An Exposition of Hosea 8-10, Exposition · Chapter 10 · Verse 5
VER. 5.
The Inhabitants of Samaria ſhall fear, becauſe of the Calves of Beth-aven.
YOU heard before that they were convinced in their conſciences that they did not fear God, For now they ſhall ſay, We have no King, becauſe we feared not the Lord. They feared not God, but now they ſhall fear. From whence the Note is this.
That thoſe that fear God leaſt, Obſ. 1.are moſt afraid of any thing elſe. Where the fear of God is not, other baſe fear will be, and ſo much the more, the leſs we fear God. Oh! how much better were it that our fear were ſet upon God, than upon other things? You muſt love ſomething; Were it not better that your love were placed upon God than any thing elſe? And you muſt fear ſomething; Were it not better that your fear were upon God, than any thing elſe? And you muſt rejoyce in ſomething, and ſorrow and the like. Fear, it is a very troubleſom affection, if it be miſplaced; Oh! learn to place your affections right, place them upon God: By the fear of God you ſhall come to fear nothing elſe; Oh! how excellent is Gods fear! This one thing ſets out the excellency of the fear of God: That where the fear of God is ſetled in the hearts of men and women, all other baſe fears are rooted out. Would not you be glad to be delivered from creature fears, eſpecially you that have liv'd in many dangers a few months ſince? Oh! if you might be delivered from the fears of the creature, how glad would you bee? Here's the only way; Let the fear of God be ſtrong in your hearts, and the fear of the creature will not prevail with you.
You ſee it clearly in the example of Habakkuk, in Hab. 3. 16. Hab. 3. 16.When I heard (God revea'd his will) my belly trembled, my lips quivered at the voice; rottenneſs entred into my bones, and I trembled in my ſelf. (But now Habakkuk, why would you trouble your ſelf with ſo much fear?) Mark, there was a great good came to him by it,expounded That I might reſt in the day of trouble when he cometh up unto the people: When there ſhall be a coming up unto the people, and the enemy ſhall prevail, and when the figtree ſhall not bloſſom, nor the fruit be in the Vine, the labor of the Olive ſhall fail, and the field ſhall yield no meat, the flock ſhall be cut off from the fold, and there ſhall be no herd in the ſtalls, when things ſhall be brought into the moſt ſad condition, that men ſhall be at their wits end and know not what in the world to do, then (ſaith he) I will rejoyce in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my Salvation. When God ſpake, Then my belly trembled, and my lips quivered at the voice. Yea, but when men came in the greateſt rage, and when all things were dark and diſmal, and black abroad, yet then did I rejoyce in the Lord, and joy in the God of my Salvation, all fear was gone then. Men can rejoyce in the time of their proſperity, but in times of afflictions then they fear? Whereas thoſe that fear the Lord in their proſperity, in the times of their affliction then they moſt rejoyce. It's a notable ſpeech I remember I have read in Nazianzen in his 12. Oration (ſaith he) This is our care, foreign.That we are afraid of nothing more, than that we ſhould fear any thing more than God, That's his expreſſion. Here's an excellent fear, here's fear rightly ſet; Would you fear? fear to fear any thing more than God, and then your fear is ſet right: but if you do not, &c. Though men that have no fear of God they may ſeem to have bold ſpirits,Nazian. and it ſeems to come through the greatneſs of their ſpirits,Orat. 12. that they will not fear God, yet theſe men in the time of danger are the moſt baſe cowardly men in the world. I'le give you a notable inſtance for this, Manaſſes he was as proud an inſolent man, that ſeem'd to be fearleſs of any threatning of God, ſcorn'd his Prophets;2 Chron. 33. 11. But mark, when he came into danger, in 2 Chron. 33. 11. where did they find Manaſſes? he was run into the buſhes, this brave bold ſpirited man that dar'd God and his Prophets, and car'd not for what was ſaid, yet when he came into any danger, what a baſe low ſpirit he had? he runs and hides himſelf in a company of Buſhes and Bryars.
This is the temper and guize of the ſpirits of men that will not fear God.
They ſhall fear, becauſe of the Calves of Beth-aven.
You know what they were, thoſe that Jeroboam ſet up in Dan and Bethel, the golden Calves.
Luther upon the place moves a Queſtion, What a wonderful thing is it (ſaith he) that Jeroboam ſhould be ſo bold, to ſet up Calves to worſhip, when there's that eminent ſtory of Gods revenging himſelf for the peoples worſhiping a Calf that Aaron ſet up, that at one time coſt the lives of twenty three thouſand men which were ſlain, and yet that Jeroboam ſhould preſume to ſet up Calves again to worſhip? It was a ſtrange bold attempt ſaith Luther, it was a wonderful thing that he ſhould be ſo bold, and that he ſhould prevail with the people. Luther gives the Anſwer to this Queſtion, thus:The people will follow great ones Si impiorū principum ſtudiu… et exemptum accedat.
The truth is, there is nothing ſo horrible and vile but people in a little time will be brought to yield to it, if great ones by their example, and by their endeavor labor to ſet it up, it will be ſet up be it never ſo vile, never ſo abominable, yet people will be brought to it: that is his Anſwer.
And truly we find it ſo, that ſet people ſeem to abhor things never ſo much,Luther. yet if they find it be the ſway of great ones, and if it be once ſet up in a way of power they yeeld to it: One would think it an impoſſible thing that now God having caſt ſo much odium upon our Prelates,The Prelats. one would think it impoſſible for the People of England ever to be brought to yeeld to them, and I make no queſtion but many of you ſay ſo when you meet together; but do not deceive your ſelves, if ſo be that thoſe had prevailed that ſought to prevail againſt us, we ſhould quickly have the ſpirits of people turned in a moment, and as much for Prelates and Ceremonies, and Altars (for the generality of the People I mean) as here they did to theſe Calves again, though they had that ſad ſtory in their ears continually, of ſo many thouſands that were ſlain for Calves before.
They ſhall fear, becauſe of the Calves of Beth-aven.
Why, were there many Calves at Beth-aven? Indeed there were Calves at Dan and Bethel, but there was but one at each of them. Here Beth-aven and Bethel was all one, Jeroboam was ſo ſubtil to ſet up the Calf at Bethel becauſe the place took its name from God, but here the holy Ghoſt calls it a Houſe of Beth-aven, becauſe it ſignifies a houſe of Vanity, or Iniquity, God calls it by another name: We may call things by names that may hold up ſome honor and reſpect, but God will give another name to theſe things that we would fain put an honor upon.
He cals it Beth-aven, and the Calves of Beth-aven. Why, was there many Calves at Beth-aven?
Now the Anſwer that ſome give is this:Expoſ. 1. There was but one at Bethel indeed; but both Bethel and Dan may have the name Bath-aven, (for they are both houſes of vanity) and ſo called Calves in reſpect of them both.
Or others thus;2. The Calves of Beth-aven: As if the Prophet ſhould ſay, Set up as many Calves as you will, they ſhall not help you if you had a thouſand of them.
Or rather as I find ſom,3. preferred. Arias Montanus with others, They are called the Calves of Beth-aven, becauſe according to the example of the Calf that was ſet up at Beth-aven, A. Mont.their workmen did make other little ones, to be in their houſes; like as Demetrius that was the Silver-Smith for Diana, made Shrines for Diana's Temple, it was Demetrius's trade to make little kind of Temples in Silver, either to hang about their necks, or to be in their houſes, or ornaments: So it was probable that the Calf that was ſet up at Bethaven had ſo much honor put upon it, as to have little things made with Silver or Gold according to their eſtates; perhaps for mean men, little things made with Wood; and Gentlemen with Silver, and others with Gold, like to thoſe Calves, and ſo had them in their families; and therefore they are called Calves in the plural number. And if this were ſo, we might have a good Note from that:
That the true Worſhipers of God ſhould labor to bring the true Worſhip of God into their families. They would bring the Calf into their families, or houſes; ſo ſhould we bring the Ordinances of God into our families, bring the Worſhip of God into our families, and not content our ſelves with publick Worſhip, but have private Worſhip too; they did not content themſelves with a Calf abroad, but had them at home in their houſes or families.
And further there is a Note from it, They are called the Calves in the feminine gender, the ſhe Calves, that is in a way of Contempt of them.
The inhabitants of Samaria ſhall fear, becauſe of the Calves of BETH-AVEN.
Why the inhabitants of Samariah? The Calves were not there. Samaria was their chief City; as London is to England, ſo Samaria was the chief City to the ten Tribes: And Samaria ſhall fear. Samaria was a very ſtrong City: And when the Aſſyrians came and carried away the ten Tribes captive, they took all the Country round about before they took Samaria: it was with Samaria as with London in theſe ſad times: when there hath bin wars round about in England, London hath bin ſafe for theſe three years together: And ſo when there was wars in al Iſrael, yet Samaria continued ſafe; yea, not only when ſome Towns, but when every Town was taken, Samaria was ſo ſtrong as to be able to endure a ſiege for three years together: thus you ſhall find in 2 King. 17. 5. 2 King. 17. 5.That the King of Aſſyria came and beſieged Samaria three years: yet this it was, and yet the text ſaith, The inhabitants of Samaria ſhall fear, becauſe of the Calves of Beth-aven. That is, though they were a ſtrong City, yet when we heard that their gods were taken away, yea, when they did but hear that Bethel and Dan were in danger to have their gods taken away, Oh! they were ſenſible of this, though they were ſafe for their outward condition for the preſent, and had ſtrength enough to reſiſt the Enemies, yet they were afraid: that is, there was a ſolicitous fear in them about the Calves of Bethaven before they were taken, and when they were taken their hearts were daunted, and knew not what in the world to do. So you ſee the meaning of the words: from whence the Note is this:
Firſt,Obſ. 1. That in times of danger our hearts ſhould be moſt ſolicitous about the Worſhip of God. It was ſo in the time of their danger, their hearts were eſpecially ſolicitous about Bethel, Oh! that was the place where they had the Worſhip of their Gods. So, are Idolaters ſolicitous in time of danger, not ſo much becauſe of their outward peace, (it is not ſaid that they were afraid becauſe the enemies would come and take their Corn, or their Eſtates) but Beth-aven, where the Calves were, they were afraid of that. When there is any danger that ſhould go next to our hearts, The honor of God,1 Sam. 4. 13. his Church, his Ordinances: Thus it was with old Eli in 1 Sam. 4. 13. the text ſaith,Eli's example urged. That Eli ſat upon a ſeat by the way ſide watching; for his heart trembled for the Ark of God: Why, he had his ſons in the Army, his heart did not tremble for them, and that if the enemies ſhould prevail he was like to loſe his eſtate, and there would come woful miſery upon the Land for the outward condition of it, No, but his heart trembled not for that, but for the Ark of God. I appeal to you what was that which your hearts trembled moſt for in the time of our greateſt danger? Was it for the Ark of God? was it becauſe of his Ordinances? Oh! if they prevail they will trample the Ordinances of the Lord and the Saints of God under feet, the true Worſhip of God, and the Power of Godlineſs, did your hearts tremble becauſe of this? Certainly if your hearts were right they would do ſo: What, ſhall Idolaters tremble becauſe of their Calves, and ſhall not we have our hearts tremble becauſe of our God?1 King. 8. 44. enlightned 1 King. 8. 44. If thy People go out to battel againſt their enemies, whitherſoever thou ſhalt ſend them, (what ſhould they do?) and look towards the City which thou haſt choſen, and towards the Houſe that I have built for thy Name; then hear thou in Heaven. They when they are in prayer muſt look towards the City and the Temple; for the Temple was a type of Chriſt, ſo the City was a type of Gods Ordinances where the people went up to Worſhip. Oh!what ſhold encourage us to fight. that ſhould be in our eyes, the City where the Ordinances of God are, when we go to War let that be in our eyes, and let that make us fight valiantly, and when we are praying to God, let us not pray ſo much that we may be delivered from our Adverſaries, as that the Temple and the City of our God may be preſerved.
Again, further; In that it is ſaid, the Inhabitants of Samaria ſhould thus fear. From thence the Note is.
That Cities that are ſtrong and ſafe themſelves, Obſ. 2.ſhould be ſenſible of the miſeries of others. Oh! God knows how far we have been wanting in this very thing; If a ſtranger ſhould have come out of another Country into London, and walk about the ſtreets, could he have imagined that there were ſuch Civil Wars in this …and as there is, ſuch wonderful deſolations as hath been made in other parts? Oh! how little did we lay the afflictions of others to heart, becauſe they were at ſome diſtance from us? Oh! the mercy of our God that hath not brought us into the ſame evils and miſeries, this one ſin had been enough to have provok'd God againſt us, becauſe we were ſo little ſenſible of other Countries and Cities that were about us. This wicked Samaria, yet when they heard that Bethel and Dan, and their other Cities, when they heard what dangers they were in, Oh! they were mightily affected with it. Learn we from hence to be humbled for our want this way, and if ever the Lord ſhould yet try us further, let us learn to be ſenſible of the miſeries of others that are about us.
Laſtly, They are afraid becauſe of their Calves: When their Calves are gone, all their Confidence is gone, and then their hearts are over-whelmed with fear. There is no ſtaidneſs of heart in reſting upon any thing but upon the living God. They that ſtay themſelves upon any thing elſe, if any afflictions or dangers falls out, their hearts are fill'd with fear preſently. When men have nothing to reſt upon but their own inventions, their own waies, no mervail though they fear in times of danger: They begin to bethink now that all is vanity to them that they reſted upon; yea, the ſervice of God that men in times of proſperity can reſt upon and can ſatisfie their conſciences withal, yet in time of danger it will not do, no inventions of men, nor no external duties of Religion, eſpecially ſuch as are mixt with ſuperſtition, they will not uphold the heart in times of danger, but the heart will be overwhelmed; it's only the confidence in the living God, the union of our ſouls with Jeſus Chriſt, and enjoyment of communion with him in his own Ordinances that can comfort our ſouls in time of danger. But it's ſaid of the Godly in Pſal. 112. 7. Pſ. 112. 7.He ſhall not be afraid of evil tydings: his heart is fixed, truſting in the Lord. His heart is eſtabliſhed and he ſhall not be afraid. It's again repeated, let evil tydings, come what will, his heart is fixed, becauſe he truſts in the Lord. It follows.
For the people thereof ſhall mourn over it.
The people thereof] Here he ſpeaks about the Calf of Beth-aven in the ſingular Number,Expoſ. for ſo I find it's refer'd by moſt Interpreters, The people of the Calf. (Of it) not of Samaria.
From thence the Note would be thus,Obſ. That wicked men, Idolaters did dedicate themſelves to their Idols, they are the people of the Idol. Thoſe that were the very peculiar of God and his Treaſure, the People of God, now they are called the people of the Calf, for they have none to go to for help but only that Idol of theirs; they had forſaken God.
And it's ſaid, That they yet mourn over it. Though certainly at firſt, the ſetting up of the Calf could not but be a very ſtrange thing to the people of Iſrael, yet within a while after they were uſed to it, they did worſhip it, and it took their very conſciences, ſo as they loved it, and when it was taken away they mourn'd and were in extream diſtreſs and trouble. Idolaters they do mourn when their falſe worſhip is taken from them. At this day, my Brethren, how do many mourn after their ſuperſtitious vanities,Prelats, Service-book, and Altars, all ſome mens Religion. their ſuperſtitious cuſtoms that they were wont to have? Now Prelates, and Service-Book, and Altars, and ſuch kind of things are taken away, when they come to meet together, Oh! now all Religion is gone: So they perſwade poor people in remote parts, that the Parliament hath taken away all Religion; and there is a great mourning in their ſpirits, they think they know not how in the world to ſerve God if their Book be taken away from them: and I make no queſtion it hath been a cauſe that many have taken up Arms, meerly to defend ſuch ſuperſtitious vanities and cuſtoms that they were wont to have. Their Burialls for the dead as they were wont to have, Oh! they mourn for this, and they would almoſt as lieve loſe their lives as ſuch kind of things as theſe are. I remember I have read of the Indians that were wont to worſhip an Apes Tooth,An Apes Tooth. it was a Religious Relick among them, and it was taken from them, and there was a great mourning among them, ſo that they came and offered a very great price, that was valued at thouſands to redeem but their Apes Tooth that was taken from them, becauſe it was a Religious Relick. And ſo we have men this day, though their ſuperſtitious vanities and cuſtoms be no better than a very Apes Tooth, yet they mourn over them and would be willing to part with a great proportion of their eſtate to redeem them again, they mourn after their Calves.
Oh!We ſhould mourn after the true Worſhip. how ſhould we mourn after the true Worſhip of God then, how deer ſhould that be to our ſouls? For Calves, Superſtitious Relicks, and Cuſtoms, Apes Teeth, and ſuch things be ſo deer to Idolaters, Oh! thoſe Ordinances of God in which our ſouls have met with ſo much ſoul-refreſhings, and communion with God, and ſo much of the Spirit of God let out to our ſouls through them. Such enlightenings by them, Oh! how ſhould we mourn after them? You that have gotten any thing by the Word. by the Ordinances of God, that ever hath known what it hath been to have communion with God in them, you ſhould think with your ſelves, If theſe ſhould be taken from me, then I ſhould have cauſe to mourn indeed: I have loſt much of my eſtate, and my friends many of them are loſt, and theſe are cauſe of mourning, Oh! but if I ſhould loſe the Ordinances, and Worſhip of God, Oh! what cauſe would there be then of mourning? It follows.
And the Prieſts thereof that rejoyced on it.
The Prieſts they eſpecially mourn. The word that is here tranſlated Prieſts, foreign Chemarim what it ſignifiesit is in the Hebrew Chemarims, and I find it ſignifies three things the word from whence it comes.
Chemar ſignifies to ſound out, and ſo ſome think that it is they are call'd Chemarims, becauſe of their clamorous ſounds that they were wont to have in their ſuperſtitious worſhip: Juſt as we were wont to have Bellowing in their Cathedrals, ſo they were wont to have, and therefore they were call'd Chemarims, becauſe of their mighty noiſes and ſounds that they were wont to have.
Secondly, It ſignifies, to burn, or to be hot. Aud ſo Luther (I find) takes the word, and ſaith, That they were called Chemarims from their burning deſires after their waies of falſe worſhip.
But I rather think there is a third, that ſignifies to be Black from burning; becauſe thoſe things that are burnt, they are made black. When the flame firſt takes hold upon a thing it makes it black: and ſo Chemarims are as much as black ones, Black-Coats.or indeed Black Coats; they were wont to be known by their black garments, and therfore they are called by the name Chemarims, [This is the Rabbins interpretation of the word (and they apply it to the Popiſh Munks and Nuns) which Calvin rejects, and expounds it to ſignifie either their clamorous noiſe in worſhiping, as 1 King. 18. 27. or to be a common name whereby thoſe Idolatrous Prieſts were known as 2 King. 23. on which place ſee Munſter's Annotations.]becauſe of their black garments that they were wont to uſe: and I find in 2 King. 23. 5. that this word that is here Prieſts, is there Idolatrous Prieſts, it's the ſame word. Thoſe Black-Coats that were then, they accounted it a kind of Religion to go in Black, from thence they would have the name. And though certainly it's fit for the Miniſters of the Goſpel to go gravely, and decently, and not to expreſs lightneſs and vanity in their garments, yet to put a kind of ſuperſtition upon black, as upon neceſſity they muſt wear black Coats, and no other garments will ſerve the turn: As heretofore th…re was a kind of ſuperſtitious vanity put on it. Now though gravity be required in their very …arments, yet to ſtand ſo much upon the very colour there may be danger in it, and thoſe that are look'd upon as Religious men that ſhould differ any way from others, that they ſhould be tied and bound to it, I ſay, this there is an evil in it▪ they were wont to do ſo here: and ſo almoſt all your Heathens and ſuperſtitious people they had alwaies a ſpecial colour for the garments of their Prieſts; as the Turks have their green for the colour of the garments of their Prieſts. But thus much only for the name Chemarims.
Their Prieſts that rejoyced.
Rejoyce] that is, They that did exult over the Calves, Oh! the Prieſts, the Calves made for them, they got the King to be on their ſide, and they made the Calves brave, and they had brave kind of Worſhip about it, and many pompous Ceremonies about it, and the Prieſts they gloried in this, for they had a ſpecial hand in all, and becauſe they had the countenance of Authority for their Calves, that they were able to cruſh any that ſpake againſt them, they exulted the text ſaith.
But now there's a threatning, That they ſhall mourn, thoſe Prieſts that did ſo glory in their Calves, as who were they that did glory ſo much in pompous Altars and other braveries but your Prieſts? they exulted and had all under them, and would quickly cruſh a man that ſhould not yield to them, they did even brave it over all, and did even call themſelves ſometimes the Triumphant Clergie, juſt like your Chemarims; but now here they were like to loſe all, and they ſhould mourn over them.
Polanus upon this very place,Polanus in loc. for their fat Livings, and Parſonages, and ſuch places, our Prelates, for their Prebendaries, and Deanaries, and Biſhopricks, and ſuch kind of Preferments: Oh! how do they mourn this day for the loſs of theſe things? Thus they that did ſo rejoyce to expect Preferment, they are gone now, Oh! the world is at an end with them, and they mourn one to another becauſe of the loſs of ſuch things as theſe are: and long may they mourn upon this ground.Revel. 18. applied. We reade in Revel. 18. theſe kind of people juſt ſet forth, that upon the fall of Babylon the text ſaith, That the Merchants of the earth ſhall weep and mourn over her: for no man buyeth their Merchandize any more. And then in the 14. verſe, The fruits that thy ſoul luſteth after are departed from thee: and in the 15. verſe, The Merchants of theſe things which were made rich by her, ſtood a far off, weeping and wailing. who mourneth moſt for ſuperſtitious places.Thoſe that were made rich by the Whore of Babylon ſtand a far off, weeping and wailing. And ſo thoſe that were made rich by the Prelates, and Superſtitious vanities, they ſtand a far off, weeping and wailing; and bleſſed be God that we ſee them to mourn that did ſo triumph and rejoyce over the people of God, but God hath made ſuch a change of things as now they hang down their heads and mourn, even becauſe of their Calves that are taken from them.
For the glory thereof is departed.
They ſought to make them as glorious as they could,Obſ. and they accounted them very glorious. Now ſhall wicked men, Idolaters account their Idol Worſhip glorious, Oh! how glorious ſhould the Worſhip of God be in our eyes, the true Spiritual Worſhip of God? Let the true Miniſters of God learn not to glory in the fleſh, but deſire to know nothing but Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified.
The Glory thereof is departed.] For divers years together the worſhip of the Calves had a great deal of glory put upon them, but it went away. And ſo you know what glory was upon our Prelates and ſuch kind of Worſhip, as they of late ſet up, but the glory is departed. And look to it, what ever inventions of men are, if it be not Gods, the glory will depart from it.