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 Modesty and Sobriety becomes us, especially when we treat of divine Mysteries.

We must not be wise above that which is written,* 1.1 nor cu∣riously pry into the secrets of the Almighty; and therefore great is the folly of many in our times, that take upon them to tell the day, the year, and almost the hour (so divinely in∣spired are they, at least in their owne conceits) when Baby∣lon shall fall, and the Iewes be called. One sayes, Antichrist shall fall One thousand six hundred thirty nine, another One thousand six hundred forty three, another One thousand six hundred and fifty, another One thousand six hundred fifty five, so Clavis Apocalyptica, many One thousand six hundred sixty six; only Sir Henry Vane wiser than all the rest (at least opinionatively) tells us flatly, that the walls of this Ieri∣cho shall fall flat before Jesus the true Ioshua, four hundred and forty years hence, viz. In the year Two thousand, then comes the seventh part of time which shall be the true Sab∣bath. Wisely done Sir Henry, to set so long a time that you may be dead and rotten before it come, when others that have set shorter times have lived to be laught at to their fa∣ces; the folly of these men hath been made known to all. It

were well if men would learn of the Prophet here to keep to generals. In that day, and at that time, and not point at par∣ticulars to their owne shame. Secret things belong to the Lord, there is enough revealed to exercise our parts and stu∣dies, though we should live Methusalems dayes.

2 That the Church of God in this life may be brought to a very low condition.

It may seem like a poor little Tent, or tattered Cottage, full of breaches and ruines, Isa. 1.8. so that it is scarcely vi∣sible, and yet be a true Church, 1 King. 19, 20. as the Moon is the Moon and in Heaven still,* 1.2 though it lye hid for a time under the Clouds from our sight.

3 After deep humiliation comes great consolation.

Never any so deeply humbled as Christ, and never any more highly exalted, Phil. 2.6. to 12. after this people had for many years been sifted, and tossed, and captivated, and the family of David brought to the dust, and no Human help appearing, but they lay like dry bones scatt••red up and down, yet now doth the Lord appear, and raise up the Tabernacle of David that was fallen, by sending the Messiah that little Branch, or Sprig, out of the stock or contemptible stump of Iesse, that was hewn down and cut off, Isa. 11.1. when mans help fails, then God appears; our extremity is his opportuni∣ty, Cum duplicantur lateres, venit Moses. In the Mount will the Lord be seen. Christ came not here till all seemed to bee lost and laid on heaps, he still reserves his holy hand for a dead lift, and delights to help those that are forsaken of their hopes, Deut. 32.36. Psal. 10.14. & 22.11. when this good∣ly Family was sunk so low as from David the King, to Ioseph the Carpenter, so that there was neither King nor Prince left, then Christ appears and raiseth it up; when the Scepter was departed from Iudah,* 1.3 then Shilo comes, Gen. 49.10. when all was here in confusion both in Church and State, then comes the Messiah, that Horn of Salvation, and the glory of his peo∣ple Israel.

4 The Churches comforts are hid in Christ.

It is he that makes up our breaches, raiseth us out of our ruines, and restores comfort to Sion, and to her Mourners. All our comforts, and all our fresh Springs are in him; our E∣lection, Vocation, Justification, Sanctification, Salvation,

come all from this Fountain, Ephes. 1.3. to 15. He is Bread to strengthen us, Wine to comfort us, Water to wash us; a King to defend us, a Prophet to teach us, a Priest to intercede for us.* 1.4 In a word, he is All in All unto us, as I have shewed elsewhere.

5 The Old Testament is the Word of God, and abides in New Testament times.

Iames the Apostle when he would prove the calling of the Gentiles he goes to the Old Testament, the written Word of God,* 1.5 and from thence proves it; now had it not been Authen∣tical, the Apostles allegation had been invalid. But of this at large elsewhere.

6 Gospel priviledges are glorious priviledges.

The Church was glorious of old in Davids time, when men went by troops to the House of God, and fled as the Clouds, and flockt as the Doves unto their windows. But the Spiritual glory of the Church in the dayes of the Gospel is farre more glorious than in the dayes of Israel of old. They had but the shadow, we have the substance; they saw Christ but darkly in Types and Figures, but we see him with open face. Hence the glory of the latter Temple is said to be greater than the glory of the former, Hag. 2.9. But how can that be, since the glory of the first Temple was farre more excellent for buil∣ding than the latter? insomuch that the ancient now wept to see how farre short it came of the former. I, but the glory of this latter House (though inferiour for structure) yet shall be greater than the glory of the former, because Christ the Mes∣siah should personally appear there; and from thence should the Gospel of peace goe forth into all the world, which should work a true and blessed tranquillity in the hearts of all belee∣vers. Hence Iohn the Baptist is preferred before the Old Testament Prophets, both in dignity and doctrine; and New Testament Ministers (who publish the whole Gospel) are pre∣ferred before him, Mat. 11.11. Let us then bless the Lord for Gospel-priviledges, keeping them in purity and simplicity, for though in Old Testament-times God allowed them Musick in publick Services, with Altars, Holy Vestments, &c. yet Christ their substance being come, these shadowes are gone, and now Christ will demand, Who required these things at

your hands?* 1.6 In vain is all such Will-worship, the Worship that Christ calls for now, is a worship in spirit and in truth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cum silet Scrip∣tura, praestat 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, quàm temerè quicquam sta∣tuere.
• * 1.2

  De visibilit Ec∣cles. cons••le Cameronem, in Mat. 18.19. p. 244.
• * 1.3

  See more in my Com. on 2 Tim. 3.9. p. 182. & p. 456.
• * 1.4

  In my Com. on 2 Tim. 3.15. p. 270.
• * 1.5

  In my Com. on 2 Tim. 3.15. p. 261, &c.
• * 1.6

  See an excel∣lent Ser. of Mr. Pools, on John. 4.24.