that calleth vponupon God.
8. Ephraim, he mingleth himſelfe among the people: Ephraim is as Cake not turned.
9. Strangers deuoure his ſtrength, and he knoweth not: yea, hoarineſſe is ſprinkled vponupon him and he knoweth not.
10. And though the Pride of Iſrael teſtifie to his face: yet they doe not returne to Iehouah their God, nor ſeeke him for all that.
11. But Ephraim is like a ſilly doue, without heart: to Aegypt they call, to Aſhur they goe.
8. The fourth and laſt part of this Prophecie hath a ſummarie repetition of the peoples ſinnes and of Gods iudgements in that regard.
Their ſinnes, firſt, conſociating with ſtrangers and making a mixture of their religion with the ſuperſtitions of the Gentiles. They neither hold them to the ſincerity of Gods ſeruice, not to the meere toyes and fooleries of the heathen; but frame to themſelues a mingle mangle out of both. And therefore may well be compared to a Cake halfe toſted, neither hot nor cold, being as wee vſe to ſpeake neither fiſh nor fleſh.
9. Secondly, an incredible blockiſhneſſe, without common ſence.
That albeit the euils they endure of their confederates and allies, bring gray heares vponupon them, and make them old before their time, yet they not onelyonly not conſider it:
10. But (which is their third offence) they are ſo proud and inſolent, that for all this they turne away, and will not bee brought to God, but had rather ioyne themſelues to forreigne nations, then to ſeeke after him.
The fourth and laſt offence is their madde and fooliſh conſorting with ſtrangers. So ſilly they are and without vnderſtanding to pray in ayde of thoſe whoſe minde is onelyonly to ſpoyle and eate them vp.
12. When they ſhall goe, I will ſpreade my net vponupon them, and bring them downe as the foule of the heauen: I will chaſtiſe them, aAccording to the hearing of their congregation.as their congregation hath heard.
13. Wo vntounto them, for they hauehave flitted from mee, deſolation vntounto them, for they hauehave tranſgreſſed againſt me: when I am to redeeme them, then they ſpeake vntounto me with lyes.
14. And doe not crye vntounto me with their hearts, when they houle vppon their beds: when for corne and new wine they aſſemble and turne aſide vntounto me.
15. But when I binde vp and ſtrengthen their arme; then doe they imagine miſchiefe againſt me.
16. They returne not to the moſt high, they are like a deceitfull bow, their Princes fall by the ſword, comming from the rage of their tongue: this is their deriſion in the land of Aegypt.
12. The puniſhment is, that as the fouler taketh the Doue, ſo God will enſnare and catch theſe fooliſh ones, and lay vponupon them the ſcourges and corrections threatned by his Prophets.
13. All becauſe of their ſinnes, eſpecially their hypocriſie, which hypocriſie of theirs is ſet forth by a diſſimilitude, when they hauehave need of mee that I am to doe them good, and helpe them out of trouble, in their difficulties and diſtreſſes, then they call vponupon me: but all is nothing elſe, but meere diſſimulation.
14. For they doe it not from their hearts; what face ſoeuer they ſet vponupon it, whether it bee priuately in the night or openly in the day, yet in thoſe times of their need, in famine and want, they make a pretence, as if they would come towards me.
15. But when I, as a kinde Phiſition, hold vp their arme, and bring them caſe and comfort, they goe on in their wickedneſſe.
16. Turne they doe, but not vntounto God, it is falſly and deceitfully: But they hauehave their reward according.
The ſword that ſerueth to work their conſpiracies, doth ſlay and kill the Princes. And this ſword is whet on and ſharpened by virulent tongues, ſetting debate betweene them.
Theſe murders ſo rife, and their common and dayly plotting of ſtirres and troubles in the ſtate, make them a ſcorne euen to their friends and allies.
CHAP. 8. 9. 10.
1. Set the Trumpet to the roofe of thy mouth, and ſay, hee hee ſhall come as an Eagle againſt the houſe of Iehouah: becauſe they tranſgreſſe my couenant, and treſpaſſe againſt my Law.
2. The Iſraelites crye vntounto me: my God, we know thee.
3. Becauſe Iſrael hath caſt of the thing that is good: the enemie ſhall purſue him.
CHAP. 8.
The third Sermon touching the Peoples ſinnes, and Gods iudgements for the ſame, in the 8. 9. and 10. Chapters, hath 5. parts.
The firſt part is a propoſition of iudgements againſt the people of Iſrael, and the cauſe of thoſe iudgements. The iudgements are firſt ſet forth by a military Hypotipoſis, or liuely repreſentation of the enemies comming againſt them, as if it were now a doing: then they are amplified by circumſtances on the part of the enemy, and on the peoples part, of the enemie, that hee ſhall come ſwiftly and powerfully: on the peoples part; for that they are thoſe which were before, through grace of Gods houſhold: the cauſes are three.
Firſt, Their reuolt and falling away from the Couenant between God and them, and from the Law wherein that Couenant is written.
2. Secondly, Hypocriſie, calling vponupon God, and making profeſſion of his name, not in truth, but with a counterfait pietie.
3. Thirdly, the renouncing of all good.
4. They hauehave ſet vp a King, but not by me: they hauehave made made Princes which I know not: of their ſiluer and their gold hauehave they made them aEugges.Idols, that Iſrael may be cut off.
5. Thy Calfe O Samaria ſhall caſt them off, when mine anger is kindled againſt them: how long will they not abide innocencie.
6. For he alſo is from Iſrael, the workman made it, and it is no God; for the Calfe of Samaria ſhall be broken in pieces.
7. Seeing they hauehave ſowne the winde, they ſhall reape the whirle-winde: it hath no ſtalke, the bud ſhall yeeld no meale, if perhaps it doe yeeld, ſtrangers ſhall ſwoop it vp.
8. Iſrael ſhall be ſwooped vp, now ſhall they be among the Nations as a veſſell wherein is no pleaſure.
9. Becauſe theſe goe vp to the Aſſirian, a wilde Aſſe onelyonly for himſelfe: the Ephraimites hire louers.
10. Yea, becauſe they hauehave hired among the nations, now will I gather them together: (for they hauehave begun a little) becauſe of the burden of the King of Princes.
11. Becauſe Ephraim hath multiplied Altars to ſinne: Altars are vntounto him to ſinne.
12. The things I preſcribe vntounto him bIn the excellencies.in the excellent documents of my Law, are counted as a ſtrange thing.
13. The ſacrifices of mine offerings, thoſe that ſacrifice fleſh and eat, Iehouah accepteth not: now will he remember their iniquitie, and viſit their ſinnes, that they returne to Egypt.
14. To conclude, Iſraell hath forgotten his maker, and hath built Temples, and Iudah multiplied fenced Cities: Therefore I will ſend downe a fire vponupon the Cities of him, after it hath deuoured the Pallaces of the other.
4. The ſecond part, is an Enarration or larger declaring of thoſe iudgements. Firſt, againſt their reuolt being of two kinds, one from the temporall kingdome of Dauid, figuring the kingdome of Chriſt; wherein what Kings ſoeuer they ſet vp, whether you conſider Ieroboam, or any of his ſucceſſors, it was not from God, he knew them not nor approued them, becauſe it was not according to the promiſe made to Dauid, but by the peoples rebellion, or their owne vſurpation. The other is from the ſpirituall worſhip, and ſeruice of God: and both theſe reuolts, the latter eſpecially, ſhall be vntounto their ruine.
5. For to ſpeake of the latter, firſt, O Samaria that art the Kings chamber and Metropolitan citie, thy Calfe ſhall doe thee no good: Nay, it ſhall hurt thee exceedinglie, and prouoke my wrath againſt thee. Thou that canſt neuer away to keepe touch with God in the duties of ſpirituall wedlocke.
6. The reaſon thereof is rendred in deteſtation of Idolatrie.
Firſt, from the cauſe, the nature and orginall of theſe Idoll gods; men inuented them: ſo did Iſraell this as well as that other Calfe in the wildernes, which brought ſo many heauy plagues vponupon Gods people.
The makers, are Smiths, Carpenters, and Artificers, a token it was not God.
The matter, is ſome courſe and baſe mettall.
Secondly, from the lamentable and fearefull deſtruction, not onelyonly of the Idolls themſelues, which ſhall turne into droſſe and rubbiſh, but of the Idolaters their worſhippers.
7. Set forth by three ſimilitudes; as they hauehave ſowne, ſo ſhall they reape, and a great deale worſe too.
8. Secondly, they ſhall be ſwallowed vp, their ſubſtance eaten out and conſumed.
Thirdly, they ſhall be as a veſſell that none taketh pleaſure in, deſpiſed of eueryevery one.
9. And touching the other kinde of reuolt, which wee ſet in the firſt place, the forſaking of the houſe of Dauid, and relying vponupon forraine aide vponupon the Aſſirian, that is, whollie for himſelfe, and hath no minde of helping others, ſeeking it with bribes and rewards.
10. Well may they bribe and hire, but this will be the end: The Iſraelites themſelues ſhall fall by heapes, the nations whom they ſhall hire, ſhall come ſo tumbling in vponupon them, as Eſay told Achaz, Eſay 8. Doe you not ſee it is prettily well begun already. Looke vponupon the late example, that is yet now freſh and bleeding before your eyes: ſo you will the better beleeue my threatning in that which is to come, I meane the ſacking and carrying away of the Tribes beyond Iordan by Pull and Tiglath Pileſer. If you aske me the reaſon, why God ſhould be ſo angry with you, it is becauſe you are ſo fooliſh, or ſo wicked rather, to ſend preſents and tributes to the King of Aſſhur, (who in the pride and vanity of his heart, nameth himſelfe the King of Princes, the mighty and moſt potent King) with the pilling, polling, and burdening of your ſubiects.
11. Secondly, he declareth the iudgements againſt hypocriſie. Their hypocriſie ſuch and ſo great, by multiplying al…a…s to ſin againſt God, vainely and ſinfully through their hypocriſie, abuſing his name.
12. That the excellent things which God preſcribed in his Law, thoſe outward ceremonies of that ſanctiue and holineſſe, hee maketh no more account of, then if they were ſtrange things, that he neuer heard of before.
13. The oblations and ſacrifices hee taketh no pleaſure in them.
But their puniſhment ſhall be, hee will remember their iniquitie and puniſh it in his time vponupon thoſe falſe perſons that are faithfull, neither to God, nor to the King of Aſſhur, but goe their wales to Egypt after couenant made with the Aſſirians.
14. Thirdly, he declareth the puniſhment againſt their renouncing of all good. That it ſhall be as a fire to conſume the cities of Iuda, and the pallaces of Iſraell. For Iuda was grieuouſlie vexed by Senacherib, and Iſraell before that waſted and carried away captiue.
CHAP. 9.
1. Be not glad, O Iſrael vntounto reioycing as other people that thou goeſt a whoring from thy God: loueſt a harlots reward in all the corne floores.
2. The floore and the wine-preſſe ſhall not feede them: and the new wine ſhall lye vntounto her.
3. They ſhall not dwell in the Land of Iehouah: but Ephraim ſhall returne to Aegypt, and in Aſſyria eate that which is vncl…ane.
4. They ſhall not effer wine to Iehouah, neither ſhall thoſe offerings be ſweete vntounto him their Sacrifices ſhould be vntounto them as the aBread.meate of mourners, all that eat thereof ſhould pollute themſelues: for their meate, for their bTheir ſoule, as Leuit. 21. 1.dead, commeth not into the houſe of Iehouah.
5. What would ye doe in the day of ſolemnitie: and in the day of the feaſt of Iehouah?
6. For lo, they ſhall periſh by deſtruction, Aegypt ſhall gather vp, Memphis ſhall bury them: the cTents of deſire.pleaſant tents, for: heir ſiluer, the nettle ſhall inherite, the thorne ſhall bee in their Tents.
CHAP. 9
1. The third part of the Propheſie is a conteſtation againſt the Iſraelites ouer confident reioycing and pleaſing of themſelues in their preſent good eſtate, which maketh them of the true worſhip and ſeruice of God: for,
Firſt, theſe men who deſpiſe the Law of God and the iuſt obſeruations thereof ſhall contrary to the Law eare in the Countries whether they ſhall bee carried captiues, things impure and vncleane, no way acceptable vntounto God, neither conſecrated by offering the firſt fruits thereof as holy vntounto him, nor any other way.
4. Againe, their ſacrifices and oblations ſhall ceaſe, it ſhall not bee permitted to them to offer drinke offerings to the Lord: And it were as good they did not: for their Sacrifices could not bee pleaſing to him; becauſe, if they did ſacrifice, it could not bee done according to the Law, which requireth mirth and cheerefulneſſe before the Lord when men ſacrifice: whereas theſe in their captiuity hauehave no cauſe but of mourning and heauineſſe: for as the Law of God ſhutteth out meate offered for their dead ones, from comming into the Temple by the ſame analogye and proportion, the ſacrifice of thoſe than mourne are vngratefull ad not accepted of God.
5. Laſtly, how can they celebrate the ſolemnities and feaſts of the Lord, which are to be done with cheerefulnes, and gladnes?
6. The third iudgement hee foretelleth, is death and horrible deſolation, death euen in thoſe Countries, whither they did flye for refuge. The deſolation ſuch as their pleaſant tents and dwelling places, made to hide their treaſures in, ſhall be ouergrowne with nettles and thornes.
7. Come are the dayes of viſitation, come are the dayes of recompence, let Iſrael know: the Prophet is a foole, the man of winde is madd, for the multitude of thine iniquity, the great priuie hatred.
8. Hee watcheth Ephraim aWith my God…yned to my God: the Prophet is a ſnare of a fouler in all his wayes, hee ſetteth priuie hatred in the houſe of his God.
9. They bThey deepen corrupt.corrupt deeply as in the dayes of Gibeah; he will remember their iniquity, he will viſite their ſinnes.
10. As grapes in the Wilderneſſe found I Iſrael, as the firſt ripe fruite in the figtree at her firſt time, did I ſee your fathers: they went to Baalpeor and ſeparated themſelues to that ſhamefull one, and the deteſtations were according as they loued.
11. The glory of Ephraim ſhall flee away like a bird, from the birth and from the wombe, and from the conception.
12. But if they bring vp their children, yet cI will bereaue them from a man.will I bereaue them that there ſhall not a man bee left: yea euen woe to them, when I depart from them.
13. Ephraim as as I ſee Tyrus, is planted in pleaſant habitation: but Ephraim ſhall bring forth his children to the murtherer.
14. GiueGive to them, O Iehouah, what thou ſhouldſt giuegive: giuegive them a miſcarrying wombe and drie breaſts.
15. All their wickedneſſe in Gilgal; for there did I hate them for the wickedneſſe of their doings: out of my houſe will I expell them: I will louelove them no more, all their Princes are vnrulie.
16. Ephraim ſhall bee ſmitten, their roote ſhall drye vp, they ſhall not bring forth fruites; yea though they beget children, yet will I ſlay the aThe deſires.deareſt of their wombe.
17. My God will reiect them becauſe they hearkened not to him: therefore ſhall they be wandring among the nations.
CHAP. 10.
1. Iſrael is an empty Uine, hee bringeth forth fruit for himſelfe; according to the multitude of his fruit, he multiplyeth altars according to the goodneſſe of his Land, they make goodly ſtatues.
2. Their heart diuideth, now are they faulty: hee ſhall bBehead.breake downe their altars, hee ſhall waſte their ſtatues.
3. For now they ſay, wee hauehave no King: for we feare not Iehouah, and what ſhould the King doe to vsus.
4. They hauehave ſpoken words, curſing cIn vanitie.falſly in making a couenant: And iudgement ſpringeth vp as hemlocke in the furrowes of my field.
5. Becauſe of the Calfe of Bethauen, ſhall the inhabitants of Samaria, eueryevery one be affraid: when his people ſhall mourne for it, yea and his black ones who reioyce of it, becauſe of the glorie thereof, for it is departed from it.
6. Hee alſo ſhall be brought to Aſhur, a preſent to the King that will protect: Ephraim ſhall receiue ſhame, and Iſraell ſhall bluſh becauſe of his owne counſell.
7. Samaria's owne King ſhall be cut off like the foame dVponUpon the face of the waters.vponupon the water.
8. The high places alſo of Auen, the ſinne of Iſraell ſhall be hewen downe: the thorne and the thiſtle ſhall come vp vponupon their Altars, and they ſhall ſay to the mountaines, couer vsus, and to the hills, fall vponupon vsus.
The fourth part of the Prophecie is a confirmation of denounced indgements, as certaine as if it were now come; that they may know and learne by miſerable experience, how their falſe Prophets did ſeduce them, vttering nothing but vanitic and winde, and the froth of their owne imagination, to ſooth vp the people, and nouriſh them in euill. The confirmation therefore is from two cauſes. One their ſacrilegious diſpoſition and wickedneſſe towards God. The other, their ciuill diſcords, and home diuiſions, to the ruine of the Common-wealth, whereby many Kings roſe vp in a ſhort time.
8. When I ſpeake of ciuill diſcord, I meane not onelyonly that the Princes and people are intereſſed in this buſineſſe, but the Prophets themſelues, which are ſet of God as watchmen to ouerſee the people, and keepe them at one. They watch indeed, but far in another ſort, for they watch treacherouſly, and perfidiouſly to betray the people, to ſet them at iarre: euen the godly among them, thoſe that cleaue and hold faſt vntounto my God.
The diuiſions and hart burnings of the people doe they take aduantage of, to ſet them together by the eares: ſo that this diſcord euen in the houſe of God, the Prophet in all his courſes vſeth as a fowlers grinne or ſnare to catch the poore ſoules, and to intrap them.
9. But both theſe things, a ſacrilegious diſpoſition and ciuill diſcords, are hereditarie euills to the houſe of Iſraell. And as they corrupt themſelues this way, and throw one another into the depth of all iniquitie, ſinning openly and ſhameleſly, like to that their Fathers did at Gibeah; ſo ſhall they be puniſhed as their fathers were.
10 For, touching their ſacrilegious diſpoſition; compare firſt, what their fathers did to Baal peor in the wilderneſſe, where I tooke as great pleaſure in them, and they were as deare and precious vntounto me, as grapes, and as the firſt ripe figs; but they forſooke me, & ioyned themſelues to that ſhamefull Idoll: and as the ſway and heat of their ſpirituall luſt did lead them, as they loued and liked, ſo did they multiplie Idoll after their pleaſure.
11. As Ephraim therefore treadeth this way in his forefathers ſteps, ſo ſhall hee be partaker of their plagues. The ſonnes which are the pride and glory of their parents, I will make quicke riddance of, three manner of waies; for eyther they ſhall not quicken in the wombe, or not goe out there their full time or dye as ſoone as they are borne.
12. And if happily they ſcape all theſe, and hauehave ſome bringing vp in their childehood, yet it in all be all one, not one of them ſhall remaine aliue.
13. Let them in their owne concei… be neuer ſo ſtrong and ſure, as faſt rooted, and as well planted as Tyrus that famous Citie: yet this that I hauehave ſaid ſhall ſurely come to paſſe. All their children, yong and olde, ſhall certainely be deſtroyed.
14. O God therefore, ſaith the Prophet, diuerting his ſpeech to him, ſince thou haſt threatned two euils, one that their glory ſhall flit away as ſoone as they be borne or conceiued in the wombe: the other, that fathers ſhall loſe their children when they hauehave brought them vp: be ſatiſfied with that which is the leſſe euill of the twaine; eyther that there may neuer any be borne, or being borne, may for lacke of ſuſtenance dye out of hand.
15. But I ſtay not here, I will remember you of another like example of their fathers at Gilgall. There were they wallowing in their wickedneſſe the vncircumciſion of their fleſh made me hate them. And albeit I in my mercy and kindneſſe pardoned their offence, and renewed my Couenant with them, cutting off their foreskin; yet the place which I ſo ſanctified, theſe men prophane againe, that all the wickedneſſe of their forefathers there doth yet ſticke vntounto them. They are rebels eueryevery one, all the Princes of them; wherefore I will ſpread my iudgements vponupon them.
Firſt, I will expell them out of my houſe, and take from them my ſeruice and religion, which they deſpiſe.
16. Secondly, they ſhall not proſper; but eyther be as a tree ſmitt with the wormes or weather, that they ſhall not bring forth the fruit of the wombe; or if they doe, I will command the ſword to ſlay their ſweet and delightfull children.
Thirdly, they ſhall be ledde captiue into ſtrange Countries.
CHAP. 10.
1. Come to their ciuill diſcords: They are good to none but to themſelues. If they bring forth any fruit, they abuſe it to their owne luſts.
2. Whatſoeuer they hauehave, they attribute it to their idols, but God iealous of his glory, will cut off their idols and places conſecrate to Idolatry by the top.
3. They thinke, the King ſhould not rule them, but they the King. And becauſe they hauehave caſt off all reuerence of God, therfore they caſt off and ſet light by the King, which is his Ordinance.
4. They are all periured, and falſifiers of their word and Couenant. New Conſpiracies ſpring eueryevery day among them; all is out of order, not iudgement it ſelfe, which ought to be holy vntounto God, ſcapeth free, but is turned into bitterneſſe and oppreſſion.
A great indignity, that thoſe which liue of the furrowes of my field, and whom my bountie and largeſſe doth ſuſtaine, ſhould make gall and wormewood to grow vp in ſtead of good and ſauourie fruit.
5. But the puniſhment of their Idolatries (the Calues of Bethel and Dan) ſhall be.
Firſt, feare and trembling.
Secondly, loſſe of all their glorie, and whatſoeuer they reioyce in.
6. Thirdly, captiuitie of the inhabitants, that ſhall make them aſhamed of their doings.
7. Fourthly, deſtruction of the King of Iſraell, hee that is now ſo glorious, ſhall then be no more ſet by, than the foame that is vponupon the water.
8. Fifthly, Ruine of their Idols, and idolatrous places wherein the Iſraelites ſinned ſo grieuouſlie.
6. The ſenſe and terror of Gods iudgements driuing them to deſperation.
9. From the dayes of Gibe ah haſt thou ſinned, O Iſrael, there they stood; the battell in Gibeah againſt the children of iniquity did not reach them.
10. It is in my deſire that I binde them; for the people ſhall be gathered againſt them, binding them to be carried away in their two habitations.
11. For Ephraim is an heyfer taught, that loueth to tread out the corne: Though I would hauehave paſſed vponupon the be awty of her necke, would hauehave made Ephraim to ride, Iudah ſhould hauehave ploughed, and Iacob ſhould hauehave aHarrowed to him.harrowed.
12. Sowe to your ſelues to righteouſneſſe, (ſaid I) reape vntounto kindneſſe, ſwallow vp your fallow ground: for it is time to ſeeke Iehovah, till hee come and powre downe the raine of righteouſneſſe vponupon you.
13. You hauehave plowed wickedneſſe, you reape iniquity, you cat the fruit of lying, becauſe thou truſt eſt in thine owne way, in the multitude of thy ſtrong ones.
14. Therefore ſhall a tumult riſe among thy people, and thy fenced places ſhall every one bee waſted, as Shalman waſted bHouſe of Arbel.the countrey of Arbell in the day of battell, the mother with the children ſhall be daſhed in pieces.
15. Thus ſhall Bethell doe vntounto you, becauſe of cThe wickedneſſe of your wickedneſſe.your exceeding wickedneſſe: in the very morning dIn cutting off, cut off.vtterly cut off ſhall be the King of Iſraell.
9. The fift and laſt part followeth, which is the concluſion of the Propheſie: repeating firſt that which was ſaid before, of the peoples ſinning, like their fathers of Gibeah, nothing moued with Gods mercifull and gracious dealing, who cut them not off in that war againſt the wicked Beniaminites, as they did deſerue, but ſuffered them to remaine.
10. But becauſe they will not learne to profit by Gods mercies, Let me ſee whother they will profit by my Chaſtiſements. I think beſt to correct them & to deliuer them bound in both their habitations of Iſrael and of Iuda to bee carried away Captiues.
11. Next he doth garniſh and adorne this concluſion by a double diſſimilitude.
One is of the Iſraelites affection and diſpoſition compared with Gods gracious counſell towards them.
Ephraim, ſaith the Lord by the Prophet, was taught true Piety and inſtructed in the feare of God; my purpoſe was to hauehave tuned him that he might bee plyable to the yoake, and draw in my plough, and to occupie him in my ſeruice. But he loues to take his eaſe, and onelyonly followeth after his pleaſure and profit.
12. The other by comparing Gods documents and inſtructions, calling them to righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, that hath moſt large and ample promiſes annexed it.
13. With their contrary deeds vnſatiable in iniquity.
14. Laſtly, hee denounceth the Iudgement it ſelfe, a cruell and mortall warre, deſtroying them.
Amplifying this deſtruction: Firſt by the greatneſſe, ſet forth by a ſimilitude. That all ſexes and ages ſhall be deſtroyed, euen as Shalman (Shalmanaſar, by all likelihood in that voyage which is ſpoken of 2. Kin. 18. 34. & 19. 13.) waſted and deſtroyed the countrey of Arbel, afterwards renowned for the ouerthrow that Alexander the great gaue in that place vntounto Darius.
15. Secondly, by the cauſes that brought this Iudgement vponupon them. They may thanke their idolatrie for it.
Thirdly, by the ſpeedineſſe of the Iudgement. Early, that is to ſay, quickly, and anone it ſhall be done.
4. By the certainty, which the doubling of the word importeth.
CHAP. 11.
1. Becauſe Iſrael is a youth whom I louelove, therefore out of Aegypt hauehave I called my ſonne.
1. Theſe are the three Sermons touching the ſinnes of the people, and Gods iudgements againſt them for the ſame. Now in two Sermon… more he ſetteth forth the promiſes of grace, peace and reconciliation to a ſmall remnant, the little handfull of Gods elect, which in this 11. Chapter, being the firſt Sermon, hee doth foure manner of wayes.
Firſt, is the fundamentall cauſe and ground worke of all the good things, which God offereth or beſtoweth vponupon the Iewes; which is the grace and fauour of God in and through Chriſt. In whom becauſe God loued them and adopted them for his Children, therefore in his infinite mercy hee brought his ſonne for their ſake out of Egypt, where their ſinnes deſerued, he ſhould perpetually remaine, and neuer to hauehave come backe for the worke of their redemption.
So this place is applyed and expounded. Math. 2.
2. As they called to them, ſo went they from their preſence, they ſacrificed vntounto Baalim, and burnt incenſe to their grauen Images.
3. When as I acquaint Ephraim, he taketh them in his arms: and they know not that I heale them.
4. With cords of a man doe I draw them, with thick bands of louelove, and I am vntounto them as thoſe that lift vp the yoake put vponupon their cheekes: that I might reach meate vntounto them.
5. He was not to hauehave returned into the Land of Aegypt, or of the Aſſyrian who is his King: but they refuſed to conuert.
6. To conclude, when the ſword abideth in his cities and conſumeth his members and denoureth: becauſe of their owne counſels.
7. My people are prone to rebellion againſt mee: although they called them to the moſt high, hee doth not withall exalt him.
2. The ſecond thing, is the peoples extreame ingratitude 1. Poſit. Refuſing Chriſt.refuſing Chriſt: but that is incled by mentioning the ſinnes of the time, hee liued in; Idolatrie eſpecially and the worſhip of falſe gods, and is further amplified by comparing Gods gracious dealing in this behalfe, and the holy means, which he vſed to reclaim them.
Firſt, he called them by the Prophets.
3. Secondly hee taught and enformed the people how he would be ſerued, yet they ſet vp Idolls in his ſtead, and after the manner of impudent and ſhameleſſe ſtrumpets, tooke the puppets in their armes, and embraced them before his face.
4. Thirdly, he heaped vponupon them many fauors and tokens of his Ioue; howbeit all Gods benefits could not keep them to him, but they would needs flye vntounto ſtrangers for helpe.
Hee drew them not as beaſts, but gently and louinglie with the words of men. Like a good huſbandman, hee lift vp the yoake from their necke, to giuegive them meat.
5. So as they wanted nothing: there was no cauſe for them to runne for helpe, eyther to the Aegyptian, as Hoſhea did, or to the Aſſirian, to whom they were tributaries from the time of Menachem, yet they would not be ſtayd.
6. Thirdly, he layd vponupon them heauie croſſes and corrections.
The ſword lodged in their houſes, it eate vp and conſumed their very bodies, becauſe of their wickedneſſe.
7. Yet they, prone vntounto rebellion, tooke no heed, nor gaue glorie vntounto God, though all theſe things (the Word, Gods bleſſings and afflictions) invited them vntounto him.
8. How ſhould I expoſe thee, O Ephraim? how ſhould I deliuer thee vp, O Iſraell? how ſhould I diſpoſe thee as Admah? how ſhould I ſet thee as Zeboim? Mine heart turneth it ſelfe within me, together doe aMy repentance.my bowels of repentance boyle.
9. I will not execute the heat of my wrath, I will bNot returne to deſtroy.no more deſtroy Ephraim: for I am God Almighty, and not a man, the holy oxe in the middeſt of thee, and I will not inuade the city.
8. The third thing is the deſolation of this people, which 4. Poſit. Deſolation.well might hauehave beene a gulfe to ſwallow them vp, and a graue to bury them in for euer, being moſt worthy to periſh, as the Cities which God deſtroyed in his wrath, Gen. 19. Howbeit, God in the bowels of his mercy, earning and taking pitie of them, ſpareth to lay vponupon them the extremitie of his wrath, and is ready to ſaue them for his mercies ſake.
This latter hath the proofes and reaſons rendred for it, which are three; all taken from the conſideration of the nature of God.
Firſt, his mercies, as we ſaid before.
9. Secondly, his vnchangeablenes, being not a man that is alwaies variable, and differing as well from himſelfe as others, but the mightie God, whoſe purpoſe and decrees are conſtant for the ſauing of the elect.
Thirdly, his holineſſe, who is himſelfe holy, and the author of eternall ſanctitie.
10. After Iehouah ſhall they goe as a roaring Lion: for hee ſhall roare, and the children ſhall aTremble: So in the next verſe.come trembling from the Sea.
11. They ſhall come trembling as a bird out of Aegypt, and as a doue out of Asſhur: and I will place them in their houſes, the ſpeech of Iehovah.
10. In the fourth and laſt place come the promiſes themſelues; that he will bring them to the knowledge and 5. Poſit. Call.participation of Chriſt, from whoſe preſence before they are ſaid to flie away. A Propheſie of the conuerſion and calling of the Iewes, to be accompliſhed in the laſt dayes.
It is amplified.
Firſt, by the inſtrumentall cauſe, the preaching of the Goſpell; which is the voyce of Chriſt, ſhaking both heauen and earth.
Secondly, by the great aſſemblies that out of all nations, 44. Poſit. All nations embracing Chriſt.languages, and people ſhall ioyne and hauehave their part in ſo great a benefit: wherefore he reckoneth vp;
Firſt, the Sea, that is, the furtheſt and moſt remote parts of the earth, as Zacharie in expreſſe terme; hath it, Zach. 10. 11. whereby are ſpecially meant our weſterne Churches, but withall, the northern parts.
11. Secondly, Aegypt, noting the whole South. …
Thirdly, Aſſhur, or all the Eaſt cracke; thoſe …d mighty Kingdome… that lye Eaſtward from Iudea, … to the Sunne riſing. Reade Eſay 19. 23. 24. 25. and Eſay 27. 12. 13. and Zach. 10. 11 12. 13. and Micah 7. 11. 12. which prophecies doe wonderfullie concurre with this, and are a key to open the meaning of it.
So he doth foretell that generall ſpreading of the Goſpell, and gathering of the Elect farre and wide, from one end of the heauens vntounto another, which immediately followeth the calling of the Iewes, Math. 24. 31. for howſoeuer the words in ſhew ſeeme onelyonly to import the collection of the Iewes, diſperſed into theſe Countries, yet the comparing of that which went before, Chap. 1. 11. maketh me incline to a more generall ſence, and to vnderſtand it of the full comming in of the Gentiles.
4. It is amplified by the effects common to them all, Ioy, comfort, and peace of conſcience to men terrified with the ſight and burden of their ſinnes.
5. The phraſes heere doe intimate a returne with much 12. Poſit. Repayre towards their Country.difficulty, in the middeſt of many dangers, millions of feares, terrors, and perplexities, into their owne countrie.
6. The ſeating of them in their land againe.16. Poſit. Sore diſtreſſe.23. Poſit. Dwell in their Countrey.
VERSE 12. of Chapter 11. and Chapters 12. 13. 14.
12. Ephraim compaſſed me about with a lye, and the houſe of Iſraell with deceit: when Iudah yet ruled with God-almightie, and was faithfull with the holy ones.
CHAP. 12.
1. Ephraim feeding vponupon the winde, and following after the Eaſt winde, all the day long multiplieth lying, and deſtruction: for they make a couenant with Aſſhur, and oyle is carried vntounto Egypt.
2. Iehovah alſo hath a controuerſie with Iudah: and being to viſit Iacob according to his wayes, will render vntounto him according to his doings.
3. In the verie wombe, he tooke his brother by the heele: afterwardes in his ſtrength he played the Prince with God.
4. He played I ſay the Prince with the Angell, and preuailed, he wept and humblie be ſought him: At Bethel he found him, and there he ſpake with vsus.
5. But Iehovah, God of hoſts: Iehovah is his memoriall.
6. Thou therefore turne vntounto thy God: obſerue kindnes, and iudgement, and waite vponupon thy God continually.
12. The next Sermon, from hence to the end of the booke containeth the ſinnes of the Iſraelites, that is, of the ten Tribes, and an inuiting of them to repentance, which is the end, and the ſcope, whereunto the former driueth. Both firſt propounded, and then amplified and enlarged.
Their ſinnes are three.
1. The renting off themſelues from the kingdome of Iudah, and the forſaking of true Religion: for though they would ſeeme to worſhip God, yet it was but a falſe, and a lying worſhip. And this is aggrauated, becauſe they did thus degenerate, euen then when Iudah, like a Prince of God, held faſt his firſt integritie, and kept the faith to God, thoſe holy ones, the Father, Sonne, and bleſſed Spirit.
2. The conſociating of themſelues to ſtrangers, making Chapter 12.a couenant with one, bringing preſents to another, not 1.onelyonly in vaine, but to their owne hurt.
3. The drawing of Iudah to the like offences: which brought Gods indignation vponupon them.2.
To repentance they are inuited by ſetting before them the example of their father Iacob. He left no meanes vnattempted 3.that he might obtaine the bleſſing: hee ſtroue for it with his brother in the wombe, and afterwardes with the Angell.
4. Againſt whom with much wreſtling hee preuayled. And when the Angell looſing the hollow of his thigh, wherein hee ſhewed his power, had reproued Iacob for aſking after his name, an argument of his Maieſtie: as being not ſimply an Angell, but Chriſt, Iehovah the Angell of the couenant: Iacob with teares beſought the bleſſing, which he there graciouſly beſtowed, and afterwardes at Bethel confirmed vntounto him.
5. Euen that Iehovah, whoſe promiſes are eternall, and who will performe them to his Childrens Children, to the thouſand generation, if they returne vntounto him.
7. He is a marchant, in his hands are ballances of deceit, he loueth to oppreſſe.
8. And Ephraim ſaith, yet I am become rich: I hauehave got me wealth: All my labours ſuffiſe me not, it is iniquitie whatſoeuer is a fault.
9. But I am Iehovah thy God, euen from the land of Egypt: yet ſhould I make thee to dwell in theſe Tents, as in the dayes of ſolemnitie?
10. And ſpeaking by theſe Prophets, ſhould I multiplie viſion? and by the hand of theſe Prophets, ſhould I propound ſimilitudes?
11. Is there iniquitie in Gilead? are they onelyonly vanitie in Gilgall? They ſacrifice bullockes: euen theſe ment altars are as heapes in the furrowes of my field.
12. Thither fled Iacob out of the countrey of Aram: after Iſrael had ſerued for a wife, and for a wife had kept ſheepe.
13. Hither alſo by a Prophet did Iehovah bring vp Iſraell out of Egypt: after he was preſerued by a Prophet.
14. Ephraim hath prouoked God aWith bitterneſſes.moſt bitterly: therefore *His bloods.his bloud will his Lord leaue vponupon him, and his reproch render to him.
CHAP. 13.
1. When Ephraim ſpake, there was trembling, hee lift vp himſelfe in Iſraell: but ſo ſoone as he offended with Baal, hee died.
2. And now they bAdde to ſin.ſinne more and more, and make them a moulten Image, of their ſiluer, according to their vnderſtanding, cBugges.Idoles, the worke of the Artificers, eueryevery one of them: of them they ſay dThe ſacrificert of men.men that ſacrifice, let them kiſſe the calues.
3. Therefore ſhall they be as a morning cloud, and as the dew eEarlying, as a man may ſay.dropping early, that goeth away: as the chaffe that is driuen with a whirlewind out of the floore; and as the ſmoake out of the top of the chimnie.
4. But I am Iehovah thy God, euen from the land of Egypt: and God ſaue me, haſt thou not knowne, neyther is there a Sauiour beſide me.
5. I did know thee in the wilderneſſe: in the land fOf droughtsof exceeding drought.
6. As their paſtures were, they were filled, aſſoone as they were filled, their heart was exalted: therefore did they forget me.
7. And I was vntounto them as an old Lyon: as a Leopard in the way did I looke vponupon them.
8. I met them as a Beare robbed of her whelpes, and I brake the gShutting.fall of their heart: and I deuoured them there as a huge Lyon, as a beaſt of the field tearing them.
7. Theſe things propounded, now hee doth amplifie and enlarge each part: and firſt the ſinnes of the Iſraelites: couetouſneſſe, Idolatrie, Pride. Firſt extreame couetouſneſſe, in fraud and oppreſſion.
8. Reiecting all honeſt meanes of comming by their wealth, and ſcorning whatſoeuer iumped not with their wicked deſires.
9. Albeit God from the beginning had heaped bleſſings manifoldly vponupon them; which they ought to hauehave reſted in, and not to flie vntounto vnlawfull meanes.
10. Yea, not ſo onelyonly, but had made ample and large promiſes of further fauours by his Prophets.
Both which doe adde to the vnworthineſſe of their ſinne.
11. Their ſecond ſinne is Idolatrie, wherein more thorowly to conuince their benummed conſciences, the Prophet reaſoneth with them in this ſort: What? thinke you the men of Gilead, thoſe beyond the riuer of Iordan, whom Tiglath Pileſer ſpoyled, and led captiues, that they onelyonly were guiltie of Idolatrie: and you not becauſe you remaine at home vntouched of the Aſſyrian? Nay, ſaith he, the very entrance into the countrey, Gilgall it ſelfe, ſo aboundeth with Idolatrie, that it is not to be doubted, but in the reſt of the parts of the kingdome, their altars are as thicke as furrowes in the field, that is to ſay, innumerable.
12. A horrible thing if it be well conſidered, that theſe two places ſhould now become the nurceries of euill, which heretofore were the meanes of ſo great comfort to Gods people.
For Gilead ſerued as a ſanctuarie vntounto Iacob, when hee fled from Laban.
13. In Gilgall, God by Ioſua renewed his couenant with your Fathers, after he had brought them out of Egypt, by the hand of Moſes and Aaron.
14. But notwithſtanding all that, Iſraell hath ſo ſinned as hath beene ſaid, and prouoked Gods heauie indignation: and therefore his bloud be vponupon him, he ſhall remaine guiltie and ſubiect vntounto puniſhment, and muſt be content to take that, that commeth of it.
CHAP. 13.
1. For this ſinne of Idolatrie hath brought three fearefull iudgements vponupon them.
Firſt, They that before were a terrour vntounto all, are now of no reckoning.
The time indeed was, that if Ephraim did but ſpeake, all the tribes trembled and quaked.
But as ſoone as he offended with Baal, following after Idolatrie; he was no more ſet by, then a dead carkaſſe.
2. Secondly, God in his iudgement hath giuen them vp into hardneſſe of minde, and to their hearts Iuſt: that for all this ſuddaine change they repent not, but run more and more into Idolatrie.
3. Thirdly, Being made very fooles, at the length, they ſhall vaniſh and come to nothing.
4. Thus by the place, and by the effects, hee hath made odious their Idolatrie.
Now laſtly, he doth the ſame by comparing on the contrary part, his couenant with them from the beginning, and his former benefits, euen in the wilderneſſe.
5. Both which ought to hauehave beene motiues to keepe them faſt vntounto him.
6. The third ſinne is their pride, and loftineſſe of heart, which made them to forget God; and that in the middeſt of his bleſſings, when they had moſt cauſe to remember him. A thing that Moſes warned them of before, Deut. 8.
7. 8. But they went not ſo away with it. I met with them, ſayth God, and handled them roughly, as they did deſerue.
9. He hath marred thee, O Iſraell, when as in me, in thine helpe, thou mighteſt hauehave ſtood.
10. Where is thy King, Where now? that he may ſaue thee in all thy cities? and thy Iudges, of whom thou ſaideſt, giuegive me a King and Princes:
11. I giuegive thee a King in mine anger, and take away in my wrath.
12. The iniquitie of Epbraim is bound vp, his …nne is layd vp.
13. The ſorrowes of a woman in trauell ſhall come vppon him: he is no wiſe ſonne, for then he would not ſtay hA time.a what in the iBreach of Children.mouth of the matrixe.
9. And ſo hauing done with the ſinnes of the Iſraelites, he doth now amplifie, and enlarge his former inuitation vntounto repentance: Firſt taking arguments from the good that thereby ſhall come vntounto them, compared with the euils that before they were in, for their offences. Hee ſaith, God by his Prophet, meaning the King of whom he ſpeaketh in the next verſe, in whom thou puttedſt thy truſt. Was the cauſe of thy Confuſion. Whereas in me who am thy ſtrength, and ſauing health, all good things are to bee found, and by repentance ſhall come vntounto thee.
10. The former part is proued, for that none of their Kings and Princes were able to doe them good.
11. For God in his wrath ſet them vp, and pulled them downe: and in a little while made many changes and alterations in the kingdome.
12. Their iniquitie, which God tied vp, as a man doth his purſe full of money, and kept in ſtore, to pay them home for it, was the cauſe of all this.
13. Yet were they ſo fooliſh, that though throwes came vponupon them, as vponupon a woman with Childe, (for ſo is their Common-wealth compared to a mother, Chapter 23.). yet they had no liſt to rid themſelues out of thoſe dangers, and to put forth into the hands of God, as vntounto a Midwife.
And this may well ſeeme to be a prophecie of the great 4. Poſit. Deſolation.miſerie they are now in, becauſe of the promiſes which do follow.
14. From the power of the graue will I redeeme them, from death I will auenge them, where are thy plagues O death? where thy deſtroying O graue, repentance ſhall be hidden from mine eyes.
15. For he ſhall bring forth fruit among the brethren: after that an Eaſt winde comming; a winde of Iehouah comming vp from the deſert, his ſpring ſhall become drie, and his fountaine ſhall drie vp, the ſame ſhall ſpoyle the treaſure of all kVeſſels of deſire.pleaſant veſſels.
16. After that Samaria ſhall be laid deſolate, for that ſhee hath rebelled againſt her God: After that by the ſword they ſhall fall, their infants be daſhed in peeces, and their women with childe ript.
14. In the ſecond part, from the panges and ſorrowes before mentioned, he paſſeth preſently to moſt ſweet and comfortable promiſes. Being of foure kindes.
The firſt promiſe is. The deliuerie of them out of that depth of miſerie, wherein they were plunged, and making them to flouriſh againe: which is firſt ſet out by a double ſimilitude.
One, comparing their wretched eſtate to death, and the 7. Poſit. Generall Call.graue. Out of the which he will ſet them free, by raiſing them from death to life. For ſuch and ſo wonderfull ſhall their reſtoring be, that it is called life from the dead. Rom, 11. 15.
And this reſurrection (as it were) of their is an euident argument of the generall riſing from the dead, Ezech. 37.
To which purpoſe the Apoſtle aptly, and properly doth alledge it. 1. Cor. 15.
15. The other ſimilitude is from a peece of ground, all 30. Poſit. Floriſhing Common-wealth.dryed vp and parched, that nothing is able to grow notably, expreſſing the miſerable and diſtreſſed eſtate wherein this people hath lien now very neare 1600. yeares together. That as an Eaſterly winde, and atempeſtuous ſtorme hath dried them quite: and ſpoyled all their delightfull treaſures: made them the vileſt and moſt contemptible of the earth, notwithſtanding which he ſayth: Ephraim (that is, euen the ten Tribes) ſhall flouriſh againe, and hold vp 8. Poſit. Ten Tribes.their head among their brethren.
16. After theſe ſimilitudes he layeth the ſame forth without allegorie, in plaine and expreſſe termes.
CHAP. 14.
1. Returne O Iſraell, euen to Iehovah thy God: for thou haſt fallen by thine iniquitie.
2. Take with you words, and turne to Iehovah: Say vntounto him, forgiue all iniquitie, and lTake. That is, taking, beſtow as Exod. 25. 2.beſtow good, and we will render Calues with our lippes.
3. Aſſhur ſhall not ſaue vsus, vponupon horſe we will not ride; neither will we ſay any more, O our God to the worke of our hands: for in thee the fatherleſſe findeth merciemercy.
1. The ſecond promiſe, is a promiſe of their repentance, Chapter 14.and turning vntounto God, whereunto exhorting them, it 5. Poſit. Call.muſt be taken as a Prophecie, what God will be pleaſed at the laſt, to worke in their heart, ſee Eſay 31. 6. 7. Wherefore he propoundeth, the forme of true repentance; In the perſon to whom they ſhall turne.
2. In the parts of repentance: which are confeſſion of ſinnes, and promiſe of amendment.
3. And laſtly, in the motiue to repentance, Gods nature readie to ſhew merciemercy to poore diſtreſſed ſinners.
4. I will heale their turning away, louing them freely: when mine anger ſhall turne from him.
4. The third promiſe, is forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, peace, 35. Poſit. Couenant.reconciliation, and Gods gracious acceptance of them in his Sonne, comming from his owne free louelove and fauour, which are the fruites and ioyfull effects of their repentance.
5. I will be as the dew vntounto Iſraell, he ſhall bloſſome as the Lillie: and mStrike.fasten his rootes as the trees of Lebanon.
6. His tender boughes ſhall nGoe.ſpread, and his comelineſſe ſhall be as the Oliue tree: and he ſhall hauehave a ſmell like Lebanon.
7. Men ſhall returne, dwelling vnderunder his ſhadow, they ſhall bring into life as the corne, and bloſſome as the Vine: his memoriall ſhall be ſauourie, as the wine of Lebanon.
8. Ephraim ſhall ſay, what hauehave I any more to doe with Idoles: I will heare and looke vponupon him: I am like a greene Firr… tree, by me is thy fruit oIs found.at hand.
The fourth promiſe is of a glorious Church, which ſhall be ſet vp among them: conſiſting in the points that follow;
1. A moſt flouriſhing and happie eſtate, through the 39. Poſit. Proſperitie.ſweete and heauenly ſhowers of all ſpirituall, and temporall benedictions, which God from heauen will water them withall. Whereby, firſt they ſhall roote, and faſten downewards, gather ſuch a head as no ſtrength nor power, not hell gate, ſhall be able to preuaile againſt them.
6. Then ſhall they grow and ſpread vpwardes, be faire, freſh, and flouriſhing; Not onelyonly ſo, but their happineſſe, ſhall be conſtant and perpetuall, like to the Oliue tree, whoſe leaues are alwayes greene.
Laſtly, this ſhall make them gracious and acceptable, both with God and men.
7. Secondly, Other people rauiſhed with the ſight of 44. Poſit. All nations embracing Chriſt.ſuch perfections, ſhall count themſelues happie to dwell in their Tents, and as it were, vnderunder the ſhadow of thoſe boughes. The Nations of ſuch as are to bee ſaued ſhall walke in her light, and the Kings of the earth ſhall bring their glory and honor in vntounto her. Reu. 21. 24.
3. The Church by this meanes ſhall be encreaſed, grow, and multiplie as eares of corne, or cluſters in the Vine; 38 Poſit. Multitude of beleeuers.for by bringing into life, or making to liue, is meant the ſpirituall propagation of Gods people, by the ſeede of the word, and power of Gods ſpirit.
4. The Nations ſhall honor them, and hauehave them in 45. Poſit. Nations honouring them.admiration. Farre and wide ſhall their fame be ſpread, and their name be moſt ſweete and precious.
Thus doth hee comfort and arme their ſoules againſt thoſe tempeſts, that blouſtrous ſtorme and weather, which before they felt, Chapter 13. 15.
8. Fiftly, the zeale of this people, when their heart ſhall turne vntounto the Lord: purging of their Church from 34. Poſit. Puritie of doctrine.all corruption in Gods ſeruice, which is here noted by Idolatrie, and the worſhip of falſe gods. They ſhall hauehave no more to doe with Idoles, or any worſhip which is not offred in the name of his onelyonly ſonne. Which God ſo graciouſly will accept, that his eares ſhall be open, and his eyes alwayes bent onelyonly vponupon thoſe that leauing falſe ſeruices and religions, betake themſelues to him in Chriſt, whom he will alſo recompence with aboundance of heauenly bleſſings, the fruites of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe 36. Poſit. Spirituall graces.wrought in them by the Spirite of Chriſt, which is the ſixt and laſt poynt.
But leaſt Iſraell ſhould take glorie to himſelfe, he telleth them that the prayſe of ſo great things, both of their turning, and of this their fructifying is to be aſcribed to God alone, without whom they can doe nothing.
9. Who ſo is wiſe, let him vnderſtand theſe things, prudent, let him alſo acknowledge them: for right are the wayes of Iehovah, and the righteous ſhall walke in them, but fallers away, let them ſtumble at them.
9. The laſt verſe hath a concluſion of this whole Prophecie, by an Epiphonema, or elegant acclamation. Wherein the Prophet doth ſtirre vp and exhort the righteous to learne true wiſedome and vnderſtanding for three reaſons.
1. For that it is a readie paſſage, the tract, and high way to happineſſe and glorie.
2. Theſe wayes are all of them ſtraight and right, full of equitie and holineſſe.
3. The righteous ſhall proſperouſly walke in them, to the ſauing of their ſoules.
Contrariwiſe, he leaueth the wicked, that fall away and goe backe from the holy doctrine taught vntounto them, to the righteous Iudgement of God, as the Apoſtle doth. Reu. 22. 11.
FINIS.