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. When God is against a people, no place can shelter them from his wrath.

If men sin against the Lord, let them go whither they will, the punishment of their sin will finde them out, Numb. 32.23. Though insolent Edom make his nest in the Stars, and think himself out of Gun-shot, and free from danger, yet his sins will bring him down, Obad. 4. God hath a sharp eye, and a strong hand to pull men out of their strong holds, or to de∣stroy them in them. Zimri got into Tirzah a fortified City, and then into the Kings Palace, and there he burnt himself to death, 1 King. 16.8. Had we all the power and policy of all the Kingdomes of the Earth for us, yet if God be against us, these cannot help us, Amos 2.14, 15, 16. Though the wick∣ed mount on high, yet at last hee casts them down to the ground, Psal. 147.6. 'Tis not height nor depth, Sea or Land, Heaven or Hell that can shelter us from Gods fury. If God be against us, all the elements, and all the creatures are a∣gainst us. As when God is for us, all are for us, Rom. 8.31. and we need not fear, Psal. 27.1. & 56.4. Isa. 43.1, 2.

There is no flying from Gods Arrests, if a man have done wickedly in one place, he may escape the Law by flying to a∣nother, he may get out of our bounds, and then he is safe; but who can get out of Gods bounds? he hath power to arrest us where ever he findes us, and he can finde us where ever we are. He is higher than Heaven, and deeper than Hell, and therefore David cryes out, Whither shall I go from thy presence? Surely no whither. Neither men nor Devils are able to go from the common and general presence of God, for he fills Heaven and Earth. Psal. 139.7. to 13. is a kinde of Com∣ment on this Text, and therefore I shall briefly open it, vers. 7.

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? what's that? why he tells you in the next clause, Whither shall I flee from thy presence? q. d. Thou art an infinite Spirit, and I can go no where to a∣void or escape thee, Vers. 8. If I ascend into Heaven, thou art there; By Heaven is meant the upper Region of the world, and if I make my bed in Hell, and go down to the lowest parts of the earth, he hold thou art there, q. d. Let mee go whither I will, thy presence will finde mee out.

Vers. 9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the utmost parts of the world, q. d. should I fly never so early or swiftly from East to West, as the light of the morning doth, vers. 10. Even there should thy hand lead mee, and thy right hand should hold mee; q. d. I should still lye under thy divine dis∣posing and government, and finde thee efficaciously present with mee.

Vers. 11. If I say the darkness shall cover mee, viz. so as thou shalt not be able to finde mee out, then is the night light about mee, that is, I shall be as little hid from thine eyes, as if 'twere noon day; why so? vers. 12. for the darkness hideth not from thee, but the night shineth as the day, darkness and light are both alike to thee, Iob 34.11, 12.