Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4, Lectures 4 · Part 3
AND ſo much concerning the firſt bill of inditement, whereby the people of Iſraell are accuſed & conuicted; now followeth the ſentence of condemnation, whereby they are adjudged to ſuffer deſerued puniſhments. Verſe. 3. Therefore ſhall the land mourne, and eueryevery one that dwelleth Verſe 3 therein ſhalbe cut off, with the beaſts of the field, and with the foules of the heauen, and alſo the fiſhes of the ſea ſhalbe taken away. Where the Lord more plainely expreſſeth after what The expoſitionmanner he would contend with the people, to wit, not by his word alone, but by his judgements alſo.
The puniſhment it ſelfe here threatned, is the vtter deſtruction and deſolation of the land, by warre and the vſuall companion thereof dearth and famine; the which is moſt liuely and emphatically expreſſed in diuers metaphoricall and hyperbolicall ſpeeches, the which I will expound as they lye in order.
And firſt here is expreſſed the cauſe of their puniſhment, then the puniſhment it ſelfe; the cauſe of their puniſhment, in this word, Therefore, that is, becauſe all manner of ſinne both of omiſsion and commiſsion doth abound in the land, and the people is deſperately reſolued to ruſh into all manner of wickedneſſe, notwithſtanding all thoſe meanes which I hauehave vſed to reclaime them, and euen are now growne to a cuſtome and habite of ſinning; therefore I will forbeare them no longer, ſeeing they giuegive no hope of their reformation, but will preſently execute my fearefull judgements amongſt them, till they be vtterly deſtroyed.
The puniſhment it ſelfe is firſt expreſſed, and then amplified, it is expreſſed in two borrowed ſpeaches; the firſt in theſe words, the land ſhall mourne: As though he ſhould ſay, becauſe the people will not mourne for their ſinnes, euen the land it ſelfe ſhall mourne, and as it were ſigh & groane vnderunder the heauy burthen of my puniſhments. So that hereby hee implyeth their ſtubberne rebellion, impenitencie, and hardneſſe of hart, in that the brute and ſenſeles earth would bee ſooner affected and touched with the feeling of Gods judgements, then the more ſenſeleſſe inhabitants; and alſo the greatneſſe of the puniſhment, which ſhould be ſo ſharpe that it would giuegive ſenſe to the ſenſeles creatures.
The judgement it ſelfe is deſtruction and deſolation, by warre & famine, whereby the inhabitants of the land ſhould be deſtroyed and ſwept away, and all the goodly ornaments of the earth, as the pleaſant Orchards & gardens, the fruitfull fields and vinyards, ſhould bee vtterly waſted and ſpoyled: ſo that now the good mother earth ſhould like Rachell ſpend her time in mourning for her children, becauſe they were not, and like a deſolate captiue ſpoyled of all her riches and percious ornaments lament her paſſed loſſe and preſent miſerie. The meaning therefore of theſe words is this, that the earth ſhall become barraine and fruitleſſe, and and ſhall be ſtripped and ſpoyled of all her inhabitants, and ſo become a vaſt and diſolate wilderneſſe, neither inhabited by men, nor adorned with her beautifull fruits, as it were with her prinely coate of diuerſe coullours: for as the earth which is inhabited by a flowriſhing people, and decked and adorned with her plenteous fruits, is ſaide to reioyce laugh and ſing, Pſal. 96 12. Let the fielde bee ioyfull and all that is Pſal. 96. 12.in it, let the trees of the wood then reioyce. VntoUnto which the Prophet Eſay alludeth Chap. 35. 1. 2. The waſt ground ſhall Eſay. 35. 1. 2.bee glad and flouriſh as a Roſe. It ſhall flouriſh abundantly and ſhall greatly reioyce. So it is ſaid to mourne and weepe when it is diſ-peopled, and laid waſt & deſolate, like a wilderneſſe. So Eſay 33. 9. The earth mourneth and fainteth, Libanon is aſhamed and hewen downe, Sharon is like a wilderneſſe &c. Ier. Eſay 33. 9. Ier. 4. 27. 28.4. 27. 28. The whole land ſhall bee deſolate, therefore ſhall the earth mourne. Ioel. 1. 10. The field is waſted, the land mourneth Ioel. 1. 10.for the corne is deſtroyed &c.
And thus the land mourned: firſt when as it was waſted by Tilgath-Pilneeſer King of Aſsiria, who led away two Tribes and a halfe captiue as appeareth, 1. Chron. 5. 26. 1. Chro. 5. 26.but much more when as it was vtterly ouerthowne and deſtroyed by Salmaneſer, of which wee may read, 2. Kings. 172. King. 17.
Secondly it is ſaide, that euerie one that dwelleth in the land ſhall bee cut off, the word is ſhall languiſh, or faint through weakeneſſe; whereby hee ſignifieth that howſoeuer the people would not mourne for ſinne, yet the Lord would make them mourne vnderunder his puniſhments, and that ſo greatly, that they ſhould euen languiſh and faint in their ſorrow and heauines, hauing no appearance of any comfort.
Now theſe judgements are further aggrauated and amplyfied, whereas it is ſaid that the vnreaſonable creatures, the inhabitants both of the ayre, earth, and water ſhall bee pertakers of the peoples miſerie, and bee ouerwhelmed in their ruine: and this ſheweth the greatneſſe of their deſtruction. For as when the Lord would magnifie his bleſsing vponupon mankinde, he ſaith, that he would keepe his Couenant not onelyonly with Noah and his ſonnes, but with all liuing creatures, Gen. 9. 9. 10.Foules, Cattle and Beaſts, becauſe theſe creatures were giuen vntounto man for his profit and honeſt delight: ſo contrariwiſe when hee would amplifie his irefull judgements, hee ſayth, that he would not onelyonly deſtroy the people, but alſo ſpoyle them of all benefits whereby they might receiue any profit and comfort. And as to amplifie the greatneſſe of their puniſhment, and the grieuouſnes of their ſinne, he commanded the Iſraelites to deſtroy not onelyonly the people of Iericho, but alſo their houſes, beaſts and cattle, ſiluer, gold, and all that belonged to them; ſo here he threatneth that for the ſame cauſes he would take the ſame courſe with the Iſraelites themſelues: that is, to ſhew his deteſtation of their horrible Treaſons and Rebellions, hee would not onelyonly deſtroy them, but alſo their Land, and all that belonged vntounto them.
Yea, he ſaith his puniſhments ſhould extend to the fiſhes of the ſea, and this doth exceedingly amplifie the greatneſſe of his wrath; for euen in the generall Deluge the fiſhes were exempted from puniſhment, as if they had beene a nation of another world, who hauing no ſocietie with mankinde were not infected with the contagion of his ſinne: but now he ſhewed that his wrath was more inflamed, in that hee threatneth to make the fiſhes pertakers of mans miſery and puniſhments: not that indeede the Lord was purpoſed to catch the ſillie fiſh in the nets of his judgements, but onelyonly vſed theſe Rhetoricall and Hyperbolicall amplyfications, that hereby hee might more feelingly affect the ſecure and hard hearted iſraelites, both with the ſence of their haynous ſinnes, and grieuous puniſhments.
And this is the meaning of the words. The Doctrines The doctrines which ariſe out of them are diuers. Firſt, whereas he ſaith, The ſinnes of the inhabitants cauſe a land to mourn.Therefore, that is, becauſe of their grieuous ſinnes the Land ſhall mourne and become deſolate: hence we obſerue, that the chiefe cauſe which maketh a land ſit mourning like a deſolate widdow, or a diſtreſſed mother, robbed of her children, and ſpoyled of all her comforts, is the ſin of the inhabitants. Pſa. 107. 34. This brought an vniuerſall deluge ouer Pſal. 107. 34.the whole world: this brought downe fire and brimſtone vponupon Sodome and Gomorrah: this cauſed the land of Canaan to ſpue out her inhabitants. Leu. 18. 25. The like judgement Leu. 18. 25. 26whereof the Lord threatned to inflict vponupon the Children of Iſrael, if they imitated them in their ſinnes. Verſe 28. Deut. 28. 21. 22. 63. The which threatnings were accordingly Deut. 28. 21. 22. and 63.accompliſhed in their captiuitie, and finall deſolation.
The vſe of this doctrine is, that thereby wee bee made The vſes.carefull to auoyde ſinne, ſeeing it bringeth the judgements of God not onelyonly vponupon our owne heads, but alſo vponupon our country.
Secondly, it teacheth vsus, to what cauſe wee are chiefly to impute all manner of puniſhments, as warre, dearth, the peſtilence, namely to our ſinnes, as the chiefe and principall cauſe, whatſoeuer be the inferiour cauſes, meanes or inſtruments.
Thirdly it confuteth their practiſe, who endeauour to vphold the flowriſhing ſtate of their Country, by Machiuilian pollicies, falſhood, treacherie, wrongs and injuries, offred to their neighbours; by tollerating the ſinnes which ſhould be ſeuerely puniſhed, for feare of bringing daunger to the State, by exaſperating a multitude or great faction, or by any other wicked and vnlawfull meanes whatſoeuer: for how approueable ſo euer theſe courſes may ſeeme in humaine Exo. 1. 10. Num. 24. 14. and 25. 2. and 31. 16. 17. 2. Sam. 16. 21. 1. King. 12. 26. 27.pollicy, yet the truth is, they are ſo farre from preſeruing a land, that they make it liable to Gods judgements, and bring downe vponupon it his heauie puniſhments. Exo. 1. 10 Num. 24. 14. and 25. 2. and 31. 16. 17. 2 Sam. 16. 21. 1 King. 12. 26. 27. 28.
The ſecond obſeruation may be this, if a people hauing haynouſly ſinned, doth not ſeriouſly repent and mourne vnderunder They who will not grone vnderunder the burthen of ſinne ſhall mourne vnderunder the burthen of puniſhment.the burthen of their tranſgreſsions, they ſhall faint and languiſh vnderunder the burthen of Gods heauy Iudgements; for as it is the onelyonly meanes to preſerue vsus free from puniſhment, not to fall into ſinne, ſo it is the onelyonly way of remouing puniſhments inflicted for ſin, to take away the cauſe thereof by vnfained repentance, 2 Chron. 7. 14. Ezech. 18. 21. and 2. Chro. 7. 14. Ezech. 18. 21. 33. 14. 16.33. 14. 16.
The vſe hereof ſerueth to teach vsus what courſe is beſt to be taken for the remouing thoſe judgements, which lye heauie Repentance the beſt means to remoue iudgements.vponupon our land, or at leaſt hauehave diſplayed their coulours, being ready to march againſt vsus; namely the Peſtilence, Invndations, Dearth and Famine. Surely we muſt not chiefly truſt in humaine pollicies, and preuentions, or in the help of our bordering friends, for all this will be to little purpoſe, if we do not in the firſt place ſeeke reconciliation with God, by forſaking our ſinnes, and turning vntounto him by vnfained repentance.
The ſecond vſe ſerueth, for the comfort of thoſe that God protects thoſe that mourne.mourne in Sion, and daily bewaile both their owne ſins, and the ſinnes of their people: for ſuch are to know, that the Lord will giuegive them a ſpeciall priuiledge and protection, whereby they ſhall be protected from the common calamities which he inflicteth vponupon their nation; or if as members Ier. 39. 16. 17.of this great body pollitick, by reaſon of their communion, they neceſſarily pertake in their miſeries and afflictions, yet the Lord will ſo ſanctifie theſe croſſes vntounto them, and will giuegive vntounto them ſuch a meaſure of ſtrength, faith, patience, and comfort: that when vnrepentant ſinners, who neuer ſighed nor groned vnderunder the burthen of ſin, doe now grone and languiſh vnderunder the waight of puniſhment; they contrariwiſe, who vponupon their vnfained repentance are aſſured of the forgiueneſſe of their ſinnes, ſhall not onelyonly be patient, but alſo rejoyce in their tribulations, and their afflictions ſhall be vntounto them, as a Serpent without a ſting.
Laſtly, this ſerueth to refute the practiſe of thoſe, who when they are juſtly puniſhed for their ſinnes, in ſtead of remouing the cauſe by repentance, doe adde ſinne vntounto ſinne, by vſing wicked & vnlawfull meanes for the remouing The follie of thoſe who by ſinne labour to remoue puniſhment.of their puniſhments; as for example going vntounto Witches, Wizards and Sorcerers, vſing falſhoode and deceipt, iniurie and oppreſsion, that ſo they may remoue the burthen which God hath laid vponupon them, vntounto the ſhoulder of their neighbour: But ſuch are to know, that this is not the way to giuegive them eaſe, or to releaſe them of their afflictions, nay rather they are to expect, that as they adde ſinne vntounto ſinne, ſo God will adde puniſhment vntounto puniſhment; vntill they which refuſe to mourne for their ſinnes, faint and ſinke vnderunder his heauie iudgements.
The third thing to be obſerued is the ſenſleſſe hardnes The obdurate hardneſſe of mans hart.of mans heart, and the ſecure impenitencie of our corrupt nature; whereby it commeth to paſſe, that neither Gods mercies nor judgements, will any whit affect vsus, if the Lord giuegive vsus ouer to our owne obdurate ſtubberneſſe; for euen when the ſenſleſſe and brutiſh creatures, are in their kinde affected, both with Gods mercies and judgements, only man remayneth without ſenſe and feeling. The heauens vaile their face & ſhed forth their teares; the earth groneth & ſhaketh; the waters roare & ſwell; the beaſts, foules & fiſhes mourne and hang down their heads, ſhewing their inward griefe, by that diuers language which God hath giuen them, when as the Lord is angry and layeth his heauie hand vponupon them; onelyonly man the chiefe rebell of the world ſmileth when God frowneth, and though he be ſomewhat touched with ſenſe of paine, yet hee ſorroweth onelyonly becauſe hee is puniſhed, and not becauſe by his ſinnes hee hath deſerued puniſhment. And hence it is that the Lord ſometimes turneth his ſpeach from man, becauſe he hath no eares to heare, nor hart to vnderſtand, nor ſenſe to feele and apprehend his mercies or judgements, vntounto the ſenſeleſſe and brutiſh creatures; to note vntounto vsus that the ſenſeleſſe creatures are more ſenſible then a ſenſeleſſe man. So Eſay 1. 2. 3. Ier. 22. 29.Eſay 1. 2. 3. Ier. 22. 29.
So it is ſayd in this place, that the land it ſelfe mourned, and that the beaſts, birds and fiſhes bore their part in this ſorrowfull ſong; but the Inhabitants of the Land are ſayde onelyonly to hauehave languiſhed vnderunder the burthen of their miſeries, and nothing is ſaid of any ſorrow or mourning vnderunder the heauie burthen of their ſinne. The like example we hauehave Gen. 4. 13. Exod. 8. 8. 15 1 Kin. 13. 6. 33 Mat. 11. 16. 17 and 23. 37.in Cain. Gen. 4. 13. In Pharaoh. Exod. 8. 8. 15. In Saul, Ieroboam. 1 King. 13. 6. 33. And in the people of the Iewes. Mat. 11. 16. 17. and 23. 37. But I ſhall not need to looke farre for examples to illuſtrate this point, ſeeing our owne experience doth too manifeſtly proue it: for howſoeuer like Bul-ruſhes we hauehave hanged downe our heads, whileſt the ſtorme of Gods judgements, did make vsus bend and ſtoope, yet vvee are preſently ready to walk vnderunder the burthen of our ſinnes, with ſtiffe and ſtretched out necks, when we ſee that the ſtorme of Gods fury is a little ouerblowne.
The vſe of this doctrine ſerueth: firſt, to teach vsus that ſeeing naturally wee are hard hearted, and ſo ſenſeleſly ſecure in our ſins, that we earneſtly labour for a broken hart and contrite ſpirit; and continually beg at the hands of God, that he will take away our ſtonie hearts, and giuegive vsus hearts of fleſh, which will grieue and mourne when hee ſheweth any ſignes of his diſpleaſure, and euen like the hart of Ioſias melt at the hearing of the threatnings of his Law; grounding theſe our prayers vponupon his owne gracious promiſes. Iere. Iere. 32. 39. Ezech. 11. 19. and 36. 26.32. 39. Ezech. 11. 19. and 36. 26.
Secondly, it ſerueth for the reproofe of carnall worldlings, who ſecurely goe on in their ſinnes, fooliſhly imagining that they may repent when they liſt, and ſo receiue their pardon from God: but ſuch are to know that as it is a worke of greateſt neceſsity, ſo alſo of greateſt difficultie, for if the Lord leaue them to their owne hardneſſe of hart, as he juſtly may, ſeeing they hauehave abuſed his grace to wantonneſſe, and his mercy and long ſuffering to impenitencie; well may they languiſh vnderunder puniſhment, yet they ſhall bee further off from true repentance and vnfayned mourning for their ſinnes, then the ſenſeleſſe earth or brutiſh Creatures.
Thirdly, we are to obſerue, that the ſinne of man is not onelyonly hurtfull and pernitious to himſelfe, but euen to the Sin is pernitious to all the Creatures.whole earth, and all the Creatures therein contained. In the Creation the Lord bleſſed the earth and her Inhabitants, but ſinne turned this bleſsing into a curſe. Gen. 3. 17. Gods Gen. 3. 17.bleſsing made it fruitfull, but mans ſinne made it barren, and in ſtead of Corne, Wine and Oyle, cauſed it to bring forth Thornes and Thiſtles, if it bee not, as it were watred with mans ſweate. Verſe. 18. 19. It brought a generall Deluge, Verſe. 18. 19.wherein not onelyonly man, but all the Creatures periſhed. It turned Sodome and Gomorrah, which was like the garden of Eden, into a ſalt Marſh, and deſolate wildernes. It brought all thoſe plagues of Aegipt not onelyonly vponupon man, but vponupon the beaſts likewiſe. In a word, it is the cauſe of all the miſeries which all the Creatures ſuffer, vnderunder which they grone and trauaile in paine together with vsus, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. Rom. 8. 22.Rom. 8. 22. from which with feruent deſire they waite to be deliuered, when man is freed from his ſinne, as appeareth. Verſe. 19. 20. 21.Ver. 19. 20. 21
Neyther is this vnjuſt with God; that the creatures ſhould be puniſhed for the ſinne of man: ſeeing as man was not made for himſelfe but for God; ſo they were not made for themſelues but for the vſe of man: and therefore as they were to joy in his rejoycing; ſo to beare their part of griefe in his mourning and miſerie: like the ſeruants of Noble men, who are quelled in their Lords ruines, and though they are not guilty of their treaſons committed againſt their ſoueraigne prince, yet they are ouerthrowne in their eſtates & pertakers in their puniſhments.
The vſe of this doctrine is: firſt, to admoniſh vsus, that when wee ſee the miſeries of any of the poore Creatures, as the barrenneſſe of the earth, the toyle, ſickneſſe and manifold infirmities of the beaſts, &c. we be thereby put in remembrance of our ſinnes, and be moued to bewayle them, as being the cauſe not onelyonly of our owne, but alſo of all the creatures miſerie.
Secondly, it ſerueth to reproue thoſe, who abuſe the poore creatures with tyrannical crueltie, and are ſo far from pitying them, in thoſe miſeries which our ſinnes hauehave inflicted vponupon them, that they make ſeauen-fould greater the heauy burthen of their euils, through their barbarous vſage of them; like hard-harted and mercileſſe Lords, who ſeeing their ſeruant adjudged to death for their treaſons, in ſtead of pitying his puniſhment play themſelues the executioner, in cauſing him to dye by exquiſite torments, &c.
The laſt thing to bee obſerued is, that when the Lord exerciſeth his judgements vponupon the creatures, when the That wee are not lightly to paſſe ouer gods judgements inflicted vponupon the creatures.Earth is ſmitten with barrenneſſe, ſpoyled of her fruits, and ſtripped of her goodly ornaments; when the waters aboue eyther drop not at all or in ſuch abundance that in ſtead of watring her, they drowne and ouer flow her, and when the beaſts and cattle periſh eyther by murraigne or famiſhment, wee are not lightly to paſſe theſe things ouer; but to eſteeme them as ſignes of Gods diſpleaſure conceiued for our ſinnes, and as ſo many ſummons whereby the Lord warneth vsus to ſeeke reconciliation by true repentance, leſt we be ouertaken by his more fearefull judgements. Leuit. 26. 14. 15. &c. Leu. 26. 14. 15 Deut. 28. 15. 16.Deut. 28. 15. 16. &c.
The vſe hereof ſerueth for the reproofe of thoſe who are nothing affected with gods judgements vponupon the creatures, no further then themſelues hauehave a ſenſible feeling of their euills, ſo that if in the time of dearth and famine they feele no want they are neuer thereby put in minde eyther of Gods anger or of their owne ſinnes, nor touched with thoſe miſeries vnderunder which the brute creatures mourne, nor with any compaſsion or fellow-feeling of their neighbours wants.