kindles Gods wrath against him and makes it burn like fire insomuch that the Lord delivered Israel into the hand of the Syrians who opprest them very sorely both in their persons and estates and made them like the dust by threshing i. e. very weak and contemptible like corn which is too much thresht which is broken and scattered about leaving them but fifty horse-men ten Charriots and ten thousand foot-men a poor Guard for a Kingdome 2 King 13. 3. 7. 22. Quest. But what doth Jehoahaz do in this his deep distress Answ. Hee goeth to his prayers as wicked men use to do nevertill necessity and deep distress doth drive them They make not prayer a duty but a refuge yet such is the goodness of the Lord that seeing the deep distress his people were in and the sad oppression they lay under hee answers the prayers of this wicked man and gave Israel a Saviour and Deliverer so that they dwelt quietly and securely as before Quest. But what was the ground of all this mercy Answ. Nothing but Gods free Grace though they were most unworthy yet the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them because of his covenant 2 King 13. 23. Obs. 1 Those that will not serve God shall bee slaves to men Israel forsakes God and God forsakes them and delivers them into the hand of Hazael and into the hand of Benhadad his Son who oppressed and vexed Israel all their daies 2 King 13. 2 3. 2 Even wicked men when they are in deep distress will pray Idolatrous Jehoahaz is brought very low and now hee praies The Heathenish Mariners can pray in a tempest and call on Jonah so to do Jonah 1 5 6. A wicked Pharaoh in time of trouble may begg the prayer of a Moses and Saul of a Samuel How many prophane persons amongst us when they are sick and dying yet will send again and again for those Ministers to pray for them whom they hated in their health When the Devil was sick c. Wee read of four sorts in one Psalm that cried to the Lord in their trouble viz. Travellers sick-men Sea-men Captives Psal. 107. So did Israel Judg. 10. 10. Psal. 78. 34. 3 God hears the prayers of wicked men and sometimes answers them so as to deliver them from temporal distresses Many a time did Israel cry hypocritically to the Lord onely in their trouble and hee delivered them out of their distress Psal. 78. 34 to 39. So hee dealt with Ahab 1 King 21. 29. And Rehoboam 2 Chron. 12. 7. Wicked men may pray to God as to a Creator and hee may hear them though they cannot pray to him as to a Father Hee is a God of pitty and compassion and the very distress and misery of the Creature Virtually though not Vocally cries unto him for mercy Hee that hears the cry of the Ravens cannot but hear the cry of his rational and more noble Creatures This Reason is given in the Text Vers. 4. Hee saw the oppression of Israel to bee great and therefore hee heard and delivered them 4 God usually suffers things to come to extremity before hee deliver Israel is brought as low as the dust great doubtless was the slaughter when but fifty horse-men were left and ten Charriots and ten thousand foot what are these to save a Kingdome God could have prevented this but for the greater manifestation of his wisdome power and glory hee oft deals thus with his people 5 Magistrates are the Saviours of a people God gave Israel a Saviour Vers. 5. i. e. Hee raised up Joash the Son of Jehoahaz who regained the Cities which his Father had lost 2 King 13. 25. and prevailed mightily against the Syrians as did Jeroboam his Son 2 King 14. 27. Hence Magistrates in Scripture are oft called the Saviours and Deliverers of a people Judg. 2. 16. and 3. 9. 2 King 14. 27. Neh. 9. 27. Prov. 11. 14. Obad. 21. There is but one common Saviour of us all and these are subordinate Saviours under him as Moses Gideon Jeptha Deborah Barac Joshua David c. Wee should therefore love honour respect them pray for them pay to them and defend them whom God hath raised for our defence In their peace lieth our peace wee should therefore bee tender over them 6 Nothing works on hardened sinners No judgements nor mercies Israel here is brought as low as the dust God hears their prayers gives them a Saviour raiseth them out of the dust and yet Israel is Israel still as Idolatrous and forgetful of God as ever and that foul But still lies as a blot upon them 2 King 13. 6. But they departed not from the sins of Jeroboam who made Israel sin Phrygians they say are amended by blows but no beating will mend these So true is that of Solomon let a sinful fool bee brayed never so long in the morter of affliction yet his folly will not depart from him Prov. 27. 22. You may beat him to death before you can beat his folly out of him Jer. 8. 28 29. Neither do mercies win them Isa. 26. 10. Unless God set in with his Spirit nothing works kindly upon our souls but men will bee made more obstinate by judgements and more loose by mercies Besides Elisha living in those times no doubt but hee had forewarned them of the evils approaching and yet nothing works upon them 7 The ground of all Gods goodness to his people is no merit of ours but onely his own free grace and love 2 King 13. 23. 8 No might nor man-hood can save a sinful people from ruine King Jehoahaz here is said to bee a man of Might and one that with abundance of courage and valour fought with the Syrians yet still they prevailed against him so that it was not want of courage but want of conscience in him and his people that undid them Their Idolatry was their worst enemy and strengthned their enemies against them 13 Jehoash or Joash succeedeth Jehoahaz his father both in his dignity and iniquity Hee reigned sixteen years and hath the common But and brand put upon him that his Predecessors had 2 King 13. 10 11 12 13. Hee obtained three great Victories against the Syrians of which Elisha fore-told him 2 King 13. 17 18 19. and rescued many of the Cities of Israel from them and thereupon is called their Saviour and Deliverer 2 King 13. 5 25. Hee also prevailed against Amaziah King of Judah and pillaged the Temple of Jerusalem with the Kings house 2 King 14. 13. and which makes most for his praise though hee were a King yet hee goes to visit the sick Prophet Elisha weeps over him and calls him My Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof Such tender affection and reverence did this wicked King bear to this man of God whom hee acknowledged to bee the Walls and Bulworks the Ammunition and defence both of Church and State who by
Samaria's Downfall OR A COMMENTARY By way of Supplement on the Five last Verses of the Thirteenth Chapter OF HOSEA VVherein is set forth Ephraim's Dignity Duty Impenitency And Downfall Very suitable to and seasonable for these present Times Where you have the Text explained sundry Cases of Conscience cleared many Practicâ— Observations raised with References to such Authors as clear aâ— Point more fully And a Synopsis or brief Character of the twenty Kingâ— of Israel with some useful Inferences from them By THOMAS HALL B. D. and Pastor of Kingsnorton Thus will I do to thee O Israel and because I will do thus unto thee prepare to meet 〈◊〉 God O Israel Amos 4. 12. A prudent man fore-seeth the evil and hideth himself Prov. 22. 3. Etsi Christus Apostoli minantur facinorosis graviter reprehendunt viti◠〈◊〉 phetarum conclones ideo ad deterrendos malos aptiores ad timorem Dei inculca 〈◊〉 ficaciores sunt quia semper certas Paenas slagitiosorum addunt quâ—s eventus postea 〈◊〉 dit non fuisse vanas Luther in Praefat. ad Hoseam 〈…〉 for Io. Cranford at the Castle and Lion 〈…〉 TO THE Renowned CITIE OF LONDON GRACE MERCY and PEACE bee multiplied A Word spoken in season is much commended by the wisest of men Prov. 15. 23 and 25. 11. Yea it is made one of Christs excellencies that hee had the tongue of the Learned and knew how to speak a word in season Isa. 50. 4. Such words are not onely profitable but also powerful and carry abundance of convincing strength and force with them Iob 6. 25. This principally hath emboldened mee to dedicate this Treatise to you Had I searched for five verses thorow the whole Bible I could hardly have found five together all things considered more suitable and seasonable for the present times wee live in In them wee have an Alarum for the Drowsie a Corrasive for the Impenitent a Cordial for the Penitent and many quickening Considerations to move us all to a speedy preparing to meet our God in a way of unfeigned Humiliation before the Decree bring forth and the fierce anger of the Lord ceize upon us Here wee may see Ephraims Dignity and Ephraims Downfall and those sins which helpt to bring him down and in him wee may read Englands condition the Lord hath made us his Ephraim hee hath laid his right hand upon us hee hath made us the head of the Tribes hee hath set us above when for our sins hee might long since have laid us in the dust Ephraims sins were Ephraims ruine and if those sins bee found in England which were found in him what can wee expect but the like judgements for God is the same to the same sinners If Samaria's sins bee found in London London must look for Samaria's judgements God will not spare sin where ever hee findes it bee it in City or Country Sin hath brought down greater Cities than yours as they had their times of rising so of ruining as of building so of burning witness Nineveh No Tyrus Babylon and Ierusalem Sin hath made them all a desolation For my own particular I shall never expect that City or State should prosper till Gods Church prosper or that our houses should continue when Gods house lies waste all our buildings will bee but Nods and Babels that is unsettlement and confusion till Gods house bee setled and exalted amongst us Hag. 1. 4 6 7 8 9 c. It is the sins of England that I fear more than all the enemies in the world It is not Spain or Italy it is not France or Turkey that I fear though all Nations should compass us about yet were wee but an obedient people I should not doubt but that in the Name of the Lord wee should destroy them But it is the Atheism Heresie Blasphemy Security Impenitency Apostacy Prophanation of holy things Formality Hypocrisie Unrighteousness Division Witchcraft and contempt of the Gospel These even these are the enemies that I fear and if any thing destroy us it is these abominations that reign amongst us Bee instructed therefore O England and thou O London the chief City thereof lest the Lords soul depart from thee and thou bee made a desolation Jer. 6. 8. God hath bornelong with our provocations but hee will not alwaies bear but will at last reconcile his patience with the fierceness of his fury Let not therefore Satan delude any as if these were but some melancholy conceits some fearful fancies or vain prognostications of some lying Astrologers but know that these are certain Assertions grounded upon the infallible Word of God whose Threatnings as well as Promises are like unto Silver that hath been seven times purified and â—horowly tried Psal. 12. 6. It is true wee have many Priviledges that others want but no Priviledges can preserve an impenitent people from ruine Ierusalem was highly priviledged and had the choicest Preaching a little before its downfall The sins of a City and Nation may bee so great that though Noah Iob and Daniel three men that could do very much with God Ezek. 14. 14. Should stand before the Lord for them yet they shall not prevail for a hardened Apostatizing people where such spiritual judgements go before there temporal judgements alwaies follow Isa. 6. 9 10 11 12. Sinning is worse than suffering better see a people bleeding than blaspheming for by our Sufferings God is glorified but by our sinns hee is dishonoured Wee are a people that are much for Liberty wee cannot endure a yoak no though it bee Christs easie yoak yet wee will not have him to reign over us wee will not serve him with gladness and singleness of heart in the abundance of all things and therefore hee may justly make us serve our enemies in the want of all things Deuteronomy 28. 47 48. And as wee are all for Liberty so hee may justly proclaim a Liberty for us to the Sword Pestilence and Famine Ier. 34. 17. God hath humbled many in your great City by sickness poverty and decay of Trading c. But have you been made humble thereby Hee hath sent the choicest of his Ministers amongst you and fed you in a spiritual sense with the finest of the Wheat but have you answered Gods cost and care and are you bettered by all his dispensations to you Have you heard the voice of the Rod and who hath appointed it or have you not rather fallen away more and more and grown worse and worse if so how can you expect peace when your Apostasies witchcrafts and spiritual fornications are so many 2 King 9. 17 18. But it is not for mee to counsel you who have so many living and dead Counsellors at hand I shall therefore betake my self to Prayer desiring that the good will of him that dwelt in the bush may dwell amongst you that hee would bee for walls and bulworks to you and your glory in the midst of you that hee by the Spirit
of fire and of burning would purge out of you every thing that offends that your scumme of Blasphemy Heresie Hypocrisie Unrighteousness c. may no longer abide in you but that the Name of your great and famous City may forever bee Iehovah Shammah The Lord is there This is and shall bee the Prayer of Kingsnorton Novemb. 17. 1659. Your Servant in the Lord THOMAS HALL TO THE READER HAving occasion lately to peruse Mr. Burroughs on Hosea 13. 13. I found that his Commentary was defective and that Mr. Burroughs that Prince of Preachers died before hee had finisht the Chapter whereupon I perused the remainder of the Chapter and finding it to bee very pat and pertinent to these present drowsie dangerous times wee live in and that no man had set upon it this twelve years for so long hath Mr. Burroughs been dead I having a little respite in the strength of my God I set upon it and by his assistance have at last compleated it It is true it hath cost mee some pains the most of these five Verses being so turned and tortured so intricate and perplex admitting of so many various Lections and Senses and Interpreters are so divided amongst themselves that hee had need of a great deal of Prayer and Patience that undertakes them I think there are not many harder Verses in the Bible than some of these that I have lighted on yet by a good hand of providence I have gone thorow them and have not balked any known difficulty but have made all as plain and intelligible as possibly I could Many Posthumous works have had Supplements excelling their Predecessors this cannot bee expected here All that I can promise thee is this that I have as fully and faithfully explained the Text as possibly I could I have raised thence many useful Observations and given in References because I understand they are very acceptable to many to such as inlarge upon any point more fully Some Common places are succinctly handled and if any Controversie occur according to my custom and calling they have a lash and a pass As for the fourteenth Chapter it is piously and pithily opened by two very grave judicious men So that now you have the whole Prophesie compleated If thou reap any benefit give God the praise who is pleased to shew light in the darkness and strength in the weakness of Thine in the Lord THOMAS HALL Samarias Downfall OR A COMMENTARY By way of Supplement on the five last verses of the thirteenth Chapter of HOSEA HOSEA 13. 12. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up by God his sin is hid with him THis Chapter contains the sum of the eleventh Sermon of Hosea wherein the Propher like the sweet Singer of Israel treats both of Judgement and Mercy and useth both drawing and driving Motives one or both of which usually work upon all ingenuous dispositions to bring them to Repentance And since God hath ordained the Law to make way for the Gospel and Humiliation to go before Consolation therefore the Prophet first denounceth Judgements against Israel and specially that of the Sword which should cut off his Kings destroy his Kingdome take a way all their pleasant things and make them a desolation neither was God to bee blamed for all this for it was their own sins that had brought those evils upon them viz. their Idolatry Pride Carnal-confidence Impenitency Stupidity 〈◊〉 and Forgetfulness of that God who had raised them to great glory and dignity 2. He sets forth the fierceness of Gods wrath against them ver 7 8. Great blessings when abused bring great judgements Their sins had turned God their great Benefactour into a Lyon a Leopard a Bear and imbittered his soul against them They dreamt they should finde him a God all of mercy he tells them they are mistaken for now they should finde him a God full of fury 3. Whereas they might think to escape because God had so long forborne them the Prophet by a Prolepsis prevents this conceit Ver. 12 13. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up and his sin is hid q. d. Ephraim thinks now he may take his pleasure since his iniquity lyes hid and he hath so long escaped but mark what follows ver 13. The sorrows of a travelling woman shall come upon him As the pleasure of conception hath the pangs of child-birth attending it so this secure and pleasant people shall certainly meet with sorrow in the end and therefore Ephraim is but an unwise son and guilty of great folly in that he doth not speedily make his peace with God 4. Lest they should be despondent and despair he intermixeth comfort with his threatnings and allayes the terrours of the Law with the promises of the Gospel ver 14. 5. Yet lest they should grow secure after a little hyperbaton and interruption of the order of the words he returns to denounce judgements and tells them that notwithstanding the promise of deliverance yet first they must expect a desolation of the chief City and the Kingdom ver 15. 16. In this twelfth Verse we have briefly set forth the desperate and deplorable condition of Gods people they were come to that height of wickedness and grown so stupid under Gods stroaks that now they must expect no more pardon nor look that God should bear any longer with them So that in these words the Lord meets with the vain conceits of the loose persons of those times who soothed up themselves in their evil wayes and because the Lord suspended his judgements for a time therefore they never suspected them but thought that the Lord was such a one as themselves that is no way displeased with their sins but since he connived at them therefore they conclude he slept took no notice of them but had utterly forgot them But they are much deceived saith the Lord for I have seen all their wickedness and have sealed up all their sins till the due time of revealing them which is now at hand be come 'T is true I have borne long with them let that offend none for I have not forgot their provocations they are all bound and bundled up so that not one of them shall be lost but they shall dearly reckon for them all together As God hath a book of remembrance wherein he records the good deeds of his people which shall one day be publisht to their everlasting praise Mal. 3. 16. So he hath a book of remembrance wherein he records the wickedness of the wicked which shall ere long be publisht to their everlasting shame As the sin of Iudah was written with a pen of iron and an adamantine claw so that it should not easily be blotted out Ier. 17. 1. So all the sins of Ephraim from the time of Ieroboams reign to their going into captivity were bound up and sealed that they might not be lost Papers that lye loose and unbound are scattered with every wind but when they
that for their rebellion they shall bee made a desolation Thus did all the Prophets they made Ierusalem to know her abominations Isa. 58. 1. Ezek. 16. 2. So did Christ himself apply the word particularly to his hearers Matth. 11. 21 23 and 23. 37 38. Ioh. 4. 17 18. So did the Apostles Act. 2. 36 37. This is the onely way to convince and convert men what is spoken generally to all few will apply unto themselves Quod dicitur omni dicitur nulli Bee not then offended at the plain and powerful preaching of the word A plaister that is not applied will never heal A Minister shall never profit his people till hee apply the word to their particular cases Those whom the Lord intends for conversion by his Spirit hee sets the word so home upon their hearts that they think the Minister knows all their secret thoughts c. 3 Obs. Iudgements seldome go alone Ephraim was plundred before but now hee must bee butchered before hee lost his goods now his life must go which is more precious than all pleasant things Iob 2. 4. How oft do wee read of Sword Plague Famine those three Arrows of God shot together against a rebellious people Ezek. 14. 22. As sins seldome go alone so neither do judgements See what a concatenation and chain of Judgements is set down tâ—â—â—ther Deut. 28. 15 16. c. God wants not variety of judgements to inflict upon a sinful people that they may know what a sad and bitter thing it is that they have provoked him Pharaoh had ten Plagues one after another The Trumpets and the Vials in the Revelations came not single but by sevens bringing in mischief upon miscâ—ief and plague upon plague till hee had consumed them See Deut. 31. 17. Ier. 51. 31 32. 4 Obs. When lesser Iudgements do not mend a people God usually comes with greater If plundring will not mend Ephraim desolation shall end him Hos. 5. 12 14. When Chederlaomer had plundred Sodome and that did not better them Gen. 14. 11. at last comes fire from heaven and consumes them Gen. 19. When gentle Physick will not work out the peccant humour the Physician applieth stronger if gentle correction will not mend our children wee double our stroaks If one beaâ—ing will not mend a people Godwill plague them yet seven times more according to their sins Lev. 26. 21 23. Isa. 1. 5. Ier. 5. 3 6. When no judgements will work upon Phâ—raoh then hee is drowned When temporal judgements do not mend a people hee sends them to eternal It is an ill sign when men bee incorrigible under judgements and are the worse for beating Isa. 9. 13. Ahaz had a brand set upon him to warn all others to take heed of tâ—is sinning sin 2 Chron. 28. 22 23. In the time of his distress hee sinned yet more against the Lord This is that King Ahaz That King it is emphatical i. e. that wicked infamous irresigious King who sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that smote him What madness is this to serve such as beat them for their pains and ruine their servants for so it follows They were the ruine of him and of all Israel Desperate sores must have desperate cures Hard knots must have hard wedges Fitches are beaten out with a staff but the Cummin must have a rod Isa. 28. 27. When the Lord had used all means to bring Israel to repentance hee had sent blasting plague famine and sword upon them and yet they were impenitent Amos 46 to 11. hee comes in the 12. verse to tell them that now hee would deal more sharply and severely with them Therefore now Thus will I do unto thee i. e. Thus terribly thus dreadfully in a more fierce and furious manner than ever therefore now prepare to 〈◊〉 him who is coming towards thee before hee come to thee There is no meeting him in a way of opposition or rising up against him for who ever hardned himself against God and prospered but meet him in a way of humiliation and repentance with prayers and tears dispatch those messengers to meet him on the way whilst hee is afar off that you may prevent the execution of Gods wrath A Lion will not seize on a yeelding prey the bending reed is preserved when the stubborn Oak is pulled up by the roots Isa. 2. 11 12. c. By â—his means wee shall either remove the judgement or get it sanctified so as all shall bee for good unto us or else God will take us away as he did Iosiah before the evil comes Wee shall escape those trials wee cannot bear and bee inabled for to undergo those trials which wee cannot escape 5 Obs. Eminent places oft-times are eminent in sin In great Cities usually there are great sinners Ierusalem was a great City and what great abominations were in it there was murder oppression bribery prophanation of Sabbaths and holy things her Princes were roaring Lions her Iudges ravening Wolves and the Priests did violence to the Law Ezek. 22. per totum Babylon a famous wealthy populous City yet full of cruelty and pride full of Witchcraft and Fornication both corporal and spiritual Ier. 50. 31 32 33 36 38. The Cities of Sodome and Gomorrha were full of crying sins as pride idleness gluttony inhumanity and notorious uncleanness and here in the Text Samaria was full of Idolatry and rebellion against God I King 13. 32. Isa. 10. 10 11. Hos. 8. 5. the lesser Cities were called the Daughters of Samaria Ezek. 16. 46. and those were like their Mother Great Cities have great influence upon their neighbour Towns if they bee Idolatrous superstitious riotous proud prophane so will the places round about them bee if great Babylon bee an Harlot shee will quickly bee the Mother of more Harlots and abominations Rev. 17. 3. Wee should not therefore desire to live in such populous places unless wee bee called by God to them for then hee will keep us as hee did Lot in Sodome but to go live in them without a call onely for pleasure or to see fashions c. is a sore temptation Wee see Travellers that go to such great places to see fashions return oft-times infected both in body and soul. So true is that of One Nunquam inter homines fui quin minor homo redii 6 Obs. Such places as have been eminent for sin usually are eminent for punishment As wee see in the old world Sodome Ierusalem and Samaria here for her sin is made a desolation Mic. 1. 6. When sin grows general and National it brings National judgements Isa. 8. 18. Ier. 11. 9 11. Hos. 4. 1 2 3. When all Israel transgressed the Law no wonder if the curse come upon them Dan. 9. 11. Many think to escape the better because they have so many companions when the more general the sin the nearer to judgement If all Nations sin all Nations must have the cup of Gods wrath given them Ior. 25. 15. Mal.
for their original sin As Gods people were wont in extraordinary cases to bring their infants and sucklings with them to keep Fasts Ioel 2. 16. the better to affect their hearts and break them with sorrow for sin which threatned destruction to them and their little ones Even this use should wee make of the miseries of infants when wee see Gods hand upon them wee should humble our selves to think what judgements are due to us who have so many actual sins to answer for which these little ones are free from Wee should therefore mourn over them as David did for the people As for these sheep what have they done it is I that have â—inned So let us say As for these little ones what have they done it is wee even wee that have sinned and provoked the Lord to anger with our transgressions 12 Obs. Rebellion brings destruction Samaria shall bee made desolate for shee hath rebelled When Gods heritage is as a Lion that roars and rageth against him then hee gives it into the hands of its enemies Ier. 12. 7 8 9 11. and 4. 17. and 44. 16 17 22. Lam. 1. 18. 20. Micah 6. 13. Matth. 23. 38. Israel had sinned and now the Assyrian destroyes their Cities eats up their fruits passeth through their land carries the people into Captivity and makes slaves and exiles of them in a strange Country Rebellion is a capital sin it is not every sin though every sin more or less hath something of rebellion in it being committed against that allegiance wee owe unto God by the Law of Creation but it is an habitual obstinacy and stubbornness in sin hence such are said to have necks of iron and brows of brass hard and uncircumcised hearts they are called a froward generation lying children which refuse to obey the Law Isa. 30. 9. rebelling against the light Job 24. 13. It is reckoned amongst the greatest sins and is compared to Witchcraft I Sam. 15. 23. which is the highest and most hideous Idolatry in the world it is a renouncing of God to follow the counsel of the Devil It is a sin that God will certainly visit for his Justice will not suffer it â—o go unpunished Exod. 34. 7. Isa. 1. 2 7. For sins of meer infirmity there is a pardon in course but sins of presumption committed with a high hand against â—ight and warning are very dangerous and therefore David prayes of all sins to bee kept from such Psal. 19. 13. Those great sins call for great humiliation before there can bee any pardon expected Exod. 34. 7. 2 Chron. 33. 12. Psal. 68. 18. 2 Do not envy the prosperous condition of rebellious sinners though they may flourish for a time and waters of a full cup bee wrung out unto them yet their feet shall slide in due time and every threatning shall light upon them They are rather to be pittied than envied 3 As ever wee desire to bee free from desolation let us flye those sins that cause it Look what sins brought desolation upon Ephâ—aim those sins will bring desolation on England if they reign amongst us for God is the same to the same sinners Quest. But what were Ephraims sins which brought desolation upon him Answ. Upon search I finde them to bee many but about twenty signal ones there are which brought destruction on him Whether they bee not England sins as well as Ephraims the Application will shew A Catalogue of Ephraims sins 1 Idolatry 2 A ready complying with mens inventions 3 Contempt of the true Prophets 4 Delight in false Prophets 5 Pride 6 Hypocrisie 7 Self-seeking 8 Witchcraft 9 Barrenness under the means of grace 10 Ingratitude 11 Covenant-breaking 12 Security 13 Anarchy 14 Lukewarmness and Neutrality 15 Division 16 Carnal-confidence 17 Incorrigibleness 18 Oppression 19 Atheism 20 A fulness of sin Lastly Corrupt Rulers 1 Their first grand bosome beloved sin was Idolatry They forsook the Lord and set up Calves when they should have cryed Kiss the Son and worship him they cry Kiss the Calves which Ieroboâ—m hath set up and worship them Hos. 13. 1 2. and this Idolatry was universal it was not in one but in all their Cities 2 King 17. 9 10 11. Ezek. 23. 4 5. This is a God-provoking and a Land-destroying sin it is the chusing as it were another husband it breaks the Covenant and the Marriage-knot between God and a people It is a preferring of the Devil before Christ and dirty dunghil gods as the word signifies before the living God 2 King 17. 12. What ever sinners may escape yet Idolaters are sure to pay for it When men begin to chuse new Gods the next news is War is in the gates Judg. 5. 8. Psal. 78. 58. Ier 22. 7 8 9. Micah 1. 5 6 7. Many sorrows attend this sin Psal. 16. 7. This even this was that fatal sin which laid Samaria in the dust Amos 8. ult and therefore Hosea doth more inveigh against their Idolatry than against any other sin And is not this Englands sin Have not wee chosen of late many new Gods and with Ephraim set up Idols according to our own understanding Hos. 13. 2. and have made a light within us and not Gods word the rule of our actions Wee have forsaken his faithful Ministers to follow Calves Socinian Arrian Arminian Anabaptistick Quaking Calves Moses bare with many provocations from the people of Israel but when in his absence they set up a Calf hee was all of a flame and could bear no longer Where can wee go but wee meet with Ieroboams Calves What Town City County is not pestred with them These prophesie falsly and too many love to have it so but what will they do in the end thereof when God shall call them to account for all their Heresies and Blasphemies Ier. 5. ult Besides the gross Idolatry that still abounds in the land many falling openly to Popery and many in their affections hankering after the bewitching allurements of that Babylonish Harlot A sad omen of an approaching judgement as wee see in France and Germany And adde to this the great worldly-mindedness and inordinate love of the world that abounds amongst us which is Idolatry in Gods esteem Col. 3. 5. 2 A second sin of Ephraim was a ready compliance with the Traditions of men Hos. 5. 11. and 11. 6. Ephraim is opprest and broken in judgement because hee willingly walked after the Commandements and Traditions of men preferring them before Gods Commandements Ieroboam could no sooner command Idolatry but the people readily obey I King 12. 32 33. Omri another of their Kings makes Statutes for grosser Idolatry and even in those Statutes did they walk Micah 6. 16. And for this the Lord threatens to destroy them Hosea 5. 12 14. And is not this Englands sin Are not many too many amongst us more ready to hearken to a Seducer than to a faithful Teacher and more ready to follow Vanity than Verity preferring the chaffe of
worship of Baal in the Mountain of Samaria which was far worse than the Idolatry of Ieroboam for though they had Idols yet they pretended to worship the true God but in this they worshipped Baal himself as appears by that speech of Elijah of Baal bee God implying that they esteemed him so 2 Ieroboam erected the golden Calves to preserve the Kingdome to himself but Ahab peaceably possest the Kingdome yet desiberately hee sets up more Idols 3 Hee knew the Zidonians were great worshippers of Baal yet hee fears not to match with a Iesabel there that stirred him up to a greater height of wickedness 1 King 21. 25. shee was a proud cruel cursed Idolatress a fierce persecutor of Gods people and a great promoter of the worship of Baal hence St. Iohn calls that false Prophetess that seduced so many to uncleanness and Idolatry Iesabel Rev. 2. 20. And Iehu chargeth her with whoredome and witchcraft This Ahab was slain in battel by the Syrians the doggs lick his blood and hee is buried in Samaria his chief City and his posterity is cursed after him 1 King 21. 22 23 24. Obs. 1 Wicked Parents many times have wicked children An Idolatrous Omri hath an Idolatrous Ahab As I have shewed before 2 Succeeding Idolaters oft-times exceed their predecessors in wickedness Ieroboam was naught Omri worse but Ahab worst of all hee is a Non-such for wickedness No King of Israel before him nor after him like him for wickedness 3 Great sins seldome go alone Ahab here is first an Idolater then an Oppressor a Murderer a Persecutor c. and what not As there is a concatenation of virtues 2 Pet. 1. 5 6 7. So usually of vices Great sins like great men have many followers as I have proved at large elsewhere 4 The best Preachers cannot work upon hardened sinners Ahab had Elijah a man of fire fit for those cold times one that had wrought many great Miracles and boldly reproves him to his face for his wickedness besides Elisha and others and yet hee is Ahab still When once men are given up to hardness of heart not all that Mount Sinah or Mount Sion can afford not all the curses of the one nor all the promises of the other can do any good Of all the plagues therefore take heed of the plague of a hard heart On this side Hell there is not a sorer judgement and therefore when the Church prayes for a direful curse upon her incurable enemies it is this Lam. 3. 65. Give them sorrow of heart or as the margin reads it Obstinacy and hardness of heart thy curse upon them See the danger of a hard heart Mr. Marshals Serm. on Zach. 7. 12. Dyke on Scandals p. 88. Bain Epist. 7. A Lapide on Exod. 7. 3. Sibbs Cordials p. 14. Hierom 1. part p. 457 and 462. Downams Guide in fine p. 8. and 72. Hâ—okers Guide of Saints p. 98. 5 Wicked men sell themselves to do wickedly They are not Passively sold under sin against their wills and the bent of their souls as the regenerate are Rom. 7. 14. But they Actively give up themselves unto it As a servant is not sui juris at his own dispose but is a living instrument to work for his Master so a wicked man that hath given up himself a servant to sin is not now himself but hee must plod contrive and act for sin with all his might though hee ruine himself by it Rom. 6. 16. Thus it was with Ahab here hee had not hired himself out to sin for a week a month a year but hee had wholly sold himself as a slave for ever to the service of sin and Satan so that hee could neither think speak or act any thing but what had a tendency to sin Hee was a King and by his place hee should have ruled others but alass hee was so enthralled to sin that hee could not rule himself Diogenes could upbraid Alexander for his lusts I am the King saith Diogenes and thou art the slave for I rule over those lusts that rule over thee 6 Misery attends Idolatry Ahab sets up Baal and God pulls down him How can they expect Peace on Earth that fight with Heaven The Kingdome is now troubled Samaria besieged a famine in the Land no dew nor rain for three years and a half Ahab and Iesabel are slain and Ahabs seventy Sons cut off These these are the fruits of Idolatry and forsaking God It is worth observing what Tumults Treasons Treachery King-killing Wars and changing of the Royal Lines there was throughout the reign of these Idolatrous Kings of Israel Solomon that first set up Idolatry had three enemies upon him 1 Hadad the Edomite 2 Rezin King of Damascus 3 Ieroboam his servant So when Ioram King of Iudah walked in the waies of Idolatrous Ahab then Edom and Libnah revolt from him 2 King 8. 18 20. But on the contrary see what success and renown Iudah had who was more faithful to God They had nineteen Kings of Israel all of the same stock succeeding each other whereas among the twenty Kings of Israel there were ten several Kings and they of several stocks and they frequently destroyed each other to get into the Throne and lived not long whereas Asa one of the good Kings of Iudah out-lived Ieroboam Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Tibni Omri and some part of Ahabs time 7 It is a fore judgement to have an evil Wife Ahab was wicked but his Iesabel made him worse 1 King 21. 25. Hee was so awed by her and such a slave to her that what ever shee would have done bee it never so vile hee durst not but do it Ahab wanted neither wit nor wickedness and yet hee is in both a very novice to this Zidonian Dame There needs no other Devil than Iesable whether to project evil or to act it shee chides the pusillanimity of her dejected Husband and perswades him that his rule cannot bee free unless it bee licentious and that there should bee not bounds for soveraignty but will As our English Seneca excellently As a good wife is a choice mercy Prov. 19. 14. So an ill wife is a sore judgement As a good wife will incite a man to goodness so an evil one will bee provoking to wickedness Solomon the wisest of men how was hee besotted by his Idolatrous wives into what sin and mifery did they draw him 1 King 11. 3 7 8 9. And this helpt to ruine Iehoram in that hee had the Daughter of Ahab to his Wife 2 King 8. 18. As you love your souls take heed of matching with an Idolatress it is an abomination for Gods people so to do Ezra 9. 14. Neh. 13. 6. Mal. 2. 11. Israel hath committed an abomination why what hath hee done why hee hath married the Daughter of a strange God When Pompey would have ensnared Cato by bestowing one of his Daughters on him hee wisely answered Se
his praying and preaching did more for the defence and safety of Israel than all their Armies could do 1 Obs. It is dangerous following our fore-fathers in sin Iehoash doth so and is punished for his pains People are so besotted with the example of their Parents and Ancestors especially if Idolaters that they will after them what ever come of them 2 King 17. ult which made the Lord to adde that commination to the end of the second Commandement which hee doth to no other Commandement against those children which should walk in the steps of their Idolatrous fore-fathers and often forbids that sin as fore-seeing our proneness to it Ezek. 20. 18 19 20. Psal. 78. 8. Zach. 7. 4. and bids us to the Law and not to Examples Isa. 8. 20. If Ioash would have followed his Predecessors hee should have set before him the example of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and not of Ieroboam an Idolater that had mis-led so many into sin and misery Wee may follow our fore-fathers so far as they followed Christ and no further But such is the bewitching power of Superstition that when once it hath got possession and rooting in mens hearts it is seldome ever rooted up again but runs from generation to generation till all bee cut off Idolatry hath so many flesh-pleasing pompous Rites and Ceremonies such seeming sanctity and devotions such splendor of Temples Images Organs and other allurements as are very taking with carnal men besides the fat Bishopricks Denaries Cardinal-ships and Kingdomes with which they intice many from Christ. This was that which made all these Kings of Israel keep up the worship of the Calves that they might keep the people from going from them to Ierusalem 2 Obs. Men may conquer others and yet not conquer themselves Ioash here beats the Syrians three times recovers many Cities from them takes the King of Iudah prisoner and yet himself is a prisoner to sin hee pillageth Jerusalem and the Devil pillageth him Hee is called the Saviour of Israel and yet himself was not saved from his iniquity for hee lived and dyed an Idolater So true is that of Solomon Prov. 16. 32. Hee that can rule his own spirit is better than hee that taketh a City Alexander that could conquer others yet Wine and Women conquered him 3 There is none so wicked but there is some good in them Joash here a wicked King yet visits the Prophet in his sickness sympathizeth with him and weeps over him in his affliction considering the great loss that the Church and State would receive by his death hee gives him honourable Titles savouring of much respect to him How would some Atheistical Sectaries amongst us have railed at this King for calling the good Prophet Father and stiling him The Chariot of Israel i. e. The Shield and Buckler the best defence that Israel had Those Sots and Satans whom the Devil hath blinded and strongly deluded are not worthy of an Answer yet if any would see them answered let them peruse my Comment on 2 Tim. 3. 17. p. 296. Wisdome is justified of her own children and though this ungrateful world vilifie Gods Ministers whilst living yet when they are dead they are ready to adore them 4 There is no loss in shewing kindness to the Prophets of God The King comes to visit the Prophet in his sickness and the Prophet by way of gratitude assures the King of a threefold victory which hee should have against the Syrians 2 King 13. 25 c. The Lord takes the kindness which wee shew to his Prophets as done to himself Hee that honours them honours him whose Embassadors they are Ebedmelech that shewed kindness to Ieremy hath his life given him for a prey Ier. 39. 17 18. Hee that receives a Prophet in the name of a Prophet and shews kindness to him upon that account because hee is a Minister of Christ shall have a Prophets reward Mat. 10. 41. i. e. Hee shall have an eminent reward fit for such a one as hath promoted Gods service in a high degree Gaius lost nothing by such guests as Iohn nor the Shunamite or Sareptan Widow by entertaining Prophets of such Christ seems to say as Paul did of Onesimus if hee owe thee ought put it on mine account I will repay it 5 Hee died The most potent puissant successful Conquerors of the world are conquered by death As I have shewed before 14 Jeroboam the second succeeds his Father Joash and reigns one and forty years not one of his rank reigned so long hee was one of the most prosperous successful and victorious of all the Kings of Israel since the division of the ten Tribes Hee recovered the antient borders of Israel from the Syrians and made them tributary to himself The ground of all this goodness is given 2 King 14. 23 25 26 27 28. The Lord saw the affliction of Israel that it was very bitter for there was none shut up or left nor any helper left therefore the Lord out of his wonted mercy raised up Jeroboam to bee a Saviour to them Yet hee is stigmatized with the old brand that his predecessor had before him vâ—z That this New Jeroboam was a chip of the old block for hee did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and departed not from all the sins of old Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel sin 2 King 14. 24. And that which aggravates his sin is this 1 That hee sinned against great Light for in his daies preached Jonah Amos Hosea three very famous Prophets 2 Against great Love for the Lord sent Jonah to prophesie of victory and good success unto him 2 King 14. 25. But since hee profited not by this Prophets Ministery the Lord sends him to Niniveh the chief City of the great Empire of the Assyrians Obs. 1 When a Nation is in its most prosperous and flourishing condition it may bee nearest ruine Israel never flourisht since the division of the ten Tribes under any King as it did under this Joash and Jehoahaz had done valiantly before but Jeroboam excells them all Under him the Kingdome flourisht in riches honours victories and great success But after this its honour and power still decaied till it was totally ruined It was in this Kings reign that Hosea fore-told the destruction of Samaria Hos. 1. 1. And Amos fore-told the ruine of Jeroboam and his house Amos 1. 2. and 7. 8 9 10 11. Idolatrous Kingdomes cannot stand long Babylon may think to sit as a Queen but sorrows shall at last surprize her and no worldly pomp or power shall bee able to keep off Gods judgements from her Rev. 18. 7 8. All Kingdomes have their rise and ruine and when they bee at the height then they decrease and moulder away as wee see in the Assyrian Babylonian and Persian Monarchies what vast Dominions had they yet all are vanisht and come to nothing This should keep us humble in the midst
are thought to bee Pekah's partners who aided him in the murder of their soveraign Others conceive they were on the Kings side and slain with him But the first opinion is conceived to bee most genuine Obs. 1 God many times visits the sins of the Fathers upon the children especially when they walk in their steps Menahem killed his King and now God raiseth up one to kill his Son Thus wicked men that get riches and Kingdome for their children by indirect means get a cuâ—se for them and bring them into many straights and miseries which otherwise they might have avoided 2 If God bee against us no place can secure us Let Pekahiah get into Samaria the City Royal and bee guarded in his Palace there yet God hath a Pekah that shall finde him out and slay him in his own Palace for his sin and the sins of his bloody Father 3 If wee take the fifty Gileadites for the Kings friends and assistants then observe That such as side with great men in their sins must look to suffer with them No doubt but these Gileadites gloried that they were admitted to bee Courtiers and Assistant to the King but as it proved they had better have been Carters for then they had not perisht as they did It is dangerous living in Princeâ— Courts they live safely who live privately especially it is dangerous to have communion and fellowship with the wicked Good Iehosaphat joyning with wicked Ahab against the Syrians had like to have lost his life into the bargain The Geese in the Fable that joyned with the Cranes in preying upon the fields were killed for company 19 Pekah having killed Pekahiah reigns twenty years in his stead Hee also did evil in the sigâ—t of the Lord and hath the common brand 2 King 15. 27 28. Hee was born of obscure Parents his Father Remaliah was a private person and therefore by way of contempt hee is called Remaliah's Son and the tail of a fire-â—rand Isa. 7. 4. and 8. 6. Hee is punisht for his obstinacy and Idolatry I With the loss of â— great part of his Kingdome All the people of the Land of Napthali were lead into captiviâ—y by Tiglath-Pileser King of Assyria 2 King 15. 29. Two Tribes and a half beyond Iordan with Napthali and Zebulun on this sidâ— Iordan were now carried all away and this was the beginning of Israels sorrow 2 With the loss of his life Hoshea conspired against him and slew him Vers. 30. Tyrants oft come to violent ends and those that slay their Soveraigns shall have some that will slay them If Pekah kill Pekahiah Hoshea shall kill him As hee came to the Kingdome by murder so by murder hee loseth it Obs. 1 Idolatry from â—irst to last is still attended with misery Pekâ—h peâ—sists in the Idolatrous steps of his predecessors and now see how many Cities and Regions are lost 2 King 15. 29. Ijon and Abel-beth-maachah and Ianoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilee and all the Land of Napthali so that upon the point five Tribes of Israel were lost This was the first captivity of Israel 2 The troubiers of Gods people many times are men of sordid and obscure Originâ—ls Pekah here Remaâ—iahs Son and the tail end of a brand which retains not fire long but after a little smoaking vanisheth it is hee that molests Iudah the people of God Isa. 7 4 5 6. It was Alexander a Smith not a Gold-Smith or a Silver-Smith but a Copper-Smith that molested Paul 2 Tim. 4. 14. David complains that the abjects and dreggs of men gathered themselves against him Psal. 35. 15 16. and Iob complains of such Iob 19. 18. and 30. 1. 20 Hoshea the last King of Israel having slain Pekah reigns nine years in his stead and though hee were the last of all the Kings of Israel yet hee also is branded for one that did evil in the sight of the Lord though hee was not altogether so bad as the other Kings of Israel that were before him 2 King 17. 1 2. Where there is any goodness God takes notice of it and commends it as I have shewed before This will appear 1 In that hee did not worship Baal nor serve the Host of Heaven as sâ—me of his predecessors had done before him Hee abandoned the grosser Idolatry of many of his Predecessors and secondly Hee suffered such of his subjects as would to go up to worship in the Temple of Ierusalem which the former Kings of Israel would not permit but laid snares for them Hos. 5. 1. But when Hezekiah proclaimed a Passeover many of the ten Tribes went up to keep it in Jerusalem 2 Chron. 30. 11. Yet see how judgement still attends upon Idolatry Murder and Treachery 1 Gods hand lies heavy upon King Hoshea himself hee is subdued and made tributary to Salmaneser King of Assyria 2 King 17. 3. See the unconstancy of worldly honours Hoshea to day a King to morrow a prisoner hence hee is called a bubble or foam that soon vanisheth Hos. 10. 7. 2 Hee breaks Covenant with the King of Assyria conspires against him and seeks to So the King of Egypt for aid refusing to pay the annual Tribute which hee had covenanted to pay Upon this Salmaneser shuts him up and bindes him in prison Vers. 4. This was done saith Sanctius after the City was taken though by a Prolepsis it is mentioned before This is the fruit of Treachery and Impatience when men seek by indirect means to get out of troubles they do but double them and multiply sorrows to themselves 3 This is not all for judgement doth not onely light on the King but on his Kingdome also Samaria the Metropolis and chief City is taken by Salmaneser King of Assyria after three years siege and the whole Kingdome overthrown The Israelites are carried captive out of their own Land into Assyria and a mixt people of forraign Nations are planted in their Land who made up a Mongrel Religion consisting of Paganism and Judaism fearing the Lord and serving their Idols too 2 King 17. 33. ult Seeing all these twenty Kings of Israel were so wicked wee may Observe 1 That few great men are good men From the division of the ten Tribes to the captivity of Israel there was not one good King of Israel that Kingdome remained Idolatrous from first to last There was a continued Series of Idolatry that did run thorow the whole race of their Rulers They should have seen to their people that they had lived in godliness and honesty and they were a means to lead them in paths of ungodliness and Idolatry They sinned directly against their office for God sets up Magistrates to rule for him but these lead their people from him All other creatures observe the word of Gods command and fulfil the end of their Creation and are therefore called Gods servants Psal. 119. 9â— All are thy servants The Sun Moon Stars Plants Brutes all act in their
their obscene words they corrupt good manners and rather incite than suppress sin If men must answer for every idle word much more for sinful and immodest ones 3. Obs. 'T is a point of great folly to lye long under convictions and yet never proceed to a thorow conversion The world is full of such unwise Ephraims that are of a Laodicaean temper neither hot nor cold that halt between two or rather twenty opinions Their hearts are divided between God and the world God and their Idols Hos. 10. 2. They have their understandings enlightned their affections stirred and they are strongly convinc'd of the truth and comfort that is in Gods wayes and yet there they stick they never proceed to a thorow conversion They are almost but not altogether perswaded to bee Christians and so shall bee almost but not altogether saved Act. 26. 28. God hath brought them to the birth and there they stick refusing to come forth Hee would cure them but they will not bee cured he would convert them but they will not bee converted Ier. 51. 9. Many have a name to live and are not far from the Kingdom of heaven they come even to the place of the breaking forth of children but there they stick and are stifled They were never fully brought off from their vain Principles and Practices and therefore when a temptation comes they return to them again as the dog to his vomit Many go far very far so as they hear the Word with some kind of faith and affection with sorrow and joy reforming many things performing many good duties both publickly and privately being endowed with excellent gifts of Knowledge Utterance Praying and Preaching and shews of many graces to the deceiving of themselves and many others as Balaam Saul Ahab Iehu Herod Iudâ—s Demas Ananias and Saphira and those Apostates Heb. 6. 4 5 6. and yet for want of sincerity lose all 'T is said of King Ioash that he smote the ground twice or thrice and then stayed whereupon the Prophet was angry with him saying thou shouldest have smore the earth five or six times for then thou had'st completed thy victory over the Syrians 2 King 13. 18 19. So many a man begins well and subdueth two or three lusts it may bee but for want of thorow work in subduing them all loseâ—all A man may go within a mile of some famous City and yet for want of going that mile never come there A man may bid within a shilling of some good bargain and yet for want of that shilling lose it The people of Israel went as far as Kadesh Barnea and were within eleven dayes journey of Canaan and yet by reason of their sins many of them perisht in the wilderness and never came there save only Caleb and Ioshua who followed the Lord fully and sincerely Numb 14. 24. and 32. 8 11 12 13. 'T is sad when a man shall come near the Kingdom of heaven and yet never come there Mark 12. 34. to sink within sight of the harbour and with Rachel to dye within a mile of Ephrath Gen. 35. 16. and to come within one stride of the mark and yet miss it that torments the soul. Many purpose well and promise well they begin to repent and begin to reform but they are ever beginning and never bring any thing to perfection like those silly women that were alwaies learning yet never came to the knowledge of the truth 2 Tim. 3. 7. like that hypocritical son that said he would go but never did Matth. 22. 30. their cold velleities and heartless essayes come to nothing These lose heaven many times for some one lust as Iudas for his covetousness Esau for a mess of Pottage and the young man that had done much yet one thing was lacking which marr'd all Mark 10. 21. if they could but have parted with that they might have had Christ and happiness Oh then deny your selves universally sell all for the Pearl of price you may buy gold too dear but you can never buy Christ too dear what if thou part with riches pleasures friends thou fhalt have better riches pleasures and friends all shall bee made up in a better kind yea thy friends and riches if God see it good for thee shall bee given thee into the bargain Matth. 6. 33. 'T is true conviction is very necessary and an excellent Preparative to conversion As plowing fits the ground for sowing so doth this fit the heart for grace and therefore the first work of the Spirit is to convince the world of sin John 16. 8. A man must by the Law bee convinc'd of his misery before ever hee will beg for mercy and though all are not converted who are convinced yet all are convinced who are converted Men will not come to Christ till they see no other remedy The Malefactor cries not for a Psalm of mercy till hee bee cast The Prodigal never cares for coming to his Father till hee comes to see and say Here I dye Luk. 15. 17. Men must bee beaten out of their strong holds like fish out of their holes or else they will not come in Wee may break hook and line too to get out a great fish but cannot till hee bee half-choakt First convince a man that his disease is desperate and then perswade him to cut off a leg or an arm First disarm men of all shifts and flattering dreams and then you will bring them upon their knees Saul had many shifts but Samuel refels them all and at last brings him to I have sinned If you belong to God hee will effectually convince you in his due time hee that hath begun a good work in you will finish it hee that hath brought to the birth will give strength to bring forth hee that hath brought you out of Sodom will not rest till hee hath set you safe in Zoar hee perfects all his works in his people Psal. 57. 2. This then is the first and great work of the Spirit to convince men throughly of their lost and undone condition This is virtually and fundamentally all till this bee done no good can bee done wee shall never bee truly humbled nor prize a Saviour nor bee fit for his service nor bee intrusted by him Men must bee convinced in themselves what they are in themselves before Christ will reveal himself unto them Christ will not powre the oyl of mercy but into broken hearts nor bee a Physitian to any till they bee sick of sin Such will bee ductible and tractable to his will Paul when unhorsed and humbled to the ground then is ready to do whatever Christ commands him Act. 9. 6 Naturally men have covers false colours cavils and excuses for sin but when the Spirit comes with convincing power it stops their mouths and puts them to silence so that they have nothing to say for themselves Rom. 3. 19. they see themselves to bee guilty and such as cannot plead their own cause
upon Christ and his wayes and open the mouthes of the wicked to cry Behold these are the people of the Lord see how loosely and unrighteously they live Ezek. 36. 20. where the Lord hath been a Valley of Vision and bestowed much preaching if people answer not the Lords cost they muâ—t expect a burden of judgement to sight upon them Isa. 22. 1. No place was punished like Ierusalem because no place had better preaching and more priviledges Lam. 4. 6. Dan. 9. 12. They that have preaching shall one day know what it is to have Prophets amongst them Ezek 2. 5. and shall pay full dearly for their contempt of them 2 Chron. 36. 15 16. Prov. 1. 24 25. 28. 9. Isa. 5. 24 25. 30. 9 12 13. Ier 6. 19. 9. 12 13. Zach. 7. 11 12. Mat. 10. 14 15. This is the reason why Iudgements usually begin at the Sanctuary Ezek. 9. 6. and at the house of God 1 Pet. 4. 17. Rom. 2. 9. though it doth not end there but goes on to the wicked Ier. 25. 17 18 28 29. the cup begins at Ierusalem and then goes round to Egypt Vz Askelon Ekron Edom Moab c. The highest in preferment are first in punishment and if this bee done to Zion wo to Babylon Jer. 49. 12. The sins of Gods people are committed against greater light and love and bring more dishonour to God and disgrace to his truth than the sins of others and therefore of all men hee will not spare them for their iniquities as wee see in Moses Eli David Hezekiah Zachery 1 Sam. 2. 27 28 30. and 2 Sam 12. 14. Luke 1. 20. They are a people nearer to him than others and therefore hee will not bear with them as hee doth with those that know him not Numb 16. 9. Lev. 10. 2 3. Amos 3. 2. A father will sooner correct his children if they offend than strangers that hee knows not Heb. 12. 5 6. Wee can indure dung in our fields which wee cannot abide in our Parlours Wee suffer those briars to grow in the wilderness which wee cannot away with in our gardens If they bee open enemies God can better bear it but it highly provokes him to bee wounded in the house of his friends when hee shall nourish and bring up children and they shall rebel against him hee cannot hee will not brook it Isa. 1. 2 7. To shew his impartial Justice to the world 2 For the terrour of others 3 To take off the scandal that comes hereby to Religion hee will punish sin where ever hee findes it Numb 20. 12. Hee hath his fire in Zion and his Furnace in Ierusalem and is terrible in the Assembly of his Saints Psal. 68. ult 4 Obs. No Priviledges nor Prerogatives can preserve a disobedieâ—t people from ruine Ephriam here had many Priviledges as you may see Gen. 48. 16 19 20. Deut. â—3 13 14 15 16 17. where under the name of Ioseph Moses blesseth Ephraim with the precious things of Sun and Moon and the precious things of the earth as Corn Wine Gold Silver c. and prophesies that the good will of him that dwelt in the bush should dwell amongst them i. e. God would shew his special love to them as his peculiar people and not only give them outward but inward blessings also would so strengthen them that no enemy should be able to stand before them yet Ephraim sinning against the God of those mercies lost all No priviledges can shelter us if God bee against us Hee that raised us can as easily ruine us hee that exalted us can as easily abase us hee that made us famous for mercies can quickly make us infamous for judgements and consume us after hee hath done us good Iosh. 24. 20. It is not silver nor gold Prov. 11. 4. Ezek. 7. 19. Zeph. 2. ult Not men nor might that can save us if God bee against us Psal. â—0 7 8. Isa. 22. 6. to 15. Nahum 3. 12. Many trust in their swords and think by their valour and skill in war to defend themselves and possess the Land as their inheritance for ever but God tells them since they trust in the sword that they shall fall by the sword and bee cast out of all Ezek. 33. 26 27 28. if hee bee against us all is against us and if hee but stamp or hiss for an enemy they presently come against us Isa. 5. 26. Ierusalem was strongly fortified and no man thought that ever the enemy could have entred it Lam 4. 12. And if Priviledges could ever have preserved a sinful people from ruine Ierusalem had never been destroyed for they had more Priviledges than all the people in the world besides It was called the Perfection of beauâ—y and the Ioy of the whole earth and Gods own City by way of eminency Psal. 46. 4. Matth. 5. 35. so famous was it for preaching that it is called the Valley of Vision Isa. 22. 1. and they were called a people near to God the holy people that knew his Name and were blest by him above all people They had godly Magisirates as David Hezekiah Iosiah c. and zealous Prophets as Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel c. and after Christ and his Apostles To them pertained the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenants and the Law and the service of God and the Promises theirs were the Fathers and of them Christ came These eight Priviledges the Apostle sets down together Rom. 9. 4 5. None better seated none more strangely delivered none had such signal Providences and glorious Ordinances all the world besides â—ay in darkness they onely were a Goshen a Land of light Gods glory his pecuâ—iar his pleasant portion and delight c. So that if any people under heaven might have been secure in respect of Priviledges it was Ierusalem yet they falling to Atheism Idolatry persecution of Gods Messengers c. they are become a desolation Sodome was a beautiful place like the Paradise of God Gen. 13. 10. Babylon was the glory of Kingdomes Isa. 13. 19. yet both the one and the other were destroyed for their lewdness and pride England is apt to boast of its Priviledges and to tell what great things God hath done for us With thankfulness it must bee acknowledged that God hath done great things for us indeed Hee hath made us as hee did Ephraim here the head of the Nations when for our sins wee might have been the Tayl. Hee hath set us above when for our horrid Apostasies and hideous Blasphemies hee might justly have have laid us beneath Hee hath made us the terrour of the Nations and given us Victory upon Victory success upon success and hath pâ—ospered us by Sea and Land blessed us with the best Laws and the best Land all things considered in the world and as if all this had not been sufficient for us hee hath given us the word and the sword Moses and Aaron Magistracy and Ministry the best
3. 8 9. It is as easie with God to destroy a world of men as one man they are al but as a drop and a little dust to him Isa 40. 15 17. Multitudes of sinners increase wrath When the Iews assembled themselves by troops into the Harlots houses then God would pardon them no longer Ier. 5. 7 8. The more wicked the times and places are that wee live in the greater our praise will bee if wee bee godly To bee good in good times and places an hypocrite and formalist may bee but with Lot to bee good in Sodome and Iob in the Land of Vz and with Noah Gen. 6. 9. and Elijah to bee righteous and zealous in the midst of an unrighteous and perverse generation that is praise-worthy indeed and argues much sincerity It was the commendation of the Church of Pergamus that she professed Christs Name where Satan had his throne and did not deny him in the days when Antipas his faithful Martyr was slain Rev. 2. 12 13. Flye sin then which brings destruction not only on the sinner but also on the very Towns Cities Castles and places where they dwell As God hath promised that peace and prosperity shall bee in the dwellings of the righteous Iob 5. 24. and 8. 6. Prov. 3. 33. and that hee will make a hedge about them and all that they have to preserve them from robbery fire molestation by evil spirits and other calamities Iob 1. 10. So on the contrary sin makes a man naked and exposeth him and all that hee hath to the curse of God Hee will destroy the very dwellings of Idolaters Swearers Cursers Bribers c. Iob 12. 6. and 15. 34. Zach. 5. 4. The wickedness that hath been practised in the great houses and Castles of this Land hath said so many of them in the dust and wee may look to bee brought yet lower wee have brought God low in our judgements low in our affections low in our actions low in his Ordinances low in his Vicegerents and Ambassadors and therefore it is just with God to lay us low and to debase us who have so many wayes debased him 7 Obs. No Fortifications can preserve a sinful people from ruine Let them make walls as high as heaven and ditches as deep as hell yet if sin reign within it will bring all down It is not a Fleet by Sea nor Forces by Land it is not a Magazine of Treasures nor an Arsenal of Armour that can preserve a wicked Kingdome from ruine As Samaria was a well fortified so it was a rebellious Idolatrous sinful place and this brought it down Ezek. 16. 46. and 23. 4 5. Hos. 7. 1. Amos 3. 9 10. Mic. 1. 5 7. though it were strongly fortified both by Art and Nature and very large about three miles in compass yet Samaria's sin was Samaria's ruine Niniveh was a populous antient great strong wealthy City yet her great sins laid her in the dust and made all her strong holds drop like ripe figs with little ado into the mouth of the Caldeans Babylon a most ancient ample wealthy well fortified potent populous pompous City yet abounding with sin all her power and policy could not keep her from ruine Ierusalem that strong City encompassed with Mountains Towers and Bulworks fortified both by Art and Nature and so powerfully protected by the Lord himself for many years together to the admiration of all the world that it was judged invincible Lam. 4. 12. The Kings of the earth and all the Inhabitants of the world would not have beleeved that the enemy should have entred into the gates of Ierusalem yet Ierusalems sin was Ierusalems ruine and therefore for her sake let none confide in Cities or any Priviledges whatsoever Wee are apt in our distresses to run to well-fortified places but in vain is salvation looked for from those creature-confidences if the Lord help not how should these help This is to forsake God the fountain of living waters Almighty and All-sufficient a present help in trouble and to go to Cisterns broken Cisterns of creature-comforts that will fail and forsake them in a time of trouble 8 Obs. Sin is a bitter thing Samaria hath rebelled or imbittered as the word is in the fountain God and provoked him to anger most bitterly by her sin Hos 12. 14. Ephraims sins were bitter to God yea they were bitternesses in the abstract and in the plural number also This may discover to us the cursed nature of sin and the iniquity of our iniquities which turns Gods sweetness into bitterness his patience into wrath and his bowels into wormwood If any thing can sadden God and imbitter his soul it is sin To see every base lust preferred before him to see Satan in the Throne the heart and the Spirit of God kept out must needs imbitter his Spirit against us The Lord that made heaven and earth and sustains the Pillars of it yet never complains of that burden but sin is such a burden that hee oft complains of that as tyring him out Isa. 1. 14 24 43 24. Amos 2. 13. and the bitterness thereof is as gall which hee cannot indure Deut. 32. 32. God is all love and sweetness and would not deal thus bitterly with us did not our bitter sins provoke him to it Sin is bitter 1 To God 2 To Christ 3 To the Spirit of God 4 To Angels both good and bad 5 To Men both good and bad 6 To Kingdomes and States 7 To Creatures 8 In its effects Privative Positive 1 Sin is bitter to God as wee have seen before 2 To Christ it made him cry in the bitterness of his soul My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee And made his soul heavy unto death So bitter were our sins to him that they made him a man of sorrows Isa. 53. 4. and made him sweat non guâ—tas sed grumos clods of blood Luke 22. 44. When Christ hung upon the Cross they gave him gall and vinegar to drink every sin is as gall to him Lam. 1. 18. The Lord is righteous for I have rebelled against him or as it is in the fountain because I have imbittered him hee is righteous in all his judgements on mee for I have imbittered him against mee by my bitter sins 3 It is bitter to the holy Spirit of God Nothing grieves it and drives it out of the soul but sin Gen. 6. 3. Ephes. 4. 29. To the Angels 1 To the good Angels it is bitter and displeasing to them to see their Lord and Master daily provoked by a company of sinful rebellious creatures and should the Lord give them but a word of Command they would suddenly smite all the wicked dead and revenge the dishonours done to him as wee see in Senaâ—heribs blasphemous Camp where one Angel in one night killed an hundred fourscore and five thousand men 2 It is bitter to the evil Angels it hath thrown them from heaven to hell and of
of all creature-comforts Pigeons when they fare best are most fearful In the highest prosperity remember that a change will come Hence it is that when ever the Lord gave Israel a mercy hee presently adds a caution that they forget not him the giver of it Deut. 4. 1 2 6 9. 8. 11 13 13 14. Hee hath made a good progress in the School of Christ who hath learnt to use prosperity as well as adversity aright Paul had learnt both these lessons hee could bee abased and hee could abound Phil. 4. 12. Object Wee have arms and ammunition and therefore wee need not fear Answ. The Lord takes off that Hos. 1. 4 5. Yet a little while and I will cause the Kingdome of Israel to cease i. e. I will put an end to that Kingdome and utterly destroy it But how doth that appear Why I will break the bow of Israel The bow is here put for all war-like Instruments q. d. I will destroy their ammunition and bring all the strength of their war-like power to nought 2 That God can make use of wicked Instruments for the saving of his people Ieroboam here a wicked man yet becomes a Saviour to Israel though hee intended self yet God makes him a deliverer of his people If God will help his Church hee cannot want Instruments The very Earth shall help the Woman Rev. 12. 16. i. e. Wicked men who are as vile as the Earth shall yet bee assistant to the Church of God 3 When a people have the best Preaching they may bee nearest ruine Israel now had three extraordinary Prophets sent unto them viz. Ionah Amos Hosea three eminently holy bold men that spared not to tell them of their sins as appears by their Prophecies yet Prince and people contemning their warnings and persisting in their sins about thirty years after they were rooted up and lead into captivity by the proud Assyrian So it was with Ierusalem it had the best Preachers not long before its ruine There was Christ and his Apostles but they contemning the Gospel crucifying the Lord of glory stoning his Prophets and abusing his messengers about forty years after it was sackt by Titus and Vespatian and laid in the dust London was never so richly stored with pious painful learned Ministers of the Gospel nor the Nation so richly furnisht with able and industrions Preachers as at this day But if City and Country go on to sleight and vilifie the faithful Ministers of Christ as they have done of late and instead of the power of Religion rest content with a formal hypocritical profession of it a man that is no Prophet nor Prophets Son may easily fore-see judgement approaching When the Sun shines hot test harvest is at hand The glorious sun-shine of the Gospel ripens men apace either for Heaven or Hell God will not bear so long with sinners now as hee did in times of Ignorance Act. 17. 30. 4 When Gods Messengers are not prized hee removes them If Israel regard not Ionah's Ministery God will send him from them to Niniveh that populous City When people are dead under lively Oracles and barren under fruitful means God will either remove that people from the Ministery or the Ministery from them Hee will not alwaies plow the Rocks and sow the Sands nor take pains with a people that shall bring forth nothing but briars and thorns when a people bee rebellious God either takes away his Prophets or makes them dumb Ezek. 3. 26. Many blame Ministers in our daies for removing from place to place and if they do it without just cause so do I. But people must know that there are many just causes of a Ministers removal from one place to another some of which I shall set down As 1 In case of Persecution 2 In case of Corporal Weakness and Sickness 3 Upon Improvement of Gifts 4 When the Maintenance is Incompetent 1 In case of Persecution especially if it bee personal and the Minister bee specially aimed at then our Saviour tells us that being persecuted in one City they may fly to another and reserve themselves for better times This is granted by all sober men and therefore I shall refer the Reader to the Margin for fuller satisfaction Thus when a Minister desires to spend himself for the good of a people but they cannot endure sound Doctrine 2. Tim. 4. 3. But lay snares for their Minister and make a man an offender for a word Isa. 29. 21. And think him too hot too plain too precise and shall unanimously for the opposition of one or two malicious wretches should settle us rather desire us to depart out of their coasts then the case is clear and wee may shake off the dust of our feet against such wilful contemners of the Gospel Mat. 10. 14. Though a peoples present barrenness under his Ministery bee no just cause of his removal yet when a people shall set themselves maliciously against a mans Ministery it varies the case God removed Lot from the Sodomites when from day to day they vexed his righteous soul with their malicious wickedness 2 In case of Sickness Some constitutions will not away with some Climats a Minister may love a people and they him and yet for want of health and strength to go thorow with the work of his Ministery hee may lawfully change places with one of a stronger constitution The like may bee said for those who preach to a great Congregation but by reason of weakness their voice is so low that half the people cannot hear them in this case they may remove to a lesser Congregation where they may bee better heard 3 Upon Improvement of Abilities A young man begins to exercise his gifts in some obscure Chapel or little place but by study and exercise his parts are improved and hee fitted for some more eminent and publick place In this case also a man may lawfully and without offence remove The Apostle would have him that used the office of a Deacon weâ—l promoted to the Ministery 1 Tim. 3. 13. A diligent man staies not long in a low place Wee see it is thus in all callings upon Improvement of Abilities The Barrester is made a Reader the Reader a Serjeant the Serjeant a Judge the Judge a chief Justice c. And why will not men allow of that in the Ministery which is approved of in all other professions It is a very safe way to have young mens gifts and lives tried and exercised in lesser Congregations at first and being found faithful in a little then to make them Rulers over greater Congregations It is a temptation to put a green head into a great place when hee hath neither grace gifts nor gravity fit for the place It either puffs them up or makes them idle if the means bee great or else they are discouraged and sink under the burden being unable to grapple with the oppositions and contradictions of sinners which are incident to
the Table to work but the Table was set round with young men and when they began their song they laid on their hats upon the Table so I standing still waiting on the Lord having a great minde to do the Lords work their song being up my hat offended them they took it off and cast it away and one of the young men gave it mee again I put it on and it offended again in so much that Piercefall did perceive mee who came violently and took my hat off to fling it away but I held it then hee took mee by the hair of the head and dragg'd mee out and as one of their own company testified to his face that hee struck mee but I cannot say that but a luâ—ty red hair'd man did strike mee I supposed him to be an officer in that hateful place but Piercefall after hee had dragged mee out by the hair said Sirrah Do you not know William Duike I said nay for I did not know him Sirrah said hee I put him in prison and fined him â—en pound and you must bee served so too and so charged the Conâ—table with mee and went himself in again and received the Sacrament for all this The Constable told mee that I might go away if I would but in again I must not So I stood a while and finding in my self no constraint I passed away towards More-fields finding a little ease from the weight of the burden being faithful to what might bee done at that time but the sixth day of the week being the eighth day of the month sitting at work in my Shop but not on the Shop-board the burden of the Lord came upon mee and the light making manifest the same thing that was not yet done must bee done and the Lord would not discharge mee but laid a necessity upon mee I beholding this with trembling and fear I did resolve in the power of the Lord not to eat nor drink till I had performed the Lords requiring So having purposed in heart I greatly desired the Lords assistance and it was shewed mee how to do it and the Lord made way for mee So the first day of the week being the tenth day of the fifth month I waited opportunity till the singing time began which when I heard I passed in but being fearful to bee taken with the hat again and so lose my main business for the Lord I stept out again but stayed not I came in again I lookt towards the Pulpit and spied the Pue door open that the Priest might pass up the Pulpit So I waited thinking that Edmund Calamy would go up the Pulpit I intended to get in before him for thought I that boy that sits upon the stairs will open the Pulpit door for the Priest and I will get in before but no Priest came whereupon in the power of the Lord I fixed my eye upon the Pulpit and I spied an Iron hook and I passed thorow the Pue up the stairs and unhookt the door and pulled twice and gat it open and I sate my self down upon the Cushin and my feet upon the seat where the Priest when hee hath told out his lies doth sit down and having my work ready I pulled one or two stitches The people lost their song and some cried pull him down some break his neck down and a lusty fellow came up and did intend to do mee a mischief and rang my neck as if hee would have wrung it in two So I let go my hold and hee flang mee down stairs but the Lord preserved mee and I felt no hurt for having done that which the Lord required mee to do I was full of peace and it had been little to mee if they had there taken away or killed the body For I was full of joy and they were full of wrath and madness so they tore my Coat off and my hat and dragged mee out and one took mee by the hair and flung mee upon the ground and some that was without said why do yee use the man so but I gate up again then they dragged mee quite out into the street and there held mee and while they held mee one came and gave mee a violent kick on the shins and said hee could finde in his heart to knock mee down hee made my shin bleed and another kickt mee on the other shin but did not much hurt another said that I had been some notorious sinner heretofore and now came to do something that might merit Presently the Church-warden as they call him came out and hee and the Bell-toller carried mee away to the Counter till their Sermon was ended as they call it then they carried mee away to Pauls Yard to stay for the Mayor but the Serjeant said hee would carry mee away to the Mayors house and there stay mee till hee came in so hee did And all the way thorow Paternoster-Row as I went the boyes kickt my heels so then the Mayor came in and they told him that I was at work in the Pulpit then said hee to mee Wherefore did you work there I said in obedience to the Lords commandement hee said It was a false spirit and said hee Where are your sureties I said The Lord was my surety hee said The Lord would not bear mee out in this thing said hee to them Carry him again to the Counter so they carried mee back again and there I was till the third day Now let all sober people judge whether I did this thing out of envy against either Priest or People Yea further I say the Lord God lay it not to their charge who have said that I did it in malice devilishness and envy it is the desire of my soul that they might bee saved And so do write my name being a Prisoner for the Testimony of the Lord in the Common Gaol in Newgate London Committed the 1 5th of the 5th Month 59. Solomon Eccles. FINIS A Table of the Principal things contained in the Commentary on HOSEA A. ANarchy dangerous p. 103. 104 Application of the word necessary p. 67 Assurance attainable p. 41 Atheism how dangerous p. 106. 107 B. Barrenness under the means of grace a great sin p. 99. 100 Bewâ—re of men amplified in many particulars p. 92 to 97 C. Carnal policy ruines men p. 121 Christ is the Lord. p. 33 Cities that are great usually have great sins p. 69 70 And great punishments ibid. Conviction it is necessary to Conversion p. 17. 18 What it is p. 19 VVhat â—â—easure requisite to conversion ibid. Impediments to Conviction p. 20 Motives to get it p. 21 Covenant â—ins against it grievous p. 78. 102 D. Death is terrible in it self p. 35 36 It is a conquered enemy p. 36. 37 Not to be feared by Believers p. 37. 38. 39 Consolation against it p. 40 Divisions dangerous p. 104 105 E. Englands abuse of patience p. 7. 8 F. Father God is so to his children p. 53 Fools what men are so p.