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 ...

VERSE 7, 8.

Thus he shewed me, and behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a Plumb-line, with a Plumb-line in his hand.

And the Lord said unto me, Amos what seest thou? and I said a Plumb-line. Then said the Lord, behold I will set up a Plumb-line in the midst of my People Is∣rael, I will not again pass by them any more.

WEE are now come to the Third Vision, wherein the Lord sets forth the utter destruction of Israel, God had born long with their provocations, and waited long for their return, but since they were incorrigible and incurable, hee resolves now to make a final end with them, and to pass by and pardon them no more, but to destroy them by the Sword of Salmaneser King of Assyria; which is here typified by a Plumb-line. Where we have, 1. The Vision it self, vers. 7. 2. The explication of it, vers. 8, 9.

Thus he shewed me.

This is the usual Preface as before, vers. 1, 4.

And behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a Plumb-line, or on the wall of a Plumb-line (it is an usual Hebraism) that is, the Lord stood on a perpendicular wall, such a one as was curiously made, and exactly squared by the Plummer.

The word Anach which signifies a Plumb-line, is variously rendred.

1 Some call it a Masons Truel (so the vulgar Latin) with which they build and parget walls, for strength and elegancy; so God had been the strength and glory of Israel.

2 The Septuagint, the Syriack, and the Arabick render it thus, I saw the Lord standing on an Adamantine wall, with an Adamant Stone in his hand; implying that God had been the firme defender of his people, and a wall of Adamant to them which no Hammer could break. Both these are truthes, but they have no foundation in the text.

3 The word Anach (which is used only in this text) ge∣nuinely signifies a Plumb-line, which Masons and Carpenters use for the keeping of their work straight and even. Thus Ze∣rubbabel when he was to build the Temple, is said to have a Plummer, or Tin-stone in his hand, that is a Measuring-line, to which a weight of Tin, Stone, or Lead was tied, Zach. 4.10. hence it is called Lead, Metonymically, because a Plum∣met of Lead is usually tied to a Cord, or lines end to keep it straight. We read of a double use of the Plummet in Scrip∣ture:

• 1 For Building, and Rearing.
• 2 For Ruining, and Demolishing.

1 The Plummet is used in building, to make the Work proportionable to the Model; thus Metaphorically God him∣self is said to work by Rule and Line, Iob 38.5. Isa. 44.13. Ier. 31.39. Ezek. 47.3. Zach. 10.16, 21. by this the Ma∣son and the Carpenter try the rectitude of the Structure, and what upon trial he findes to be right and regular, that he pre∣serves; and what is irregular and exorbitant, inclining ei∣ther too much to the right hand, or to the left, that he pulls down.

2 The Plummet is used in levelling and demolishing. When the Mason layes the Line to the Work, and findes up∣on trial any place to swell and belch out, that he demolisheth and pulls down; thus when the Lord threatned to ruine E∣doms Country, he tells us, That he will stretch upon it the line of confusion; and the stone of emptiness, Isa. 34.11. that is, the Lord will measure it out for utter destruction, and perpetual ruine, so that it shall never be built, or be inhabited more. The like expression we find, Isa. 28.17. Lam. 2.8. and especially in the 2 King. 27.13. where the Lord threatning to destroy Ierusalem, tells them, That he will stretch over Jerusalem the Line of Samaria, and the Plummet of the house of Ahab; that

is, I will deal with Ierusalem as I have dealt with Samaria, and with the house of Manasseh as with the house of Ahab; as I destroyed those for their sins, so will I destroy these. Thus the Lord stood upon the Wall with a Plumb-line in his hand, as ready to execute his just and righteous judgements upon Is∣rael. This is an Embleme of Gods Mercy and Justice, who is the Master-builder of his Church.

1 It denotes his Mercy, in that he made this Church right and firme like a perpendicular wall, made exactly by Line and Rule, he had curiously built it, and as carefully defen∣ded it.

2 It is an Embleme of his Iustice, he stands upon the wall of his Church, continually trying and examining whether it con∣tinue right or not, bearing with its defects, untill like a wall quite bending and belching out, it can no more be mended, or set upright as it was at the first, for then he resolves to throw down all, Isa. 30.13.

This wall (by some) is made a Type of all the people of Israel, whom the Lord of old had built for a peculiar people to himself. These resembled a wall. For,

• 1 Walls cannot raise themselves, but are built by some skil∣ful Architect; so this people of Israel did not raise them∣selves, but God of his owne free love and grace chose them for his owne peculiar, and exalted them above all the Nations of the world.
• 2 Walls have foundations; and so had this people many gracious Promises to build upon, which the Lord made to A∣braham and his Seed, which they contemning came to ruine.
• 3 An Architect builds the walls by Line and Rule; so God did all for this People with the greatest judgement and exact∣nesse imaginable. They had all of the best, the best Church, the best Sate, the best Lawes, the best Rulers, and the most successful Judges and Kings. The Lord himself was for walls and bulwarks to them, he was Salvation round about them, and their glory in the midst of them; so great was his care and tendernesse over them, Isa. 26.1. & 60.18. Zach. 2.5. But since neither Mercies nor Judgements could mend them, the Lord resolves to forbear them no longer, but as he had built them up in mercy, so now he would ruine them in justice, and punish them exactly according to their demerits.

OBSERVATIONS.

1 Though the Lord bear long with the Sins of a People, yet he will not alwayes bear.

Though the Prayers of his People may keep off Judgements for a time, yet the Sins of a People may be so great, that the Lord will hear no more prayers for them, Ier. 15.1. Ezek. 14.16, 18, 20. and therefore the Prophet here seeing this People were incurable, and Gods determination fully set to destroy them for their Idolatry and Apostacy, he forbears any further interceding for them, quietly acquiescing in the righteous Judgements of God upon them. There is a time when the Lord will shew a People no more favour, Ier. 16.13. an evil day, an only and extreme evil day, in which the Lord forbids Prayer, Ier. 7.11, 14. and restraines a spirit of prayer, and relenting from his people, Ezek. 24.23. Dan: 9.13.

2 Gods Iudgements upon wicked men are just and righteous.

They are all exactly framed as it were by line and measure, Dan. 5.27. Justice is essential to God, he may as soon cease to be God, as cease to be just; hence he is called, the righte∣ous Iudge, Gen. 18.25. and the just Lord, who will doe no ini∣quity, Zeph. 3.5. he is just in and of himself, and just in his Lawes, just in his Decrees, just in the execution of those De∣crees, just in the Government of the World, just in his Rewards, and just in his Judgements; he is not only righteous in some, but in all his wayes, Psal. 145.17.

Doe not then fret or murmure at his Dispensations towards thee or thine, his Judgements may be secret, but they are al∣wayes just; whatever therefore God doth to thee or thine, yet say with David, Righteous is the Lord, and just are his Iudge∣ments, Psa. 119.117. and with Hezekiah, when he was told that he must lose all, Good is the Word of the Lord which thou hast spoken, Isa. 39.8.

We should then imitate God, as he is just and righteous in all his wayes, so should we be also in our degree; doing all exactly, according to the square and rule of Gods VVord. As we must be merciful, as our heavenly Father is merciful; so we must be just, as he is just; though we cannot be so by way of Equality, yet by way of Analogy and Similitude we must be

so. Let us be just in our rewards, just in our punishments, just in our weights, words, and works, &c. that so God may de∣light in us; for the righteous Lord loveth righteousnesse, Psalm 11.7.

Notes

• Gnal ehomat anach, super murum perpen∣diculi.
• Trulla camen∣tar••••.
• Stabat super murum ada∣mantinum.
• Ni••z••zab, stans, ad indi∣candum firm am stantis resolutio∣nem.