Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4, Lectures 4 · Part 4
ANd ſo much concerning the firſt bill of Inditement; whereby the Iſraelits are arraigned and conuicted: the ſecond is contayned Verſe 4. And the ſentence of condemnation Verſe 4 is affixed, Verſe 5. The Inditement it ſelfe is compriſed in theſe words. Yet let none rebuke nor reproue another for thy people are as they that rebuke the Prieſt. In which words The expoſitiō.he aggrauateth their former ſinnes, by ſhewing that ſuch was their deſperate reſolution of continuing in them, that they would heare of no admonition, or if they were admoniſhed, would vnjuſtly rebuke thoſe of whom they were juſtly rebuked.
The ſinne whereof they are accuſed, is their impatiencie of rebuke, for howſoeuer they abounded in all manner of ſin yet they could not indure, that eyther Gods Prophets or other his faithfull ſeruants ſhould admoniſh or reprooue them for their wickedneſſe. And this was a manifeſt ſigne, that they were deſperately reſolued to continue in their ſins, and were now paſt all hope of recouerie in this ſickneſſe of their ſoules, ſeeing they would not heare the Phiſition, nor regard his counſaile, nor follow his directions, nor vſe any meanes for their recouery; but caſt the potions againſt the walls and pull of the plaiſters applied for their curing, and throw them in the Phyſitions face. The like example wee hauehave Eſay. 30. 9. 10. 11. Where the Prophet complaineth that the Iſraelits were a rebellious people, lying children, who Eſay. 30. 9. 10. 11.would not heare the word of the Lord, which ſay vntounto the ſeers ſee not, and to the Prophets prophecie not vntounto vsus right things, but ſpeake flattering things vntounto vsus, Prophecie errours &c. So Amos. 2. 12. & 7. 12. Mich. 2. 6. Ier. 44. 15. 16.Amos. 2. 12. & 7. 12. 13. 14, &. Mich. 2. 6. Ier. 44. 15. 16.
Yea but it is not ſaid here, that the people forbid the Prophet to admoniſh and rebuke them, but the Lord himſelfe. I anſwere, the Lord in his word is ſo farre from forbidding theſe duties of admonition and reprehenſion, that hee neceſſarily requires them, vnleſſe it be when as the ſinner is ſo deſperately reſolued to continue in his wickedneſſe that he hateth admonition, and is ready to reuenge it (as though it were an injurie) vponupon him who doth admoniſh him. Of ſuch the Lord ſpeaketh Ezech. 3. 26. I will make thy tongue Ezech. 3. 26.cleaue to the roofe of thy mouth, that thou ſhalt be dumbe, and ſhalt not be to them as a man that rebuketh, for they are a rebellious houſe. And our Sauiour Chriſt Mat. 7. 6. GiueGive ye not Mat. 7. 6.that which is holie to dogs, &c. And ſuch were this people of whom the Lord ſaith; Yet let none rebuke nor reprooue another. As though hee ſhould hauehave ſaid; although their ſinnes are ſo many and haynous, that they deſerue continuall reproofe and reprehenſion, yet let no man rebuke them, ſeeing it is to no purpoſe, they being ſo deſperately giuen ouer to all wickedneſſe, that they are become altogether impatient of any reproofe.
And this is plainely expreſſed in the words following. For thy people are as they that rebuke the Prieſt. that is, they are ſuch as indeed doe rebuke the Prieſt, for ſo this word As, is ſometimes taken abſolutely. Hoſ. 5. 10. The princes of Iudah are as they that remoue the Land-mark. Ioh. 1. 14. And we ſaw the glory thereof, as the glory of the onelyonly begotten ſonne. Where he aggrauateth their ſinne, ſhewing that they were not onelyonly impatient of reproofe, but which was more, they contended with their teachers, and rebuked thoſe by whom they were rebuked. So that they were not onelyonly impatient to heare any reprehenſion, but alſo were growne ſo inſolent and impudent in their ſinnes, that they durſt defend them againſt their reprouers, and were ready to challenge them, that they more offended in cenſuring their faults, then themſelues in committing them.
And this is ſignified by this phraſe of rebuking the prieſt, where by Prieſt we are to vnderſtand all whoſoeuer hauehave a lawful calling from god, to deliuer his word, whether, Prieſt, Prophet or other Miniſters; but he maketh mention of the Prieſt, becauſe ordinarily to him was committed the office of teaching, exhorting, and comforting Gods people, as alſo of rebuking, accuſing, and condemning the obſtinate and rebellious.
Now this did exceedingly aggrauate their ſins, in that they durſt thus inſolently & preſumptuouſly oppoſe themſelues againſt Gods Prieſts, returning reproofe for reproofe, and inverting and peruerting Gods owne order and ordinance, who appointed the Prieſts in the Miniſterie of the Word, to rebuke their ſins, and that freely without checke and controulement for their juſt reprehenſions. The which inſolencie and preſumption was to be puniſhed by the law of God, euen with death it ſelfe, as appeareth. Deut. 17. 11. 12. And Deut. 17. 11. 12. Num▪ 1….this the Lord himſelfe inflicted vponupon Corah & his aſſociates. Numb. 16. The reaſon is, becauſe this contempt is not offered onelyonly againſt the Miniſter, but againſt God himſelfe, and his ordinance, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus. Mat. 10. 14. Mat. 10. 14. 15. Luke. 10. 16.15. Luke. 10. 16.
Examples of this ſin we hauehave not onelyonly in this place, but alſo in many others, where the people hauehave not only contended with their teachers, but euen perſecuted them, for their reprehenſions. So Iere. 18. 18. Come let vsus imagine ſome deuiſe Ier. 18. 18.againſt Ieremie, &c. Let vsus ſmite him with the tongue, and let vsus not giuegive heede to any of his words. Amos. 7. 10. Amos. 7. 10. 11 12. 13.11. 12. 13.
And this is the meaning of the words. The doctrines The doctrines. which ariſe out of them are theſe: firſt, we may obſerue that That it is a ſigne of Gods wrath when he ſtoppeth the mouthes of his Miniſters.it is a ſigne of Gods heauy diſpleaſure and approaching vengeance, and that his purpoſe is to giuegive ouer ſuch vntounto a reprobate ſenſe, to runne on in their ſinnes without hope of amendment to eternall perdition, when as hee ſtoppeth the mouthes of his faithfull ſeruants, and will not ſuffer them to reproue and reprehend them for their ſinnes; ſo here when he was determined to puniſh the Iſraelites with Captiuitie, he reſtraineth his Prophets, from rebuking and reprehending them, though they abounded in all ſinne. And Ezech. Ezech. 3. 26.3. 26. becauſe the people were deſperately giuen ouer to worke wickedneſſe, hee ſtoppeth the Prophets mouth and forbiddeth him to rebuke them. When the Scribes and Phariſies ſhewed their malicious ſpite againſt Chriſt and his truth, our Sauiour would not inſtruct them but in Parables, and reſtraineth his Diſciples from reprouing them for their malicious forwardneſſe. Mat. 15. 14. Let them alone, they Mat. 15. 14.be the blinde leaders of the blinde, &c. The reaſon hereof is, firſt becauſe hee would not hauehave his ſeruants looſe their labour in admoniſhing and reprouing thoſe who are ſo reſolute in their wickedneſſe, that there is no hope of amendement. And ſecondly; becauſe he is purpoſed to let them periſh in their ſinnes, and therefore reſtraineth them of the meanes, whereby they might eſcape his judgements, or elſe ſo giueth them ouer to the hardneſſe of their hearts, that they doe not profit by them, as we may ſee in the example of Pharaoh and Elies ſonnes. 1 Sam. 2. 25. And Amaziah. 1 Sam. 2. 25.2 Chron. 25. 16.2 Chro. 25. 16.
The vſe hereof ſerueth firſt to perſwade all that are themſelues Chriſtian rebukes neceſſaryreligious, that they be ready to reproue and admoniſh all their brethren of their ſinnes, if they ſee any hope of reformation; for hereby they ſhall performe a worke moſt charitable in ſtopping them in their courſe of ſinne, whereby they incurre Gods wrath, and runne headlong to their owne perdition, and this duetie is injoyned. Leu. 19. 17. Leu. 19. 17.Thou ſhalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, but thou ſhalt plainely rebuke him and not ſuffer him to ſinne. Iam. 5. 19. 20. Iam. 5. 19. 20.Which who ſo performes ſhall be bleſſed. Pro. 14. 25. Ʋnto Pro. 24. 25.him that rebuketh the ſinner, ſhall bee pleaſure, and vponupon them ſhall come the bleſſing of goodneſſe.
Secondly, it teacheth all with patience to heare the word We muſt patiently heare the word of reprehenſion.of admonion and reprehenſion, when they offend; and not onelyonly patiently, but alſo thankfully; ſeeing it is a meanes to reſtraine from vsus Gods wrath & heauie judgements. It is a potion, which howſoeuer it is bitter, yet it helpeth to purge away the groſe humours of ſinne, and preſerueth from eternall death: It is a corraſiue indeed, but yet profitable, becauſe it draweth out the core of our corruptions: It may bee diſpleaſant at firſt, when we are awaked out of the ſweet ſleep of carnall ſecuritie, but wee ſhall hauehave little cauſe to be offended with him that hath rouzed vsus vp ſeeing this ſleepe endeth in death.
Thirdly, it ſheweth the extreame folly of thoſe who rage The folly of ſuch, who rage againſt thoſe who reproue them.againſt Gods Miniſters, when they reproue and reprehend them for their ſinnes, thinking themſelues neuer worſe, then when they are vnderunder the cenſure of the word, and neuer better at eaſe, then when they may ſleepe ſecurely in their ſins without reproofe. Such are ſicke of the ſpirituall Lethargie, they delight in this eaſie ſleepe that bringeth death, and cannot indure to be rouzed vp, though it be the onelyonly meanes to preſerue life and recouer health. And howſoeuer they ſeem ſo wiſe in their owne conceits that they need no admonition, yet let them know that wiſedome it ſelfe calleth them fooles Pro. 12. 1. Though they hould their owne courſe to be beſt, Pro. 12 1.yet they are wanderers out of the way of life. Prou. 10. 17. Pro. 10. 17.Though they thinke them ſelues ſecure and ſafe, yet they are branded to deſtruction. Pro. 29. 1. As appeareth in Pro. 29. 1.the example of Hophni and Phinehas. 1 Sam. 2. 25. Who 1. Sam. 2. 25.are ſaid not to hauehave harkened to their fathers admonition becauſe God would ſlay them.
The ſecond thing to bee obſerued is, that it is a matter of That it is extreamly dangerous to ſtop our eares againſt admonition.extreame danger to ſtop our eares againſt the admonitions and reprehenſions of Gods miniſters, ſeeing for the manifold contempt of his word the Lord will take it from vsus, & ſuffer vsus to runne on in our ſinnes without ſtop into eternall perdition. When Gods ſeruants had often reproued the wicked Iſraelits for their ſinnes, and they would not be reclaymed, at laſt he forbids them to rebuke them any more. After Ezechiell had often inueighed againſt the ſinnes of his times, Ezech. 33. 32.and was no otherwiſe reſpected but as a muſition to make them ſport, at laſt God cauſeth his tongue to cleaue to the roofe of his mouth. Ezech. 3. 26. When the Prophets had and 3. 26.many times ſet before the people, the ſpirituall foode of their ſoules, and they loathed and ſcorned it, at laſt the Lord ſendeth a famine. Amos. 8. 11. When the Iewes will not Amos. 8. 11.heare Stephen reprouing them, nor Paul calling them to repentance, the Goſpell ſhalbe taken from them and giuen to the Gentils. Act 22. 21. When men are often reproued for Acts. 22. 21.their ignorance, injuſtice and filthineſſe, and will not be reformed, at laſt they ſhall heare that fearefull ſentence, he that is ignorant let him be ignorant ſtill, he that is vniuſt let him bee 1. Cor. 14. 38.vniuſt ſtill, he that is filthie let him be filthie ſtill. Apoc. 22. 11.Apoc. 22. 11.
The vſe hereof is, that we doe with all reuerence and patience heare the admonitions & reprehenſions of Gods Miniſters, that we ſuffer our ſelues to be ruled by the ſcepter of the Word, and in the miniſterie thereof lay our harts open to be battred, bruiſed and wounded with this hammer and ſword of the ſpirit, that ſo wee may bee conuerted from our ſinnes, and returne vntounto the Lord when as hee calleth vsus. Pſal. 95. 7. 8. To day if yee will heare his voyce, harden not Pſal. 95. 7. 8.your hearts. Let vsus open the dore to our beloued when hee knocketh, leaſt he depart from vsus. Can. 5. 2. 6. Let vsus ſeeke Can. 5. 2. 6.the Lord whileſt he may be found, and call vponupon him whileſt hee Eſay. 55. 6.is neere. Otherwiſe if we hauehave often beene inſtructed and admoniſhed, and will not be reformed, but hate admonition; and thoſe alſo that doe admoniſh vsus, it will come at laſt to paſſe, that the Lord will cauſe his Miniſters tongues to cleaue to the roofe of their mouthes, prohibite them to reproue the ſinnes of the people, and ſo giuegive them ouer vntounto a reprobate ſenſe, that they may without any impediment runne on in their ſinnes to their eternall perdition.
The third thing to be obſerued is, that howſoeuer we are To whom the dutie of admonition is to be performed.injoyned in the Scriptures to admoniſh one another, yet this duety is not to be performed vntounto all, neyther is this ſpirituall ſeede raſhly to be caſt in eueryevery place, but onelyonly in ſuch grounds, where in ſome probabilitie of reaſon, we may expect fruit. For if we know that they hauehave often ben admoniſhed of their ſinnes, and are nothing bettered, but rather deſpiſe and ſcorne rebukes, wee are to let them alone, and leaue them to Gods judgements? for by reprouing ſuch we purchaſe ſhame and hatred. Prou 9. 7. 8. If we ſee that notwithſtanding Pro. 9. 7. 8.they hauehave had the meanes of their conuerſion, they continue wallowing in the filthy ſinck of ſinne, we are not to caſt theſe precious pearles before ſuch ſwine, leaſt they tread them vnderunder their beaſtly feete: If we ſee that they are deſperate Ruffians, which will ſnarle againſt our reproofes, and in the pride and malice of their hearts, bee ready to flye in the face of thoſe, who admoniſh them of their ſinnes, we are not to giuegive thoſe holy things to ſuch Ban-dogs, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus. Mat. 7. 6. For as Chriſt would not Math. 7. 6.hauehave his word prophanely ſcorned, ſo he would not hauehave his ſeruants indangered, nor his ſpirituall Phyſitions to hazard their liues, in ſeeking to cure ſuch franticke Bedlems, whoſe diſeaſes are deſperate; but rather leaue them to be brought to the knowledge of themſelues, by the three-ſtringed whip of Gods judgements.
But yet wee are not thus to take it as though onelyonly thoſe Who are to be reproued.were to be admoniſhed and reproued, who ſhew ſome inclinable diſpoſition to amendement, and they to be let alone, who liue in their outragious ſinnes, and giuegive at firſt ſight no hope of reformation: for admonition and reproofe is a ſpeciall meanes, ſanctified by God for their conuerſion, the hammer to batter their ſtony hearts, and the beſt tamer of theſe Lyons, Beares, Leopards and Cockatrices, as appeareth Eſa. 11. 4. 6. 7. But onelyonly thoſe are exempted who hauing Eſay. 11. 4. 6.had theſe meanes often applyed, doe contemne and deſpiſe them, and thoſe who in reſpect of their frantick maliciouſnes cannot be reproued without great daunger to the partie who performeth this duetie.
Laſtly, we may obſerue, that the Lord doth condemne That it is deſperate wickedneſſe to contend with thoſe who juſtly reproue vsus.it as a ſigne of deſperate wickedneſſe in the people, when as being rebuked for their ſinnes, by Gods Prieſts, Prophets, and Miniſters, in ſtead of laying theſe admonitions to heart, that they may be reformed, they expoſtulate with them, caſt in their teeth reproaches, and challenge them of the like faults or greater, then thoſe which they lay to their charge. And thus dealt Dathan and his aſſociates, with Moyſes and Aaron. Num. 16. Ahab with Elias. 1 King. 18. 17. The Num. 16. 1 King. 18. 17. Iere. 18. 18. 19. Amos. 7. 10. Mat. 12. 24.Iſraelites with Ieremy. Ier. 18. 18. 19. Amaziah with Amos. Amos 7. 10. And the Scribes and Pharaſies with our Sauiour Chriſt. Mat. 12. 24. The which ſinne is ſo grieuous in Gods ſight, that in the Law hee did commaund that it ſhould be puniſhed with death. Deut. 17. 11. 12. And in this Deu. 17. 11. 12place, with a more fearefull judgement, by taking away from the people, the meanes of their conuerſion and ſaluation, and ſuffering them ſecurely to goe on in their ſinnes to their perdition. The reaſon is, becauſe it is an vtter ſubuerſion of Gods ordinance, when the people being rebuked, doe retort reproofes vponupon their teachers: as if the hand or foote ſhould take vponupon them to guide the eye; the childe rebuke the father; the patient direct the Phyſition; the Scholler check his Scholemaiſter; or the ſheepe expoſtulate with the ſhepheard: beſides howſoeuer in reſpect of their perſons, they are of meane condition, and full of infirmities and imperfections: yet in their office and miniſterie, they are gods ambaſſadours, whoſe words cannot be deſpiſed, without contempt offered againſt the Lord himſelfe, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus. Luk. 10. 16.Luk. 10. 16.
The vſe hereof ſerueth to moue all men with patience to ſuffer themſelues to be directed by theſe ſpirituall guides; to be admoniſhed by theſe ſpirituall fathers, without expoſtulations; to be cured of theſe ſpirituall Phyſitions without murmuring or repining, &c. leaſt by croſsing Gods holy ordinance, they moue the Lord to take away from them theſe meanes of their conuerſion and giuegive them vp to a reprobate ſenſe.
Secondly, it ſerueth for the juſt reproofe of the people Thoſe rebuked who reproue their teachers.of this land, and eſpecially of this Citie, who are growne vntounto that height of pride and inſolencie, that they will take vppon them to teach their teachers, and bring all that is ſpoken to the rule and cenſure of their ſhallow conceipt: as alſo thoſe who when they heare their ſinnes reproued out of gods word, in ſtead of amending their wicked wayes, are ready to expoſtulate with their teachers, to reproue them for their rebukes, and to caſt in their teeth, their faults & imperfections. As if the vngracious Scholer becauſe he is corrected ſhould laſh his Schoolmaiſter with the ſame rod; or as if the frantick patient ſhould pull off his plaiſter and caſt it into the Phyſitions face.