An Exposition of Hosea 11-13, Exposition · Chapter 12 · Verse 1
VER. 1.
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the Eaſt wind.
WEE reade in the 8th Chapter of this Propheſie, the 7th Verſe, that they had ſown the wind, and ſhould reap the whirlwind, and now they feed according to what they ſowed, and of what they reap'd; according to our proverb, (They drink according to what they have brewed) They did ſow the wind, and here they feed upon the wind.
By feeding on the wind, is a proverbial ſpeech, to note the following after vain, unprofitable things, that's to Feeding on the wind.feed upon the wind, when men pleaſe themſelves in their own conceits, and in their own counſels, and plots, and 1.waies that are unprofitable, [and wil certainly be unprofitable to them] theſe men feed upon the wind. When men have vain confidences in ſuch waies of their own, leaving the waies of God, and bleſſing themſelves in fooliſh plots, and hopes of their own, theſe men feed upon the wind. When men think to pleaſe God with their own inventions, they feed upon the wind; when they think to eſcape danger by their own ſhifts they feed upon the wind; when they think to prevail againſt the Saints by their deep Counſels, and fetches, theſe men feed upon the wind; when they promiſe to themſelves great matters by waies of their own, that are not Gods, theſe men feed upon the wind: And the Prophet rebuk…h the ten Tribes for this.
They feed upon the wind, and ſo their hearts come to 2be puft up, to be filled with pride by ſuch food; you know according to the food of a man or woman, ſo will the body be; ſo thoſe that feed upon wind muſt needs have puft-up hearts, proud hearts, puft up with conceitedneſs of themſelves, and contempt of others that are not in the way that themſelves are in, they lie ſucking of imaginary content and ſweetneſs in their own waies, they are full of themſelves, whereſoever they come they muſt needs vent themſelves, they are ſo ful of their wind, they feed upon the wind, yet one prick of diſapointment wil quickly let out all the wind from ſuch bladders, they are quickly amort and dead in the neſt if they be diſappointed.
Evil men that live upon comforts, that are carnal in 3any creature, upon the applauſe of men, upon honors, they likewiſe feed upon the wind and are puft up for a while, but any prick of Gods appearing againſt them lets out the windy ſtuff and quickly they are dead; any member of the body that is puft up with wind it ſeems to be greater than any other part, but it is not ſtronger, no, it is the weaker for being puft up with wind: And ſo it Simile.is with the hearts of men that are puft up with windy conceits, and with the contentment of the creature, they have no ſtrength by this puffing up, though they ſeem to be higher, yet when they are call'd either to do, or ſuffer for God, they appear to be very weak then, and therfore will change as the wind changes. I remember Pliny obſerves this of the Chamaeleon (a creature that feeds upon the wind) and he cites Democrates for it, (that hath written The Chamaeleon, the reaſon of its changablenes▪a whole book upon that creature) That there is no creature in al the world more fearful than the Chamaeleon is, and the reaſon (ſaith he) that it is ſo changable, (that it will change into all kind of colours according to that that it joyns to) is, the fearfulneſs of its nature. And truly it is a very good diſcription of men that feed upon the wind, they ſeem big when they have no oppoſition, and ô, what they will do! they will do thus and thus, and great matters; but the truth is, no men are of more None ſink lower when diſappointed, than conceited and confident men.fearful hearts than thoſe men that are puft up with the wind of their own conceits, when God comes to croſs them, or they are call'd to ſuffer in the way that they go in, they will quickly turn to any colour, this way or that, becauſe they do but feed upon the wind, therefore they come to be feeble creatures, they have no ſtrength at all in them.
And we know that the wind raiſes tempeſts and ſtorms: 4.and ſo men that are puft up with the wind of their own conceits, they are the men that raiſe ſuch tempeſts and ſtorms in the places where they live. My brethren, the Saints have better food to feed upon, that that makes them more ſollid, and more ſtaid, while the men of the world feed upon the wind of applauſe, upon their own conceits, and upon their own vain counſels and plots, and upon the creature, and think to fill their bellies that way; the Saints they feed upon the Mercy of God, upon Gods Al-ſufficiency, they feed upon his Word, and Promiſes, and upon the Covenant of Grace, they feed upon Jeſus Chriſt whoſe fleſh is meat indeed, and whoſe blood is drink indeed, and ſo they come to have ſtrength in them, for their food is …great deal better than the food of others; other men feeding upon the wind their ſtomachs are fill'd, and hence it is that they cannot ſavor, nor reliſh heavenly things, the breathings of the Spirit of God are not entertain'd by them, becauſe they are fill'd with their own wind; but the Saints are willing to empty themſelves, and to receive in the holy Ghoſt into their ſouls, and the bleſſed things that the holy Ghoſt doth bring, Chriſt comes in to ſup with them, and they to ſup with him, and thus they come to be nouriſhed to eternal life, and fitted for any ſervice, or any ſuffering that the Lord is pleaſed to call them to; their food is different. It follows; And followeth after the Eaſt wind▪
This Eaſt Wind, eſpecially in thoſe Countries, it is noted to be a very hurtful Wind; exceedingly hurtful to The Eaſt wind,man and beaſt; and ſo we have a proverb of the Eaſt Wind, The Eaſt wind blows neither good to man nor beaſt; but more eſpecially in that Country. So we find it in Scripture, in Gen. 41. 6. the text ſaith, The ſeven thin Ears that Pharaoh ſaw of Corn that came up, but were blaſted with the Eaſt wind, and in Ezek 17. 10. Shall it not wither when the Eaſt wind toucheth it? and in Job, 15. 2. Should a wiſe man utter vain knowledg, and fill his belly with the Eaſt wind? When you ſee men talk and utter vain things, they do but ſeek to fill their bellies with the Eaſt wind. The Eaſt wind was ſo hurtful becauſe there came a heat of the Sun that made it dry and ſcorching in thoſe Why hurtful.Countries; and therefore the Septuagint tranſlate this, the ſcorching Wind, for the burning and heat of it. And foreign. 70.the vulgar Latin likewiſe, renders it, Heat.
Now you will ſay, What doth the holy Ghoſt mean Aeſtus. Vulg.here? It's to hold out a very excellent Truth to us:
That thoſe men that ſeek to ſatisfie themſelves with creature comforts, the thoughts of their own counſels Obl. Creatures hope will prove but wind,and plots, their own inventions, their own waies, they do not only deceive themſelves, and will be diſappointed at laſt of what they expect; but they will find theſe waies of theirs to be very peſtilentious; very hurtful, very dangerous, they will find that ſuch waies as theſe, will undo them, will bring them to miſery. Oh! how many have undone themſelves with their own counſels; were it indeed that men were but meerly diſappointed of their vain hopes, there were a great evil in that, but if that were all it were not ſo much, if ſo be that men at laſt ſhould meet with no other evil but diſappointment, it were not ſo much, but you muſt not eſcape ſo, you that will feed upon the wind, and bleſs your ſelves in And pernicious.your own waies, you muſt expect to meet with wrath and miſery, thoſe waies that you may think to ſhift from danger will bring you into danger; Oh! how many upon their ſick beds, and death beds, have cried out in the bitterneſs and trouble of their ſouls, for following of their own conceits, and counſels, and waies, and the waies of other men, they ſee how that they are undone, undone by thoſe waies: Oh! we have fed upon the wind, and we find evil waies that pleaſed us then to torment us now, to bring anguiſh, ſorrow, and trouble upon us.
And one Note further, Follows the Eaſt wind. They Obſ. 2.met with ſtorms, (obſerve) for the Eaſt wind was very hurtful, and tempeſtuous in thoſe parts: Now to meet with ſtorms, and tempeſts, and have nothing within us to bear us out, but the wind, but emptineſs, this is grievous, when they ſhall meet with the Eaſt wind, and have nothing within them (I ſay) to bear them out but meerly emptineſs, this is very ſad and grievous. Suppoſe men meet with the rough Eaſt wind, or there's ſuch ſtorms and tempeſts, yet if they have had ſolid food whereby they come to get good blood, and marrow, and ſpirits, they may be able to bear it; but when the body is empty and meets with tempeſts, Oh! this is very grievous to the body: ſo it is with many when they meet with afflictions, but the Saints they have ſuch ſolidity within them that bears them out; but other men that are empty, that have fed upon the wind all their daies, Difference in the Saints frō others in Afflictions.they have nothing to bear them out in great afflictions, but their hearts ſink down in horror and deſpair. But it follows; He daily encreaſeth lyes and deſolation.
Ephraim together with the ten Tribes, with them all, Expoſ.all the day long he encreaſeth lyes, that is, he hath new plots, and new deviſes, and new ſhifts for himſelf, he encreaſeth lyes, new opinions, and new reports, ſo we are to underſtand the word in the latitude, encreaſeth lyes.
Firſt, In matters of Doctrine, there he encreaſeth lyes, 1. Lyes in Doctrine.having forſaken once the Truth: if the truth be once forſaken, men do not know whither they ſhall go: Grant but one error (we uſe to ſay) a thouſand will follow, and Vno abſurdo dato mille ſequuntur.they will multiply abundantly, eſpecially ſome errors, there are ſome ſuch breeding lyes as if they be granted, there muſt be a great many others to maintain them. Never was there ſuch an encreaſe of falſe Doctrine, of lyes in that ſenſe, as there is at this day, in Revel. 12. 15. the Theſe times.text ſaith, that when the Dragon could not prevail againſt the Church, againſt the woman, by bloody perſecutions, (for that's the meaning of it) then ſaith the text the Dragon caſt out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cauſe her to be carried away of the floo… this was the policie of the Devil, firſt laboring by violence to prevail againſt the Church, but that he could not do, and when he could not do that, then he caſt w… ter out of his mouth like a flood, that it, as Interpre… obſerve, he did labor by a deluge of error and her … Rev. 12. 5. enlightned.undo the Church, when he could not do it by open violence: Truly this Scripture is even fulfilled, concerning us this very day, the Lord hath been pleaſed to curb the England.Dragon in this ſenſe, and thoſe that were inſtruments of the Dragon in open and violent perſe…cution, ſo that they cannot perſecute the Truths as they were wont to do; now this is the way of the Devil, this Dragon he ſends out of his mouth a flood of Errors and Hereſies after the Truth, after the Church, laboring to ſwallow up all by this flood; and certainly we are in a great deal of danger at this day in this reſpect, there is a flood and deluge of ſuch things, of all ſorts almoſt of old errors that ever were, and many of them extream dangerous, and men are ſerviceable to the Dragon in this thing more than Let Noveliſts mark.they are aware of, Oh! that we could but ſee the ſubtilty of Satan in this, in the continual encreaſing of lyes, for theſe four or five yeers there hath been ſuch an encreaſe as it could never have been thought; Certainly if ſome of our forefathers that were holy and gracious ſhould riſe out of their graves, and come to ſee and hear ſuch things as may be ſeen and heard in our daies, they would ſtand amazed at it, and they would wonder how it were poſſible that ever England ſhould be fill'd with ſuch horrible opinions, and waies as they have been in theſe latter times, ſo that now there lies the hope of the Devil, by encreaſe of ſuch lies, to eat out Godlineſs, and Religion thereby, and this indeed ſeems to be the moſt hopeful deſign, that the Devil hath in theſe latter times, mens hearts Whence it comes that there is ſuch an encreaſe o falſe doctrine in England.are carnal, looſe, and ſenſual, and therefore they are prepared to receive theſe lyes; and hence they multiply apace, becauſe they are prepared to receive them, but yet let none multiply them more than they are, by putting among thoſe lyes ſome truths, By ſhutting in truths in the midſt of them, to make them appear likewiſe to be lyes, and Note.to be taken as honeſt men are when they are gotten by any accident in the company of lude people, they are apprehended An apt ſimiloupon ſuſpition, meerly becauſe they are in their company; and it is a way of the Devil to multiply and encreaſe theſe falſhoods and lyes by ſhuffling in duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page ſome truths among them, and becauſe he could not have them ſuſpected otherwaies they muſt be taken upon ſuſpition becauſe they are there among them; let not men gather theſe lye… together to the end that they may oppoſe ſome truths thereby, but as the Prophet ſpeaks, What is the chaff to the wheat? If men will ſpeak of lyes let them enveigh againſt them, and only againſt them, and make it appear that that's the work of their ſpirits, meerly to oppoſe them, and not under ſuch a pretence to make other things that yet they cannot make appear to be falſe, to make them appear to be odious and monſtruous, meerly by ſhufling them together among ſuch horrible and damnable lyes. That's for falſe Doctrine.
And then ſecondly, Thy encreaſe lyes and deſolation, that 2 Lyes againſt the Prophets.is, lyes againſt the Prophets of God, againſt the Saints, and againſt the Waies of God. And certainly there was never the like multiplying as there is at this day in this ſenſe too, men carry their multiplying glaſſes along with them up and down; at firſt, a lye, it's like a ſtone in the water; you know a ſtone firſt caſt in makes a little circle, and then that another, and that another, and every Simile.one greater than another: And ſo it is with many lyes, at firſt they appear not ſo great, but that makes another, and that another, and that another, and ſo they grow greater, and greater, and that exceedingly; there's Several waies of encreaſing lyes. 1many waies of multiplying and encreaſing lyes.
Firſt, by carrying about reports, and ſo make one lye to become many.
And then a Second way is, by miſreporting of reports, 2that is, by putting reports into another dreſs, according to what men themſelves apprehend, and that which is a truth when it comes to be examined nakedly, yet they will, being put into another dreſs, and ſuch and ſuch things laid together in another way than they were at firſt, they will ſeem to be very falſe. This is a way of multiplying lyes.
Thirdly, by adding to reports, every man according 3to his ſpirit, draws conſequences, and when he hath drawn them, he makes them to be part of the report, and ſo makes it to be the Original, as if it were the Original, whenas it is but the Comment, and ſo lyes comes to be multiplied.
Fourthly, by inventing new ones they come to encreaſe 4and multiply, becauſe ſuch and ſuch falſhoods will not do the feat, more ſhall then be added to them.
Fifthly, they encreaſe and multiply, by maintaining 5lyes by lyes, as if men be engaged once in a buſineſs, they muſt defend themſelves; If once they have miſreported a thing, there's no help for it, but now it muſt be defended one way or other, ſomewhat muſt be done to defend it; as 'tis many times ſo in your ſervants, a Servant Servantshath done a thing amiſs, well, this Servant ſeeks to cover it by a lye, and when once he hath told one, he muſt tell a great many more to defend that one; and thus it is with men.
And truly my Brethren, ſeeing that this Scripture doth ſo by providence come in our way, let me ſpeak thus much to you from it. It is one of the ſtrangeſt things that ever was in the world, that there ſhould be ſuch ſtrange reports of things that are matters of fact, (See the Apology of the diſſenting Brethren: And the Aſſembly's Anſwer to it.)yea, that one Godly man, or company of men ſhould ſay one thing, and others, that we think Godly men, ſhould ſay quite contrary, and both in matters of fact; I ſay, 'tis that which would make men ſtand amazed as much as ever any thing that fell out in any age, to conſider of it; for there is no ſin that is more againſt the ingenuity of a gracious heart, than a deliberate lye, to ſpeak againſt a mans knowledg, and againſt a mans conſcience, this ſin is againſt the ingenuity of a gracious heart as much as any ſin; and yet even ſuch as we think to be godly, and gracious, even reporting ſo quite croſs, what ſhall we ſay to this?
Auſtin hath ſuch an expreſſion of his, to a friend that Auſtin.writ to him about the telling of an officious lye: he anſwers him again, No; he muſt not tell a lye, no, not to ſave the whol world. Now what a difference is there in the hearts of men in theſe daies? Truly, I do not know a greater temptation to Atheiſm at this day than this is, for what will men think? There's ſuch Religious men ſpeak thus, and others that we account as Religious as they ſpeak quite contrary; Is there any Religion in the world? We ſee ſo much contradicting one againſt another, ſurely one ſide muſt be falſe. It's that that I am A horrible temptation to Atheiſm.verily perſwaded is the cauſe of much Atheiſm amongſt us, and if God be not pleaſed to prevent one way or other, it will open a wide door to Atheiſm in the Nation; But therefore thoſe that would fain get this ſtumbling. block to be remov'd, and do not rejoyce at it as ſome do, ſome there are that rejoyces at theſe things, there's nothing more pleaſing to them when they meet together, We ſhould mourn for this. Condderations to prevent ſuggeſtions of Atheiſm frō the contrary reports of godly parties. 1.whereas they ſhould be matter for our humiliation, we ſhould mourn for them, to ſee how God is diſhonored this way, and what abundance of hurt is like to come to ſouls by this means? But now therefore, a little to quiet our hearts, ſo as we may not be endanger to turn Atheiſts by it, let us conſider from whence this comes, that ſo many lyes ſhould be encreaſed and multiplied.
For Firſt, Conſider, though one ſaith this thing is ſo, and the other faith it's quite contrary, yea, but it may be that both ſides do report according to their own apprehenſions of things, and apprehending things in a different way, having divers principles, both of them may think they are in the Truth, and yet one may contradict the other, becauſe they may ſpeak according to their apprehenſions on both ſides, for it is very much according to the principles of ones ſpirit in any thing, eſpecially if a buſineſs hath many things depending on it, and there are many circumſtances to be laid together, then according to mens apprehenſions and their principles, …hey will lay things together, ſo as may beſt ſute their principles; and others will ſay things together, ſo as may beſt ſute their principles, and ſo both of them may think they are in the Truth, and contradict one another, and yet neither of them ſpeak againſt their conſciences: this (poſſibly I ſay) may even be among good men.
And then ſometimes the reaſon of contradiction, it is, 2becauſe men do not ſpeak from their own knowledg, but they are ready to ſpeak from others, and are ſo confident in others; whomſoever men love, when they ſee men to be of their ſide and way, they are very confident in their rports, and ſo ſpeak it, not from being Eye-witneſſes themſelves, and ſo they may come to contradict one another, and not go againſt their own conſciences: Reports are croſs one to another; and this is the evil indeed of giving credit to reports, and of running away too ſuddenly with them; But though it be an evil in men, yet it comes not from this, of ſpeaking againſt their conſciences.
And then a Third cauſe it may come from this, That when men report, they do not report all; Reports are 3croſs one to another, yea, but did you hear all, or do you report all? It's a great matter when a man will take one piece of a thing and make a report of it, and not all; another man may come and report the quite contrary, whereas if all were brought together there might appear ſome agreement, and perhaps they would be both of the ſame mind if the whol ſeries of the thing were laid before them; bring things to the Original and then you ſee how they agree; as now, ſometimes in Scripture, there are divers readings, yea, but now by the bringing divers Simile, in Scripture.Tranſlations to the Original, we come to ſee what an agreement there is: And ſo it is with reports, bring them to the Original, and ſo you may come to help your ſelves and ſee what agreement may be made.
And then further, Reports (may be) are croſs, but the 4.croſneſs of things may be in mens memories, rather than in the things themſelves, I ſay meerly in the memory, and people do not in all things that they ſpeak, ſay, why I remember thus, or I remember this is not expreſſed, but ſometimes the very nature of the thing carries it ſo.
My Brethren, therefore take heed of ſpreading reports Uſe. 1.to the diſhonor of Religion. And,
Secondly; If you hear any falſe things that you think 2.ſurely this muſt be a lye, rather go to the party, or get ſome that are acquainted with them to go to them to ſee whether they can ſatisfie you in the thing; there's many men that ſtand and wonder at ſuch a report, whereas if they, or any friend for them, would but ſearch out the thing, they might have ſuch a plain hiſtory of the things related to them, as ſhould fully ſatisfie them, as they ſhould ſay, there would be no ſuch matter at all, ſo that their apprehenſione would be changed preſently. But ſo much concerning encreaſing of lyes in regard of reports.
But then there's a Third thing here; That is, Encreaſing lyes in regard of Practice, ſtill following after 3. Lyes in practice.new vanities, if they find not ſatisfaction in one they are not mov'd thereby to ſeek the true God that they may have ſatisfaction, but ſeek to have ſatisfaction in other things: Oh! let's conſider thus; I find no ſatisfaction in this, yea, but is it not becauſe I forſake the Lord God, Why men find not ſatisfaction in their waies.in whom there is all ſatisfaction? let me repair to God, and in him I ſhall find ſatisfaction. No, but they take another courſe; I have not ſatisfaction in this thing, then I'le ſeek to have ſatisfaction in another thing, and ſo they go from one falſe way to another, and encreaſe lyes in this ſenſe; I will have new deviſes to ſhift off Truth; the conſciences of men will not be put off with old ſhifts, they have ſatisfied their conſciences a while with one ſhift, yea, but conſcience will not be put off long with that, but they muſt have another, and when conſcience Invention to ſatisfie conſcience, may prove judgment.comes to apprehend the weakneſs of that, then it muſt have another; Oh; take heed of being inventive for the ſatisfying of conſcience. It follows; They have encreaſed lyes and deſolation.
Men when they imbrace their own vain conceits, and hopes, and falſe waies; they think they have gotten a Expoſ.great catch; but the truth is they imbrace their own ruin: Mark how they are put together, Encreaſe lyes, and deſolation is the fruit of lyes; and ſecondly, deſolation is encreaſed by lyes; the more ſin the more deſolation, you will periſh the more dreadfully, in Prov. 19. 8. A falſe witneſs (ſaith the text) ſhall not be unpuniſhed, and be that ſpeaketh lyes ſhall periſh. He that walks uprightly he walks ſurely. Prov. 12. 19. The lip of Truth ſhall be eſtabliſhed for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment; it may bluſter a while and keep ado, and deceive many, yea, but it is but for a moment. It follows; And they do make a Covenant with the Aſſyrians; and Oyl is carried into Egypt.
That is, That they might have power to cruſh their Expoſ.Brethren of Judah, they think to ſtrengthen themſelves and ſo ſeek to make a Covenant with the Aſſyrians; you have found this charged upon them many times here in this Propheſie of Hoſea, 13. 7. 11. and in Hoſea, 10. you have this ſin of making a Covenant with wicked men, and it is repeated again, and again, to ſhew the hainouſneſs of this ſin, in forſaking God, to joyn with ungodly men.
And to teach us this leſſon, That when people are guilty Obſ.of a ſin, the Prophets of God ſhould beat upon it again, and again. I ſhall not need to ſpeak any further of this, but only ſo.
And Oyl is carried into Egypt] That is, They carry Oyl Expoſ.for gifts, and merchandize, the Land of Canaan abounded much in Oyl; but there was little or no Oyl in the Land of Egypt, and therefore it was a great merchandize to carry Oyl from the Land of Cannan into Egypt; in Ezek. 27. 17. Judah, and the Land of Iſrael were thy Merchants, they traded in thy Market, Wheat of Minnich, and Pannag, and Honey, and Oyl, and Balm. But this was (as it were) the ſtaple Commodity.
Now my Brethren, Egypt you know is a type of Antichriſt, Aegypt. Canaan.and Canaan a type of the Church; Egypt hath no Oyl, there's no Oyl grows there, no, there's Gall and Wormwood, there's no Oyl; but Oyl is in the Land of Canaan. My Brethren, What are we but almoſt like Egypt this day? We would be loth to return into Egypt to our former bondage, but we even turn our ſelves to be as Egypt, we have little Oyl among us; What, is God bringing us to Canaan? how comes it to paſs there is no more Oyl then? Oh! the Oyl that is among us (if there be any) it's rather the Oyl of Scorpions, than any thing elſ! mens Spirits, and mens Pens, and mens Tongues are even full of this Oyl, as if the Ink that were made in theſe daies, were made of the Oyl of Scorpions. Iſrael (the ten Tribes) would ſend Oyl to Egypt, to gain the favour of Egypt, that they might have their wils over their brethren, they would be at a great deal of coſt, and part with their Oyl: Oh! my brethren, ſhall it be ſo with us? to apply it ſpiritually, that we might have our wils over our brethren, ſhall we part with our Oyl? Why do Note.not we ſay as the Figtree, Shall we leave our ſweetneſs to come and reign over you? So, ſhall we leave our Oyl? that is, The ſuppleneſs, the gentleneſs, the tenderneſs of our ſpirits, ſhall we loſe theſe, that we may prevail over our Brethren? Oh! how many were of ſupple tender ſpirits, and loving one towards another, yet out of a deſire to prevail againſt their Brethren, they have parted with their Oyl, even with the tenderneſs and ſuppleneſs of their ſpirits: Remember, Egypt hath no Oyl, but Oyl is in Canaan, it grows there.