Exposition of the 12 Small Prophets, Author to the reader
TO THE READER,
Chriſtian Reader,
I Have now, through the Lords aſſiſtance, finiſhed, and do here preſent thee with this Expoſition of theſe three Prophets, which with the Piece: formerly publiſhed, do compleat the whole leſſer Prophets according to my undertaking, when I publiſhed the firſt Piece. That I have publiſhed theſe last, when yet they are firſt in order, may (I confeſſe) ſeem ſomewhat ſtrange to any who ſhall not conſider, (according as I hinted in the Preface to the firſt,) that by a recommendation from a faithful Servant of CHRIST, I was only deſired to undertake Obadiah with ſome that follow, it being expected that others ſhould have done ſomewhat upon the three firſt, and ſome of the last of theſe Prophets. But finding that they could not, for divers reaſons, proſecute what they had purpoſed; I was ſtirred up to eſſay firſt theſe that followed after the Prophets I had undertaken, and then theſe now preſented to thee; wherein it hath pleaſed the LORD to carry me on to this period.
I do acknowledge, that beſide the conſcience of mine own inability, and the incumbrance of many diverſions from without; I have encountered with two great impediments in proſecuting this way of writing, eſpecially in this laſt Piece: One is, that in theſe Holy Writings, which runne much upon one ſtraine and ſubject, (as divers of theſe Prophets do,) however the ſtudying of one may contribute much light for underſtanding of another; yet I conceive that the variety of gifts communicated unto empty men, were needfull for ſearching out the Rich Treaſures of Doctrine which are hid up in them, and that one man (eſpecially being of mean parts,) will on ſuch ſubjects readily ſoon wear out, and either abound in repetitions, or prove but barren in his collections from Rich Texts. The other is, that ſo much hath been already written on ſome of theſe Prophets, (beſide what is done on them all,) and particularly on Hoſea, not onelyonly in the Latine tongue for the uſe of the Learned, but in Engliſh alſo, that it ſhould ſeem needleſſe to adde any more: Yet when I conſidered that the moſt part of the LORDS people could not make uſe of Latine Writings, and that what I have ſeen in Engliſh on Hoſea or Joel, is ſo large, that it may readily deterre many from buying or reading, and withall finding that none I could learn of, were about to do any thing upon them in ſhort; I have adventured over theſe impediments to adde them to the former, that there might be an uniforme mould upon the whole: And albeit theſe who ſhall take paines to read larger Commentaries, will finde many ſweet diſcourſes and collections, with refreſhful Digreſſions and Amplifications, which are not to be found here: Yet I hope that (according to the method propounded,) every Reader may finde here, ſuch a plaine and familiar Analyſis, ſuch a ſound Expoſition (wherein the Analyſis and coherence is cleared where it is needful,) and ſuch a collection of obvious obſervations, (in deducing whereof, the Expoſition is ofttimes further enlarged, and particular phraſes and words not omitted,) as may be helpful unto him in reading of theſe Scriptures. And theſe all done ſo briefly, as may take away the excuſes of many who pleaſe themſelves too much in neglecting to converſe daily with the Scriptures, pretending their owne incapacity, and the prolixity of many helps offered unto them.
My deſire unto thee (Chriſtian Reader,) is, that not only thou would accept of this my endeavour, as thou haſt been pleaſed to do formerly, beyond my expectation and deſerving; and that thou pray with me that GOD would ſtirre up others, to undertake ſome other place of Scripture, in this or the like brief way; and particularly the greater Prophets, and ſome of the Writings of the New Teſtament, which contain the Marrow of Divinity: But alſo that in the mean time thou would make right uſe of this and the like helps offered unto thee. I need not make uſe of Luthers ſaying, who profeſſed if he thought his Writings would take up mens time from reading the Scriptures, he would like Saturne, devour his own children. For thou canſt not read this, but almoſt at every ſentence it will lead thee to the Scripture: And it is not only thy duty to give obedience unto God commanding thee to read and underſtand, but it addes much to the obligation, that GOD hath not only revealed his minde concerning the ſalvation of loſt ſinners, but hath regiſtrate the ſame in Holy Writing, to prevent deluſion and forgetfulneſſe, and perpetuate his Truth in the World, and hath contrived it ſo, as with little expence and trouble, thou may have it, and carry it about with thee; and that he hath ſet apart his Servants daily to open it up unto thee; and employeth ſome by writing, to contribute their endeavours for thy good. It cannot alſo but commend Scripture unto thee, if thou conſider that it is Gods Charter put in thy hand concerning thy eternal happineſſe, that as by prayer thou keeps converſe with God in Heaven, ſo by the Scriptures GOD converſeth with thee, and ſpeaks and daily ſends miſſives unto thee, and that what thou, who in the ſenſe of thy ſinne and miſery haſt fled to Chriſt, findes there anſwering thy neceſſity, cometh not unto thee at adventure or by chance; but is as really intended for thee, as if it had been written to thee in particular, and by name: And ſo the Apoſtle applies that general ſentence of the Proverbes, as ſpoken to his preſent hearers under their preſent preſſures, Ye have forgotten the exhortation which ſpeaketh unto you, as unto children, My ſonne, deſpiſe not thou the chaſtening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him, Heb. 12.5. In a word, If the Law of God be thy meditation and delight, thou wilt finde God there, it will keep thee ſpiritual and heavenly-minded, it will make thee wiſer then thy enemies, and recompence thee with innumerable rich advantages; And on the other hand, thy ſleighting of Scriptures, is an infallible ſigne of thy woful condition whatever thou pretend to, or dream of; and thy neglecting to hear him ſpeak, may juſtly provoke him to let thee cry in thy greateſt need, and yet not anſwer thee. Which that it may not prove the ſad lot of too too many in this backſliding generation, is the prayer of him who is,
Thine to ſerve thee in the Goſpel, GEORGE HUTCHESON.