An Exposition of Hosea 1-3, Chapter 2 · Lecture 7
The Seventh Lecture.
HOSEA 2. 9. 10.
Therefore will I returne and take away my corne in the time thereof, and my wine in the ſeaſon thereof, and will recover my wooll and my flaxe, given to cover their nakedneſſe.
And now I will diſcover her lewdneſſe in the ſight of her lovers, and none ſhall deliver her out of mine hand.
IN the former verſe, Iſrael is accuſed for abuſing her ſilver and gold, &c. in the ſervice of Baal; now it followes, Therefore I will take away my corne in the time thereof, &c. if there be a therefore, we muſt enquire wherefore it was, becauſe they did prepare their corne, &c. for Baal, Therefore I will returne.
1. What is the meaning of returning.
2. What the meaning of the time and ſeaſon thereof, I will take away my corne in the time thereof, and my wine in the ſeaſon thereof.
3. What that phraſe imports, I will recover my wooll.
For the firſt therefore. I will returne, that is, I will change the way of my adminiſtrations toward them, I will goe out of my way of mercy, and turne into my way of judgement, I will goe back againe; I was in a way of judgement toward them, and they cryed to me, and I turned into a way of mercy, but I will goe back againe into a way of judgement, I will returne, Arias Montanus hath a good note upon the place, Whereas God hath heretofore bid them not to be afraid of all the tokens of the Southſayers that is,Lect 7. when they ſay by Aſtrology ſome ſignes of death that might follow, they were afraid; be not afraid, ſaith the Lord, but know your corne, and wine, and oyle depends on me, not on the ſecond cauſes; though ſecond cauſes make againſt, yet feare not, for I will give you come, and wine and oyle; but now it is quite contrary, though ſecond cauſes promiſe all kind of ple…ty whatſoever, that there ſhall be abundance of corne, and wine, and oyle, yet I will take away your plenty, there ſhall be a dearth of all things amongſt you.
I will take away my corne in the time thereof: that is, firſt in the times of harveſt juſt when their corne is to be taken in, and in the time of their vintage, I will then take it away, whereas I might take it away in the ſeed, I will let it grow till the harveſt, and then take it away.
2. In the time when they have moſt need of it, when they are in the greateſt ſtraits, and know not what to doe without theſe creatures,
3. In tempore ſuo, ſo ſome, In the time I have appointed, though I have let them goe on and enjoy the creatures in abundance, yet my time is come that I will take away all.
And will recover, the word ſignifieth, I will ſnatch it away, I wil ſpoyle you of it;foreign and it hath reference to two things.
Firſt, I will recover it as out of the hands of uſurpers, you have my corne, and wo…l, and flaxe as uſurpers, but I will recover them out of your hands, as a man that hath his goods taken away from him uſurped, hee by ſome meanes or other recovers his goods againe; ſo ſaith God, you have my corne, and wine, and as you have carryed the matter, you are but uſurpers, I will ſue you for them, you ſhall not enjoy them long.
Secondly, I will recover, it hath a reference to priſoners and bondſlaves, when the enemy ſhall get any of ours into their power, and make them bond-ſlaves, a greater power goes againſt the enemy, and recovers them out of his hands, and gets them again; As Abraham recovered Lot and his goods, Gen. 46. 14. Or as if marriners ſhould get thoſe gally-ſlaves the Turks have gotten: and recover them out of their hands, as if he ſhould ſay, theſe creatures of corne and wine, &c. they are in bondage, and I will recover them out of your hands, you know the creatures groane under their bondage while they are in the poſſeſſion of wicked men, 8. Rom. my creatures are in bondage to you, and they cry to me, and I will recover them out of your hands. There are many precious and choice truths to be preſented to you out of the words.Obſer. 1 Firſt, Therefore I will, &c. Whence obſerve,
Though God gives mercy out of free grace without cauſe in our ſelves, yet he takes not away mercy without cauſe, there is a therefore for taking away mercy, but we have many mercies given without a therefore: When God takes away mercy we have cauſe to look into our ſelves to finde out a therefore, but you may find out thouſands of mercies that God gives to us, and you ſhall finde never a therefore for them. It is not ſo great a wonder that thouſand thouſands are in miſery as that any one enjoyes mercy, for miſery hatha therefore in our ſelves, for mercy there is reaſon only in the breaſt of God.Obſ. 2. Secondly, I will returne. Sinne cauſeth God to change the way of his adminiſtrations towards his people. Though God be in wayes of mercy, yet ſinne may put him out of thoſe wayes, and make him returne and go in a way of judgement agnine: how much better were it for ſinners to returne, then that ſinnne ſhould cauſe God to returne? Oh ſinner, returne out of thy evill wayes, if God returne, it will be a ſad returne. Not long ſince God was in wayes of judgement againſt us, and lately he hath come into wayes of mercy, and now he ſeemes to returne againe to his former wayes of judgement. Ier. 14. 9. Why art thou as a man aſtoniſhed? A man aſtoniſhed ſtands ſtill; or if he moves, it is up and down, as if he knew not which way to goe, though we have ſuffered hard things, wee cannot yet ſay God is returned, but he ſeemes as a man aſtoniſhed, and knowes not which way to go. Thus God is pleaſed of himſelfe after the manner of men, to ſpeake; let us cry to him that he may not turne out of his way of mercy, into thoſe ſad wayes of wrath that he ſeems to be looking towards.
I will take away my corne, and my wine.
Abuſe of mercy cauſeth the removing of mercy, 11 Zach. 17. Woe to the idoll ſhepheard that leaveth the flocke, the ſword ſhall be upon his arme, & upon his right eye, his arme ſhall be dryed up, and his right eye ſhall be utterly darkned. Hath God given any a right hand, any abilities? take heed God doth not ſtrike that right hand, or right eye, any quickneſs of parts, let them take heed that thorough abuſe it be not put out:Abuſe of mercies cauſes God to take them away. how many ſhepherds when they were young had many excellent parts, great abilities, but having abuſed them to their luſts, God hath taken them away! So in children, there is no ſuch way to loſe your children, as to abuſe them, if your hearts be inordinately ſet upon them, God takes them away. I will tell you of a ſpeciall paſſage of providence concerning this, & I ſpeak it the rather, becauſe I was an eye and eare witneſſe of it, living not far from the place, A godly man deſiring his friends to meete to bleſſe God for his bleſſings in a plentifull Harveſt, after dinner was done comes in a little child, who was indeed a very lovely child, Oh ſaith the father, I am afraid I ſhal make a God of this child; by and by the child was miſſing, and preſently they went to looke him, and hee was found ſprawling drowned in a pond. Conſider this ye parents who have your hearts inordinately ſet on your children.
Againe, I will take away my corne, and my wine, and my wool, and my flaxe. Marke, before they made them their own, in the former verſe, they ſaid they are theirs, now God challenges them for his, here we have, My, My, My, repeated on Gods ſide, as frequent as before it was on theirs.
Fourthly,Obſer. 4 God keepes the propriety of all that we have; though God gives all, yet he keepes the propriety of all in his own hand: God hath another propriety in our eſtates, then any Prince in the world hath.
Subjects have propriety in their eſtates, and enjoy them with as true a right as their Soveraignes, but no creature hath any propriety in what it hath in reference to God, this great Soveraign of all the world holds the propriety of all his hands,Gratiarum actio ipſa confesſio donum eſt acceptum, quanto magis ipſa dona. Luther. poſtquam locuplitati ſumus bane …ideſam particulam addimus, ego geci. Obſ. 5.not onelyonly what we have, but what we doe, and what we are is all Gods: yea ſayes Luther, even our thankſgiving to God for gifts is a gift of God: It is therefore a very vile thing to attribute to our ſelves what is Gods, when God hath enriched us we adde this odious particle, ſayes Luther, I have done it, yea, ſayes he, men do ſo often ſay, Feci, Feci, I have done, I have done it, that Fiunt faeces, they are as dregs before the Lord; By this you may ſee they are not your goods that you abuſe it is a great argument to be bountifull and free for good uſes; becauſe what wee have is Gods. I will give you a notable Text for this, 1 Chron. 29. 14. For all things come of thee, and of thine own we have given thee. David thought not much of his bounty towards the Temple, becauſe all was Gods.
Therefore I will take away. This [Therefore] hath not onelyonly reference to the abuſe of them, but to that in the 7. ver. and ſhe ſhall follow after her l…vers, but ſhall not overtake them, &c. then ſhall ſhe ſay, I will goe and return to my firſt husband, for then it was better then now. God makes this to be a meanes of working that frame of ſpirit in them of returning to their firſt husband. And from hence the note is.
Fifthly, The taking away thoſe good things we enjoy, is a meanes of making us returne to God, it is a ſpeciall meanes of conviction, to convince us of ſinne, when God comes with ſome ſpeciall worke of his againſt us, it workes more upon us when we ſee ſome reall expreſſion of Gods diſpleaſure, when God takes his mercies from us then when we heare the threat, now wee come to be ſenſible of our ſinnes. You that are tradeſmen and runne into debt, and your Creditors tell you they will come upon you, yet you goe on, till the Bailife comes into your ſhop and ſeizeth upon all, and goes into your houſe and takes away your bed from under you, and all your goods; when you ſee all goe out, then you thinke of your negligence, and then the husband and wife wring their hands. So though God threaten you for the abuſe of the creature that hee will take it away, yet you are not ſenſible of it till God indeed takes away all, and then conſcience begins to be awakened and fly in your faces.
VVhen David ſaw God taking away his people, then his heart ſmote him for numbring them; hee was told of the evill of that way of his before by Ioab, but he goes on in it. VVhen Samuel prayed for raine in wheat harveſt, and there came thundring and lightning, then the people feared exceedingly, and acknowledged their ſin in asking a King. Thoſe who have abuſed their eſtates in theſe times, when the enemy comes, what gratings of conſcience will they have? Then theſe thoughts will ariſe, Have I uſed my eſtate for God? have I done that I might doe? have I not ſatisfied my luſts with thoſe things God hath now taken from me? There is uſually a grating of conſcience for the abuſe of any thing, when God takes it away.
When God takes away a wife, if the husband hath a tenderneſs of conſcience, his firſt thoughts are, Have I performed the duties of my relation to my wife as I ought? have I not neglected my duty towards her? and this cauſeth ſad thoughts.When God takes away a mercy, then conſcience troubles fo… the abuſe of that mercy▪Obſer. 6
And when God taketh away a child. Have I done my duty towards this child? have I prayed for it, and inſtructed it as I ought?
Againe, I will take away your corne in the time thereof, and your wine in the ſeaſon thereof. This preſents this truth to you.
That there is an uncertainty in all things in the world; Though they promiſe faire, yet they are ready to faile us, when they promiſe moſt. A huſbandman that hath a good ſeed time, promiſeth much to himſelfe, it comes up and thrives, and yet at harveſt it is all blaſted. Habak. 3. 17. Though the labour of the olive faile, The phraſe is, Though the Labour of the olive lye, that is, the olive promiſed faire, it grew up, and looked very faire, and ripened, but it did lye, that is, it did not performe what it ſeemed to promiſe, for in the time thereof it vaniſhed and came to naught. I had certain information from a reverend Miniſter, of a ſtrange work of God this way; The thing was, in his owne Towne there was a worldling who had a great crop of corne; a good honeſt neighbour of his walking by his corne, ſaith he, Neighbour you have a very fine crop of corne, if God bleſſe it: Yea, ſaith he, I will have a good crop, ſpeaking contemptuouſly and before he could come to get it into the barne, it was blaſted, that the corn of the whole crop was not worth ſix pence. Here we ſee the uncertainty of the creature in the time thereof, when it ſeemes to promiſe never ſo faire, when wee are ready to take it into the barne, it depends on God, as well as when it is under the clods. Oh the bleſſedneſſe of Gods ſervants, who are ſure of their good for time to come! We may promiſe our ſelves certainty, even for the future in the things of Chriſt; but for outwards they are never ſure, no not when men have them in their hands. Many things fall out betweene the cup and lip, as we have it in the proverb.
I will take away my corne in the time thereof, and wine in the ſeaſon thereof. Hence Obſerve.
God lets out his diſpleaſure many times to thoſe that provoke him,Obſ. 7. when they make account of the greateſt mercy, when they are at the greateſt height of proſperity, when afflictions ſeems to be the fartheſt off from them, then it comes heavieſt upon them: When they thinke leaſt of it, when they thinke all ſure, then God comes upon them by his diſpleaſure, when his diſpleaſure ſhall be moſt bi…ter to them: for that is the ſtrength of the point, he will not onelyonly take them away in the time thereof, but when the affliction ſhall be moſt grievous to them.
That in the 20. of Job, ver. 22. is a moſt notable Scripture for this, In the fulneſſe of his ſufficiency he ſhall be in ſtraits. A man may ſeeme to have ſufficiency of the creature, and may have his fulneſſe of ſufficiency, yet God ſaith he ſhall be in ſtraits in the fulneſſe of his ſufficiency, I can give you another admirable work of providence in this very things wherein you may ſee God to come in ſore affliction at ſuch a time, when it is moſt bitter: it came from that worthy Divine Doctor Preſton, it was in the Towne where he was born; There was a man who of long time had no childe, but when God gave him one,wrath from God when wiked men leaſt think of it. at the weaning of it hee called his friends and neighbours to rejoyce with him for this great mercy: and the Nurſe going to dandle the child in her arme, and wearing a knife in her boſom, the point of the knife being upward, while ſhe was dandling of the child, runs into the belly of the child, at that time when all his friends were about him to rejoyce with him. When men thinke the bitterneſſe of death to be paſt, (as Agag did) the curſe of God comes on them. Pſ. 78. 30. While the meate was in their mouths, the wrath of God fell upon them.
I have read of Pope John the 22. that he ſaid he knew by the poſition of the Stars he ſhould live a long time, and boaſted that he could caſt his nativity, and the ſame night by the fall of a chamber he had newly built for his ſolace, he was ſ…ain. Another example in this kind I have heard credibly reported of a drunken fellow in an Inne was ſwearing moſt dreadfully, and one comes in and ſaith, Sir, what if you should dye now? ſaith hee, I shall never eye, and going down the ſtairs when he went out of his chamber, he preſently feldown and broke his neck.
There is likewiſe a hiſtory of one Bibulus a Roman, that riding in triumph in all his glory, a tyle fel from a houſe in the ſtreet and knockt out his brains. As on the contrary, Gods wayes and dealings with the Saints are ſuch, as what time their condition is moſt ſad, God comes in with mercy to them, when they are in the moſt dark condition and gloomish, Gods face shines on them; ſo when the wicked are in their proſperity, God ſmites them, When the irons entred into Ioſephs ſoule, God delivered him. When the Apoſtle had received the ſentence of death in himſelf, God comforred him 2 Cor. 1. 9. When Abraham was lifting up his hand to ſlay Iſaac, the Angel of the Lord ſtayed his hand.
As it is obſerved in nature, a little before day breake it is darker then before, ſo a little before the happineſſe of Gods people,Obſ. 8. there are ſome great afflictions. Zech. 1. 7. At the evening time it ſhall be light.
I will recover. From this phraſe of [recovering] obſerve, Firſt, when men abuſe mercies, they forfeit their right in their mercies, they come then to be but uſurpers; they are not uſurpers of mercies, meerely for the uſe of mercies, but for the abuſe of them; they are not charged for their right to uſe them, but for their not right uſing them, there is great difference between theſe two.
It hath beene taught by many,how far wicked men have right to the creature. that all wicked men have no right at all to uſe any creature, but are to anſwer as uſurpers before God. But certainely there is a miſtake. It is certain man hath forfeited all, but God hath given a right to all that they do enjoy in a lawful way, a right by donation. They have not ſuch a right as the Saints have, a right in Chriſt, once being in Chriſt we may challence of God all things that are good for us. Another man hath right, but how? as a malefactor is condemned to dye by his offence, being condemned, he hath forfeited all his eſtate, and all the benefit of a ſubject; But if the King be pleaſed to allow him proviſion for a day or two, till the time of execution, he cannot be challenged as an uſurper, for that he hath, he hath it by donation, and it is ſuch a right that all wicked men have; all wicked men in the world are under the ſentence of condemnation, & have forfeited their right, and all the good of the creature, only the Lord is pleaſed out of his bounty to give ſuch and ſuch enjoyments, they shall have ſuch and ſuch houſes, and ſuch and ſuch lands for a time, till the day of execution comes.
This might daunt the hearts of wicked men: you look upon your ſelves as great men, you have your ſhops full, you have large eſtates, you are like ſome malefactors, who have a better ſupper before execution then others. But ſtill your not right uſing may make you uſurpers before God. You give your ſervant order to buy ſuch and ſuch commodities, ſuppoſe your ſervant run away with your money, or beſtow it on his whores, &c. if he run away do you not follow him as a thiefe? you truſt him with ſuch a ſtock, to keepe ſuch markets, now he hath right to uſe your eſtate; but if he run away with your eſtate, and uſe it againſt you, if you meet with him again, you will ſay, what a thief are you to run away with your Maſters eſtate, and abuſe it againſt him? I will recover, &c.
All the time the creature ſerves wicked men,Obſ. 9. it is in bondage, and God looks upon it with a kinde of pitty. God hath made all things for his owne praiſe, and he gives the children of men many mercies, but it is for his owne glory; but when theſe creatures which were given for the glory of God, are abuſed to thy luſt,Subſtanti… caro noſtra incorporetur Sanctis nt in …is ad gloriam reſurgat, non peccatoribus, in illis enim reſurg…t ad …ehenam. the creature groanes under thee. Thou drinkeſt wine, but the creature groans under thy abuſe; never any gally-ſlave did groan more under the bondage of the Turks, then thy wine and thy diſhes on thy table groan under thy abuſe, Rom. 8. 22.
As God hears the cry of the widow and fatherleſs, ſo he hears the groans of the creature.
Cornelius a Lapide tels a ſtory that he heard of a famous Preacher, ſhewing this bondage of the creature, brings in the creatures complaining thus, Oh that we could ſerve ſuch as are godly! Oh that our ſubſtance & our fleſh might be incorporated into godly people, that ſo we might riſe into glory! but if our fleſh be incorporated into the fleſh of ſinners, we ſhall go to hell, and would any creature go to hell? The very creatures ſhall be in hell eternally, when wicked men conſume them on their luſts, being incorporated into their bodies. Certainly, the creature one day wil have a kind of revenge upon ungodly men, & divers think that hell will be a turning all creatures into a Chaos, into a confuſion again as it was at the firſt, and the wicked put into that, and ſo tormented there, there ſhal not be an annihilation, but God shall take away the beauty, comfort & glory of the creature, and whatſoevershal be for the torment of ungodly men shal abide, and ſo they shall bee tormented eternally by the creatures they do abuſe.
As in ſuch a building as this is, there is lime and ſtone, and morter, but now the art of man puts a beauty upon them; but ſuppoſe all the art of man were taken away from this building, at an inſtant, what would become of us then? it would bury us in the rubbiſh of it; now it is uſefull and delightfull, but if the art were taken away, it would be our deſtruction. So the creatures of God have much of Gods wiſedome, power and goodneſſe in them, which God ſuffers wicked men to enjoy; but God will take away all his wiſdome, beauty and goodneſſe, ſo that nothing but the confuſion & rubbiſh of the creature ſhall be upon the wicked to all eternity.
I will recover my wooll and my flaxe given to cover their nakedneſſe.
Whence obſerve,
God gives his bleſſings to us, not for luxury, but for neceſſity; I gave them to cover your nakedneſſe. Obſer.Therefore when our Saviour teacheth us to pray▪ it is for dayly bread, or bread which is for our ſubſtance, ſo much bread as ſerves for our ſubſtance,foreign. and that but for a day neither. Moſt are abuſive in their deſires, after, and uſe of the creature, they looke at bravery rather then neceſſity; As Cyprian hath an expreſſion, It is not the heat of their cloathes, nor calor, but color, the colour is rather regarded by many. God lookes now eſpecially that we ſhould cut of our ſuperfluities, when our br…thren want neceſſareis.
To cover your nakedneſſe. It ſeemes that our nakedneſſe needs a cover. Sin hath made nakedneſſe ſhamefull.foreign. Hence therefore our bodies are called vile bodies; thoſe bodies that we ſtudy ſo much to pamper and adorne, they are bodies of vileneſſe, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, Phil. 3. 21. yea, of that vileneſſe with an article, or of the vilenſſe; to be proud of our cloathes that cover our ſhame, that cover our nakedneſſe is an unreaſonable thing.
Would you have your bodies adorned? labour for godlineſſe, and then you ſhall have bodies like the glorious body of JESUS CHRST; you may have bodies that ſhall not need a covering.
Laſtly,Obſ. when abundance is abuſed, it is juſt with God that we ſhould want neceſſaries, I will take away their corne, &c. how many are there who have laviſhed out their eſtates, upon whom you may ſee Gods judgement ſo grievous, that they want a piece of bread; now you often tell your laviſh waſting ſervants, they will be glad of a cruſt before they dye; It proves true often of Maſters and Miſtreſſes alſo, who out of pride and delicacy of ſpirit, will be ſo fine & brave above their ranks, that God doth blaſt them that they have not to cover their nakedneſſe. Thoſe in the third of Iſa, who had that gorgeous and brave attire, are threatned with baldneſſe, and grinding with ſackcloath, ver. 24. and ſuch as come to miſery by their waſting ſuperfluity have none to pitty them. I have read of Alfonſus a King of Spaine, who when a Knight falling into want and being arreſted for debt, there was a petition to the King to ſuccour him, I ſaith the King, if he had ſpent his eſtate in mine, or in the common-wealths ſervice, it were reaſon he ſhould be provided for, by me or the common-wealth, but ſeeing he hath ſpent all in rio…ouſneſs, let him ſuffer.
Conſider this you who are ſo loath to part with your eſtates for the publicke, you murmure at every thing that is required of you for that, but you are profuſe in expences for your luſt, God hath wayes to bring you low enough in your eſtares.
Ver. 10. And now I will diſcover her lewdneſſe.
And now, that is, when I recover my wooll, and flaxe, I will diſcover her lewdneſſe, I will take their covers from their own eyes, and from the eyes of others. Wicked men, and eſpecially Idolaters have divers covers for their lewdneſſe. There are eſpecially three covers that theſe people had for their lewdneſs. The firſt was their outward proſperity: do you ſpeak ſo bitterly againſt us, as if we were Idolaters, as if we had forſaken God, are we not in as good a condition as Judah, who you ſay hath not forſaken God?
Secondly, Their externall worſhip is that yet they kept ſomething according to Gods own mind, they yet kept the Sabbath and ſome ſolemn dayes according to the law, this cover they reſted in; as if they ſhould ſay, What doe you accuſe us as if we did not worſhip the true God, have not we Gods ſervice with us, and our ſolemne aſſemblies?
Thirdly, They had other ſervices which were not Gods, yet they did cover them, with glorious pompous ſhewes, they had pompous dayes of ſolemnity, pretended for God, but being of their own invention, they were hatefull. Well ſaith God, I will take away your proſperity, and I will take away thoſe things you thinke to put me off with, I will take away your ſolemnicies, and all the pomp in your ſervices.
I will diſcover their lewdneſſe.
The word lewdneſſe, foreignthat comes of Nabal, that ſignifieth to fall, it ſignifies the falling of the ſpirit low, poor, vile, and unworthy things. Hence the Hebrews uſe that word for a foole, one that hath a vi…e ſpirit, ſet upon baſe contemptible things, is Nabal, a foole. Hence that ſpeech of Abigail concerning her husband, as is his name, ſo is he, he is Nabal, and folly is with him. foreignThe Seventy turne this by another word, that ſignifieth uncleanneſſe, the mixture of their ſpirits with vile things that make their ſpirits to be unclean. The Engliſh word Lewd comes from Loed an old Saxon word, which ſignifieth one that is of a ſervile diſpoſition, of an under ſpirit; ſome are of ſervile ſpirits naturally, they are born to a kind of ſervility, & bondage, they are inclined to baſeneſs, and vileneſs, by their natural genius: others are of more ſublime ſpirits naturally, as if they were borne for great things; theſe people are lewd, they have vile ſpirits, forſaking the bleſſed God, & his glorious wayes,foreign. turning to vanities that can doe no good. So we ſay of many, they are lewd baſe fellowes, that is, they are of ſuch ſordid diſpoſitions, that they ſeeke only after ſuch things as have no worth in them, & ſatisfie themſelves in things beneath the excellency of a man, unbeſeeming a rationall creature to take content in. Act. 18. 14. we finde this word lewdnes, the Greek word tranſlated there lewdneſs doth elegantly ſet forth the diſpoſition of a lewd man, namely, ſuch a one as is eaſily drawn to any wicked way.
I will diſcover her lewdneſſe in the ſight of her lovers. In the ſight; this is a great aggravation of their ſhame. God will caſt filth on them, not before thoſe that are ſtrangers, but thoſe before whom they would be honoured. It is a note of Calvin upon this, that ſeemes to reach the meaning of the holy Ghoſt, alluding to the way of whores, who having great men for their lovers, favourites with Princes at the Court, they reſt on their power, and confide in their greatneſs, they care not what their husbands can doe againſt them, and ſo grow proud againſt their husbands, becauſe their lovers have great power. There was a remarkable example of this here in England, that you may remember, it were but to …ake in a filthy dunghill to mention it.
I will take away their confidence, though their lovers be never ſo great, the Aſſyrians, and Aegyptians, whoſoever they be, they ſhall have no power to help you, but I will diſcover their lewdneſſe before their face. From hence take theſe obſervations.
Firſt, all wickedneſſe, and eſpecially Idolatry, hath many covers for it; except we looke very narrowly to thoſe that are ſuperſtitious and idolatrous, we ſhall not ſee the evill of that ſin. Some covers are ſubtilly woven, but it may be ſaid of them all as Iſa. 28. 20. The bed is ſhorter then that a man can ſtretch himſelfe on it, and the covering narrower then that he can wrap himſelfe in it.
Secondly,Obſer. Proſperity in a ſinfull way is a great cover; though it be a very vile and ſinfull way, yet proſperity is a cover to it: This gliſters ſo in many mens eyes, that the filth of ſin is hid, many a foule hand is under a faire perfumed glove, an ill complexion may have a painted face, and proſperity is no other to wicked men,Proſperity hides much filth. then a painted face to a foul woman. As a painted face is no argument of a faire complexion, ſo neither is proſperity of a good condition. Crooked diſeaſed bodies, halfe rotten, may have fine cloths. Green leaves on a tree may hide the rifts, the moſſineſs, and blackneſs of the body which appears in winter.
Many men are abominable falſe in all their wayes, cruell, and bloody in their hearts againſt God and good men, their ſpirits are invenomed, and they have given up themſelves to moſt horrible ſins, yet ſo long as they have power about them all is covered, were all their proſperity taken from them, and all their glory and greatneſs, and nothing but their falſhood, and hatred of the wayes of God appeared, what dreadfull creatures would they bee? There is many a man that is taken with a ſtrumpet, when ſhee hath painted her ſelfe bravely like Iezebel, but if he ſhould ſee this whore whipped up & down the ſtreets, and full of botches, how odious would this ſtrumpet be in his eyes? take away her bravery, and ſhe is to him the Ioathſomeſt creature upon earth.
Thirdly,Obſer. Retaining ſome truths in the way of worſhip is a great cover to much falſenes. When ſome of you are to pay a great ſum, you can ſhuffle in a braſſe ſix pence or ſhilling, or a light piece of gold: ſo ſome, though they retaine many errors,Lect. 6. yet becauſe they keep ſome truths, they think to cover much ſuperſtition. Falſe wares will be holpen off amongſt good, and a man that uſeth to lie will ſometimes tell ſome truths to put off a lie.Re…taining ſome good covers much evill. A man that is a baſe ſelfe-ſecker, will many times deny himſelfe; many times you ſhall have the proudeſt ſpirits that are, to bee as crowching and ſubject to thoſe that are their ſuperiours as any, and ſo by ſeeming humility, cover a great deale of pride. So the evill of ceremonies, and falſe diſcipline, paſſe without much contradiction, you muſt not trouble your ſelves about theſe things, and why have not we as wholſome ſoule-ſaving doctrine as in any Church in the world? becauſe of this the corruption of the other is covered, much hypocriſie is covered under excellent gifts, the gifts are gifts of Gods Spirit, but they oftentimes cover much vileneſs.
Further obſerve,Obſer. Outward pompous devotion in Gods worſhip is a great colour of notorious Idolatry, as gilded Croſſes, painted Churches, pompous Ceremonies: how hath it covered the moſt deſperate hatred to the power of godlineſſe that ever was?
I will diſcover thy lewdneſſe.
God hath a time to diſcover wickedneſſe,Obſer. it ſhall appeare one day in its colours, vile and abominable wickedneſſe ſhall not always goe uncovered. God will not diſcover her infirmities, neither ſhould we; wee ſhould doe as God doth,Lewdnes of men muſt be diſcovered but not their infirmities. diſcover the lewdneſſe of men, but not their infirmities Love covers a multitude of faults, if they be but infirmities. And when you diſcover the lewdneſſe of others, take heed you do not diſcover your owne lewdneſſe in the mean time. Many when they go about to diſcover the lewdneſſe of other men, do it with ſuch bitterneſſe of ſpirit, and with rejoycing, that they have got any advantage againſt thoſe that are religious, if they heare any reports againſt ſuch, whether true or falſe they care not, they relate it confidently, ſomething will ſtick. This is for men to diſcover their own lewdneſſe, when they cry out againſt the lewdneſſe of others. Thoſe who are wiſe and underſtanding, are able eaſily to ſee it; but if wee would not have God diſcover our lewdneſſe, let us get ſuch a cover as ſhall never be uncovered▪ You may have many ſhifts to cover your ſinnes that are not large enough, but I wil tell you of a cover that is large enough to cover all: What is that? The righteouſneſſe of Jeſus Chriſt. Pſal. 32. 1. Bleſſed is he whoſe tranſgresiſon is forgiven, whoſe ſin is …overed. There is a cover that covers from the eyes of God and man for ever.
I will diſcover her lewdneſs in the ſight of her lovers.
I will take ſuch a way to manifeſt her vile lewdneſs before her lovers, that ſhe ſhall neither prevail with them, nor be upheld by them.
Whence obſerve,
When God diſcovers mens lewdneſs,Obſer. they ſhal do little hurt. 2 Tim. 3. 6. But they ſhall proceed no farther, for their folly ſhall bee made manifeſt to all men. There are many who have ſecretly gained on the ſpirits of other men, by faire pretences, that they will doe nothing but thus and thus, and they ſeek nothing but the publicke good,Lect. 7. and they deſire the furtherance of the Goſpel, but when opertunity ſhall ſerve, there ſhall be a ciſcovering that their intentions goe another way then their words ſeemed to import, and then they ſhall proceed no further, for they ſhal be vile and contemptible in the eyes of thoſe with whom they prevailed before.
Againe, further, I will doe it in the ſight of their lovers.
When God ſets himſelf againſt his enemies,Obſer. he will goe through his work in the face of all thoſe that ſeekes the contrary, doe what they can. God needs no ſhifts, no tricks nor devices to carry on his work, but he can carry it on in the ſight of his adverſaries, he will carry on his worke, and ſhame them in the ſight of their lovers,God carrieth on his work in the face of his …mies. and bring them downe low, doe what they can. God can make uſe of the wiſedome and policy of men, and hee can make as much uſe of their indiſcretion, as he hath done of late. The great workes of God amongſt us of late have been carryed on with a high hand in the ſight of thoſe that have been our adverſaries; what diſcoveries have there been of the filth of men? how hath their nakedneſs been made naked? what charges in their conditions? what contempt hath God caſt in the face of thoſe that were the great champions ſor lewdneſſe, and that in the very face of their lovers? Their lovers looked on them, and had as good a heart to them as ever, there was little or no change in the hearts of their lovers; and though their lovers were as eager for them as ever, yet their ſhame hath been diſcovered. This Scripture is as cleerely made good this day, as any Scripture in the Book of God. Againe, In the face of their lovers.
Diſhonour before thoſe we expect honour from,Obſer 2 Sam. 15. 30. is a ſad, a great evill. Oh, ſaith Saul, Honour me before the people. Saul cared not much if hee were diſhonored before ſtrangers, but he would be honored before the people. It is ſuch a thing to be diſhonoured before thoſe that we would be honoured before, that the ſtronger a mans ſpirit is, the more intolerable the burden is; one of a mean and low ſpirit, doth not much care for diſhonour any where, but a man that hath ſtrength of ſpirit indeed, counts it the worſt thing that can be to be diſhonoured before thoſe that love him.
This we finde among many Tradeſmen that are civill at home,It is very grievous to be dishonoured before thoſe we love. but if they get among ſtrangers, oh how lewd are they in an Inne! thoſe that love God and the Saints, are moſt afraid to have their evill diſcovered before God and the Saints, for a gracious heart deſires honour from them moſt. One that is godly can beare diſgrace, any contemptuous abuſe from many of thoſe that are profane, rather then from one that is godly. Wicked men care not for diſhonour among the Saints, becauſe they care not for their love. If diſhonour before lovers be ſuch a ſhame, what will diſhonour before God at the great day be, and before the Saints and wicked men too who were your lovers? I will diſcover their lewdneſs in the ſight of their lovers.
When I take away their corne, and wine, and flaxe, and theſe things, their lovers will be aſhamed of them.
The way of carnall friends are to eſteem of men when they are in proſperity, but when they are down in adverſity, then they contemn them.
Huntſmen when they would ſingle out a Deer, they ſhoot her firſt, and as ſoon as the blood appears, all the reſt goe out of her company, and puſh her from them. It is ſo with carnall friends, if a man be in affliction, if they ſee their friend ſhot, they look aloofe from him. Wee have had wofull experience of this of late, when many godly Miniſters were perſecuted, thoſe who before had ſeemed to be their lovers, grew ſtrange unto them. In a ſunſhine day, men that paſſe by look on a dyall, but in a darke ſtormy day, a hundred may ride by it and never look to it.Carnall friends grow ſtrangers in time of adverſity. When wee are in a Sun-ſhine day of proſperity, men will look towards us; but if the gloomy day of adverſity come, then they paſſe by without regard to us. I… a man of faſhion come to a houſe, the dogs will be quiet, but when a beggar comes in raggs, they flye upon him. It is apparant by this, that men in their proſperity are not regarded for any thing in themſelves, but for their proſperities ſake, for their moneys ſake, for their cloathes ſake. Suppoſe any of you have a ſervant goes up and downe with you, and you know whither ſoever you goe, the reſpect that is given, is not for your ſake, but for your ſervants ſake, you go to ſuch a houſe, and they uſe you kindly, only for your ſervants ſake, you take it very ill. This is all the reſpect that men have from falſe lovers, it is not for any good in them, it is for their proſperity, for their ſervants ſake; O how vaine is reſpect from the world! If you be gracious, God will not deal with you thus; if you have your eſtates taken from you, God will not deſpiſe you as carnall friends doe. Pſal. 22. 24. For he hath not deſpiſed nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. When the Saints are afflicted, God doth not hide his face from them, but when they cry to him he hears them.
Yet further we ſee here, carnall hearts have a great deale of confidence in many things they truſt to,Obſer. in time of danger they will not believe but they ſhall eſcape. Let us not be troubled at the confidence our enemies have, they doubt not but to prevaile; this is from the curſe of God upon them; their caſe is never ſo deſperate, but they have ſomething to ſhelter themſelves in their own thoughts: Oh what a ſhame is it that any thing is rather truſted in, then God! the husbandman caſts ſeed-corn that coſts dearer then any other corne into the ground: The Merchant truſts all his eſtate to the winds & waves of the ſea, & if they ſaile, all is gone; you truſt ſervants with buſines of weight. If you goe to Weſtminſter, you truſt your lives in a boat halfe an inch thicke, God is not truſted ſo much, that bleſſed God who is the only true object of ſoule-confidence.
Laſtly, when God ſets himſelfe againſt a generation of men, or any particular, all the means in the world ſhall not help. Ezek. 9. the Prophet had a viſion of ſix men with weapons of war in their hands; there were ſix principall gates in Jeruſalem, and God would ſet theſe ſixe men with weapons in their hands at each gate, that if they run to this, or the other, or any gate, the man with the weapon in his hand ſhould be ſure to take them, they ſhould not eſcape.
Amos, 5. 8. Seeke him that maketh the ſeven Stars and Orion; Why are theſe named ſeven ſtars and Orion; the one is the extreame of cold, and the other of heate; The Lord hath the power of both: if they eſcape the heat, the cold ſhall take them; if the cold, the heate ſhall take them: and I likewiſe, ſaith the Lord, can make both theſe helpfull to you as I pleaſe.
Hence there is ſuch blaſting of means, for the curſing of thoſe whom God ſets himſelfe againſt; let us not be afraid of the great aſſiſtance that our adverſaries have, though they have great aſſiſtance, they are in Gods hand, and none can deliver out of Gods hand; all their ſtrength is but as tow and flaxe before the flame of fire. If God be in a way of mercy, none can take out of his hands, Iſa. 43. 13. There is none can deliver out of my hand, I will worke, and who ſhall let it?
Wherefore it is a fearfull thing to fall into the hand of God when he is in a way of wrath, and it is a bleſſed thing to be in his hand when he is in a way of mercy, for none can deliver out of either. Chriſt holds the ſtars, not only Miniſters, but all his Elect in his hand, and none can take them out. I will give you a notable example in Gods preſervation in times of danger: In the time of the Maſſacre at Paris, there was a poor man, who for his deliverance crept into a hole, and when he was there, there comes a Spider and weaves a cobweb before the hole; when the murtherers came to ſearch for him, ſaith one, Certainly he is got into that hole: No ſaith another, he cannot be there,Job. 8. 14. for there is a cobweb over the place; and by this meanes the poore man was preſerved. The hope of the wicked, Job ſaith, is as the Spiders Web; yet if God pleaſe he can make a cobweb to deliver his people.
The leaſt things ſhall deliver when he will, and the greateſt meanes of deliverance ſhall not deliver when he pleaſes.