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 preaching of the Word is the spiritual food of the soul, and therefore the want of it is here rightly stiled a fa∣mine.

Man consists of two parts, of Soul and Body, and both these must be fed; the body which hath its Original from the earth, is maintained by earthly nourishment; but the soul which is spiritual, must be fed with the spiritual food of Gods Word; for as bread is the stay and staff of mans body, and the body can∣not live without it, so Gods Word is the support of the soul, and it cannot live without that, hence it is called Food, Ier. 3.15. & 15.16. Iohn 21.15, 17. Act. 20.28. 'Tis here, and here onely that Christ the bread of life is revealed unto us, Iohn 6.35. Prov. 9.1. to 7. 'Tis in the Gospel that wee have a feast full fraught with spiritual delicates, Psal. 65.4. Isa. ••5.6. & 55.1, 2. Hence David makes such bitter lamenta∣tion for want of it, Psal. 42.2, 3. and 84. and 'tis made one note of Gods people, that they mourn for want of the holy As∣semblies, Zeph. 3.18. Lam. 1.4, 7. and 2.6, 7. and 4.1. and 5.18. I•••• esteemed the word of the Lord above his necessary food, Job 23.12. He did not only esteem it above Lands and livings, above gold and silver, but even above his appointed food, without which he could not live. He did more earnestly desire it, more heartily delight in it, and more highly prize it, than he did his necessary food, without which he could not ••ubsist. He had rather lose his usual meals, than lose his op∣portunities of meditation on the Word of God. Hence 'tis that Gods Ministers are called Stewards, 1 Cor. 4.1, 2.

Titus 1.7. which must dispense this Bread of Life according to the capacity of their Hearers. They must give Milk to Babes, and strong meat to strong men; for Gods Word is both Se∣men & Pabulum, it is the seed by which we are new-born, Iam. 1.18. 1. Pet. 1.23. and the food by which we are nou∣risht after, 1 Pet. 2.2. by this the dead are inlivened, Ioh. 5.25. the dark inlightned, Psal. 19.8. and the sorrowful com∣forted, Isa. 40.1, 2. This shewes the great necessity and be∣nefit of the preaching of Gods Word, and should make us prefer it unto our chiefest joy. But to this point I have spo∣ken at large in a set Treatise.

2 Contempt of Gods Word brings a famine of the Word.

The Lord here suites his Judgements to his Peoples sins. He had in great mercy raised up for this people of their owne Sons for Prophets, and taught them (not by strangers) but by Children that came from their owne loyns, yet they un∣gratefully said to the Prophets, Prophesie not, Amos 2.11, 12. and commanded this our plain-dealing Prophet to preach no more at Bethel, but to goe see some other Countries, Amos 7.12, 13, 16.

Hinc illae Lachrymae! This brought the famine amongst them. VVhen God shall bestow the preaching of the VVord upon a people, which is the choycest gift which he can bestow on the Sons of men, and they shall loathe this Mannah, and vilifie those that bring it; it is time the Lord should cease gi∣ving when such gifts are scorned, and cease loving, when his love is contemned. The Iewes that stoned the Prophets, kil∣led the Apostles, and crucified Christ; for this great contempt, they have been a people of Gods Curse this sixteen hundred years. When men grow weary of truth, it is just with God that they should be left to error, and when they are weary of a faithful Amos, that they should have a flattering Amaziah; When men will not receive the truth in love, God will give them over to strong delusions, that they shall beleeve lyes. A dreadful Curse! 2 Thes. 2.11. q. d. Since I have given them Light, and shewed them my Truth, and the way to Heaven, but they have rejected it; therefore there shall come false Prophets, and shall cry down Ordinances, Sabbaths, &c. and you shall beleeve them that shall set up humane inventions, and you shall follow them. When Children abuse their Bread and

play with it, and trample it under feet, it is time for Parents to take it from them. To bring these things à Thesi ad Hypothesin, and to apply this contempt of the Word to our se••ves▪ it may make us tremble to think whither we are fallen; Since the Apostles times the Gospel never shone so brightly as it doth at this day, and never was it and the Ministers of it more openly vilified, and that by many old Professors (who are turned blasphemers) than at this day; and therefore wee may justly fear that the Lord will punish our abuse of Light with the darkness of Popery; and take his Gospel from us, and give it to a people that shall yeeld him better fruits of it than wee have done. Sad tidings alwayes follow the contempt of the glad tidings of the Gospel; and they that think they have too much Preaching, shall at last have none at all. When Ieru∣salem began to abuse the Prophets, they were quickly made a desolation.

3 The loss of the Word of God is the sorest losse.

No famine like this famine, no judgement like this judge∣ment, Lam. 1.4. it is the heaviest that can befall a people on this side Hell; which made Luther say, I would not live in Paradise without the Word, but with it I could make a shift in Hell it self. David knew this full wel, and therefore in the midst of all his wants, he was most sensible of this, and begs it as that one thing necessary, that he might dwell in the House of the Lord, Psal. 27.4. It is true, Corporal famine is very terri∣ble, and brings people into sad perplexities, and extremities, as you may see, Lam. 1.11.19. & 2.12, 20. & 4.4, 9. & 5.16. but this Spiritual famine is farre worse. For,

• 1 That and other Judgements pinch but the body, but this pines the soul; now as the soul is more noble and excellent than the body, so its Judgements are farre more dreadful, because Spiritual. It is sad when men shall cry for bread, and they have a Stone given them▪ for meat, and they have a Serpent; for drink, and their Pastors (or Impostors rather) give them Poyson.
• 2 That may be a means to bring a man home to God, but this increaseth, and confirms the separation between God and the soul.
• 3 That kills but the body at worst, but this destroyes both body and soul. So that as our Saviour said in another case,

• ... about fearing of men, so may I say, about fearing of ••amines; fear not that famine which can but kill the body, but I will fore-tell you what you should fear; Fear that Famine which can destroy both body and soul, yea I say unto you, fear that.
• 4 Here is a Thirst added to the famine, a thirst of water. Though God sometimes punisheth Cities with famine, yet they may have water to drink; but if they want both bread, and especially water, the distress lyes very heavy; for Thirst if it be in extremity, is one of the most painful and intolerable Passions that is in this life; now the Prophet applyes this to the Spiritual famine and want of Gods Word, q. d. if it be a great Judgement to be tormented with bodily famine and thirst; how great is the Judgement then that I denounce a∣gainst you, who shall have both famine and thirst, and that not of bodily bread or water, but of the Word of God, which is the Bread and Water of Life, and as farre excells all Corpo∣ral bread, as the Soul excells the body? And as it is sad to have children cry for bodily bread, and there is none to give them; so it is much more sad when men shall cry for Spiritual bread, and there is none that can or will give it them.

2 As the giving of Preachers to dispen••e the Word unto us is reckoned as the choycest mercy, Job 33.23, 24. Isa. 30.20, 21. Jer. 3.15. Ephes. 4.11. because it brings light in dark∣nesse, joy in sorrow, life in death, health in sicknesse, strength in weaknesse, and brings us to an interest in God, and having him we have the Mine, the Fountain, All. So on the con∣trary, the removal of the Word from a people, is reckoned a∣mongst the sorest Judgements, 1 Sam. 28.6. Psal. 74.9. Prov. 29.18. Lam. 2.9. Ezek. 3.26. Hos. 4.17. Micah 2.6. Mat. 15.14. dry Breasts are reckoned as a Curse, Hos. 9.14. for when the Word goes, the greatest Mercies and Priviledges of a People goe with it. Rev. 2.5.

As I VVhen the VVord goes, God goes too, 2 Chron. 15.3. and woe to a people when God goes, Hos. 9.12. then men may persecute us, and there is none to deliver us, Psal. 71.11. when he is gone, the glory of a People is gone, Isa. 4.••. As the Ark, that was a Symbol and sign of Gods presence amongst his People, was called the Glory of Israel, 1 Sam. 4. ult. So the Preaching of the Gospel amongst us is our glory, Hag. 2.9. and if it depart, we may write Ichabod upon all our o∣ther

enjoyments, that is, There is no glory; for the glory is de∣parted from Israel since the Ark of God is taken. It is said of Constantinople, that it is fortified with three Bulwarks▪ 1. VVith Wood, i. e. with Shipping. 2. VVith Stones, i. e. with high VValls, 3. VVith Bones, i. e. with valiant men. But it wants a fourth, vi••. The presence of God in his Ordinances, without which all other Fortifications are but vain, Isa. 22.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Nahum 3.12, 13. Christ is called a King, Psal. 2.6. & 110.3. Zach. 9.9. now the presence of a King is the glory of a place; and where he is truly preached, there he is truly present; though the place and people be never so mean. Vi∣lissimus pagus est eburneum Palatium, ubi est sincerus Pastor, & fideles aliqui. Luther.

2 The Protection of a people goes. Where there is no Vision, there a people lye naked, and exposed to Divine displeasure, and all Gods sore Judgements break in upon them Prov. 29.18. the contempt of the VVord laid this potent and flourishing Kingdome of Israel in the dust.

3 Peace, Plenty, Comfort, Riches, all goe when the Gospel goes. As the Gospel comes not empty handed to a People, but brings Peace, Plenty, Renown, and Glory with it, Exod. 20.24. (Isa. 60. that whole Chapter) so when ever the Gospel goes, these concomitants goe along with it. As we see in Ierusalem which lies now in the dust, and the seven Churches of Asia.

4 Salvation goes, for the Preaching of the VVord is the ordinary means of Salvation. Those that sin away the ordi∣nary means must never look for extraordinary; whom God saves now, he saves by Preaching, Rom. 1.16. 1 Cor. 1.21.

5 VVithout the VVord we cannot grow in Grace, it is not sufficient that we have the truth of Grace, but God looks that we should shew it by our growth in grace, 2 Pet. 3.18. & 1 Pet. 2.2.

6 Without the VVord no comfort, we shall perish in our afflictions unlesse Gods Law be our delight, Psal. 119.92. It is through comfort of the Scriptures that we have hope, Rom. 15.4.

7 VVithout the VVord we are naked, and cannot defend our selves; it is with this sword of the Spirit that we defend our selves against the assaults of our Spiritual adversaries, Ephes. 6.17.

8. If the Word be gone, we have no Rule to walk by, no Star to direct us, and so shall run into the boggs of unwritten Traditions, Revelations, New-lights, and a thousand old er∣rours. If once we forsake the Law and the Testimony, to walk in the light of our own fire, following our own corrupt reason, we are sure at last to lye down in sorrow, Isa. 50.11.

9. When the VVord departs and goes out, then all mise∣ries croud in. Non datur vacuum, holds true in Divinity, as well as in Philosophy.

1. Then the Devil sets up his Throne, Rev. 2.13. and wickednesse abounds. VVhen Christs Kingdome goes down, then Satans comes up; when the Sun sets, night follows.

2. Your children will be Idolaters, and you will bring forth children to the murderer; when people have not the true God, they will have a false one.

3. Many temporal plagues will follow, as appears by the two following verses, vers. 13, 14. Where the famine of the Word goes before, there Sword, Plague, Famine, and other Judgements usually follow. In Queen Maries time, when we lost the Word, we had losses by Sea, and losses by Land, and had such a terrible famine, that the people were forced to make bread of Acorns. When Truth and Gods Ordinances are gone, Vines and Fig-trees will not be long after, Hos. 2.11, 12. When the Lord would make way for his extreamest wrath, to come upon a people, he first takes away his faithful Ministers, that should lye in the breach to intercede for them, that so his wrath may come upon them to the utmost, Psal. 74.8, 9. Lam. 2.7, 8.

Let us then use all means to prevent this Land-destroying Judgement; to this end, 1. Be humbled for the sins of the times, which call for the removing of our Candlestick out of its place. 2. Besiege Heaven with your prayers, Mat. 9.36. this is an Omnipotent Engine, whereby we conquer God. To quicken your prayers, consider what a sad losse the losse of the Word is, as you have seen in nine particulars before. 3. Walk as becomes the Gospel; if any thing remove the Gospel from amongst us, 'tis our prophane, impure, ungospel-like, loose conversation that will do it.

4. As corporal, so spiritual famine comes from God.

As all evil of affliction, so this amongst the rest comes from him.

1. He sometimes sends it immediately, when he chargeth the Prophets to prophesie no more in his name. As he com∣mands the clouds to with-hold their Rain, and so brings a corporal famine; so when sinners grow obstinate, he com∣mands his Ministers to with-hold their spiritual showers, and to let them alone, that they may perish in their iniquity, Hos. 4.17. Mat. 15.14.

2. When by death he takes away his Ministers, when people cast dirt upon them, the Lord casts dust upon them, and hides them in their graves from the revilings of men.

2. Mediately, 1. By a corrupt Magistracy. Thus Ahab and Iesabel persecuted the true Prophets, and made them hide themselves in caves. So Herod that Tyrant cut off Iohn Bap∣tists head.

2. By a corrupt Ministery; false Prophets in all ages have been the greatest persecutors of the true. Thus Amos here hath Amaziah the high Priest of Bethel against him, Amos 7.10. His punishment you may read, vers. 17. Thus Pashur the Priest smote Ieremiah, and put him in the stocks, Ier. 20.7. My Lord Annas and Caiphas the High Priest, with the Scribes and Pharisees were the greatest enemies to Christ and his A∣postles.

3. When men are given up in judgement to their own hearts lusts, so that they stop their ears against the Word, and will not hear, Zach. 7.12.

4. When men muzzle the mouths of these laborious Oxen, and ungratefully change their wages, and withdraw the Oyl from the Lamp, and pick the tallow from the weik. 'Tis just with God to starve such souls, as would starve his Ministers bodies; you must therefore buy the Truth, and with the wise men, part with your gold and silver for Christ, Mat. 2.11. You may buy gold too dear, but you cannot buy Christ and his Truth too dear; though you part with all your temporals for the Gospel, you have made a wise bargain, Matth. 13.44.

5. Spiritual curiosity and niceness, when men have itching ears, so that they cannot indure sound Doctrine, 2 Tim. 4.4. When nothing will down but quails, and picking-meat, they are all for flourishes, and Rhetorical strains, and smoothe

things, Isa. 30.••0. The doctrine of Mortification and Self-denial will not down with them.

6. Barrenness under the means of grace, when we do not answer Gods cost and care, then he pulls up the hedge, and laies all waste, Isa. 5.1, 2, 3. Mat. 21.43. Rev. 2.3. They that will not work in the day, shall lamen•• their folly in the night; they that will not serve God in the injoyment of Ordi∣nances, shall serve their lusts in the want of them. Let us therefore walk in the light, whilst we have the light, when the night comes no man can work.

Notes

• The body hath its al••mentum naturale, the soul its al••men∣tum spirituale.
• See Mr. Will. Bartons third sermon on Jer. 3.15. p. 260.
• Sal Terrae.
• See more in my Com. on Hos. 13.16. p. 89, 90. and Deuts Plain mans Path-way, p. 135. to 154.
• See more be∣fore, on Amos 4.6.
• Ubi non est ver∣bum Dei, quid nisi ruina & mors, etsi in spe∣ciem omnia flo∣rere vid••antur? Mercer.
• See Hildersham on Joh. 4.13. Lect. 9. p. 39, 40.
• See Mr. Will. Burton on Jer. 3.15. Ser. 3.
• V. Sal Terrae cap. 3. p. 45.
• That Gods pre∣sence in his Ordinances is a Peoples great∣est glory. See Mr. Marshals Fast Serm. on •• Chron. 15.2. p. 5, 6. printed 1642.
• See Mr. Bur∣roughs on the place. p. 459, &c.
• Est quaedam p••ecum omnipo∣tentia. Luther.
• See twelve sins that help to re∣move the Gospel Sangar. Morn. Lect 9. p. 93, 94, &c.
• V. Salterrae. cap. 8. p. 122.
• See more on Amos 8 11, 12. in Dr. Thomas Taylors Serm. on that Text, in his Sermons, in folio p. 207, &c. ☜