An Exposition of Hosea 4-7, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 5 · Verse 2
VER. 2.
And the revolters are profound to make ſlaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
THE Lord by hi… Prophet proceedeth in his …harge againſt Iſrael for their Idolatry; And in the latter …nd of the 5. verſe, he pronounceth the ſentence againſt them.
1. The continuance of their charge. The revolters are profound to make ſlaughter.
The revolters.] The Apoſtates, thoſe who once worſhiped me according unto what I required in the way of true worſhip; But they are revolted. The brand of a Revolter is an ignominious brand; Eſpecially when God himſelf chargeth this upon any; Once you were thus and thus forward in the waies of God, but you are revolted, you are an apoſtates; there can be on blacker brand upon a people, upon a man than this is,Expoſit. he is an apoſtate, a revolter. We muſt underſtand this their revolting eſpecially in reference to their falling off from the true worſhip of God to their Idolatry: And ſo the next words.
foreignThey are profound.] Profunda verunt, they are grown very deep in this their way of Idolatry. At firſt they began but with a little, but by degrees they are grown into the very depth. When men begin in the waies of Idolatry they know not whether they ſhall ſink. They think perhaps at firſt to go but thus far and thus far, but before they are aware they are ſunk into the very depth.
Obſer. beginings of falſe worſhipIt is a dangerous thin… to venture upon the beginnings of falſe worſhip, eſpecially when the tide is flowing in. If a man ſtand upon the ſhore of the Sea when the tide is coming in, and thinks the water is but ſhallow now, I may venture to ſtand here, it is but a little depth here; The Sea ſtill comes in more and more,ſimile he thinks it is not much deeper than it was: but if he venture too long he may ſoon be ſwallowed up and ſunk into the very depth of the Sea.Applica. Thus it hath been with many; They have been deceived in their waies of ſuperſtition: They have thought they might yeild thus far, and yeild thus far; but they little thought of the tide that was coming. It is true if the tide had been going out, it had not been ſo much danger. Therefore they are deceived in that their opinion of the firſt Reformers; Firſt Reformers.they would yeild for peace-ſake thus and thus far; but then the tide was rather going out; and yet it was not without danger that they yeilded ſo far as they did: But of late times the tide was coming in;late Innovations. and then the yeilding but thus far and thus far, hath ſwallowed up many into the very depths of thoſe waies of ſuperſtition, they have even been choked and drowned by them.
Secondly, Profunda verunt radices in ſua malitia. Calvin in loc.Their hearts are got very deep in theſe waies: (ſo I find ſome Interpreters carry it, and not improbably) they are grown deep, that is, they are deeply rooted in theſe waies, ſo that there is little hope ever to get off their hearts from them; They have continued in them a great while, and now they plead their forefathers, and cuſtom; ſo they are deeply rooted in theſe their waies of Idolatry.
It is a dangerous thing for a people to be deeply rooted in ſuperſtitious waies; Obſer.What a great deal of ſtir is there in dealing with them that are deeply rooted in falſe waies of worſhip? By cuſtom in them they grow to be deeply rooted in them.
Thirdly, Profunda verunt, they are grown profound, that is, they have revolted from God exceeding much, deeply revolted. It noteth the greatneſs of their revolting. In Eſa. 31.6. there is ſuch an expreſſion. They have deeply revolted, they have not only forſaken ſomewhat of my wo…ſhip, but they have deeply, exceedingly, largely, very much revolted from me. So in the 9th of this Propheſie, verſe 9. They have deeply corrupted themſelves, They have exceedingly, very much corrupted themſelves:
Fourthly, Profunda verunt, they are grewn deep, that is (as ſome would have it) they grow deeper in …eir waies of Idolatry than God doth in the waies of his worſhip: As thus, They will puniſh more the breaking of any of their rules in their invented worſhip, than God puniſheth the breaking of his rules.Mercer. Rab. Jarchi. So I find Mercer that learned Interpreter quoting Rabbi Jarchi as having this expreſſion, Qui non aſſcendit tranſgreditur, qui offendit occidetur. He which aſcends not (to the feaſt) tranſgreſſeth; but he that offendeth (ſo) ſhall be ſlain. God only accounteth him a tranſgreſſor that comes not up to the feaſt at the appointed time; but they ſay, whoſoever doth not come ſhall be put to death. They will go further in the puniſhment of the breach of their ſuperſtitious Laws, than God doth in the puniſ…ment of the breach of his holy Law. So they are grown deep. Yea they would ſeem to go further, to be more zealous and earneſt for their waies of Idolatry than God himſelf is for his waies of holy worſhip.
Applic.And have we not found this, that Revolters, ſuperſtitious Idolaters they have grown deep thus? that is, they will puniſh the breach of their ſuperſtitious waies more deeply than God puniſheth the breach of His …aw; they will ſtand more upon time, and will be more eager to have their Laws fulfild abundantly than the true worſhipers of God are eager to have the Law of God fulfild.
But (though I think the holy Ghoſt hath a reference to divers of the things) the main and principal ſcope of the holy Ghoſt in this word I take to be this, according as you have it in your tranſlations, They are grown profound; that is, They are very ſubtil in their waies of idolatry, they lay their ſnares deep.
We ſpake before of the ſnares of Idolaters; now here the holy Ghoſt chargeth them for being profound, that is, They are ſubtil, they lay their ſnares very deep: As fowlers and hunters (to follow the metaphor) they will go into low places and into ditches, that ſo they may deceive the fowls, and that the birds may not perceive them: So the Holy Ghoſt here follows this metaphor:Expoſit. they are content to go deep, they are deep in their plots, they will deny themſelves in any thing almoſt, and will be content to lie very low ſo be it they may further their own ends. You find it in many great Promoters of ſuperſtition and idolatry, they wil crouch and ſeem to be very affable and courteous to gain people,Obſer. and in many things deny themſelves, and all to further their own ends. Thus they are profound in their ſubtilty; according to that expreſſion we have in Pſal. 10.9, 10. He lieth in wait to catch the poor, Pſal. 10.9, 10. openedhe doth catch the poor when he draweth him into his net; he croucheth and hambleth himſelf that thee poor may fall.
Oh it ſhould teach us to be willing to deny our ſelves in our own end… that we may promote the true worſhip of God; Uſe. for Idolaters will crouch, and bow, and deny themſelves in their ends for the promoting of their Idolatry. There are many depths, many ſubtilties in their waies; their parts are imploied to the utmoſt to maintain their ſuperſtition; And men that have ſtrong parts and good wits, what a gloſſe are they able to put upon the worſt things in the world!Men o… parts. If there be any ability in any parts or ſtrong wit that the Devil can aſſiſt them withal he ſhall be imploied in putting of gloſſes upon their falſe waies of worſhip; and ſo they grow deep. The Scripture telleth us of the depths of Satan, Rev. 2.24. Satan in his inſtruments hath deep policies and doth go beyond many poor weak and ſimple people. And ſometime we have in Scripture expreſt, the devices of Satan, 2 Cor. 2.11. foreign the reaſonings of Satan. And then the methods …f the Devil, Eph. 6.11. foreign the deep policies of the Devil; and in nothing more exerciſed than in the maintainance of the waies of falſe worſhip;& gravity There they appear with their gravity and profound learning (ſeeming profound learning) to countenance this their way of falſe worſhip. This was juſt the way of Idolaters at theſe times, they were grown profound in thi… their way.
Firſt,Obſer. That the hearts of Apoſtates are the moſt deeply rooted in wi…edneſs.
No men are ſo deeply rooted in wickedneſs as Apoſtates are. The …evolters are grown d…ep, that i…, are deeply roo…ed in this their way of wickedneſs, and amongſt o…her wickedneſs, above all in the waies of ſuperſti…ion and Idolatry. Apoſtates if th…y grow ſuperſtitious and Idol…trous they are the moſt de…ply rooted in thoſe waies, yea and the moſt profound and ſubtil in them. Hence you might obſerve in your own experiences the practices of our Prelates,Applic Prelats of late. they would chuſe to themſelves Chaplain to be their Agents ſuch as had bin heretofore Puritans, and ſo falling off and apoſtatizing from that ſtrictneſs that they ſeemed to profeſs in former times; they made account that theſe would be thei… choiceſt and beſt Agents of all men; they thought their ſitteſt men were ſuch as did ariſe out of the aſ…e of a Puritan, as they themſelves were wont to expreſs it: they knew that ſuch men as thoſe that were formerly ſeemingly ſtrict in their practice, were beſt acquainted wherein the conſciences of godly men were moſt tender, and that they knew their waies and what would pinch their conſciences moſt, and therefore theſe were the fitteſt Agents for them.
Obſ. 2 Idolaters (eſpecially Apoſtates) are profound and deep.
We had need therefore to beware of thoſe that are ſuperſtitious Uſe 1 when they come with the greateſt ſhew of arguments: They are deeply rooted and can hardly be gotten off from Uſe 2 their ſuperſtitious waies; we had need likewiſe be deeplie rooted in the truths of God or they certainlie will undermine us. The Scripture telleth us, that the Spirit of God ſearcheth the de…p things of God, 1 Cor. 2.10. revealeth the myſterie… of Chriſt; Thoſe that have that Spirit of GodSpirit of God. that ſearcheth thoſe deep thing of God, they are the only men and women that are like to ſtand out again…t the deep policies of Idolaters.mean gifted Beleevers. And the truth is, every godly man and woman though never ſo mean parted, yet they are more profound than the greateſt Scholer in the world that is wicked and ſuperſtitious; for they have the Spirit of God that ſearcheth the deep things of God: and this it is that ke…ps their hearts from being taken with greateſt profoundneſs of falſe worſhip.
Obſ. 3 Id…laters they are deep in their policies.
Uſe. It ſhould teach us then to l…bor to be wiſe in the worſhip of God.Chriſtian policy. When we would maintain God in his worſhip it ſhould teach us to learn to ſeek to out plot them; they are full of their plots, why ſhould not the Spirit of God teach us wiſdom as well as the ſpirit of Satan teacheth them? Why ſhould we not exerciſe our parts as ſtrongly in the true worſhip of God, as they theirs in the way of ſuperſtition and Idolatry? But we ſee it ordinarily otherwiſe, That the men of the w…rld are wiſer in their generation than the children of light, they are deeper in waie… of policie and ſo deceive ſuch as are ſimple If you take them upon the firſt preſenting of things, the firſt ſhew of things, they will ſeem to come with ſuch colour of arguments as will certainly deceive you. Therefore you ſhould beg wiſdom of God that you might not be deceived through the ſubtilty of …atan through theſe men.
I find diver… of the Anci…nts have other intepretations of theſe word…; I will not ſpend further time in telling you what thoſe are, becauſe I think already we have had the meaning of the holy Ghoſt in theſe words; therefore we will paſs on. They are profound,
To make ſlaughter] To make ſlaughter! what doth God intend by theſe words? By theſe he doth expreſs their way of ſuperſtition and falſe worſhip. He meaneth by their making Expoſ. 1 ſlaughter, their ſacrifices unto their Idols, and ſo by the ſacrifice… which was the principal part of their falſe worſhip he m…aneth all their falſe worſhip they were deep in all their falſe worſhip, naming the chief for the reſt.
But why doth He call their Sacrifices, making ſlaughter.
It is in way of reproach. Reaſ. All their ſacrifices were no better than ſlaughter, their Temple was no better than a ſhambles, and their Prieſts no better than Butchers. God will not give them the honour as to ſay, they offered me ſacrifice; No, but it is, to make ſlaughter. As if God ſhould ſay, I look upon all your ſacrifices as no other than upon ſlaughter, your Temple no otherwiſe than upon a butchers ſhambles, and your Prieſts no otherwiſe than butchers. Thus contemptibly doth God ſpe…k of the ſacrifices of thoſe that chuſe their own ſuperſtitious waies. Iſa. 66.3. He that killeth an Ox, is as if he ſlew a man; (ſaith God) he that ſacrificeth a Lamb, as if he cut off a Dogs ne…k; he that offereth up an oblation, as if he offered Swines blo…d: and yet there, God ſpeaks of the ſacrifices of Judah, not of Iſrael. Let the ſacrifices be for the matter of them, what God requireth, and offered in the place that God hath appointed, yet when men make their ſacrifice, their own right…ſneſs and think to put off God by them, ſaith God, I rega…d them no more t…n the cutting off of a dogs neck. But theſe ſacrifices of Iſrael had a twofold error in them. Firſt, they were no… off…red in the place that God would have them: Secondly, they reſted upon them likewiſe; therefore God called theſe ſacrif ce… no other than ſlaughter.
Obſer. Will-worſhip.From thence the note is, That whatſoever worſhip is tendred up to God, if it be not his own worſhip, or if in that worſhip (though it be his own) we chuſe our own waies, whatſoever ſ…ew of devotion there may be in it, God accounteth it a diſpicable thing.
Expoſ. 2 Or ſecondly, The word [making ſlaughter] God uſeth not only to ſhew the contempt He hath of all their ſacrifices, but by that He doth ſecretly inſinuate the cruelty of the Prieſts and of the Princes to thoſe that would not yeild unto their Idolatries, their grievous perſecution of them, even unto blood. They are profound (ſaith God) they are grown deep in their Idolatry, they are grown to the depth of malice, ſo as their hearts are enraged againſt thoſe that will not do as they do, even unto blood; no matter what becomes of them, no matter if they were all hanged, a company of preciſe and ſcrupulous fools, that pretend conſcience, and do nothing elſe but trouble the State, Doth not Jeroboam and the Councel command theſe things? The Kingdom can never be well till it be rid of them.
Though I have been a rebuker of them all.] Though I have been an inſtructor, or corrector ſo the word may be turned as wel as a rebuker. And have been, or am, or will be, you may put it which way you will, it is not in the Text, neither have been, nor am,foreign nor will, but, Though I a rebuker, Eruditor, Corrector of them all. As if God ſhould ſay, they cannot plead ignorance, indeed were it that they never had any means, then they might have ſome pretence for what they do, but I have been an inſtructer and rebuker of them all.
This particle [I] hath reference either to the Prophet, or to God Himſelf.
1. The Prophet, and then, either
Actively, or
Paſſively.
I have been a rebuker, or, I have been rebuked: foreignSo ſome turn it.
For the firſt, I the Prophet have been a rebuker: 1. Active.From thence the note i…,
The Miniſters of God they muſt rebuke ſin. Obſer.They muſt not ſu…er ſin to go without rebuke.
2 Ti…. 4.1, 2. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt (ſaith Paul to Timothy.) And among other charges, this was one, That he ſhould rebuke the offendors. And Tit. 1.13. Rebuke the… ſharply, foreign, cuttingly, ſo the word is. Tit. 2.15. Rebuke with all authority
This is the work of the Miniſters of God, to rebuke with authority, to rebuke cuttingly, when there is cauſe for it.
And indeed, the ſpirits of ſinners are baſe and vile, and a Miniſter of God coming in the Name of God, i… above them, let them be what they will be;Miniſterial rebuke And if the rebuke be adminiſtred in a gra…ious way it wil make the pr…deſt ſi…er to ſhake under it; …et them ſeem to be never ſ… ſ…ornful ou…rdly, yet I ſay let a Miniſter of God come in G…d… Name, and carry the rebuke in a gracious way, and ſ… as the Oracle of God, he may make the proudeſt and …eſt ſinner to ſhake under his rebukes, for their ſpirits are vile. And thoſe that are under the charge of ſuch, though i… ſeems to be a hard work …nd grievous for the preſent unto tho… th… are rebuked, yet they will bleſs them af…erward, if God bleſ… the rebuke and others will curſe them that would not …buke them in their evill waies.
2. If we refer this Rebuker unto God himſelf, I have been a Rebuker, that is, Not I the Prophet only, but I the Lord have been a rebuker of them all. From thence the Note is, That God doth rebuke people in his Word, in his Miniſters.
Obſerv.When the Miniſters of God rebuke in a way of God, God doth then rebuke ſinners. And if there be any means in the world to humble the heart of a ſinner,Gods rebukes. 1. by words. it is this, To ſee that God rebukes him in his Word. You may put theſe two note together. God rebukes in his Word: and, This is a great means …f humbling the heart of a ſinner to ſee, that God rebukes him in his Word Thou comeſt unto the Word, and …ndeſt thy ſelf rebuked for ſuch and ſuch evils that thou art conſcious unto thy ſelf of: know it was God rebuked thee that day, and He will call thee to account for thoſe rebukes He gave thee there. Thou cameſt perhaps to hear what the Miniſter would ſay, but thou foundeſt before thou wentſt that thou wert rebuked for ſuch and ſuch ſecret evils thou art conſcious to thy ſelf of; Know (I ſay) God rebuked thee at that time, and look to it, God will call thee to an account for His rebukes.
God rebukes not only by His Word, but ſometimes by His works too;2. by works. When He doth appear againſt ſinners, when He ſuiteth His works ſo as He doth evidently ſhew that he ſets Himſelf againſt ſuch and ſuch ſinners, then (I ſay) God rebukes them for ſuch and ſuch evils, howſoever they will not ſee it. Iſa. 26.11, 12. Lord when thy hand is lifted up they will not ſee, but they ſhall ſee. God li…teth up his hand to rebuke wicked and carnal men, and evidently ſets himſelf againſt them, and they will not ſee, but they ſhall ſee.
Obſer.Again further, Hence note the ſtubborneſ… of mens hearts, eſpecially of Idolaters; they were profound to make ſl…ughter in their waies of ſuperſtition, though I was a rebuker of them all: they cared not for My rebukes, they regarded not My words, their hearts were ſ…ubborn and ſtout againſt them. Verbi contemptus, Idolatriae comes, ſaith Mercer Mercer.upon the place, The contempt of God… Word,the ſpirit of Idolate… and ſuperſtitio… perſon…. To hum…n writers. is the companion of Idolatry. You ſhall find by common experience how your ſuperſtitious falſe worſhi…ers ſlight the Word of God: they are above it, they ſpe…k jeeringly of the Scripture and of warrants from Gods Word; Oh you muſt do nothing but you muſt have Scripture for it: They cry up Fathers and antiquity, and ſuch and ſuch Writers, but for the Word of God they uſually contemn and ſcorn it.
Thus it was here, they regarded not what God ſaid in his Word. Idolaters are very ſtout …gainſt the Word of God and contemn it. There are no commands no commands no rebukes of God in his Word, but they ſtand out againſt them; Poor vile worms that they are! who are they that they ſhould dare to ſtand out againſt the rebukes of the infinite holy God? Know, howſoever thy ſpirit ſwels againſt this Word of God, it will certainly caſt thee. The Pſalmiſt in Pſal. 76.6. ſaith, At thy rebukes O God, the Chariots and Horſ-men are caſt into a dead ſleep; And ſo Pſal. 80.16. They periſh at the rebuke of thy countenance; And Pſal, 104.7. At thy rebuke they fled, And Pſal. 18.15. The foundations of the world were diſcovered at thy rebukes. The rebukes of God they have a great deal of power in them, and Heaven & Ea…th cannot ſtand before the rebukes of God, how then can that ſtubborn heart of thine ſtand out againſt them?
Let us not be troubled my brethren, Uſe. nor diſcouraged at the ſtoutneſs of Idolaters. They have been alwaies ſtubborn and ſtout againſt the rebukes of God in his Word, and therefore let us not think it much though they ſtand it out now againſt the evident truth of God and aginſt the works of God that apparantly make againſt them. Revel. 16.9. They were tormented with the wrath of God, but repented not to give Him glory. Many men are ready to think that their cauſe is good becauſe their ſpirits are ſo ſtout againſt all that appear againſt them, and ſligh… them. Let not us have higher thoughts of them becauſe of this, for it hath alwaie b… the courſe of Idolaters to ſtand out ſtoutly againſt all the rebukes of God in His Word and Works, becauſe the Lord ha…h an intent to deſtroy them.
Obſerve, Sin after …ebukes is very ſ…ful.
It is too much … ſtan… out agai…ſt Gods commands;Obſerv Sin after rebuke but to ſtand out againſt any intimation of God diſpleaſure, is a greater evil. God expects that the heart of ſinners ſhould mel… before him upon an… expreſſion of his diſpleaſure: And it was the commendation of JOSIAH, That when the LAW was read, his …ear… melted; And indeed an ingenious ſpirit is ſoon rebuked. But when the heart of a ſinner is got above all rebukes then it hardneth exceedingly and then it treaſureth up wrath againſt the day of wrath. We our ſelves cannot bear it in others to ſtandout againſt our rebukes, we cannot bear it in a child or in a ſervant; if we rebuke a child or a ſervant, and they care not for it, and their ſpirits riſe againſt it, how do we hate ſuch, how do our ſpirits riſe up againſt them? Nay if we rebuke a dog and the dog cares not for it, we cannot bear it. How ſhall the Infinite God bear our ſlighting of his rebuke.
Uſe Oh let us charge this ſin upon our ſpirits! How often hath God rebuked me in his Word and in his Work…, and yet the Lord knows this wretched and …u…born heart of …e hath ſtood out againſt it Certainly this ſtanding out …in… rebukes will lie heavy upon thy conſcienc… one da…. Nothing will make ſin m…re heavy upon thy conſcience than this, that I have ſinned and that in my …n… have ſtood out againſt the rebukes of God: As in Pro 5.12, 13. At the laſt, when thy fleſh and thy ho…y is co…ſume… t… u ſt … mourn and ſay, How have I h…ted inſtruc…i…n, and my … …ſpiſed reproof? The words are ſpoken of a gallant, a brave …o…ing gallant, that blu…ereth it out in the world, and carries all before him and cares for nothing that is ſaid; but when the hand of God is upon him and his fleſh and body is conſumed, then he falls a lamenting his condition, Oh how have I deſpiſed reproof, and have not enclined mine ear to them that inſtructed me? This is the aggravation of …in indeed.
And that we may humble our ſouls for our ſtanding out againſt Gods rebukes, ad but this conſideration to it, That God hath ſuch rebukes as will force us to yeild unto him in ſpight of our hearts. If we ſtand out againſt His rebukes in hi… Word and leſſer chaſtiſements, againſt his loving rebukes; let us know that God hath furious rebukes; ſo they are called in Ezek. 5.15. and 25.17. When thou com…ſt to the Word, o… when thy parents, or thy gove…nors or thy friend rebukes thee for thy ſins God rebuke… thee in them, and th…ſe are loving rebukes: but thou th…t art a child o… a ſervant, or any wicked and ung…dly man thou rej…cteſt thoſe …bu…s; Know, God hath furious rebukes for thee one day, yea rebukes with flames of fire, ſo they are called Eſa. 66.15.
I have been a rebuker of them all.] This (if you apply it to the Prophet, for he muſt not be excluded, he is meant here as well as God) ſhews the Prophets impartiality. And from thence the Note is, That
Prophets rebukes muſt not be like cobwebs to take ſmall flies and to let the great ones go thorough,Obſer. Prophets rebukes. they muſt be impartial rebukes. Oh how many Prophets have ſharpned their rebukes againſt thoſe that have been moſt conſcientious, and have ſadned their hearts even out of their Pulpits; but they let thoſe that are looſe go quiet away, nay not only quiet but rejoycing. When the hearts of the Saints have been ſadned, they have ſharpned their rebukes againſt theſe; but the looſer of the pariſh, or many times the great ones have gone away rejoycing. Thus if you take the words actively, I have been a rebuker of them all.
But if you take the words paſſively (as ſome do) that is thus; They have rebuked the Prophet; as if he ſhould ſay,2. Paſſive. they have been profound in their Idolatrous waies, and I have been faithful in preaching to them, and what hath been my recompence? All of them have rebuked me. All of them, not only their Prieſts have rebuked me, cryed out againſt me, not only their chief and great men have rebuked me; they indeed (their Prieſts and their Magiſtrates) would bitterly inveigh againſt me for pleading againſt their Idolatry; But all the people have done it too, I have been a rebuke to all the people, they have all been bitter againſt me, and ſharpned their very tongues againſt me; Oh ſay they, here is one that likes not our way of worſhip, he muſt have another kind of Religion, he tells us that we muſt all go up to Jeruſalem and worſhip there, and nothing will ſerve turn but that. Thus they ſcorned him and rebuked him and even flew in his very face. From thence the Note is this.
It is a hard thing for a few men to ſtand out againſt a State or multitude in matters of Religion, in matters of the worſhip of God.Obſer. Oppoſition of a multitude
If there be but ſome few unto whom God hath ſhewn another way, and the generality go a different way; Certainly thoſe few are like to meet with hard meaſure, and like to be a rebuke, not only to Miniſters, but generally unto all the people; they muſt expect to be under the rebukes of all ſorts. Thu it was with the Prophet and with al that went his way, he was a rebuke unto them all.