Exposition of the 12 Small Prophets, Imprimatur – Dedication
Imprimatur,
EDMƲND CALAMY.
January 1. 1655.
A BRIEF EXPOSITION ON THE XII. Smal Prophets; THE FIRST VOLUME CONTAINING AN Expoſition ON THE PROPHECIES OF Hoſea, Joel, & Amos.
By GEORGE HUTCHESON, Miniſter at EDENBURGH.
HOSEA 12.10 I have alſo ſpoken by the Prophets, and I have multiplied viſions, & uſed ſimilitudes by the miniſtery of the Prophets.
AMOS. 3.7. Surely the Lord God will do nothing: but he revealeth his ſecret unto his ſervants the Prophets.
Ver. 8. The Lion hath roared, Who will not fear? The Lord God hath ſpoken, who can but propheſy?
London, Printed for Ralph Smith, at the BIBLE in Corne-hill. 165….
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL IN THE CITY OF Edenburgh, And the PROFESSOUR of DIVINITY in the UNIVERSITY there. The Spirit of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that great Shepherd of the ſheep, with grace and peace be multiplied.
Right Reverend,
ALbeit I ſufficiently know you are not deſirous of ſuch addreſſes as this is, nor is the Piece it ſelf, (as to what is mine in it,) of ſuch worth as to deſerve the Patronage of ſo many Reverend, and Learned men; Yet the reaſons that have moved me to preſent it firſt unto you, and under your name to the view of the world, have been ſo preſſing upon me, that I could not incline to make any other choice. One of you was the firſt mover and ſolicitour of me to any undertaking of this kinde, when I little dream'd of ſuch a matter, and hath continued a conſtant encourager of me in going about it. Others of you have been particularly aſſiſtant and very refreſhful unto me, in your peruſing this and the former pieces before they came to publick view, and in your brotherly and free animadverſions upon them, according as ye ſaw cauſe, which I do look upon as a very ſpecial kindneſſe and favour. And all of you have been ſo indulgent toward me, while at any time I have been neceſſitate to retire my ſelf for perfecting what I had undertaken, that I ſhould account my ſelf very ingrate, if I did not take hold of an occaſion to give ſome publick teſtimony of my ſpecial obligations unto you upon this very account. Next, Seeing it is the will of God, that the ſpirits of the Prophets be ſubject unto the Prophets, I hold it my duty in this Piece to give you an account of the ſubſtance of ſome of my labours in the common work of the Miniſtery with you in this place, as acknowledging that ye with the reſt of the Reverend Presbytery, and other Judicatories eſtabliſhed by CHRIST, are over me in the LORD, and as a teſtimony that I look upon ſubjection and orderly walking, as a very ſpecial ornament of a Miniſter of the GOSPEL. Withall it is one of my ſpeciall purpoſes in this work, that not onelyonly theſe of my particular charge might have preſented to their view, for their further edification, what they once heard in publick: But that (as our work and charge in this CITY, is in many reſpects common, ſo) I might make what was delivered to one Congregation, common to all. And I could not think of a more fit mean to render it acceptable to them, then by its coming to them under your name, and with your approbation. Finally, (that I be not tedious,) I am much convinced of many obligations laid upon me to acknowledge the mercy of GOD toward me, that in this dark time of much confuſion and diſtemper, he hath caſt my lot in the ſociety of ſo many faithful Servants of CHRIST, whoſe Company, Example, Counſel and Encouragement hath been ſo often refreſhfull and edifying unto me; and that (whatever differences there are,) the LORD hath keeped our Society free of many of theſe woful and ſcandalous diſtractions which have miſerably rent this afflicted Church; and which are a lamentation, and (if mercy prevent not,) will be for a lamentation, even to thoſe who for preſent look upon them with another eye. This mercy hath ſo often refreſhed me, that I could not but upon this occaſion leave my acknowledgement thereof upon Record, as not knowing when I might again have the like opportunity.
As theſe reaſons, I hope, will plead for your candid interpretation of this application, and your favourable acceptance of this ſmall token of love and duty; So I purpoſe not to inſiſt in prefacing upon any ſubject unto you, to whom I rather profeſſe my ſelf a Scholar and Diſciple. OnelyOnly my deſire is, that as hitherto ye have received mercy not to faint in the exerciſe of this Miniſtery, notwithſtanding the times that have gone over ſome of you; ſo ye may continue, and abound more and more, in feeding the flock of GOD which is among you, and being examples to them, in acquitting your ſelves as his wiſe and faithfull Servants, whoſe aime is to advance the KINGDOME of CHRIST, and the Truth of Piety, and to follow Truth with Peace and Sobriety, without a byaſs or ſelfiſh and carnal deſigne: And my prayer to GOD for all of us ſhall be; that we may be daily more and more rooted and eſtabliſhed in the Truth, and in theſe wayes, that are well pleaſing in his ſight, and may be made willing and ready to undergo any lot wherewith it ſhall pleaſe him to exerciſe us. In which petition I know you will joyn with
Your loving Brother, and Fellow-labourer in the Work of the Goſpel, GEORGE HUTCHESON.