An Exposition of Hosea 8-10, Exposition · Chapter 9 · Verse 13
VER. 13.
Ephraim, as I ſaw Tyrus, is planted in a pleaſant place: but Ephraim ſhall bring forth his Children to the Murderers.
WHAT, God departed? Wo to us when God departs from us.Expoſ. Why? but Ephraim might bleſs himſelf in his proſperous condition in which he was, Ephraim (might ſay) What do you ſpeak of Gods departing? We are in a good condition, it's but your melancholly fears that makes you ſpeak of ſuch fears as theſe are, we were never ſtronger, nor never had better fortifications, nor never proſpered better than we do; and as I told you, this hath reference to the time of Jerohoam the ſecond, and the Prophet grants it,2 King. 14 that they were in a proſperous eſtate, Ephraim was like Tyrus planted in a pleaſant place as Tyrus was; Tyrus, it was a brave City, an Iſland in the Sea, much like (as it's reported) that famous City in Italy, Venice.[Venice] which is in the Sea about ſeven hundred paces from the Land, it is built as it were upon a rock in the Sea; and ſo indeed the word ſignifies,Rupes. foreign it comes from a word that in the Hebrew ſignifies a Rock: it was a very exceeding ſtrong place.Quintus Cur…ius. Quintus Curtius in his fourth book of the Story of Alexander, ſaith that, Alexander in his conqueſt had more to do to conquer Tyrus than all Aſia beſides,Lib. 4. de Reb. geſtis Alexandri. it was ſuch a mighty and ſtrong place. Pliny ſaith the compaſs of it was nineteen miles.Plin. lib. 5. cap. 19. It was the general Mart almoſt of all the world, and it was a City very full of people; and to this the Prophet hath reference, when he ſaith, Ephraim was like Tyrus; becauſe Ephraim did ſo glory in his numerous Progeny; for Tyrus was a mighty populous place, as Pliny ſaith of it, that there were three other ancient Cities came out of it,The Colonies of Tyrus. as Leptis Vtica, and that great CARTHAGE that was but a ſpring out of this root, that CARTHAGE that was ſuch a famous City that did ſtrive a long time for the Empier of Rome, and the Monarchy and Dominion of the whol world; Yea and Gades divided (as it were) from the reſt of the earth, were peopled from hence: We need not go ſo much to the Authors that write about this City and the braveneſs of it,Ezek. 27. for in Ezek. 27. you have a deſcription of the City Tyrus, as a moſt brave, rich, and glorious City. Oh! thou that art ſituate at the entry of the Sea, which art a Merchant of the people for many Iſles: thus ſaith the Lord God, O Tyrus, thou haſt ſaid I am of perfect beauty; Thy borders are in the midſt of the Seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty. And then in the 33. verſe, When thy Wares went forth out of the Seas thou filledſt many people, thou dideſt enrich the Kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy Mercandize. Now ſaith the Lord here, Ephraim is thus, ſhe ſaid to her ſelf, that ſhe was ſo proſperous, and ſtrong, and rich every way, ſhe was like to Tyrus, I grant it ſaith the Prophet, and I have ſeen it ſo, Ephraim is the very ſame even then when I am departing from her.
So that from hence we may ſee,Obſ. 1. That at the very time when God is departing from a Kingdom, or a particular man or woman, they may be in the greateſt proſperity that ever they were in all their lives: When thou art neereſt eternal miſery thou maieſt be in the higheſt degree of outward proſperity that ever thou waſt in all thy life.Vltimus ſanitatis gradus, eſt morbo proximus. Phyſitians ſay that the uttermſt degree of health in the body, is next unto ſickneſs. It's true here, that the higheſt degree of outward proſperity, it's but the forerunner of ruine; Oh! let us learn never to truſt in our proſperity,Uſe. but alwaies to walk with fear and trembling before the Lord,Take heed in our proſperity. never let us think that we are ſafe and well becauſe we have outward things at our wills, we may have them at our wills and yet that very night the word may come, This night ſhall thy ſoul be taken away, as you know it was with the rich man in the Goſpel, when he had his barns full and was in conſultation what to do, yet now ſhall thy ſoul be taken from thee. And Nebuchadnezzar at that very time when he was glorying in his Magnificent Pallace that he had made, now the word comes out againſt him.
Again,Obſ. 2. eſpecially it ſhould teach us, not to truſt (as in no outward proſperity ſo) not in any fortifications, nor ſtrength. Tyrus was an invinceable place (it ſeems to be ſo) yet God could pul it down: nor to truſt in the multitude of Soldiers: This example is as famous as any to teach men not to truſt in any outwards whatſoever.Expoſ. 2.
Calvin he carries it in ſomewhat a different way,Calvin in loc. and truly not without ſome probability neither. I ſaw Ephraim that thou wert planted in a pleaſant place, as in Tyrus, ſo he carries it thus, that is, Thou art a plant like to the plants that were in Tyrus. foreignAnd the word tranſlated, pleaſant place, it's a word that ſignifies building: becauſe they uſe to build the moſt delightful places; it ſignifies alſo a ſecure place of habitation, now (ſaith he) Tyrus it was upon a Rock, and therefore they had little ground for Orchards, or Gardens, or Plants, but only ſuch as were made by art, and with a great deal of coſt and charges, and (ſaith he) As men when they are ſtriving with Nature, if they mean to do any thing at all, they will do it to purpoſe, and fetch out the moſt curious plants and beſtow a great deal of coſt to cover them from the coldneſs of the winter, as we ſee in places that are neer the Sea, that meerly by art they fetch out a place for a Garden or Orchard, they are mighty chargable. So Ephraim was compared to ſuch a plant, that is, God was at a great deal of charge for it, and very careful he was to preſerve them. As you heard the laſt day, God compar'd his love to his people to a longing woman that longed for the firſt ripe fruits; ſo Gods love was towards his people, and here God compares his reſpect to his people; as a man or woman would do to a tender plant that is in a Garden or Orchard that is made with abundance of coſt and charge, look how careful they would be to preſerve ſome tender plant in covering of it, and keeping of it from being mixt with the froſt, (ſaith he) ſuch was my care towards Ephraim, howſoever they have ſerved me. Thus to aggravate their ſins God doth ſhew his care of them (thus Calvin.) But ſaith the text for all this, though my care hath been thus over them, yet they ſhall bring forth their children to the murderers.
God never ſhews ſo much reſpect to any man or woman, Obſer.but upon their forſaking of him, wrath doth follow. Yet after all this they ſhall bring forth their children to the murderers, as if ſo be their children had been born for no other end, but to ſatisfie the mouth of the ſword, to be objects of the fury of the murderers; and thoſe children that they ſhall bring forth in their war, they ſhall ſend them forth, juſt as if a man did ſend a company of beaſts to the ſlaughter-houſe.
They ſhall bring them forth to the murderers.
Sometimes indeed in war men are led forth even by the treachery or the ſpight at leaſt of Commanders in the war, only that they might be a prey to the murderers;The villany of malitious Cōmanders in ware againſt the godly. if any wicked Officers in an Army have a ſpight againſt a man, or any particular company of men, ordinarily their ſpight is moſt againſt godly men in their Army, a wicked, ſwearing, deboiſt Officer that hath a ſpight againſt godly men in an Army he will ſet them upon the moſt deſperat ſervice, there enjoyn them upon pain of death to do ſervice and not to ſtir, on purpoſe that they might be cut off, or at leaſt hoping that they will fall into the hand of the murderer. Juſt in this caſe like to David, for his own ends in another way, that would ſet Ʋriah in the forefront and would have others withdraw from him; on purpoſe that he might fall by the enemy.
They ſhall bring forth children to the murderers.
Many children have been brought forth to the murderers even in this way. (But for the Obſervations from the words.)
Firſt,Obſerv. The Curſe of God ſtayes not upon the Parents; but goes forwards to the children; It's for the ſin of the parents that the children are to be brought forth to the murderers, and eſpecially it ſtaies not upon Idolaters, but goes to their children. There are two branches in this Note.
1. The Curſe of God ſtaies not upon the parents, 1. Part. Deut. 28. 18.but goes towards the children; in Deut. 28. 18. Curſed ſhall be the fruit of thy body, and eſpecially to the children of Idolaters.Pſal. 137. 8. In Pſal. 137. 8. O daughter of Babylon, who art to be deſtroyed; happy ſhall he be that rewardeth thee as thou haſt ſerved us, happy ſhall he be that taketh and daſheth thy little ones againſt the ſtones.Iſa. 13. 18 And in Iſa. 13. 18. Their Bowes alſo ſhall daſh the young men to pieces, and they ſhall have no pity on the fruit of the womb;2d Commandment▪ their eye ſhall not ſpare children. So in the ſecond Commandement, the Lord there threatens, to viſit the ſins of the fathers, upon the children, to them that hate him, to the third and fourth generation.
You wil ſay, Object.Why ſhould children ſuffer for their parents ſins?
You will kill yong Vipers and Snakes though they never have ſtung.Anſw. So, God ſees guilt enough in the children of wicked men and of Idolaters, ſo that in Juſtice he may deſtroy them; but he doth rather take advantage to deſtroy them,Note. becauſe they be the children of wicked men and of Idolaters: As if a man commit TREASON, he deſerves death then for his own fault;An apt ſimile. but if the King hear that his Father and Grandfather were Traitors, he ſhall die the rather becauſe of them. So it's true, the children of godly people have ſin and guilt in them, as well as the children of wicked men; Yea, but the children of wicked men having guilt, and ſo liable to Gods Juſtice, God will take the advantage the rather to do them Juſtice becauſe their parents was wicked and ungodly; and this is righteous enough with God.
And the children of Idolaters above all ſhall not be ſpared,2d Part. and eſpecially thoſe that live to many years,Seed of Idolaters. becauſe there is no ſin that is ſo much ſtrengthened from their Anceſtors, and the example of their Forefathers as Superſtition and Idolatry is;Idolatry depends much … Anceſtors Why ſhould we be wiſer than our Forefathers? What's the argument of our ſuperſtitious vanities, but our Forefathers did thus? And therefore that's obſervable,2d Commandment illuſtrated That there's no Commandement in the Ten threatens Gods judgments upon the children, but the ſecond Commandement,
Becauſe that there's no Commandement broken from the example and plea of forefathers as the ſecond Commandement; and therefore let the children of Idolaters and falſe Worſhipers look to it,Superſtitious children admoniſhed. that they repent from the ſins of their forefathers; Inſtead of pleading for the ſins of your forefathers, you ſhould fall down and humble your ſouls for the ſins of your forefathers, or otherwiſe that's the very reaſon that God will puniſh the ſins of the forefathers upon the children, becauſe their fathers did worſhip God in a falſe way, and they will do ſo too.
And then another Note is this,Obſ. That as this is a heavy fruit of Gods Curſe upon a people for the Parents ſins, for God, Curſe to follow to the children: ſo this is a ſpecial fruit of Gods Curſe upon children, That they ſhall be brought forth to the Murderers. In times of War if you make not your peace with God it's juſt with God that things ſhould be ordered ſo that your children ſhould be brought forth to the Murderers.Tender-hearted Mothers. Oh! you tender hearted Mothers, who are loth that the wind ſhould blow upon your children, look upon them and pity them, how can you endure to ſee their blood guſh out, how can you endure to ſee your little ones ſprawling in the ſtreets, or upon the pikes of the Soldiers? If your hearts cannot endure this, ſeek to make your peace with God, to deliver your ſelves and your children from this curſe that hath befallen many. We know not what theſe wars may bring forth,The Iriſh war. what they have done in Ireland we have heard much of, how the Parents have lookt upon their children brought forth to the Murderers; and though it's true, in many Cities and places where the Enemy hath come they have not generally (at leaſt) broke forth to ſuch abominable cruelties as this is,The Engliſh Looking glaſs. but who knows what a Summer or two may bring forth; for certainly where War continues it drives on with more and more rage.
You will ſay then,Object. Oh! let us make peace upon any terms.
No, let it rather be your care to make your peace with God,Anſw. that's your way to deliver your cildren from being brought forth to the Murderers; for if it be a falſe peace it may be but a further way to bring forth your children to the Murderers. It is an extream ſad Curſe of God, in this eſpecially, when it ſhall come before their very Parents ſight, for ſo the Prophet ſpeaks as if they ſhould be brought forth even before them: Many of the Heathens have very Pathetical expreſſions about the ſad condition of Parents when their children are ſlain before their eyes: as that of Priamus Son Polites that was ſlain by Pyrrhus, Dij ſi qua eſt in Coelo pietas, qui talia curet, praemia reddent delita, patrios foedaſti funere vultus.he cries to his gods, Oh! if there be any thing in Heaven that doth take care of ſuch things, come and revenge this (ſaith he,) when as Pyrrhus ſlew his Son before his eyes. Thou haſt before the very face of the Father even ſprinkled the blood of the child upon his face: he was not able to bear it though he ſaw himſelf ready to die next, but cries to the very Heavens to revenge it. And that was a very ſad ſtory of the Emperor Mauritius, Virg.that his Sons, and Wife, and Daughters were brought before his eyes and ſlain before him: This is the woful evil that falls upon Kingdoms.Children ſhould beſeech their parents to repent. And if your children did but underſtand this very text that now I am opening, they would even look upon you and cry with tears in their eyes, Oh Father! Oh Mother! Repent, repent, and ſeek God for your ſelves and for us, Oh! repent, and make up your peace with God that we may not be brought forth to the Murderers.
Oh! but if this be ſo great an evil for Parents to have their children to be brought forth to the Murderers here, how great an evil then is it for Parents to bring forth children to be fewel for Gods wrath for all eternity, to be the firebrands for Gods wrath to burn upon, milions of years to all eternity? You then that are Parents, and have children, look upon them and have ſuch thoughts as theſe that may break your hearts, Oh! what a ſad thing would it be that ſuch a babe that came out of my womb ſhould be a fire-brand for Gods wrath to burn upon to all eternity? Oh!A meditation for parents. how had I need pray and bring up my children in the fear of God, leſt I ſhould be ſuch an unhappy Father that out of my loyns, ſhould not only bring forth a child to the Murderers, but for the Devils in Hell? But let not this diſcourage you that are godly to venture your children in lawful Wars, for when you ſhall labor to make up your peace with God, in ſuch a cauſe if you be willing to ſacrifice your children to God, if thy child ſhould be brought forth even to death, yet he is but brought forth even to Martyrdom, rather than to the Murderers: Thou ſhouldeſt rather rejoyce that thou haſt a child to bring forth in ſuch a Cauſe, then to be overpreſt with ſorrow that the life of thy child hath been taken away with the Murderers; & ſome of your children though with the loſs of their own lives, yet they have been a means to keep you, and us all from the hand of the Murderer, to keep the City and the Kingdom from being over-run with Tyranny, Idolatry, and all kind of Prophanneſs, and it may be worth the lives of your children that good that hath been done. Revel. 12. 11. Revel. 12. 11.And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Teſtimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoyce ye Heavens, and ye that dwell in them. They loved not their lives unto the death: therefore rejoyce ye Heavens,enlightned and them that dwell therein. When parents ſhall be willing to give up their children in the Cauſe of God, even children ſhall be willing to ſacrifice themſelves in Gods Cauſe, (I ſay having made up their peace with God) then when they love not their lives unto the death, there ſhall be joy in Heaven, and they ſhall overcome in dying even as Jeſus Chriſt did. I remember I have read of Zenophon, Zenophon.when he was ſacrificing to their Idol gods, he wore a Crown upon his head, and there came news to him that his child was dead, he preſently pulls his Crown from off his head in token of ſorrow; but then asking how he died, anſwer was made, That he died in the Wars: Then he calls for his Crown again. So perhaps ſome of you have loſt your Children, nature cannot but work, yea but then ask how they loſt their lives, they loſt their lives valiantly in a work that did as much concern the glory of God as ever any War did, and ſeeing they died ſo, rather bleſs God than be ſo ſorrowful that they fell into the hand of Murderers. It follows.