An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]

VER. 17.

My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the Na∣tions.

MY God] Not their God,* 1.1 but my God. There's much to be observed from hence.

First,* 1.2 The Prophets constancy. They forsook God gene∣rally, the ten Tribes generally went away and forsook God, but the Prophet still keeps close to God.

Let all the world do what they will and forsake God and seek other comforts where they will,* 1.3 but still (saith a faithful soul) God shall be my God. Hosea he lived in wicked times, gene∣rally all the ten Tribes went away from God, but still my God, my soul shall keep close to God, I have chosen the LORD to be mine, and I have found that Soul-satisfying good in Him, that he shall be mine for ever, here will I rest for ever; I have chosen the way of Gods true Worship, I will not sute my self with the common way of Worship where I live, but I will chuse God to be my God whatso∣ever the world doth.

But secondly,* 1.4 this is the comfort of a gracious heart, In ill times when others forsake God, yet one that hath a gracious heart, can have God to be his God: Yea, and especially when times of trouble comes, when sore evils are ready to be up∣on the people generally, yet here's the comfort of a graci∣ous heart, My God, blessed be God for that Interest I have in Him; they may take away my House, my Estate, my Means, but they cannot take away my God, I have Inte∣rest yet in God, I have Interest still in that God that they cannot take from me. This was the comfort of Micah, in

Chap. 7. there he described the evil of the times wherein he lived,* 1.5 Verse 2. The good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men, they all lie in wait for blood, they hunt every man his brother with a net. And then in the 4. vers. The best of them is a bryar, the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge. And then the 5. vers. Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. But then in the 7. verse, Therefore I will look unto the LORD, I will wait for the God of my salva∣tion; my God will hear me. Oh my brethren! there may come times ere long that the knowledge of God, interest in God may be worth ten thousand thousand worlds unto us.

But in the third place:* 1.6 It is no presumption for one, or for a few to challenge a special interest in God, in way of distinction from the multitude, and from the generality. So it is here: How singular was Hosea at this time? This people might think him to be very presumptuous; What, as if no body had interest in God but he, Is not God our God as well as his? He is bold to speak this in way of distinction: You may forsake God and His Worship, but I have cleaved to God, He is my God. When multitudes and generality of men depart from God, yet for two or three, or a few that cleave to the true Worship of God, they may challenge God to be their God when he is none of the God of the multitude. In 1 Joh. 5. 17. you may see how singular John was there:* 1.7 We know that we are of God: and the whole World lieth in wic∣kedness. How could the World take such an expression? What are you? a few poor people: and yet we know (saith he) that we are of God: and the whol World lieth in wickedness. What are you more than others? Yes, John knew, and would not be discouraged to affirm, that the World did lie in wickedness: and yet we know we are of God.

Let not men be offended at the fewness of those that keep the Truth,* 1.8 and the multitude of those that forsake it. I

remember Plutarch relates in the life of Phocion the Athenian,* 1.9 that upon a time there was an Oracle of Apollo Delphias read before the people, which did say, That although all the people did agree, yet there was one man amongst them that dissented from them: now the people began to startle at this; But Phocion stepping forth before them all bid them never seek further for the man, for it was he that liked none of all their doings; and yet Phocion at length gained as much respect from them as ever any man did, and they chose him (I think) fourty times to be Pretor for all that. And so let never so many go on in a way that thou canst not see light in thy conscience for, keep to thy principles, only examin them, (so far the respect we do owe to others must lead us) that if there be a greater party go one way than another,* 1.10 we should call things into the more neerer scrutine,* 1.11 we should think we may possibly be rather in an error than they, and we ought to give all due reverence to the judgments of more men, and more learned and wise than our selves, but still after all,* 1.12 praying to God to shew us his mind, and searching our own hearts to see whether there be no particular Engagement,* 1.13 and after all endeavors to find out the Truth, And yet then if God doth perswade your consciences after all means used, we should not be discouraged because the greater part go the other way, but keep to that which our consciences tell us is the right. And thus it was with Hosea, though they went generally another way, yet he could claim a parti∣cular interst in God.

And then another point.

My God well cast them away.

It is a dreadful thing for wicked men to have such as have interest in God to declare against them.* 1.14 God rejecti∣on of them, My God will cast them away. Those who have interest in God, who know Gods mind, and that such a

God as he is cannot have communion with such people. Thus you know it was with Isa. about the 57. and latter end,* 1.15 There is no peace to the wicked, saith my God. He puts the emphasis there, he saith not, there is no peace to the wicked,* 1.16 saith God, but saith my God. Oh! when those (I say) that have an interest in God, when such as keep close Communion with God, and thereby comes to be ac∣quainted much with Gods mind, when they shall de∣clare concerning you, do not slight it, it is a great matter then when they shall say, there is no peace; If any of them should say: If I know any thing of the mind of God, If I have any Interest in God certainly there can be no peace to thee in such a way as thou art in, take heed of the slighting of the very suspition of men that are godly, and humble: It is true, many that may make very great profession of Religion, they may be bold to suspect and to censure o∣thers, that it may be are better than themselves, but if I see one that walks humbly, strict in his way, holy, and hea∣venly, and self-denying in other things, if such a man should but have any suspition of my condition, I had need look to it, it should daunt my heart to have such a Chri∣stian look upon me but with a suspitious eye, because such a one is much acquainted with God and his Way, and therefore take heed of slighting such a one.

My God will cast them away,* 1.17 with violence and with an∣ger, as a man takes his stubborn child or servant, and thrusts them out of his house.

When men are violent in wickedness,* 1.18 they must expect that God will be as violent with them in the waies of his Judgments:* 1.19 and for that we have a notable Scripture in Lament. 2. 6. He hath violently taken away his Tabernacle. They abused that Ordinance of God, abused his Tabernacle, and he hath violently taken away his Tabernacle. Oh! unworthy wretched people, that should enjoy mine Ordinances so, and abuse them; he hath violently taken away, he comes in an anger:* 1.20 As you shall see a man or woman when their

passion is raised they will run and snatch away such a thing from another.

Take heed of being violent in the waies of sin,* 1.21 you will cast the Cords away,* 1.22 you will cast away the Truths, as you had it before in Isa. 5. so you cast away the Truths of God,* 1.23 and his Cords away; take heed thou beest not a cast-away thy self, those that are so full of casting away Gods Truths, it's just with God that God should cast them away, as a man casts away a loathsom thing; as those are discri∣bed in Isa. 30.* 1.24 That cast away their Idols as a menstruous cloth, and saith, Get theee hence: And you perhaps cast away the Truths of God as loathsom now, but the Lord will cast thee away as a filthy and loathsom thing.

They shall be cast away: but why? Because they did not hearken unto him. This is a notable Sentence. Saith Luther upon the place,* 1.25 This (He shall cast them away, because they have not hearkned to him) is a notable sentence, and worthy to be written upon all our walls; for indeed there is much in it, they would hearken to such and such, and to the rules of their policy, and to their own ends, but not to God. And that's the special point from hence: That in matters of Gods Worship we must hearken to God,* 1.26 and the not hearkning to God is that which provokes God with indignation to cast away a people:* 1.27 perhaps other duties we may know by the light of nature; but when we come to matters of Worship, there God must be hearkned to, and not any else; God expects that his creature should hearken to him in what he saith,* 1.28 we should be all as the servant was with his ear boared; Christ himself had his ear boared, he would hearken to what his Father said, therefore the Psalm saith, Mine ear hath been boared: Christ was as a Servant with his ear boared, to note, that he would have his ear at the com∣mand of his Father. And who, or what are you that you should have your ears free? In Isa. 28. 23. mark what seve∣ral expressions we have about calling to hearken.* 1.29 Give ye ear, and hear my voice, hearken, and hear my speech. In one

littl•• verse there's these four: Give ye ear; there's hear; there's hearken; there's hear; Oh! God expects that we should have a hearing ear; and that's the way for wis∣dom:* 1.30 in 1 King, 3. 9. Solomon praies, Give thy servant an understanding heart, but in the Hebrew it is, a hearing heart, and so it is turned,* 1.31 That I may have a hearing heart, so as I may be able to judg thy People. Those men and women that have not a hearing heart, they have not an understan∣ding heart,* 1.32 and the not hearkening to God, Oh! it is that which comes from the pride of heart: in Jer. 13. 15 Give ear, be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken; there is no such pride as the turning away our ears from hearkening to God,* 1.33 and turning away our ear from the Law of God is that which makes God turn away his ear from hearing our prayers; it is an evident sign of destruction that is a coming: in 2 Chron. 25. 16. mark what the Prophet saith to Amaziah, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee; because thou hast done this,* 1.34 and hast not hearkened unto my Coun∣sel. Doest thou come to the Word and not hearken to the Counsel of God in his Word? It is an evident sign that God intends to destroy thee. Oh hear! hear and your souls shall live, your souls shall live. Indeed here lies the ground of all the evil almost in those that are professors of Religion, The not hearkening to the Truth; I suppose those that make profession of Religion if they have enlightened consciences they dare not sin against a known Truth; but now here's the evil of thy heart, look to that; thou saiest, If I knew it were a Truth I would not go against it: yea but the corruption of thy heart makes thee unwilling to hearken to the Truth, the corruption of mens hearts makes them that they would fain have such a thing not to be a Truth. I appeal to you, have you never felt some cor∣ruptions stirring this way, that when you are engaged a∣nother way, and you see that if you should be taken off from that, a great deal of ease and liberty, and outward comforts would be gone, and upon this your hearts are

very loth that that should be true, and therefore you are not willing to hearken, to hearken with a cleer heart, so as to be willing to entertain the Truth, if it doth prove to be a truth; that soul that shall be willing to retain e∣very truth, and be willing to let the truth prevail what e∣ver it be, that's a sign of a gracious heart; but the lusts of mens hearts do hinder them from hearkening, and they are loth to hearken to those Truths that come neerest to them; but when a man or woman shall be able in the pre∣sence of God upon examination of his or her heart, to say, Oh Lord, let thy Truth prevail, thou knowest that I am willing to hearken to every Truth of Thine, though it should pluck away all my outward comforts, I would fain know thy Truth, and I would know the strictest Truths, what Truths they are that most concern thy Glory, and thy Worship in the best manner, whatever becomes of my Credit or estate, Lord, let thy Truth prevail in my heart: (I say) here's a gracious heart that will thus hearken to God and his Truth: But they have uncircumcised ears, they cannot hear (saith Jeremiah;) so, through the corrup∣tion that is in mens spirits they cannot hearken to those things that seem to make against them.

But the last words of all here, is the threatning.

They shall be wanderers among the Nations.

It is a judgment to have an unsetled spirit wandring up and down,* 1.35 and can settle to nothing▪ somtimes in this place, sometimes in that; sometimes in this way, and sometimes in another;* 1.36 this is a judgment of God. Solomon hath such an expression, The sight of the eyes is better than the wandring of the desires: the wandring of mens appetites and desires, work a great deal of vexation to them.

Again, observe that, Those who are cast away out of Gods house, they can have no rest, they go about like the unclean spirit, seeking rest, but can find none. Psal. 139. Here will

I rest for ever:* 1.37 The Church of God and his Ordinrnces are Gods rest, and should be the rest of the hearts of his people, and they are indeed the rest of the hearts of those that are gracious; but alas poor soul! who art wandring from God, Whither goest thou? where indeed will be thy rest? It was the Curse of God upon Cain, to be a wanderer up and down upon the face of the earth.

But you will say,* 1.38 May not men be wanderers, (that is) may not they be cast out of their Habitations and Countries, and wan∣der up and down, and yet not be cast off from God?

It's true,* 1.39 we reade in Heb. 11. that the Christians wan∣dred up and down in Sheep skins,* 1.40 and Goats skins, whom the world was not worthy of: But that was in a way of persecution for God, and for his Truth; it was not because they would not hearken, but because they would hearken; and though thou shouldst be forc'd to wander from thy Brethren, and the sweet Habitation that thou hadst, and thy Friends, perhaps thou art fain to wander up & down even for thy life, yea, but canst thou say, Yet I hope I am not one of Gods cast-away••? It's one of Gods Epithites that he glories in, That he will gather the out-casts of Israel; Man hath cast me out, yea, but I bless God, I carry a good Conscience with me; and that man or woman needs not be troubled with wandring, that can carry a good Con∣science with them; you are cast out from your Friends, yea, but still thou hast the Bird that sings in thy bosome: Canst thou say, I have not cast away thy Cōmandements, Lord? Indeed if a mans conscience tel him, that he hath cast away Gods Commandements, then if he wanders it is dreadful to him: What, though thou art wandring from thy house, from thy outward comforts, but not from Gods Commandements; Cast me not out of thy presence, saith David; though thou beest from thy friends, yet not from God presence: here it is, I will cast them out among the Na∣tions.* 1.41 It was a Curse in Psal. 44. 11. Thou hast scattered us among the Heathen: It was a great Judgment of God, to be

scattered among the Nations,* 1.42 for they were a people that were separated from the Nations, and not to be reckoned among the Nations, and Gods peculiar Treasure. There were these three expressions, not only to be wandering a∣mong the Nations, not only among Strangers, but among Heathens, among Blasphemers, this must needs be a heavy and sore judgment, to be cast among Idolaters; This Curse is upon the Jews to this very day, how are they wande∣rers among the Nations.

Let us learn from hence,* 1.43 To prize the communion of Saints, let us learn what a blessing it is to live among our own People, especially among the Saints, in the enjoyment of Gods Ordinances, let us make use it now lest God teach us what it is by casting us away and making us to wander among the wicked and ungodly, then your consc••ences will fly in your faces and tell you, Oh! what times we once had, and what sweet communion had we? but we be∣gan to neglect the prize that God put into our hand, Oh! if we were where once we were, we would meet often, and pray, and confer, and we would labor to edifie one ano∣ther in our most holy faith, and warm one anothers spi∣rits, not spending all our time in wrangling and jangling, Oh! but now those times are ••one, and we are cast away and are wandering up and down among wicked and un∣godly people.* 1.44 Truly there hath not been a time in many years when the communion of the Saints hath been so little improved as at this day, we now wander (as it were) a∣mong our selves, and little converse one with another, what should we do living together? Just were it with God to bring this Judgment upon us,* 1.45 that we should wander among wicked people here and there, and that we should not come to see the face of a Saint to have converse or com∣munion with them. Thus we have finished this Ninth Chapter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Expos.
• * 1.2

  Note.
• * 1.3

  Obs. 1.
• * 1.4

  Obs. 2.
• * 1.5

  Micah, 7. 2. 4. 5. 7.
• * 1.6

  Obs. 3.
• * 1.7

  1 Iob. 5. 17.
• * 1.8

  Use.
• * 1.9

  Plutarch.
• * 1.10

  Keep to principles:
• * 1.11

  but care∣fully exa∣min them:
• * 1.12

  and pray,
• * 1.13

  and searth thy heart.
• * 1.14

  Obs.
• * 1.15

  Isa. 57. 21
• * 1.16

  Use.
• * 1.17

  Explic.
• * 1.18

  Obs. 1.
• * 1.19

  Lam. 2. 6.
• * 1.20

  simile.
• * 1.21

  Use.
• * 1.22

  Psal. 2.
• * 1.23

  Isa. 5.
• * 1.24

  Isa. 30.
• * 1.25

  Haec nota∣bilis est sententia, & digna quae in om∣nibus parie∣tibus scri∣batur.
• * 1.26

  Luther.
• * 1.27

  Obs. 2.
• * 1.28

  Exod. 21. 6 illustrated, ••y Ps. 40. 6▪
• * 1.29

  Isa. 28. 23 noted.
• * 1.30

  1 King. 3. 9.
• * 1.31

  A hearing Heart.
• * 1.32

  Pride the root of not hearing. Ier. 13. 15.
• * 1.33

  Destructiō the fruit of it, whereof also it is a sign.
• * 1.34

  2 Chron. 25. 16.
• * 1.35

  Obs. 1.
• * 1.36

  Eccles. 6. 9.
• * 1.37

  in the He∣brew it is emphatical 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 then the walking soul, so the Bible marg▪
• * 1.38

  Quest.
• * 1.39

  Answ.
• * 1.40

  Heb. 11.
• * 1.41

  Psal. 44. 11. observ.
• * 1.42

  This curse of wan∣dring upon the Iewes to this day.
• * 1.43

  Obser.
• * 1.44

  Cōmunion of Saints neglected in Engl. more than formerly.
• * 1.45

  The drn∣ger of it.