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 The Scripture is full of Divine Rhetorick and Eloquence.

Carnal-worldly-wise-men look upon the Bible (as St. Au∣stin did before his conversion) as a book of a low,* 1.1 incompt, unlearned stile. This very sixth of Amos will in part confute such.* 1.2 The Prophecie of Esay abounds with such a fluent, di∣vine, grave, and lofty stile, that all the eloquence of Cicero, and all the flowers of Demosthenes, with the rest of those ad∣mired Heathens, is but as Chaff to Wheat, and Dross to re∣fined Gold. Hence the Scripture is compared to a pleasant Garden bedeckt with Flowers, and a rich Garment beset with Pearls; when the depth of learning that there lyes hid is un∣covered, then the glory of the Word doth affect us, and leaves a deep impression of its excellency upon our spirits. VVee should not therefore barely read the VVord, but search the Scriptures, and dig those Mines, that wee may the better finde out the Golden Oare, Iohn 5.39. VVee should also bless God,* 1.3 who hath given such variety of gifts un∣to men, for the good of his Church. Some are Eloquent Ora∣tors, Isa. 3.3. Others are Acute Disputants, and mighty in

convincing, as Apollos, Act. 18.24, 28. Some are milde and gentle, as Barnabas, others more fierce and fervent, as Peter and Paul.* 1.4 Some excel in Prose, others in Poetry, as David, who is stiled, the sweet singer of Israel, many spiritual songs are scattered up and down the Scripture, but none excelled in that gift, like David, who was more especially inspired by the Holy Ghost, and singularly qualified for that purpose All these hath God gifted for the good of his Church, 1 Cor. 3.22.

Observ. 2. Those that are highest in Priviledges may bee nearest to miseries.

Woe to Sion first, and then to Samaria; So Rom. 2.9. Wrath falls upon the Iew first,* 1.5 and then upon the Gentile. To be secure in other places was sinful, but to be dead and care∣lesse in Ierusalem the City of the Living God, where his Temple and Worship was, this doubled their sin, and there∣fore the Prophet Emphatically sets a Woe upon their heads. Woe to them that are at ease in Sion.

3. Gods Ministers must denounce Woes against the wicked.

As they must proclaim promises to the penitent, so they must denounce judgements against the obstinate. They must make a difference, to some they must shew lenity, and to o∣thers severity, Iude 22, 23. What dreadful woes do all the Prophets denounce against impenitent sinners. Christ, who was love it self, and in whom there was no gall, nor guile, yet how many dreadful woes did he denounce against the hypo∣critical Pharisees, even eight woes together, Mat. 23.13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29. If men will be so bold as to pro∣claim their wickednesse, Ministers must be so bold, as to pro∣claim their woes.

4. Woe and sorrow is the portion of secure sinners.

Both Legal woes, and Evangelical woes; temporal, spi∣ritual, and eternal woes. The Law cryes, Woe to such sinners, and so doth the Gospel; but Gospel-woes are the sadder of the two; for if the Law say, woe to us, yet the Gospel may say mercy to us; but if the Gospel say, woe to us, where shall we finde mercy? 'Tis true, sin∣ners may laugh and be merry in the acting of sin,* 1.6 but woe and weeping is in the conclusion, Luk. 6.25. The end is death, Rom. 6.21. As all the promises of Grace and Mercy hang over the heads of the godly, and drop blessings upon them

which way soever they go; so clouds of wrath hang over the heads of the wicked, dropping judgements upon them even in their highest prosperity, when they think themselves most free from misery. The mirth of every secure sinner that goes sing∣ing to hell, is no better than madnesse; for where security goes before, destruction ever follows; When men cry Peace, Peace, then comes sudden and swift destruction, Luk. 12.19, 20. 1 Thes. 5.3. Secure Laish became a booty to its enemies, Iudg. 18.27. Carelesse Ethiopians shall be made afraid, Ezek. 30.9. And carelesse Daughters shall be troubled, Isa. 32.9, 10, 11. God is much displeased with a people, when the fire of his wrath shall beset them round about, and yet they re∣main unhumbled and insensible, Isa. 22.12, 13. and 42. ult.

5. God usually fore-warns us of woe, before hee sends woe.

Hee first cuts men down with the sword of his mouth, be∣fore he cuts them off with the sword of his hand. Hee delights not to take sinners at an advantage, but loves to exercise his patience towards them, that they might repent, as wee see in both the destructions of Ierusalem, the one by the Caldeans, which was fore-told by the Prophets, and the other by the Romans,* 1.7 which was fore-told by Christ. But of this at large elsewhere.

6. Carnal Confidence ruines a Land.

When men forsake God, and trust in men and moun∣tains, in Kings and Kingdomes, in Guards and Garrisons, both they and their creature-confidences shall perish; for, as there is no policy, so there is no power or fortifications that can defend us against God, Prov. 21.30, 31. Use means wee may, but we must not Idolize them; prepare armies, and strong∣holds, but not trust in them. They are branded that trust in Riches, Psal. 52.7, 9. and cursed that trust in men, Jer. 17.5, 6.

7. Ingratitude is a God-provoking, and a Land-destroying sin.

God had made this people the head of the Nations, and chose them for himself from amongst the Nations,* 1.8 but they fought against God with his own blessings, and as they were increased, so they sinned against him, abusing the good Land which hee had given them, to Idolatry, riot, and excess, till at last the Land spewed them out.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Aug. Confes. l. 3. c. 5.
• * 1.2

  V. Perkins on Heb. 11.12. p. 93. & Rivet Isagoge ad Scripturas, cap. 28. p. 1026. fol. Vol. 2.
• * 1.3

  V. Mr. Ant. Burgess on 1 Cor. 3.5. p. 74.
• * 1.4

  Naim, i. e. pul∣cher, speciosus, suavis, tales e∣nim sunt Psal∣mi quos David composuit, & cani jussit, à Lapide.
• * 1.5

  See more in my Com. on Hos. 13.15. p. 48, 49.
• * 1.6

  See my Com. on Hos. 13.13. p. 14.
• * 1.7

  In my Com. on Hos. 13.16. p. 64, &c.
• * 1.8

  See my Com. on Hos. 13.16. p. 101, 102.