An exposition by way of supplement, on the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of the prophecy of Amos where you have the text fully explained ... : together with a confutation of Dr. Holmes, and Sir Henry Vane, in the end of the commentary / by Tho. Hall ...

OBSERVATIONS.

1. Teaching by Questions and Interrogations is very Empha∣tical and lively.

Have yee offered sacrifice to mee? did yee serve mee? or rather, did yee not serve your selves in the wilderness? The Scripture abounds with such Questions, Adam where art thou? Gen. 3.9. So said Christ, How readest thou? what think you? Mat. 18.12. and 21.28. Luke 7.42. James 4.5. This quickens and awakens men, it makes them heed things bet∣ter, and consider what to answer. Be not then offended when Gods Ministers ransack thy soul, and question and quicken thee out of thy Lethargy, and deep security.

2. God bears long with sinners.

Forty years he was grieved with Israel, in the wilderness. He bore with those ten Tribes well nigh three hundred years before he destroyed them; He bore with the old world a hundred and twenty years; He bore with the Amorites four hundred years. 'Tis one of his Royal Attributes, that he is a God of infinite Patience, and Long-suffering▪ Exod. 34.6. Psal. 103.8. Ionah 4.2. We have all daily experience of this his goodness to us.

3. To sin against mercy aggravates sin.

For this people to sin against God in the wilderness where he led them, and fed them miraculously, and upheld them in the midst of so many dangers, doth greatly heighten their sin.

4. Long continuance in sin is very displeasing unto God.

Hence the Lord so often mentions this forty years obsti∣nacy of Israel, as that which exceedingly offended and grieved him, Numb. 32.13. Psal. 95.11. Act. 7.42. & 13.18. This made the Lord to complain of Ierusalem, Jer. 13. ult. Oh Ie∣rusalem, wilt thou not bee made clean? when shall it once bee?

He denounceth a woe against them for their hypocritical dal∣lying and delaying; Woe unto thee, wilt thou not be made clean? 'tis not, canst thou not? but wilt thou not? They were wilfully impenitent; 'tis this rebellious will of men that destroyes them, Psal. 78.10. Isa. 30.9, 15. & 42.24. Ier. 5.3. & 6.16. & 8.5. & 44.17. Zach. 7.11. Rom. 8.7.

Obj. Wee will turn.

Answ. You do but dissemble (saith God) with mee, When shall it once bee? what? not after so many wooings and war∣nings? what? not after so many years purifying Sermons? nor so many melting mercies? nor so many awakening judge∣ments? nor after so many Sabbaths and Sacraments, fasts and feasts? will nothing cleanse thee from thy old abominations? Oh when shall it once be? This obstinate persevering and continuing in sin, makes the Lord so oft to upbraid men with it, as that which will be their bane, Exod. 16.28. Neh. 9.30. Psal. 78.40. Luk. 13.44.

5. Children that imitate their Fore-fathers in sin, shall bee like them in punishment.

God will visit the sins of the Fathers upon those children that tread in their steps, Exod. 20.5. Hence the Lord so oft forbids us to follow sinful Fore-fathers, Psal. 78.5, 6, 8. Ezek. 20.18. Zech. 1.4. And Stephen aggravates the sins of the Israelites, saying, That as your Fathers did, so do yee, Act. 7.51.

6. Idolatrous, Hypocritical service, is no service.

Have ye offered Sacrifice to mee? (saith the Lord to those Hypocrites) no, you have not served mee at all.

1. Since you do not worship mee according to Rule, but accord••ng to your own inventions, I abhor it, and account it as null.

2. Your hearts are rotten; what the heart doth not, God ac∣counts as not done, Isa. 43.22, 23, 24. Though they a∣bounded with sacrifices, yet God saith there, They brought him none, viz. in sincerity. As knowledge without practice is no knowledge, 1 Sam. 2.12. so duties not practised are no duties in Gods esteem.

3. They served not God alone, but served him and their Idols too, and therefore God disowns all they did, as not done to him, for he will be served truly and totally, without halting

or halving, 1 King. 18.21. 2 King. 17.33. Ezek. 20.30. Zeph. 1.5.

Notes

• See more in my Com. on Hos. 13.12. p. 4. to 11.
• See more in my Comment▪ on 2 Tim. 4.10. p. 427, 428.
• See more in my Com. on 2 Tim▪ 4.10. p. 429.
• Frustrà expecto quia obduruisti in scelere, de∣sperata est tua correctio, fun∣ditus ergò te e∣vertam. Hieron.
• See my Com. on Hos. 13.16. p. 82. & 146.
• See my Schools Guard. Rule 22.
• Quia non soli Deo offerebant, perinde erat ac si no•• offere∣bant. Mariana.