Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4, Lectures 4 · Part 19
ANd thus much concerning their ſins. Their puniſhmēt followeth: Verſ. 19. The winde hath bound thē vp in her Verſ. 19 wings; And they ſhall be aſhamed of their ſacrifices. In which The expoſition.words he denounceth againſt them a double puniſhment, the latter whereof is the effect of the former; the firſt is captiuitie, in theſe words, The winde hath bound them vp in her wings: the other is ſhame and confuſion, in the words following, and they ſhall be aſhamed of their ſacrifices. The former is expreſſed in a loftie allegorie, wherein he reſembleth the wrath of God purſuing the wicked Iſraelites, to a ſwift winde, or an vnreſiſtable tempeſt; and the people to duſt or chaffe, which thereby is caught vp and ſcattered ouer the face of the earth. This ſimilitude is here contracted, but may be thus explicated; As the wind catcheth vp the chaffe, and carrieth it aloft with vnreſiſtable ſwiftnes, as though it were faſt bound vntounto his wings; and hauing toſſed it to and fro, doth at laſt ſcatter it abroad vponupon the earth: ſo the anger of God ſtirred vp with the ſinnes of the Iſraelites, ſhould ſeaze vponupon them like a furious tempeſt, and ſcatter them here and there in a miſerable captiuitie, amongſt the Gentiles and nations, who ſhould be Lords ouer them.
The perſons then thus to be ſcattered, were the people of Iſrael, ſignified by this word (them) which in the originall is expreſſed in the feminine gender, and ſingular number, ligauit eam, hath bound her, towit, the nation of the Iſraelites, or the tribe of Ephraim, of which the former words are to be vnderſtood. The meanes whereby they ſhould be thus ſcattered, was the winde of Gods furie and fierce diſpleaſure, prouoked by their ſinnes.
The like allegorie is vſed, Iob 21. 18. Pſal. 1. 4. where it is Job 21. 18. Pſalm. 1. 4. Ezech. 5. 3.ſaid, that the wicked are as chaffe, which the winde driueth away, Ezech. 5. 3. Now the cauſe why he vſeth this ſimilitude, was not only becauſe theſe darke ſpeeches were fit for a prophecie, which is as a booke ſealed vp, vntill it be opened and expounded by the euent; but alſo becauſe in theſe few words, being rightly vnderſtood, thoſe heauie iudgements which were inflicted vponupon the Iſraelites, were moſt fully and fitly ſignified. For firſt, hereby is implied the ſuddenneſſe of this iudgement which ſhould befall them, when they leaſt expected it: for as a foule ſtorme ſuddenly followeth a faire calme; and the winde which commeth we know not from whence, ruſheth vponupon vsus with vnexpected ſpeed: ſo the Lord ſurprizeth the Iſraelites at vnawares, with his heauie puniſhment of a miſerable captiuitie, and whileſt they pampered themſelues with the fleſhly pleaſures of drunkenneſſe and vncleanneſſe, and hoarded vp the riches of iniquitie by bribing and extortion, as though they were aſſured that they ſhould neuer be diſpoſſeſſed of them; euen then ſuddenly the wrath of God attached them, and brought vponupon them the Aſſyrians, who ſpoiled the land, and led them into cruel bondage.
Secondly, hereby is implied the ſwiftneſſe of this iudgement, which is here compared to the ſwiftnes of the winde, and that whē it goeth on Gods meſſage with poſting ſpeed; for as though the ſwiftnes of the winde were not quicke enough, to expreſſe the ſpeedines of Gods vengeance, he giueth wings vntounto it, to double (as it were) his haſt. And thus this ſimilitude is commonly vſed to ſignifie the haſtie ſpeedineſſe of an action. So when Dauid would in liuely manner expreſſe the ſpeedie ſwiftnes, which the Lord vſeth in aſſiſting his ſeruants, and deſtroying his enemies, he ſaith, that He rode vponupon the Cherub and did flie, and he came flying vponupon the wings of the winde, Pſal. 18. 10. 2. Sam. 22. 11. and Pſalm. Pſalm. 18. 10. & 104 3. 2. Sam. 22. 11.104. 3. He maketh the clouds his chariot, and goeth vponupon the wings of the winde. And in the ſame ſenſe this ſimilitude is vſed with prophane writers. So Virgil, Et ventis & fulmi…s ocyor alis, ſwifter then the winde or lightning.
Thirdly, hereby is implied, that this iudgement ſhould come vponupon them with ſuch vnreſiſtable furie, that they ſhould not be able by any meanes to withſtand it; and this is ſignified, whereas it is ſaid, that the winde ſhould binde them in his wings, that is, as they who are bound hand and foote are vtterly vnable to make reſiſtance; ſo they ſhould bee ſo ouermatched and hampered by the Aſſyrians, that it ſhould be but folly to ſtriue againſt their ſtrēgth, ſeeing they ſhould be debarred of all meanes, whereby they might either defend themſelues, or offend the enemie. And thus the vnreſiſtable power of the Chaldeans is at large deſcribed, Ioel. 1. 6. 7. & 2. 2. 3. &c.Joel. 1. 6. & 2. 2. 3.
Fourthly, hereby is ſignified the nature of their captiuitie, namely, that being led away by their enemies, they ſhould not hauehave any ſet place, wherein they might reſt and aſſemble themſelues together, for the performance of ciuill and diuine duties; but that they ſhould be toſſed to and fro, from poſt to pillar, and be ſcattered and diſperſed one from another, in the land of their captiuitie, amongſt the Gentiles and nations, as the winde ſcattereth the chaffe vponupon the face of the earth.
Laſtly, the certaintie of this iudgement is here expreſſed, in that he doth not vſe the future tenſe, as ſpeaking of a thing to be done in time to come, but the perfect tenſe, as though it were to come vponupon them with ſuch vndoubted certaintie, that it ſeemed to be as it were done alreadie. So Ioh. 3. 36. He Joh. 3. 36.that beleeueth the Sonne hath euerlasting life; that is, ſhal moſt ſurely hauehave it, and he that beleeueth not is condemned alreadie. And this is the iudgement which is heere threatned: the which accordingly was inflicted, vnderunder the raigne of Hoſea King of Iſrael, in the two hundred fortie and third yeare of the Iſraelitiſh monarchie, when as they were carried away captiue, by Salmanaſſer, and diſperſed amongſt the Heathen nations, as appeareth, 2. King. 17.2. King. 17.
And ſo much concerning the firſt puniſhmēt. The ſecond is ſhame and confuſion, in theſe words, And they ſhall be aſhamed of their ſacrifices. The which puniſhment is an effect of the former: for when as they were brought into great ſtraites and grieuous calamities, and could hauehave no helpe or reliefe from the idols which they had ſerued, then they were aſhamed, when they conſidered that they had ſpent all their labour and coſt in vaine. Whileſt idolaters flouriſh in proſperity, they flatter themſelues in their ſins, & become hereby more obſtinate in their ſuperſtition; imagining that they are priuiledged from Gods iudgements, and hauehave the fruition of all his bleſſings, for their falſe worſhip ſake: but whē the hand of God lieth heauie vponupon them, and when he ſeemeth (as it were) to fight with them from heauen, by inflicting vponupon them grieuous afflictions; then they double their deuotions and ſuperſtitions vntounto their idols, that by their helpe they may be deliuered: but when they find their hope fruſtrate, and that they are forſaken of their idols when they moſt neede their helpe, then at length they acknowledge their impotencie and inſufficiencie, & are confounded with ſhame, when they ſee that their gods, in whom they gloried, faile them, and that they hauehave ſpent vponupon them ſo much vnrewarded coſt, and bootleſſe labour. The puniſhment then here denounced is ſhame and confuſion; the cauſe of this ſhame, is their ſacrifices, not ſuch as they offered vntounto the true God, in ſuch manner and forme as hee had preſcribed in his word, which alwaies bring boldneſſe, confidence, and aſſured hope of helpe and deliuerance; according to that Pſalme 25. 3. All that hope in thee ſhall not bee aſhamed: Pſal. 25. 3.but heere hee vnderſtandeth ſuch ſacrifices as were offered vntounto idols, according vntounto their owne wills and inuentions; and therefore hee calleth them their ſacrifices: that is, ſacrifices of their owne deuiſing and inuenting; whereby alſo hee doth ſynecdochically vnderſtand all their falſe worſhip and idolatry, whereby they ſerued falſe gods.
And this is the meaning of the wordes. The doctrines The Do∣ctrines. which ariſe out of them are theſe. Firſt, we may obſerue, that voluptuouſneſſe and couetouſneſſe, are the cauſes and forerunners Voluptuouſneſſe and couetouſneſſe, are the cauſes and forerunners of confuſion and deſtruction.of confuſion and deſtruction: for when a people goe on ſecurely in the fruition of ſinfull pleaſures, and greedily giuegive themſelues to all manner of couetous courſes, which ſeeme to promiſe them any gaine, as though they imagined that they ſhould for euer liue vponupon the earth; then Gods iudgements with winged ſpeed ſhall attach them, and bring them to ſhame and vtter ruine. So when the people of Iſrael polluted themſelues with thoſe filthy pleaſures of drunkenneſſe and whoredome, and when their rulers greedily gaped after gaine, defiling their hearts with couetouſneſſe, and their hands with bribes; the Lord threatneth that he will ſurprize them and carry them away, as it were, in the whirlewind of his wrath, when they leaſt of all ſuſpected any danger. Thus the old world ſpent their time wholly in voluptuous pleaſures, in eating, and drinking, in marrying wiues, and giuing in marriage, vntounto the day that Noah entred into the Ioel 1. 6. and 2. 2. 3.Arke; and the flood came and deſtroyed them all: Matth. 17. 27. And the Sodomites alſo wholly addicted themſelues to belly cheare, ſurfetting, and drunkenneſſe, to buying and ſelling, planting and building, vntill in the day that Lot went out of Sodome; it reined ſire and brimstone from heauen and destroyed them all: verſ. 28, 29. So when Balthaſer and his Princes ſecurely inioying Nebuchadnezzers conqueſts, gaue themſelues to eating, drinking, and voluptuous pleaſures, the handwriting of vengeance appeared vntounto them, perplexing them with vnexpected feare and ſudden confuſion; and ſpeedie vengeance ſeizing vponupon them, their Monarchy was ouerthrowne, and themſelues ouercome and ſlaughtered by their enemies. And latter experience hath taught vsus, that as the Roman Empire increaſed and flouriſhed, whileſt they vſed ſeuerer diſcipline, ſobrietie, temperance, bountie, and homely grauitie, eueryevery one neglecting their owne particular, to benefit their Country, and aduance the good of the Commonwealth; ſo, when they effeminately did ſpend their times in voluptuous pleaſures, wanton luxuriouſneſſe, exceſſiue pride and brauerie; and to maintaine themſelues in theſe prodigall courſes, greedily ſcraped from the Common-wealth to inrich their priuate houſes, and aduance their owne eſtate; they hauing firſt made themſelues ſlaues to their wanton luſts, afterwards became ſlaues to their cruell enemies; and loſing that through intemperancy and couetouſnes, which their anceſtors had wone by ſobrietie, continency, and frugality, of the conquerours of the world, they became the vnderlings and vaſſals of the barbarous Gothes and Vandals.
And this muſt needes come to paſſe, both in reſpect of Gods righteous iudgements, with whom it is iuſt to puniſh abuſed proſperitie with wretched aduerſitie, waſtefull prodigalitie with extreame beggery, haughtineſſe and pride with an abiect and baſe condition, oppreſſion with oppreſſion, and tyranny with ſlauerie: and alſo in reaſon and ciuill pollicie; for as on the one ſide pleaſures make men proud, wanton, impatient, diſcontent, and inſolent in offering wrongs and iniuries, by all which they exaſperate others, and procure againſt themſelues many implacable enemies; ſo alſo they effeminate the minde, and ſo diſable the body, that they are not able to vphold themſelues in their vniuſt courſes againſt the leaſt violence, but become an eaſie pray to their incenſed enemies, when they go about to right their owne wrongs, and to repay their iniuries with …uſt reuenge.
The vſe hereof is, that it ſerue as a warning to the people That our land is much corrupted with voluptuous pleaſures and couetouſneſſe.of this our land, which is exceedingly corrupted with theſe ſinnes; that they turne from theſe wicked courſes by true repentance, that ſo they may bee reconciled vntounto God, and preuent the like fearefull iudgements, vntounto which they are liable, being defiled with the like wickedneſſe. For hath not our long peace and proſperitie brought an vniuerſall ſleepe of ſecuritie vponupon the land? HaueHave not our people greeuouſly abuſed their great plenty, and the manifold bleſſings wherewith God hath inriched them, by miſ-ſpending them in voluptuous pleaſures, and in all manner of luxurious wantonneſſe and intemperance? Was euer the land ſo defiled with ſurfetting and drunkenneſſe, whordome, and all manner of vncleanneſſe? Was there euer the like greedy couetouſneſſe, oppreſſion, bribing, extortion, and all manner deceitfull & cruell dealing? Were euer the hearts and hands of our Nation ſo effeminated, as in theſe times, wherein there is ſcarce any difference betweene men and women in niceneſſe, wantonneſſe, and ſoft luxuriouſneſſe, both in reſpect of diet and attire? Is not the manly courage, and able valour of this our Nation much decaied, and doth not foxe-like wilineſſe take the place of true fortitude? Finally, were euer men more inſolent in offering iniuries, or more impotent in repelling deſerued reuenge? What therefore can remaine but a miſerable concluſion of all theſe premiſes? what can we expect, but that as we hauehave matched, and ſurpaſſed thoſe who hauehave gone before vsus, in voluptuouſnes, intemperance, and couetouſneſſe; wee ſhould alſo be like vntounto them in puniſhment, confuſion, and deſtruction, vnleſſe wee ſpeedily preuent Gods iudgements by vnfained repentance, and auert theſe puniſhments by turning from our ſinnes?
Secondly, we may here obſerue, that howſoeuer the Lord The Lords patience endeth in wrath towards the impenitent.in his infinite patience and long ſuffering, deferreth the iuſt puniſhment of wicked men and ſinfull nations, to the end that hereby they may be drawne to repentance, & ſo eſcape his plagues; yet when notwithſtanding all this merciemercy and patience of God, they continue in their hainous tranſgreſſions, the Lord bringeth his iudgements like a whirle-winde, and taketh them away in a tempeſt of his wrath; as appeareth in the example of the Iſraelites in this place. More paticularly Puniſhment commeth vponupon the wicked ſuddenly.the puniſhments of the wicked, which hauehave been long deferred, ſhall at length come vponupon them ſuddenly, and when they leaſt expect any danger; euen as the ſtorme doth ſuddenly follow the calme. To this purpoſe it is ſaid; that Though the excellencie of the wicked mount vp to heauen, and his head reach vntounto the clouds; yet ſhall he periſh for euer, like his dung, and they which hauehave ſeene him ſhall ſay, Where is he? He ſhall flee away as a dreame, and they ſhall not finde him, and ſhall paſſe away as a viſion in the night: Iob 20. 6, 7, 8. And Job 20. 6, 7, 8. & 21. 13. Pſal. 73. 19.Chap. 21. 13. They ſpend their daies in wealth, and ſuddenly they goe downe to the graue. So Pſal. 73. 19. How ſuddenly are they destroyed, periſhed, and horribly conſumed, as a dreame when one awaketh! And the Prophet Eſay compareth the deſtruction of the wicked to the ruines of a wall, which though it ſtandeth a long time, yet it ſuddenly falleth and in a moment: Eſa. 30. 13. Therefore this iniquity ſhall be vntounto you as a breach Eſa. 30. 13.that falleth, or as a ſwelling in an high wall, whoſe breaking commeth ſuddenly and in a moment. Examples whereof we hauehave in the old world, and in Sodome and Gomorrah, who whileſt they ſecurely inioyed their voluptuous pleaſures without feare of any danger, were ſuddenly ſurprized with Gods iudgements, euen with the generall deluge, & with fire and brimſtone deſcending downe from heauen. So when Nebuchadnezzer gloried in his power and maieſtie, it is ſaid, that whileſt the word was yet in his mouth, the meſſage of Gods anger was deliuered vntounto him.
Secondly, as the winde is ſo ſwift that it is impoſſible to Gods iudgements are ſwift and vnauoidable.flee away from it, though we runne vponupon our greateſt ſpeed; ſo the iudgements of God purſue the wicked with ſuch poſting haſt, that it is impoſſible for them to eſcape, though they be as ſwift as the Hinde in the forreſt, or the Swallow in the aire. To this purpoſe it is ſaid, Matth. 3. 5. I will come Mal. 3. 5.neere to you to iudgement, and I will be a ſwift witneſſe against the ſoothſaiers, &c. And 2. Pet. 2. 1. the Apoſtle ſaith, that 2. Pet. 2. 1.the lying Prophets by their falſe teaching brought vponupon themſelues ſwift damnation. So when the Lord would bring vponupon the men of Iuda deſtruction and deſolation, he ſaith, that their enemies ſhould come vp againſt them as the cloudes, his chariots as tempeſts, and that his Horſes ſhould be lighter than the Eagles: Iere. 4. 13. And therefore though Ier. 4. 13. & 46. 6.they were neuer ſo ſwift, yet they ſhould not be able to flee away: as he alſo ſpeaketh Chap. 46. 6. for either the flight ſhould periſh from the ſwift, as it is Amos 2. 14. or if they Amos 2. 14.continued in their ſwiftneſſe, their perſecuters ſhould bee ſwifter, as the Lord threatneth, Eſa. 30. 16.Eſa. 30. 16.
Thirdly, as the winde or tempeſt carrieth away the duſt Wicked men cannot reſiſt when God puniſheth.and chaffe with ſuch vnreſiſtable furie, that it is altogether impoſſible for it by any waight or ſtrength it hath to remaine together vndiſperſed; ſo the iudgements of God doe ſurprize the wicked with ſuch force and violence, that it is not poſſible for them with their greateſt power to make any reſiſtance, but their deſtruction ſhall be vntounto them altogether vnrecouerable. In which reſpect the Prophet compareth Eſa. 30. 13, 14.the iudgements of God falling vponupon wicked men, to the ruines of a wall; for as before it falleth, it may eaſilie be vnderpropped and repaired, but when it is in falling, it cannot be ſtaied by any force of man; ſo howſoeuer it is no hard thing to preuent the iudgements of God from lighting vponupon vsus before they attach vsus, if we forſake our ſinnes by true repentance; yt if the ſentence bee paſt, and the puniſhments hauehave alreadie begunne to ſeaze vponupon vsus, then is our caſe deſperate and vnrecouerable, ſeeing we are not able to make any reſiſtance, hor to withſtand them with our greateſt power. And hence alſo it is that in the ſame place hee compareth the wicked to a Potters pot, which is ſo brittle that it is broken with the leaſt violence, and being broken, cannot be amended nor ſerue for any vſe, Eſa. 30. 13, 14. to the ſame purpoſe it is ſaid, Prou. 6. 15. That the wicked man Prou. 6. 15.ſhall be deſtroyed ſuddainely, and without recouerie: and that as the ſwift ſhould not ſcape by flight, ſo neither the ſtrong man by his ſtrength, Ierem. 46. 6. So Amos 2. 14. Iere. 46. 6. Amos 2. 14.The flight ſhall periſh from the ſwift, and the ſtrong ſhall not ſtrengthen his force neither ſhall the mightie ſaue his life. And in this reſpect the wrath of God in this place, is compared to a ſtrong winde, and the wicked to chaffe which is ſcattered by it. So Iob. 21. 18. They ſhall be as ſtubble before the Job 21. 18. Pſal. 1. 4.winde, and as chaffe that the ſtorme carrieth away: Pſalm. 1. 4.
The vſe hereof is, that when being guiltie of ſinne, wee heare the iudgements of God denounced againſt vsus, wee doe earneſtly repent of our wickedneſſe, flee vntounto the throne of grace, ſubmit our ſelues vnderunder Gods hands, and humblie ſue for pardon and forgiueneſſe, ſeeing it is the onelyonly courſe wee can take to ſecure vsus, from being ouerwhelmed with Gods plagues. For if we flee from the Lord, his iudgements ſhall purſue vsus with vnexpected ſpeede, and ſhall ouertake vsus like the ſwift winde in our greateſt haſt; and if we ſtruggle and ſtriue againſt them, they will ouerthrowe vsus with vnreſiſtable violence, and like a furious tempeſt they will carrie vsus away as duſt or chaffe.
The laſt thing to be obſerued is the puniſhment of idolatrie Idolatrie is puniſhed with ſhame and confuſion.and ſuperſtition; for howſoeuer idolaters whileſt they proſper in their ſuperſtition and falſe worſhip, glorie in their idols, and aſcribe all the benefits which they hauehave receiued vntounto them, and their owne idolatrous deuotions, yet when the Lord thundereth againſt them from heauen with his iudgements, and bringeth vponupon them afflictions and inextricable calamities, and when for the remouing of theſe euils, they hauehave long ſued vntounto their idols for helpe in vaine, then are they couered and ouerwhelmed with ſhame and confuſion, then doe they with deſperate ſorrow bewaile their former follies, and their booteleſſe deuotions, and caſt away from them their images as vnprofitable, wherein formerly they placed their chiefeſt confidence. And this confuſion as it is here poynted at by our Prophet, ſo is it in large and moſt liuely manner deciphered, Eſa. 2. 19. Then Eſay 2. 19. …0. 21.ſhall they goe into the holes of the rockes, and into the caues of the earth, from before the feare of the Lord, and from the glorie of his maieſtie, when he ſhall ariſe to deſtroy the earth. 20. At that day ſhall a man caſt away his ſiluer idols, and his golden idols (which they had made themſelues to worſhip them) to the mowles and to the backes. 21. To goe into the holes of the rockes, and into the tops of the ragged rockes; from before the feare of the Lord, and from the glorie of his maieſtie, when hee ſhall riſe to deſtroy the earth. So our Prophet ſaith, that when the Lord in his wrath ſhould deſtroy Auen, that is, the places conſecrated to idolatrie, then the idolaters being confounded with ſhame, ſhould ſay to the mountaines, couer vsus, and to the hills, fall vponupon vsus. Chap. 10. 8. And this is that puniſhment which the Prophet deſireth ſhould be inflicted Hoſea 10. 8.vponupon idolaters, Pſalm. 97. 7. Confounded bee all, they which Pſal. 97. 7.ſerue grauen images, and that glorie in idols. And which the Prophet Eſay denounceth againſt the idolatrous Iewes, Eſa. 1. 29. For they ſhall be confounded for the okes which yee Eſay 1. 29.hauehave deſired, and ye ſhall be aſhamed of the gardens that ye hauehave choſen. An example hereof we hauehave in Baals prieſts, who were confounded with ſhame, when as they were in the ſight of the people abandoned of his helpe, when they moſt 1. King. 18.needed and implored it.
The vſe hereof is, that abhorring and renouncing idols, True obedience bringeth hope & helpe.and all manner of idolatrous ſuperſtition, which will leaue vsus hopeleſſe and helpleſſe in our greateſt extremities, we do cleaue vntounto the true Iehouah, performing vntounto him ſuch faithfull and ſincere ſcruice as he requireth in his word, without the mixture of humane inuentions; and then the Lord will preſerue vsus in the day of affliction from all euill. Or if for his glorie and our triall he bring vsus to the touchſtone of aduerſitie, and ſuffer vsus to taſte of ſome calamitie and miſerie, yet will he giuegive vsus ſuch a comfortable feeling of his fauour, and arme vsus with power and patience to beare our troubles, that we ſhall neuer goe away aſhamed and confounded. To this purpoſe is that, Pſalm. 34. 5. They ſhall Pſal. 34. 5.looke vntounto him and run to him, and their faces ſhall not be aſhamed: And Pſalm. 25. 3. All that hope in thee ſhall not be aſhamed. Pſal. 25. 3.So the Lord promiſeth that none of them who conſecrate themſelues vntounto him to be his people, ſhall euer bee aſhamed, Ioel 2. 26. And this Dauid found by experience Joel. 2. 26.both of his anceſtors, as appeareth Pſalm. 22. 4, 5. Our fathers truſted in thee, they truſted in thee, and thou diddeſt deliuer them. 5. Called vponupon thee and were deliuered, they truſted in thee, and were not confounded. And alſo of himſelfe, Pſalm. 34. 4. I ſought the Lord, and he heard me, and deliuered me out of all my feare. Whereas if wee leaue the Lord, and truſt in idols, and in our owne inuentions and idolatrous ſuperſtitions, wee ſhall bee abandoned in our greateſt neede, and be confounded with ſhame, when we expect helpe and deliuerance.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Downame, Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4 (1608)