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 Naturally we are exceeding prone to Idolatry.

This is clear from the example of these Israelites, to whom the Lord so oft appeared, Exod. 19. & 33, &c. both in ways of Judgement, and of Mercy. To them the Law was given, and to them were committed the Oracles of God, Psal. 147.19, 20. Rom. 3.2. & 9.4, 5. and yet how frequently and fearfully did they and their Fathers fall into this sin; and this was not only the temper of these Iewes, but of us Gentiles al∣so, we are easily seduced, and lead away with dumb Idols, 1 Cor. 12.2.

2 When men know God, yet walk not up to their light, but wilfully sin against it, then God gives them up to a reprobate sense, so that they worship Stocks and Stones, Starres, and Ima∣ges, as these did here, Acts 7.42.

Thus it was with the Gentiles, Rom. 1.24, 25, 26, &c. Those that will not beleeve and obey the Truth, God will give them up to strong delusions to beleeve lyes, 2 Thes. 2.10, 11. false Prophets shall arise and cry down Ordinances, and you shall beleeve them; they shall cry up Superstition, Idolatry, Libertinism, &c. and you shall follow them. This is a sad Judgement, yet usually God thus punisheth Sin with Sin, as blindness with blindness, ignorance with greater igno∣rance, and idolatry with grosser idolatry; when men be∣gin to fall from God, they fall to worship Calves, Starres, Stocks, and Images. They never rest till they come to de∣struction.

As all Sin, so especially this of Idolatry is very prolifical. The Cloud that at first is like a mans hand, will suddenly o∣verspread the whole Heavens. The little Wheel sets the great one a going. A little Defeat at first may become a total Rout at last, Per scelera ad scelus, one sin usually makes way for

another. Sin and error is endless, wicked men (when the De∣vil drives) know not where, nor when they shall stop or stay, Prov. 23. ult. Hos. 10.1. & 13.2. Ier. 9.3, 5. Sin hath no foundation, but runs on and multiplies in infinitum. Ahaz that at first burnt Incense to Idols, at last burnt his children to them, 2 Chron. 28.3. as these Jews did theirs to Moloch. It concerns us then to keep close to the Rule, for if wee swarve never so little from that, we shall suddenly run our selves into a Labyrinth of Superstition, sin and error.

3. Fore-fathers must not be followed in sin.

These Israelites forsook the Rule to follow their Fore-fathers in their Idolatry, and now they perish with them. But of this before.

4. Idolaters are deeply in love with their Idols;

They hug them, they carry them, they kiss them, Hos. 13.2. In Ier. 8.2. we have five expressions to set forth the strong affections which Idolaters bear to their Idols. They love, serve, seek, worship, and walk after them, as if they could never do enough for them. They had as lieve part with their lives, as part with them, Iudg. 18.24. Yee have taken away my gods (saith Micah) and what have I more? q. d. you have even taken all, since you have taken away mine Idols, which are so near and dear to mee. They are married to them, no won∣der then if they love them, Hos. 4.17. Besides, they are gods of their own making, Exod. 32.1. and 'tis natural to every one to love its own workmanship.

5. Idolatry besots men.

It makes men worship Posts and Pictures, Stars and Planets, Dogs and Cats, Onyons and Leeks, any thing save God. As those that are given up to corporal uncleanness, care not with whom they commit it: So 'tis in spiritual Whoredome. Affection blindes the judge∣ment, and besots men. Idolatry is a bewitch∣ing, flesh-pleasing-sin, which steals away the heart, and therefore is compared to fornication, Ezek. 23.2. to 18. which infatuates and steals away mens hearts. The Whore of Babylon hath all alluring Ceremonies, Altars, Images, Gorgeous Vestments, Musick, &c. with many other inchantments to seduce men, Rev. 17.

1, 2, 4. Hence we read of the delectable things of Idolaters, Isa. 44.9. The sight of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and all the host of Heaven, should have convinced them of the Majesty and Glory of their Creator, and have induced them to wor∣ship him, but they being besotted and blinded by sin and Sa∣tan, worshipped the creature instead of God, and serve those which were made for their service.

Besides, what man that is well in his wits will trust in such gods for safety, as cannot save themselves from fire and spoil? All their Idols, the Calves and all, Hos. 10.5, 6. were car∣ried away by the Conquering Assyrian, according to the cu∣stome of Conquerers, which was to carry away the gods of the Conquered Nations, Ier. 43.12.

6. God hath many Hosts and Armies at command.

Hee hath the Host of Heaven, 1. Angels, 1 King. 22.19. Luk. 2.13. 2. Hee hath Sun, Moon and Stars, even the Stars in their kinde shall fight against Sisera, Judg. 5.20. These Stephen calls the Host of Heaven. 3. All creatures are his Hosts and Armies, ready to execute what ever he commands, Iob 25.3. Amos 9.6. Fear therefore to offend this Lord of Hosts. But of this before.

7. To worship the Host of Heaven is a great sin.

Hence the Lord upbraids these Israelites both fathers and children with this sin, and threatens to send them into cap∣tivity for it. This the Lord oft forbade them, Deut. 4.19. and blames them for it, 2 King. 17.16. 2 Chron. 33.3, 5. Ier. 8.2, 3. & 19.13. & 44.17. Ezek. 8.16. and commands that he should dye that did it, Deut. 17.3, 4, 5. Iob calls this kinde of Idolatry a denying of God, and a sin to be punisht by the Judges, Iob 31.26, 27, 28. How much greater is their sin which worship gods of their own making, gods of Wood and Stone, Crosses, Crucifixes, Images, &c. Idols which their own heads invented, and their own hands have made, yea that with five words of consecration can create their Creator, and then worship the works of their own hands. How great this Idolatry is, Costerus the Jesuite shall tell you, if (saith hee) Christ be not really and corporally present in the Eucha∣rist, then are the Catholicks the grossest Idolaters in the world.

8. Will-worship is displeasing unto God.

When men make Gods to themselves, they make Rods for

themselves. God will rid his hands of such, and send them beyond Damascus, yea beyond Babylon, there they shall live in misery and slavery, serving sin and Satan in the want of all things, who would not serve God with joy and gladness of heart in the abundance of all things. The Israelites of old made a golden Calf, and worshipped the works of their own hands, but it cost many of them their lives, Exod. 32.27. 'Tis a good Rule, De Deo, nil sine Deo, In Gods worship we must do nothing without the warrant of his Word, Deut. 12. ult. Mat. 28.20. all must be done according to the Pattern, even to a Pin, Exod. 27.19. hence 'tis said nine times in one chapter, That all was done as the Lord commanded Moses, Exod. 39.1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 32, 42, 43.

Notes

• See more in M. Caryl on Job 31.26. Obs. 1.
• See more in my Com. on 2 Tim. 4.4. Obs. 5.
• Error minimus in prin•• pio, fit maximus in fi∣ne. See Manton on Jude 12. p. 421. and my Com. on 2 Tim. 3.13. p. 230, &c. Greenhil on Ezek 8.16.
• Fertilis est Ido∣lolatria ut ex u∣no Deo fictitio centum mox gignantur; ex superstitione u∣nâ s••aturiant mille. Calvin.
• See my Com. on Hos. 13.16. p. 146.
• Quis nescit qualia demens Ae∣gyptus portenta colat? Iuven. Sat. 15. V. Godwin. Jewish Antiq. l. 4. c. 7. p. 164. & M. Iohn Smith, his select dis∣course. p. 25. and my Com. on Hos. 13. p. 119.
• Humanarum mentium ludibri∣um superstitio. Curtius.
• Amos 4 ult.
• See Caryl on Job 31.26. Obs. 4.
• Talis esset Ido∣lolatria, qualis in orbe terrarum nunquam vel visus, vel audi∣tus fuit. Coster. Encherid. c. 12.
• See more Caryl on Job 31.26. Obs. 3. and my Com. on Hos. 13. p. 89, 120.