Exposition of Hosea 6, Exposition · Verse 8
VERSE. 8.
Gilead is a City of them that worke iniquitie, and is polluted with bloud.
THe Prophet hauing in the former verſe accuſed them to bee Couenant breakers with God, doth now proue the ſame by ſundry examples of all eſtates amongſt them, that as the Prophet ſayth,Eſay. 1.6. From the toppe of the head to the ſoale of the foot: All was out of order, and full of vncleanneſſe, So was it with this people here, from the Prieſt to the Leuite, & ſo to the common people; yea, euen the great men of the land, Ieroboam and his wicked Counſellers here are accuſed.
Gilead is a City of, &c.
Concerning this City wee read not much in the Word of God; but heere the Prophet doth note them to bee exceeding wicked people that dwelt in this City, full of ſinne, deceit, iniquity, full of cruelty, and bloudy ſinnes.
This City as wee may read, was one of the ſixe Cities of refuge, whither, if a man had ſlaine a man at vnawares,Ioſu. 20.8.9 and as wee ſay, by chance medley, then he was to flie thither, and there the Prieſts and Leuites making inquiry of the fact, if they found that the murder was of ignorance, and that hee hated not his brother in times paſt, but ſlew him againſt his will, then the murderer was to ſtay there til the death of the high Prieſt, and then he was at liberty againe.
Now this City,What City Gilead was. it was the place where the Prieſts and Leuites did dwell, which were ſet apart to teach the people, to inſtruct them, to offer ſacrifice for them, & to pray for them; for they were to bee the light of the world: they muſt carry the Ʋrim and Thummim, light and perfection: And Gilead ſhould hauehave beene as a ſpeciall Sanctuary for holineſſe, piety, and true religion, a Nurſe, and Mother City to direct others, and as a fountaine from whence pure religion & the knowledge of God ſhould hauehave beene deriued into all the land. But alas, the Prophet complaines of Gilead, that it was ſo farre from being a Nurſe to Religion, that it was rather a cruell ſteppedame to baniſh Religion and piety; ſo farre from a holy City and Sanctuary of the Lord, that it was euen a denne of theeues, a harbour for all villany, impiety and prophaneſſe. Now this was a wonderful thing, that the Prieſts and Leuits, in whom there ought to hauehave ſhined great holineſſe, that ſhould hauehave bin an example to the common people, that all men ſeeing their good example, their holines and piety, might the rather hauehave followed them; that they ſhould bee euen Captaines and ringleaders to all impiety, cruelty and miſerable abhominations.
Then wee ſee why the Prophet is ſo ſharpe to inueigh againſt Gilead, and to cry out againſt this City, namely, becauſe it ſhould hauehave heen a Sanctuary of the Lord, full of knowledge, piety and godlineſſe: but the ſame was rather a denne of deuils, and an harbour for all manner of ſinne and impiety.
Thus hauing ſeene the meaning of the wordes; now let vsus ſee what Doctrines doe ariſe from them.
This is a grieuous accuſation of the Lord, that that City of whom the Lord might expect moſt care, moſt holineſſe and duties of religion, who ſhould hauehave been moſt inſtructed in the wayes of God, hauing beſtowed ſo many meanes vponupon them, that they ſhould thus degenerate and grow more vile then any other, to be the harbour of all ſin and impiety.
Doct. 1 Then hence wee learne, that thoſe places which hauehave great meanes of knowledge of inſtruction, and therfore ſhould abound in all holy duties,Thoſe that hauehave the greateſt meanes of knowledge ſhould abound moſt in holy duties. If they grow more wicked, and abound more with ſin, their iudgement is fearefull and very grieuous. Wee ſee this in Gilead here, how the Lord complaines of it here, that thoſe that ſhould hauehave beene euen a Nurſe to religion; yea, a Mother City from whence religion ſhould hauehave flowed into the Country; was notwithſtanding a wicked Citty, full of bloud, and full of all manner of iniquity. Euen ſo, whenſoeuer the Lord comes to iudgement againſt a land, or againſt a kingdom, thoſe Cities, Townes or Pariſhes, vponupon whom the Lord hath beſtowed moſt meanes, if they profite not by them, but bee like vntounto Gilead here, full of bloudie ſinnes, pride, ſwearing, lying, drunkennes, whoredome, couetouſneſſe, vſury, oppreſſion, & the like; then the Lord doth ſhew his anger and diſpleaſure moſt againſt them; as Gilead here, that ſhould hauehave gone before others in piety and religion, hauing ſo many meanes, ſeeing they become ſo vile, as that they went before others in ſinne, they went before others in puniſhment. And this wee ſhall find to bee moſt true by the courſe of the whole Scriptures, that thoſe which hauehave had moſt meanes of knowledge and inſtruction, and ſo ſhould goe before others in knowledge and Chriſtian piety, if they hauehave not made a ſanctified vſe of the ſame, they hauehave euer receyued a greater meaſure of iudgement then others.
The Lord in the puniſhing of Ieruſalem, Ezech. 9.7.bids them begin at his Sanctuary, becauſe they ſhould hauehave heen moſt holy, and were found to bee moſt wicked: So againe in another place, The enemy hath ſtretched out his hand vponupon all her pleaſant things: Lam. 1.10.for ſhee hath ſeene the heathen enter into her Sanctuary. Ieruſalem that was called the beauty of perfection, and the wonder of the World, when ſhee became full of ſinne and vncleanneſſe, then the Lord made her a ſpectacle of his iudgments aboue others.
This Doctrine is further cleared by the grieuous threatnings denounced by our Sauior Chriſt againſt thoſe Cities where his Word had been preached and profeſſed moſt, and the greateſt part of his miracles had beene wrought and ſhewed:Mat. 11.21.22. Woe bee to thee Corazin, woe be to thee Bethſaida, for if the great works which hauehave beene done in you, had beene done in Tyrus and Sydon, they had repented long agoe in ſackcloth and aſhes: Mat. 23.38.but I ſay vntounto you, it ſhall bee eaſier for them in the day of iudgement then for you. And thou Capernaum which art lifted vp to heauen, ſhalt bee throwne downe to Hell, for if the great works which hauehave beene done in thee, had beene done amongſt them of Sodom, they had remayned vntounto this day. But I ſay vntounto you, it ſhall hee eaſier for them in the land of Sodom in the day of iudgement then for thee.
Theſe Cities of Corazin, Bethſaida, and Capernaum, they were ſuch places as Chriſt had honoured aboue Tyrus, Sydon and Sodom, both in reſpect of the preaching of the Word, as alſo in reſpect of the myracles that were wrought amongſt them: yet becauſe they made no ſanctified vſe of them, but abounded in all manner of ſinne and iniquity, therefore our Sauiour tels them that their iudgement ſhall bee heauier then thoſe places that neuer heard the ſound of the Word. And Gilead which before other Cities was honoured to bee a City of refuge, a Nurſery of the Prieſts and Leuites, by which meanes the Lord might hauehave reaped much honour by it. Gilead being found a Citie of iniquity, muſt bee made a ſpectacle of Gods iudgement aboue other Cities.
Againe, let vsus behold and marke where the Doct. 2 iudgements of God are in moſt grieuous manner executed, and wee ſhall ſee that in thoſe places, eſpecially which hauehave had more excellent meanes then others;Thoſe places that hauehave had moſt meanes, ſhall bee moſt ſeuerely puniſhed for the neglect thereof. where the Prophet of God and the Miniſters of the Word hauehave a long time taken pains to inſtruct them in the wayes of God; there, I ſay, wee may behold the greateſt calamity and diſtreſſes, becauſe the Lord cannot abide that Gilead, that is, any place where hee beſtowes much meanes, ſhould ſo degenerate and grow worſe then others; and that ſuch places ſhould abound in ſinne. This is the reaſon, why the Lord taxeth Gilead here, euen becauſe it was one of thoſe ſixe Cities of refuge,Mat. 23 38. Luk. 19. becauſe it was the Nurſery of the Prieſts and Leuites: This wee may ſee of Ieruſalem, for there had our Sauiour beſtowed his greateſt paines, continually teaching and preaching amongſt them in Ieruſalem; he wrought there the greateſt part of his wonderfull & heauenly miracles there, hither his Prophets and Apoſtles were ſent to teach and inſtruct them in the Word of God, and to bring them home to Ieſus Chriſt: yet for al this, our Sauiour was conſtrayned to weepe for the wofull miſery of this City; yet for all this Ieruſalem muſt be deſtroyed, defaced and extinguiſhed, and made a ſpectacle of his wrath to all poſterities for euermore. This is clearely to bee ſeene by thoſe ſeuen Churches of Aſia, Reu. 2.3.that ſometimes were ſo famous in the world in the dayes of Saint Iohn. What is become of Epheſus, Philippi, Conſtantinople and Rome? ſo glorious Churches ſometimes in the world? Are they not gone, and become the Cage of vncleane birds,2. Theſ. 2.10. euen of Antichriſt himſelfe? who preuayleth in them that periſh, becauſe they receyued not the louelove of the truth that they might bee ſaued. And therfore God hath ſent them ſtrong deluſions to beleeue lyes. Surely, God in all ages of the world hath declared the ſame vntounto vsus, now peace, now perſecution; peace being abuſed, the Lord hath not fayled to bring his iudgements vponupon the ſonnes of men. But of this before.
Well, ſeeing this is the righteous dealing of God Ʋſe. 1 that thoſe places which hee hath moſt priuiledged aboue others, and beſtowed moſt meanes on aboue others, they ſhall drinke deeper of the cup of his anger, if they bee wicked and vngodly, liuing in ſinne, then others that hauehave not enioyed the like fauours from God. Then it muſt teach vsus all in the feare of God to looke about vsus, that according to the meanes God doth beſtow vponupon vsus, wee labour to bee anſwerable to the ſame in fruites, in knowledge, in faith, in repentance, and obedience, zeale, patience, &c. But aboue all things take wee heed, that wee doe not degenerate and grow worſe then others to abound with iniquity, and impiety, with lying, deceit, ſwearing, couetouſneſſe, &c. For then let vsus know that the Lord will make our puniſhment anſwerable to Tyrus & Sydon, yea to Sodom & Gomer; yea, their iudgements ſhall be lighter then ours, as our Sauiour ſayth:Mat. 11.20.21 Ezech. 16.46.53. It ſhall bee eaſier for Sodom in the day of iudgement then for you. And the Lord by the Prophet Ezechiel threatneth thus, that becauſe the iniquities of the people of Iſrael were like vntounto the Sodomites; Therefore will I bring againe their captiuity, and the captiuity of Sodome and her Daughters: and the captiuitie of Samaria, and her daughters, euen the captiuity of thy Captiues in the middeſt of them. And ſurely, if wee ſhall grow worſer then other places, and abound in ſinne more then other men, how can wee but looke to reape a greater meaſure of puniſhment thē other? There is no ſin greater then the contempt of the Goſpell, nor no mercy greater then the peaceable enioying of the liberty of the ſame, and therefore no puniſhment or reward of ſinne ſhall be more horrible then the puniſhment that ſhall bee infflicted for the neglect or contempt thereof. Oh take wee heed then leaſt we contemne the Goſpell, and ſo being found guilty of one of the greateſt ſinnes, wee incurre Gods wrath againſt vsus, and cauſe him to bring vponupon vsus his greateſt puniſhments.
Secondly, ſeeing the Lord doth threaten heere, Ʋſe. 2 euen Gilead, one of thoſe ſixe Cities of refuge, and the Citty that was inhabited with the Prieſts and Leuites,Religion is not tyed to one place. that euen Gilead ſhould bee cut off and ſlaine, as in the fift verſe going before; that is, that God would bring to paſſe vponupon Gilead all thoſe threatnings which his ſeruants the Prophets had denounced in his name. Hence wee ſee that Religion and the worſhip of God is not tyed to any place, to any kingdome, towne or City, no longer then they doe walke in the duties of Religion, and of the true ſeruice and worſhip of God; yea, if Ieruſalem that holy City, the wonder of the world, that place which God himſelfe had choſen; fall from God, and beginne to forſake his ſon Chriſt, and to contemn his ſonne Chriſt: Ieruſalem then muſt looke for heauy plagues, and grieuous iudgements: yea, if Gilead that was ſo priuiledged aboue other Cities and places of the world, will not walke holily and beare themſelues thankefully in the daies of peace, the Lord will not fayle to bring, euen vponupon Gilead, many plagues and grieuous iudgements againſt ſinne. Oh then, if all things that are written, bee written for our learning, then let the iudgement of God vponupon this City, bee a warning to vsus all: Wee hauehave by Gods mercy the pure ſeruice and worſhip of God, his Goſpell ſincerely preached, and taught amongſt vsus, almoſt theſe threeſcore years together. Now let vsus ſee, whether our caſe bee not like the ſtate of Gilead: they were grieuous ſinners, ſo are we; amongſt them were found many great and grieuous ſinnes; a Citie that abounded with all manner of iniquitie, as ſwearing, lying, deceit, murder, oppreſſion, vncleaneſſe, &c. and are not wee guilty of the ſame ſinnes? yes, yes, they were neuer more plenty in Gilead then they are in England; and therefore wee may well feare, that wee that hauehave beene like to Gilead in ſinne, ſhall one day be like to them in their puniſhment.
The Lord by his Prophet Amos hath threatned there a great and a grieuous iudgement againſt the neglect and contempt of his Word, and other the gracious meanes that hee doth vouchſafe vntounto vsus for our good: Behold, the dayes come, ſayth the Lord, Amos. 8.11.that I will ſend a Famine into the Land, not a famine of bread, or thirſt of water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. Oh it is greatly to bee feared, that wee may one day feele the ſmart of this iudgement, the want of the Word, and glorious Goſpell of Chriſt, that made ſo light account of the ſame in the time of peace: then ſhall wee mourne, then ſhall wee lament, then ſhall wee lye in the duſt, then wee ſhall weepe and wayle, and wring our hands, and wiſh that wee might heare, if it were, but one Sermon, to comfort our diſtreſſed Soules: And in very deed, if wee conſider Gods dealing towards vsus, wee may ſee that theſe blacke ſtormy dayes are drawing on: Doth not the Lord picke out from amongſt vsus, the moſt renowned men from Church and common wealth, the pillars of the Church, and ſtayes of Religion? doth not the Lord euen by this meanes giuegive vsus a faire warning, that vnleſſe we amend and become ſincere Chriſtians, and bee zealous in his ſeruice and worſhippe, and more highly eſteeme of his bleſſed Word and glorious Goſpell, that hee will euen remoue all from vsus, Shall we thinke, that the Lord, who thus ſeuerely plagued Gilead and Ieruſalem, theſe Cities that were ſo famous in the world, that hee will ſpare vsus, but that he will doe to vsus as he hath done to them, and remoue the Candleſticke out of his place? For the Lord cānot abide or indure to ſee his moſt bleſſed word and glorious Goſpell to be contemned and troden vnderunder foot.
Ʋſe. 3 Laſt of all, ſeing the Lord expects that thoſe places which hauing great meanes, ſhould bring foorth moſt fruit; let vsus labor to anſwere the Lords expectation heerein. The Earth that drinketh in the raine that commeth oft vponupon it, Heb. 6.7.and bringeth foorth herbes meete for them by whom it is dreſſed, receiueth bleſſing of Ged. But that which beareth Thornes and Briers, is depriued and is neere to curſing, whoſe end is to be burned. Oh then as wee deſire a bleſſing and to be approued of God, let the fruit of our hearing and profeſſion appeare that wee beare not Thornes, for then woe vntounto vsus: but that we,Tit. 2. Denie vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts: and liue ſoberly and iuſtly in this preſent world.
And is polluted with blood.
THe meaning is as I take it, they were crafty to couer blood, for when as a Murderer had ſlaine a man euen willfully and of a ſet purpoſe he would then flie to this City, being a City of refuge, and there the Prieſts who were put in truſt to examine the matter, how the murther was done, whether wittingly of purpoſe, and that vponupon ſome old grudge, or whether of ignorance againſt his will. Theſe Prieſts being couetous and greedy of gain, would for a peece of money, ſmooth ouer the matter, they would ſhelter the wilful murderer, and craftily hide his ſinne, which ought to hauehave beene puniſhed with death, becauſe the Law was ſtraight againſt this ſinne; Hee that ſhedeth mans bloud, by man ſhall his bloud bee ſhed: But they being couetous, and not regarding Gods Law, would hide his murder, and ſhelter and ſhrowde it, and couer it ſo craftily, that hee ſhould eſcape vnpuniſhed, and neuer come to his anſwere. And for this very cauſe doth Almighty God charge this City with the bloud of theſe men, and cals it a City polluted with bloud.
So then this being the ſinne of theſe Prieſts, for Doct. 3 gaine to iuſtifie the wicked, and to couer his ſinne for a golden fee.For no worldly reſpect muſt men bee drawne to peruert iuſtice. Wee may conclude this third point of Doctrine, that for no worldly reſpect whatſoeuer, ſhould men bee drawne to peruert iuſtice, to colour ſinne. It was the ſin of this City of the Prieſts and Leuites, thoſe which were put in truſt from God to enquire, and to finde out the wilfull Murderer, & euen to take Ioab from the …ornes of the Altar; that they ſhould for money ſhew him fauour, and couer his ſinne, and let murder eſcape vnpuniſhed.Deu. 16.8. It was a ſpeciall precept that Moſes gaue to the Magiſtrate, Wreſt not thou the Law, nor reſpect any perſon, neyther take reward, for reward blind the eyes of the wiſe, and peruerteth the words of the iuſt, It was ſayd of Balaam, Num. 2.3.That hee had the reward of Soothſaying in his hands. But Magiſtrates muſt not hauehave the reward of iniuſtice in their hands: for as the Apoſtle condemnes thoſe that make Marchandize of the Word of God; ſo thoſe are no leſſe condemned that make Marchandize of Iuſtice: Woe bee vntounto him that iuſtifieth the wicked for reward, Eſay. 5.and taketh away the righteouſneſſe of the righteous from him. The Lord cannot indure that thoſe whom hee hath placed in his ſtead as petty Gods vponupon earth, that they ſhould turn the ſword of Iuſtice to the hurt of the innocent, and iuſtifying of the wicked.
We may note hence, that it is a fearefull thing when Vſe. 1 men grow to bee cunning how to ſinne, and to be their crafts maſter; for then men are boldned in ſin, and ſin without controlment; when they are ſo cunning that they can ſinne ſmoothly, and none ſhall ſee it; that can ſteale, ſo as no man can perceyue, and commit whoredome vnderunder a Canopie; when men grow cunning and crafty to hide their ſinnes; this is a dangerous thing, for this will embolden ſuch men in ſinne, it were farre better for a man if hee ſinne, to ſinne ſo, that hee know not how to couer it, or cloake it; for then hee will the ſooner be brought to repentance, then that hee know how to cloake and to couer the ſame, and to keepe it from the knowledge of the world: for howſoeuer in the opinion of the world, they be the onelyonly wiſe men that can ſmooth ouer their ſins, & commit them ſo, as none can ſee them or know them, that bee their crafts maſter: yet indeed, of all other their caſe is moſt dangerous, and there is little hope that they will leaue their ſins, and be aſhamed for them, for that their cunning and crafty hiding of their ſinnes, doth embolden them therein.