Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 9
VERSE 9.
And as theeues wayte for a man, ſo the company of Prieſts murder in the way by conſent: for they worke miſchiefe.
HEre the Prophet proceeds to more particular euils, and taxeth the Prieſts who ſhould hauehave been guides to the people, to inſtruct and direct them: that they became euen murderers of their poore ſoules. And after he comes to the people, and ſhewes that they were full of abhominable vices: and no maruell, Like Prieſt, like people; If the guides bee blind, they muſt needs ruſh both into the ditch: And if the Ring-leaders and Captaines bee ſo vile, ſo wicked, and ſo prophane, alas, what can bee expected of the common people, but ignoranee, and miſerable blindnes.
Concerning the Prieſts, the Prophet ſpeakes more ſharply, that they were no better then wilfull murderers of the ſoules of the people, and that they were like to robbers, who doe deuiſe aforehand how they may bring their purpoſes to paſſe: Euen ſo theſe Prieſts, they muſed how they might by falſe doctrine ſpoyle the people of God.
1 Reg. 12.31When Ieroboam came to bee King in the roome of Salomon, hee baniſhed the Leuites, and made of the baſeſt of the people, & the vileſt of them, to be Prieſts in the ſeruice of God, and who would might be made a Prieſt of Ieroboam. And theſe fellowes being ſet ouer the people, they vvere no better then wilfull murdesers: for they did ſeeke to draw the poor people from God to Idolatry, and ſo murdered their poor ſoules.
Obiect. Obiect. But vvhy doth the Ptophet here compare the Prieſts to open theeues, and common robbers?
Anſwere. Anſw. Firſt, becauſe as theeues doe often pretend fauour and friendſhip, as though they would direct a man the right way, and yet prey vponupon them, and kill them, to get their goods: Euen ſo theſe Prieſts they would ſeeme to bee as Fathers, and as guides to this people: but herein they ſought only their own gain, though it were with the bloud of the people. Secondly, becauſe as theeues are cruell and mercileſſe; ſo theſe Prieſts, they were exceeding cruell, and vſed great tyranny, not onelyonly by poyſoning their ſoules by falſe doctrine; but if any did make conſcience of the true ſeruice of God, they did cry out vponupon him as an heretieke, worthy to bee puniſhed. That this was the behauiour of theſe Prieſts, wee may reade at large in the Propeſie of Amos, Amos 7.12.where wee may ſee, how Amaziah ſent to Ieroboam, and makes a large complaint of Amos, as though the land were not able to beare his words; and yet hee ſpake no more then the Lord bade him, and hee is ſtraightly commaunded to flie into Iuda and propheſie there: but to come no more at Bethel: For it is the Kings chappel and the Kings Court.
Hence then let vsus obſerue, that ſeeing the Prophet here compares theſe Prieſts which deceiued the people, and did not inſtruct them, to theeues and Doct. 1 murderers; What wee are to iudge of thoſe, which hauing taken vponupon them the care of ſoules,Miniſters that teach not at all, or elſe teach erronious doctrine, no better then Theeues and Murderers. Ezech. 3.17. 1. Sam. 9.9. Eſay. 58.1. Pro 9.4. Exech. 47. 2. Pet. 1.13. 1. Cor. 3. Luke 12.24. Mat. 23.24. 1. Pet. 5.1. yet eyther teach them not at all, or elſe teach them falſe and erronious doctrine. The Spirit of God doth call them here Theeues and Murderers. Their names in the Scripture doth teach their duties. They are called Watchmen: And thou Sonne of man I hauehave made thee a Watchman. They are called Seers, Trumpeters, Maidens, and the like.
And their Succeſſors in the New Teſtament are called not onelyonly the Eyes, yea, The Light of the body; but Remembrancers, Husbandmen, Stewards, Leaders, Elders, Salt, Starres, Angels, Shepheards, and the like: All which names doe import vntounto vsus, that their calling requires labour and induſtry: for wherefore are they called Watchmen, but to admoniſh, and to giuegive warning, it is their duty ſo to doe: Seers, but to foretell: Trumpeters, but to ſound: Maydens, but to keepe pure the Word of God, and the Doctrine of Life: Remembrancers, to put in mind: Husbandmen, to prepare the ground of mens hearts, and to ſow the ſeed of Gods Word: Stewards, to diſtribute to eueryevery man his portion in due ſeaſon: Leaders, to goe before their people in life and Doctrine: Elders, to gouerne: Salt, to ſeaſon, Stars, to ſhine, and Angels, to declare.
Oh thus their very names doth put them in mind of their duty: but when men do take vponupon them this holy Calling to Feed the flocke of Chriſt, depending vponupon them, and they feed themſelues, and not their Flocke: The Lord doth eſteeme of them no better then theeues and murderers. And looke what charge Ahab had concerning Benhadab, the ſelfe ſame hath eueryevery Miniſter concerning eueryevery Soule committed vntounto him:1. Reg. 20.39. Io. 10. Keepe this man, if hee bee loſt & want, that is, by thy default, Thy Life ſhall goe for his life. And our Sauiour ſpeaking of ſuch Hyrelings as regard nothing but their gaine, not the peoples good; hee cals them Theeues & Robbers; all falſe Prophets, all idle Miniſters, all careleſſe Paſtors, the Lord doth eſteeme of them but as Murderers of ſoules, which is the greateſt. Which being ſo, then let eueryevery Miniſter ſtirre vp his watchfulneſſe and care, and though the faithfull diſcharge of his duty cannot but purchaſe him the malice of many; yet let eueryevery faithfull Miniſter bee content to make exchange of ſuch friends for the fauour of God, that ſo hee may not be found in the day of Gods ſearching account to bee a Murderer of their ſoules.
Ʋſe. 1 Well, this ſhould admoniſh all that hauehave charge of Soules, to looke about them, to regard the ſoules of Gods people, to inſtruct them, and to teach them to take heed they bee not guilty of their bloud: for if thy people periſh for want of thy helpe, Oh thou ſhalt anſwere for them. Now of all Murderers, Soule-murderers bee in a wofull caſe: It is a dangerous thing to murder the body, but it is a thouſand times worſe to murder the Soule for looke how much more excellent the ſoule is then the body, ſo much the more dangerous is the murdering of the ſoule then the body. Excellent is that exhortation of the Apoſtle Peter: 1. Pet. 5.23.Feede the Flocke of God which dependeth on you, caring for it, not by conſtraine, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind: not as though yee were Lords ouer Gods Heritage, but that yee may bee enſamples to the Flocke: And when that chiefe ſhepheard ſhall appeare, yee ſhall receiue an incorruptible Crowne of glory. If wee doe not thus labour but loyter in the Lords Vineyard, wee cannot aſſure our ſelues to bee the Miniſters of the Lord, but with theſe Prieſts and Leuites here, Robbers and ſpoilers, nay Murderers and Manſlayers, making a prey of the peoples ſoules, and expoſe them as a prey for Sathan: And what, wil the Lord put vp this ſinne at the hand of ſuch men? ſurely no; for when that great Shepheard ſhall appeare, they ſhall then beare the burthen, not onelyonly of their owne ſinnes, but of the ſinnes of the people that belonged vntounto their charge, and their bloud ſhall bee layde to their charge.
This ſhould admoniſh all thoſe which hauehave charge Ʋſe. 2 of ſoules, to looke about them, to regard the ſoules of Gods people,2. Tim. 4.1.2 to Preach the Word is ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon; for, if we bee thus diligent, the greateſt labour ſhall hauehave the greateſt reward:Dan. 12.3. They that turne many to righteouſneſſe, ſhall ſhine as the ſtarres for euer and euer. Thoſe the which imployed ſo their Maſters goods as that they gained by the ſame, were accounted faithful ſeruants, the ioy of their Maſter was their portion; whereas thoſe that were loyterers, that would doe nothing but bury their Talents, vtter darkneſſe was their inheritance.
Oh that all that are called to this holy calling, would lay this to heart, the greater paines, the greater comfort; and howſoeuer wee may bee diſcouraged in that wee ſee ſo little fruit to follow our labours;1. Cor. 15. Yet our labour ſhall not bee in vaine in the Lord: for the faithfulneſſe of a godly Miniſter in the diſcharge of his place, ſhall bee his comfort in life, his comfort in death, and his euerlaſting ioy, and reioycing after death. And howſoeuer God doth not touch the hearts of our hearers at one time, he may at another, times and ſeaſons are in his hands: Let vsus vſe the meanes to ſow vntounto them ſpirituall things, and commit the ſucceſſe of our labours vntounto God, ſeeing Paul planteth, 1. Cor. 3.6.7.Apollo watereth, but it is God that giueth the encreaſe.
Thirdly and laſtly, wee ſee what a heauy iudgement of God it is to hauehave ſuch ſet ouer a people, as be rauening Wolues and cruell murderers of ſoules; for then it may bee ſayd, Like Prieſt, like people: an ignorant, prophane, couetous Miniſter, a vile, ignorant, and prophane people; and therfore in the three firſt Chapters of the Reuelation, wee ſhall find, that what fault ſoeuer the Lord finds there with the Miniſter, the people are guilty of the ſame: If the Miniſter be reproued, they are reproued: If the Miniſter be praiſed, ſo bee they: And on the contrary, to hauehave a carefull Moſes, or a painefull Paul to bee ſet ouer vsus, it is counted a ſingular teſtimony of Gods louelove, & a great mercy of God: for if the Miniſter bee painefull and carefull to teach in ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon, it muſt needs be that the people will bee wiſe, full of knowledge, zeale, patience, and all heauenly graces: Oh then let vsus pray vntounto the Lord to remoue that iudgement, if it bee on vsus; and intreat the Lord to ſhew vsus that mercy, that we may not hauehave a cruell murdering Prieſt of Baal, but a true Prophet of God, that may watch ouer our ſoules, as one that muſt giuegive account of them at the laſt day,Io 21. Act. 28.20. Ezech. 34. that may feed the ſheepe and Lambes of Chriſt with the pure and wholeſome food of Gods word, and not with the ſtinking traſh of mans inuention.
Doct. 2 Againe ſeeing thoſe Prieſts of Baal which were but theeues and murderers in the ſight of God, ſet themſelues to inuent curſed councell againſt the Prophets and people of God,Nature of the wicked to deuiſe all the miſchiefe they can againſt the godly. to deuiſe miſchiefe againſt them, & then to practiſe it as occaſion was offered: we may from hence obſerue the nature of falſe Prophets, whom Chriſt cals theeues and murderers. They ſeeke to deuiſe all the miſchiefe they can againſt the true Prophets of God, and to the vttermoſt of their power practiſe and effect it. That of Amaziah againſt Amos doth manifeſt the ſame,Amos. 7.1…. and that conſpiracy againſt Ieremy, when no means elſe could ſerue; Come, let vsus deuiſe ſome euill againſt Ieremy, Ier. 18.18.and ſmite him with the tongue. So they confeſſe,Dan. 6.5. they could find no fault againſt godly Daniel, vnleſſe it were the worſhipping of his God: they ſought out many things againſt him, but nothing could they find, but euen his piety and religion; and when all other meanes fayled, that was matter ſufficient to worke vponupon; but their miſchiefe fell vponupon their owne pate, and they ſpunne a threed to hang themſelues withall. Alike plotte and practiſe againſt the Church, wee ſee in the dayes of Mordecai and Eſther, when Haman was exalted,Heſt. 3.1.6.13. & his ſeat ſet aboue all the Princes of the Kingdome: hee thought it too little to lay hands on Mordecai, and therefore hee layde his plotte to deſtroy all the Iewes young and old, in one day. And this is plentifully taught vsus in the booke of the Lamentations, Lam. 5.4.Our necks are vnderunder perſecutors, wee are weary, and hauehave no reſt, &c. Theſe places teach vsus, that the enemies of Gods Church (howſoeuer many times they couer the depth of their hearts) are full of all vnrighteouſnes, wickedneſſe, enuy, murders, haters of God without naturall affection, mercileſſe without humility and humanity. But of this elſe where.
Let all ſuch men as be like to Ieroboams Prieſts, that Ʋſe. 1 ſet their curſed heads a worke againſt the Lord, and againſt his true and faithfull ſeruants; let them know, that this miſchiefe, the which they now ſo craftily deuiſe, is not ſo much againſt man, as it is againſt God; Hee that heareth you heareth mee, and hee that despiſeth you, despiſeth mee: So that they doe but ſtriue againſt the ſtreame, and ſhall in the end draw downe the heauie wrath of God vponupon them.
And let it admoniſh all thoſe which doe deuiſe euill againſt Syon, againſt Gods truth, and againſt his holie Seruants, and the profeſſors of his name; let them know, that they doe it to the diſhonour of God, and he will one day call them to account for it; Touch not mine Annointed, and doe my Prophets no harme. And this their miſchieuous imagination againſt the Lord, and his truth, ſhal not proſper.
Ʋſe. 2 Secondly, ſeeing this is the portion of Gods children to find ſuch hard dealing from the wicked; wee are here to conſider the cauſe of it, it is not for euill, but for goodneſſe ſake,Eſay. 59.5. Whoſoeuer refrayneth from euill, maketh himſelfe a prey. This was the eſtate of the Church, euen from righteous Abel, whoſe bloud cried for vengeance. Conſider then what manner of Religion it is that wee take vponupon vsus to profeſſe, euen that the which hath the Sunne, Moone, and Starres againſt it: Our Sauiour himſelfe telleth vsus what will follow the profeſſion of the Goſpell: I came not to ſend peace into the earth, Mat. 10.34.but the ſword: For I came to ſet a man at vaiance with his father, &c. We muſt take notice of this aforehand, before wee giuegive vp our names to Chriſt: that this muſt bee our entertainement in the World, and at the hands of wicked men; that ſo theſe croſſes which ſhall happen vntounto vsus heere, may not any way daunt vsus, but that wee bee ſtill prepared for them.
By Conſent.
Doct. 3 Note here, that it was not the ſinne of one or two, or ſome few of the Prieſts,Councels may erre, and Magiſtrates and Miniſters in matters of Faith and manners. that had thus ſinned againſt the Lord, but it was the ſin of the multitude of them; they all confederate together, and ioyne in one, both in condemning the innocent, and iuſtifying of the nocent. From whence wee learne, that Rulers and Miniſters of a particular viſible Church, may erre in matters of faith and manners, and that councels hauehave been againſt the Lord, and againſt his Church. Which Doctrine is very cleare by diuers places in the booke of God, as that of the Prophet Eſay, Eſay. 6.10.The Watchmen are all blind, they bee a ſleepe, and delight in ſleeping. Now in what ſtate could this people be in, when their Watchmen were blind, thoſe that were the heads and guides of the people. Againe,2. Chr. 36.14 All the chiefe of the Prieſts alſo, and of the people, trespaſſed wonderfully, according to all the abhominations of the Heathen, and polluted the houſe of the Lord, which hee had ſanctified in Ieruſalem. And this doth the Prophet Ieremy ſhew, when hee ſayth;Ier. 3.5. I will get mee to the great men, and will ſpeake vntounto them, for they hauehave known the way of the Lord▪ and the iudgement of their God; but theſe hauehave altogether broken the yoake, & burſt the bones. This is cleared by the Prophet Hoſea, Hoſ. 7.7.when hee ſayth, They are all hote as an Ouen, and hauehave deuoured their Iudges, all their Kings are fallen, Mich. 6.16.there is none amongſt them that calleth vponupon mee, ſayth the Lord. This is that which the Apoſtle confeſſeth in his prayer. Why did the Gentiles rage, and the people imagine vaine things? Pſ. 2 1. Act. 4.25.26.27. Mat. 26.66.The Kings of the earth aſſembled, and the Rulers came together againſt the Lord, and againſt his Chriſt: For doubtleſſe, againſt thy holy Sonne Ieſus, whom thou haſt annointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and people of Iſrael gathered themſelues together. In the daies of Ahab, did not all the men of Iſrael, euen the Elders and Gouernours thereof, the Nobles and others aſſembled themſelues together, and pronounced death againſt innocent Nabaoth, for his Vineyard ſake, the which hee had before denied vntounto Ahab? ſurely, the Scriptures are full of examples, to confirme the truth of this point vntounto vsus. Reaſon. Now this thing ſo comes to paſſe in the wicked, becauſe as our Sauiour ſayth, No man can gather grapes of thornes, or figges of thiſtles; they themſelues being euill, can they performe that is good? Surely, as Saint Iames ſayth, Out of one fountaine cannot come ſweet water and bitter. Beſides this, our knowledge is but in part; now ignorance is the mother of error.
Ʋſe. 1 The Doctrine being thus cleared as a certaine truth, that Councels may erre in matters of Faith, and Manners; this may ſerue in the firſt place to conuince the Doctrine of the Papiſts, which teach and maintaine, that their Church cannot erre, nor a Councell being the repreſentatiue Church, as though the Spirit of God were at their commandement, and were tyed to places and perſons, or being preſent, did lead them into all truth, as it did the Apoſtles; but what, did not foure hundred falſe Prophets aduiſe Ahab to that which was contrary to the Will of God? I but ſayth the Ieſuite, they were not aſſembled by the High Prieſt, but onelyonly by the King: But what ſay yee then to that Councell that was aſſembled by the High Prieſt, and hauehave erred moſt fouly? In Iohn, we hauehave mention made there of a Councell that met together,Io. 9.22. Mar. 14.64. and decreed to excommunicate all that profeſſed Chriſt Ieſus. Tell mee, did not they erre? And therefore it is but a vaine thing of the Papiſts to ſay, and affirme, that the Spirit of God is tyed to the Church of Rome, and that ſhee cannot erre; but there was neuer ſo famous a Church ſince the Apoſtles time, but hauehave erred in ſome thing or other in Doctrine of Faith, or Manners; and therefore Rome hath no ſuch a priuiledge as ſhee pretends to hauehave; but hath and doth erre moſt fouly; yea, as blinde guides, leading poore blind ſoules, ſhall at laſt (without Repentance) fall into the pitte of deſtruction together.
Ʋſe. 2 Seeing that the wicked plot and combine themſelues againſt the Church; Wee are taught here our duety, namely, to bee ſolicitors and remembrancers vntounto God, in the behalfe of his Church; that it would pleaſe him to bee mercifull to his Church, and to bee vntounto them a Tower of defence.
And ſurely, now is the time that wee are to ply the Lord with prayers, becauſe wee ſee his enemies to increaſe dayly, the malicious and bloudy Papiſts, whoſe Religion, as it is a Religion of bloud, ſo is their practice, the practiſe of bloud. Yee ſhall know them by their fruites; a Religion to be abhorred of eueryevery true Chriſtian, being the Nurſerie of Treaſons,Gun-powder Treaſon. and the Mother of all abhominations: yet wee ſee how the number of them increaſe dayly, and wee cannot but for euer remember their horrible Treaſons pretended againſt the Lord, and againſt his Church, and Gods mercy to vsus in our Deliuerance. Well, it cannot bee, that they will bee quiet long, their good Maiſter the Deuill, or his deare Child the Pope, will hauehave ſome imployment for them; They cannot but go whom the Deuill driues.
Oh let it bee our wiſedome, to intreat the Lord to ſtand ſtill by his Church, and to giuegive vntounto all Chriſtian Princes the Spirit of zeale, and of courage, to riſe vp againſt Antichriſt and his followers, that ſo they may the better aſſure themſelues of their owne peace, both with God and themſelues; for ſure it is the more ſtrict a Papiſt, the more grounded Traytor.
Thirdly, and laſtly: wee may hence obſerue Ʋſe. 3 the difference betweene the Elect and the Reprobate. The wicked doe not onelyonly thinke euill, and deuiſe miſchiefe, but they doe moſt eagerly practiſe the ſame. Now come to the Child of God, hee hath in him indeed wicked thoughts and ſinnefull deſires: yet ſo, as they doe bridle them, curbbe them, and reſtraine them, and not ſuffer them to come into action; they ſinne not with greedineſſe as the wicked doe, who are neuer well till they are eyther deuiſing miſchiefe, or working iniquity. Oh then let vsus take heed that wee commit not ſinne with delight and greedineſſe: for ſure it is, this is a note of a graceleſſe heart, and no better indeed then a brand of a Reprobate.