Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 11
VERSE. 11.
Yea Iudah hath ſet a plant for thee, whiles I would returne the Captiuity of my people.
IN this laſt verſe the Lord comes to ſhew the vile dealing of Iudah; that when the Lord purpoſed to bring again the captiuity of Iſrael, then Iudah laboured to conuey their Idolatry amongſt them, and tooke, as it were, plants of their Idolatry, and ſet them vp amongſt the Tribes of Iudah. For at this time, though Iſrael was polluted miſerably with Idolatrie, yet the Lord had preſerued Iudah from that abhomination: but as ſoone as the Lord had deliuered Iſrael out of Captiuity, then Iudah was infected and polluted with their Superſtitions.
Hence wee may learne, how apt wee bee by nature Doct. 1 to ſucke in Popery and ſuperſtition: Iudah was pure,Men by nature are apt to ſucke in Popery and ſuperſtition. but ſo ſoone as the Lord brought Iſrael home againe, they beganne to take grafts of their idolatrie, and to ioyne with them.
So now, though wee are by Gods mercy freede from the filthineſſe of Popery and ſuperſtition; yet if the Lord ſhould returne it, and ſuffer it to bee brought in againe amongſt vsus, wee are by nature exceeding apt to receyue it, to take plants of it, and to louelove and like it.
This is clearly to bee ſeene in diuers places of the Scriptures,Iudg. 4.7.32. & 4.1.2. eſpecially by the example of the Iſraelites, in the Booke of Iudges: They committed euill againe and againe by Idolatry, they knew what that ſinne was; yea, they had experience of the ſeuerity of Gods Iuſtice againſt it, and more ſtill they confeſſed it, and cryed for mercy: yet the ſame people, and the children of the ſame people, not remembring their former fals, nor admoniſhed by Gods former iudgements, fell a freſh into the ſame ſinne, and prouoked againe Gods wrath againſt them. Againe, Moſes laboured much vvith this people,Exod. 32.3. to peſwade them to make a Couenant with their God, and to cleaue to him in faithfull and conſtant obedience: Yet when they had beene but a while out of the way, they would needs hauehave a golden Calfe in ſtead of Moſes to goe before them: and therefore they came in all haſte to Aaron, vrging him to make them one: Which in carnall policy hee ſought to ſtay, calling for their golden Eare-rings, thinking indeed they would in no hand hauehave parted with them; But when it was to the erecting of Idolatry, he could no ſooner aske for them but he had them.
This is clearely to bee ſeene by that of our Prophet Hoſea; where hee ſhewes how bountifull the people were in beſtowing their Corne and Wine,Hoſ. 2.8. and Oyle, together with their gold and ſiluer vponupon Baal. They thought nothing good inough, that was giuen that way.
Now this is no ſtrange thing,Gen. 6.5. conſidering that All the imaginations of the thoughts of our hearts, are onelie euill, and that Continually: Reaſon. So that whenſoeuer wee are about to commit ſinne, eſpecially to ſet vp Idolatry: Wee hauehave the whole ſtreame and current of our hearts and nature with vsus: and indeed wee are neuer exerciſed in things naturall vntounto vsus, till wee hauehave our hand in ſome plotte againſt GOD himſelfe.
Ʋſe. 1 Well, ſeeing wee are ſo apt by nature to ſet vp Idolatry and ſuperſtition; It ſtands vsus all in hand to be acquainted with the vileneſſe of our Nature herein, as alſo what the Lord eſteemes of Popery and ſuperſtition: namely, Ʋillany and Whoredome no better; and therfore howſoeuer the Papiſts ſtand vponupon their good meaning, and their honeſt dealing; yet they worſhip the Deuil and not God, as Moſes tels the Iſraelites, that they offered not to God as they intended, but vntounto Deuils, euen the Idols of Canaan. Euen ſo the Papiſts though they brag of their good intents and meanings, the truth is, they offer not to God, but to the Deuill; neyther doe they worſhippe God, but the Deuill: and therefore wee muſt take heed, that wee neuer take liking to Popery, though the ſame ſeem neuer ſo pleaſing to fleſh and bloud. For all men are naturallie moſt inclinable vntounto that which is euill: And therefore moſt men being ſo prone vntounto Popery, what can bee concluded but this, but that it is an euiil, and a damnable Religion?
Oh then let vsus labour to bee rooted and grounded in the truth of God, to be builded vponupon the rocke Ieſus Chriſt; that wee may neuer put out the hand to entertaine, or to receyue any dregges of Popery and Idolatry: but euen remember what Chriſt ſayeth:Reu. 18.4. Come out of her my people, leaſt yee partake of her plagues. Oh, let vsus euer ſtand out againſt their abhominable Idolatry, as no better then villany, and whoredome in Gods ſight.
Secondly, ſeeing wee are ſo apt by Nature, Ʋſe. 2 to receyue Idolatry, and Superſtition, and to embrace Poperie, it may bee a very good reaſon vntounto vsus, to prooue that all the Religion of the Papiſts is moſt wicked and abhominable, becauſe it agrees ſo fitte to the corrupt heart and Nature of man; for ſince Adams fall, our Nature being corrupted, wee hate GOD, and hate his Truth.
Now touching the Religion of the Papiſts, there is nothing in it, but that which Nature it ſelfe doth deſire: Let vsus inſtant the ſame by one thing for all. What ſeemeth more againſt Nature practiſed by them, then their Whippings, and Scourgings, and that of themſelues; This wee may thinke to bee againſt Nature: But yet if wee examine the end of this puniſhment, as rhe ſame is inflicted vponupon them, it will appeare otherwiſe, that Nature it ſelfe may in ſome ſort deſire the ſame: for that man that ſhall bee taught and aſſured,Note. that when hee hath committed ſome great and grieuous ſinne as Adultery, Theft, Drunkenneſſe, or the like, that after ſuch a puniſhment inflicted once vponupon him, his ſinne ſhall bee done away, and neuer after layde to his charge: Who would not vndergoe ſuch a puniſhment? better in reaſon vndergoe that for a time, then the guilt of an accuſing conſcience: For as Salomon ſayth, A man may beare his ſickneſſe and infirmity, but a wounded conſcience who can beare?
And therefore ſeeing that by Nature wee louelove Popery and Idolatry, and that there is in the ſame nothing contrary to Nature, this proues that it is not the Religion of God, but the deuice of wicked men: for what can delight our corrupt nature more then to ſee a Crucifixe, the picture of Chriſt on the Croſſe: To pray to Saints, Angels, the Virgine Mary, &c. all this is very agreeable to the corrupt Nature of man, and therefore cannot bee good.
Laſt of all, wee may here behold the nature of Doct. 2 ſinne, it is like the plague, eaſily conuayed from one to another,Sinne is very fruitfull. eaſily ſcattered and ſpread abroad, as wee ſee a naughty and a ſtinking Weede, it is eaſily ſpread, and will runne abroad, ſo will Idolatrie: and of all other ſinne, that is like vntounto the Lappewing, it will runne as ſoone as it is hatcht; and as a man that liues in the houſe with them that hauehave the plague, is in exceeding danger to bee infected: ſo is it with them that liue in Idolatrous places, all to nothing they will bee infected.
The Iſtaelites when they came into Canaan, the Lord ſuffering a ſmall remnant of the Cananites to remaine ſtill in the land, for the tryall of the Iſraelites it is ſayd,Pſa. 81. They were mingled amongſt them, and learned their works.
It is the nature of ſinne to bee euer encroaching; giuegive it an ynch, and it will take an elle: It is like the Gangren or Canker, it fretteth, and eateth further and further as here, Idolatry was onelyonly to bee found in Iſrael, and not in Iudah; but it quickly ſet footing there, and ſpred it ſelfe in a ſhort time ouer all Iudah. Whereſoeuer it findeth entertainement, it enlargeth and ſpreadeth it ſelfe:Pſal. 26.4. Bidde ſinne home to thy houſe once, and like a bolde and ſhameleſſe Gueſt,Pſal. 15.4.… it will come the ſecond time vninuited.
How carefull then ought eueryevery man to be, to ſhun and auoyd the company of Idolaters, and al other wicked men?Pro. 9.6. It is the graue counſell of Salomon, Forſake the wicked, and you ſhall liue. Yea, the Apoſtle labouring to confirme his new Conuerts, amongſt many other his Exhortations, hee vrgeth this: Saue your ſelues from this froward Generation.Act. 1.40.
So then wee ſee how dangerous it is for men and women to bee preſent in places of Idolatry; Vſe. to liue and conuerſe with Idolaters, it is very like they ſhal hardly eſcape from being tainted with Superſtition: For, herein the Papiſts hauehave the aduantage againſt vsus: If they perſwade and intice, they hauehave our Nature to helpe them. And as wee vſe to ſay, the Wife in the boſome is the beſt Sollicitor: But let vsus deale with men, eyther to perſwade or diſſwade, wee hauehave both Sunne, Moone, and Starres againſt vsus: neyther Reaſon, nor Nature will take our part; till the Spirit of God doth ſtrike the ſtroke to perſwade the heart of man.
But Oh ſay ſome, this is too much niceneſſe, Obiect. I hope wee are not ſo weake, nor ſo ſimple, but we can chuſe the beſt, and leaue the worſt; bee preſent at the Maſſe, and yet keepe our hearts to God; Conuerſe with Papiſts and Idolaters, Anſwere. and yet bee Chriſtians ſtill. But what, hauehave you ſo good a conceit of your ſelues? you doe thereby giuegive mee iuſt occaſion to hauehave an ill perſwaſion of you, that indeede yee care not much what Religion yee are of, therefore they that can bee preſent at the Maſſe, and thinke they are ſo ſtrong that they cannot bee taynted, ſuch men doe no better then tempt God. Euen ſo for thoſe that make choyſe to dwell in houſes knowne to bee infected with Popery, they ſhal eaſily bee carried away with the ſtreame of Poperie. When Iudah conuerſed with Iſrael, they were quickly poyſoned with their Idolatry.
Then let vsus take heed how wee conuerſe with the wicked, and like of their Company: for we ſhall ſoone bee infected with their ſinnes, but rather ſhunne and auoyde their Company, as noyſome and hurtfull. The Father of all mercy, and God of all Conſolation, ſtrengthen vsus with his grace, and keepe vsus in his holy feare, vntounto the End. Amen.
Gratias tibi Domine Ieſu.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Smith, Exposition of Hosea 6 (1616)