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.]

For lo, they are gone to Egypt, because of destruction.

The Prophet speaks here of a thing as if it were done already. Although they were in Samaria, and in the Ci∣ties of Israel, yet saith the Prophet, Lo, they are gone to Ae∣gypt: the wrath of God was too hot for them in their own Country, and away they are gone and got to Aegypt for a refuge.

Carnal hearts in straits will rather make any thing to be their refuge than God.* 1.1 And my brethren, just these for all the world have been (I fear) and it may be yet are the thoughts of many among us; Why, (think they) Ministers of God

they threaten Judgments,* 1.2 that God hath a controversie a∣gainst us, and we see now some tokens of Gods wrath up∣on us; Well, let the worst come that can, we hope to shift some way or other, we may get into Holland, or Germany, or France, or New-England, if the worst come that can, I hope we may have time enough to get one way or other to make shift to live;* 1.3 and these back-doors that their eyes are upon, have made them less solicitous about, and less helpful in the great things that God calls all with a loud voice to joyn together with al their strength, that they may deliver their own Land from that heavie wrath that hangs over you. Well, notwithstanding mens thoughts are for shifting, it will prove that all will be vain. Saith God, You think to shift to this place and the other, you may be disappointed, for Egypt shall gather you, and Memphis shall bury you, my wrath and sore displeasure shall pur∣sue you thither. It's a vain thing for men to seek to fly from the presence of God:* 1.4 But certainly in some cases a man may fly from danger: As in regard of mens Relati∣ons and Stations, they see that their work is done in one place, and God by providence opens them a door to ano∣ther, though not out of distrust, but if when God calls for further work here and there is no door opened by pro∣vidence, but what's broken open by themselves out of a distrust and slavish fear only to provide for the flesh, I say, such may expect wrath to pursue them wheresoever they go, their safest places may prove to be their graves, Egypt shall gather them, (that is taken from the gathering of dead bodies) Memphis shall bury them:* 1.5 Memphis was a principal city in Egypt that now is known by the name of Grand Caer,* 1.6 your Merchants and Marriners they know that City that here the holy Ghost speaks of by that name; and then it was call'd Memphis upon the name as some think of one of the King of Egypts Daughters.* 1.7 A City very famous in Egypt for the Pyramides and the Kings Sepulchres that were there, and the City that stood very commodious for trafick

because it stood upon the River Nilus and there was multi∣tudes of streets,* 1.8 I am loth to name you the number for in∣deed it is incredible, only this thing is remarkable that ge∣nerally all the streets had at each end of them two gates so that they might be lockt up as a Tower; and it may be the holy Ghost may allude the rather to that, in saying, Memphis shall bury you, because every place was shut up, and it's the same City that you reade of in the 19. of Isaih.

Now say they, We will go to Memphis a brave place for trafick, and a very commodious City, a very safe City that hath all the streets like so many Towers and we will go and help our selves there.* 1.9 Yea, but Memphis shall bury you saith God.

From thence the Note is,* 1.10 That it's a great affliction to be forced to leave ones own Country, and never to return again, but to lay our bones in a strange Land. The Lord hath sent many of his servants into other Countries to live among stran∣gers, some there are that have gone among strangers, yet through Gods mercy they have not so gone but God hath given them libertie to return again,* 1.11 and though their go∣ing hath been (as you know) much aspersed of late, yet when more weighty work may give leave I make no questi∣on but you will be fully satisfied so as you shall acknow∣ledg a special hand of God even in their going. But here specially the Jews did account it a great misery to die out of their own Land.* 1.12 Buxtorfious in his book called the Je∣wish Synagogue,* 1.13 relates such a Tradition that the Jews have, They do beleeve that the Resurrection at the great day shall be at Jerusalem of the Jews, that wheresoever any of the Jews have lived and died,* 1.14 yet they shall rise up at Jeru∣salem, therefore when many of them that lived a great way off did begin to grow old they would leave their station and go as neer to Jerusalem as they could:* 1.15 for this is their Tradition, that their bodies shall come through passages of the earth all along to Jerusalem, and that they may prevent

the trouble of coming so far under the ground, therefore they remove their dwelling to dwell neer Jerusalem. And this is the vanity of spirit that they are left unto. But though that be a vanitie, yet certainlie it's an affliction to anie to be out of their own Countrie, and there to live and die; but if it be a great evil to flie from ones own Countrie for fear of destruction, and to have the place they fly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be made as their grave, what a great evil is it then for men meerlie out of love for advantage to leave places where before they did or might enjoy communion with the Saints, to leave the Ordinances of God, to go into other places among Papists, and Heathe••s where they cannot have the freedom of Gods Worship? Now such as these are should find these places to be labyrinths of miserable per∣plexity to them, it is just with God it should be so, seeing they out of love to gain would thus venture themselves, and therefore let men take heed of this how they go upon any private respects from places were Gods Worship may be had to places where they cannot enjoy it. It follows.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Obs. 2.
• * 1.2

  Applied to England.
• * 1.3

  We should think of helping our own Nati∣on, rather than of flying.
• * 1.4

  When a man may fly.
• * 1.5

  Memphis.
• * 1.6

  Grand-Caer.
• * 1.7

  The Pyra∣mides there.
• * 1.8

  The num∣ber of the fleets.
• * 1.9

  Expos.
• * 1.10

  Obs. 3.
• * 1.11

  See Vindi∣cation in Answer to Mr▪ Ed∣wards.
• * 1.12

  Buxtorf.
• * 1.13

  Synagoga Iudaica.
• * 1.14

  A Iewish tradition.
• * 1.15

  per meatus terrae.