Exposition of Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk and Zephaniah, Authors dedication
TO THE Moſt Noble and truly Religious LADY, ANNE, DUTCHESSE of HAMILTON, &c.
Grace, Mercy, and Peace through Jeſus Chriſt be multiplied.
IT is (Madam) the verdict, not only of the wiſeſt of men, but of the unerring Spirit of God, concerning all things under the Sun, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, Eccleſ. 1.2. and that not only as the Creation is made ſubject to the vanity of corruption, becauſe of mens ſin, Rom. 8.20. but chiefly in reſpect of men, who are not content with the lawfulneſſe of things for which they are appointed, and are very good; but ſtudy to place their happineſſe in them, neglecting God the only fountaine of true felicity; as the creature cannot anſwer the expectations of ſuch, nor ſatisfie their vaſt deſires; ſo do they, by their way, provoke the Lord to diſcover unto them the folly of their choice, whether in mercy to his owne, that hee may traine them up to better things, or in juſtice to the wicked, who ſeek after no more, that they may be no better for all their endleſſe endeavors, then they who voluntarily mortifie their affections to thoſe things; and that all may ſee the folly and madneſſe of their way, who ſell their ſouls, and ſpend out their mony and ſtrength for that which is no bread, and doth not profit nor ſatisfie.
And albeit this way of attaining felicity, hath beene eſſayed and not found by him, who for outward enjoyments had cauſe to ſay, What can the man do that cometh after the King? Eccleſ. 2.12. And albeit experience in all ages doth diſcover what a ſandy foundation they build upon, who ſeeke by theſe meanes to ſatisfie their own ſouls, made after the image of God; yet how few are they who will believe this truth, till they alſo eſſay it themſelves? This their way is their folly, yet their poſterity approve their ſayings, Pſal. 49.13. Yea, when our ſelves are finding this truth verified, we do hardly truſt our owne eyes and ſenſes, but are ſtill ready to imagine that we may find it yet otherwiſe; or if we be put from that hope, yet oft times are we little the better, but do ſit downe in bitterneſs, as if all felicity were loſt, if we find it not where we expected it; and thus do we neglect the true remedy of our gievances, and do provoke God to conſume our dayes in vanity, and our years in trouble, Pſal. 78.33.
How great cauſe then have wee to admire and lament the folly of the children of men, who do ſo farre miſtake, and upon their miſtake do forſake their own mercy, whereunto they are led by the diſcovering of the emptineſſe of all things beſide God? who do quarrell with the wiſe and holy diſpenſations of God, whereby a foundation might be laid for much good, if they were wiſely conſidered; when yet their quarrellings can availe or help them nothing: and who doe not improve ſuch diſpenſations for the end for which they are appointed, but either ſit downe stupidly under them, or grow the worſe that paines are taken on them, or at least doe pine away under the puniſhment of their iniquity, and do howle upon their beds for corne, and wine, and oyle, but return not to the moſt High? Hoſ. 7.14.16. And on the other hand, we have cauſe to admire the merciemercy of God toward his own choſen ones, in that he will (ſo to ſay) make them happy againſt their wils, and when they would deſtroy and deceive themſelves with a vaine ſhew, he in mercy to them wil famiſh their idols, and drive them from ſnares, as he did Lot out of Sodome. And when the Lord hath dealt ſo hardly with them, as many times in their bitterneſs they want language to expreſs it, yet he wil let them ſee their miſtake, by giving them meat even out of that eater, and by ſetting them on work to mind their country more, and to ſee the Commandments exceeding broad, when they have ſeene an end of all perfection. Pſal. 119.96. And he will diſcover the riches of his grace, and fulneſs of his ſpiritual comforts, by making his people bleſs him, and acknowledg the mercy of theſe diſpenſations, which ſomtimes they ſo much ſtartled at. Pſal. 119.71, 75. and cauſing the voice of rejoycing and ſalvation, even in the pilgrime tabernacles of the righteous, Pſa. 118.15.
Herein (Madam) your Ladiſhip hath cauſe to obſerve the loving kindneſs of the Lord toward you, who from your tendereſt years, having been exerciſed with difficulties of ſundry kinds, and having experienced this truth of the vanity of all things; yet your Ladiſhip hath obtained mercy to be led thereby (and much more by the Law, and by the love and hope of mercy through Jeſus Chriſt) to ſeek after a more enduring ſubſtance, and after Chriſt that pearle of price, which is indeed a token for good, even in lots wherein God ſeemeth to write moſt bitter things, when they ſet hearts on work this way. And as it hath been refreſhful to ſuch of the Lords ſervants and people, as know your Ladiſhips way and exerciſe, to ſee your ſweet ſubmiſſion under the Lords hand, and your deſire and care to have afflictions rather bleſſed then removed, and to make ſure your intereſt in Chriſt, when the throng of other things might rather have put fleſh and blood to other exerciſe; ſo it hath laid a ſpecial obligation upon my ſelf (as having been a witneſs thereunto at ſeveral occaſions,) to be inſtrumental, as the Lord ſhall enable, for your Ladiſhips furtherance and encouragement therein, which together with my obligations, to make ſome acknowledgment of the many reſpects it hath pleaſed your Ladiſhip to ſhew unto me for the truths cauſe, have induced me to make bold in dedicating unto your Ladiſhip this piece, upon ſome of the Leſſer Prophets; who were the faithful Interpreters of the Law of God, applying the ſame unto the ſins of ſeveral times, and who do point out the infallible and true cauſes of calamities lamities, with the uſe to be made thereof, and the true remedy thereof; to wit, Chriſt, the hope of whom to be manifeſted in the fleſh for the Redemption of lost man, was the godlies life in theſe dayes, and much more ought he to be ſo now, when the ſubſtance is come, and that abundance of grace and truth treaſured up in him is brought to light by the Goſpel. If theſe my weak endeavours may prove ſerviceable to any of the Lords people in their exerciſes and journey toward Heaven, and in ſpecial to your Ladiſhip, that ſhall be more then abundant recompence unto
(MADAM) Your Ladiſhips obliged Servant in the Goſpel, GEORGE HUTCHESON.