Choice observations and explanations upon the Old Testament containing in them many remarkable matters, either not taken notice of, or mistaken by most, which are additionals to the large annotations made by some of the Assembly of Divines : to which are added some further and larger observations of his upon the whole book of Genesis perused and attested by the Reverend Bishop of Armagh, and Mr. Gataker Pastor of Rederith / by ... John Richardson ...

Amos.

AMOS; Of an Herd-man was made a Prophet; ch. VII. 14. He useth sometimes Countrey-similitudes, ch. II. 13. & III. 12. & IV. 1, 3. And sometimes he hath high and A∣stronomical expressions, as, ch. V. 8. & ch IX. 6. As Job had formerly: And God himself, unto Job. And Esay, chap. XIII. 10. Yet we may not understand them of such Con∣stellations or Configurations, as our Astronomers, do now retaine from the Greeks and Latines, which have their figures and denomina∣tions assigned them from the feigned stories of the old fabulous Greeks: we should rather retaine the Hebrew termes and names; ad∣ding our best exposition of them.

Amos hath great conformity with Hoseah, living in the same time, chap. I. 1. and sent to the same people, of Israels principaly.

Amos foretelleth strange shakings and destructions of six Heathen Neighbouring Nations, the Churches enemies; for their three trans∣gressions, and for four severaly.

As likewise he doth the same of Judah: And so of Israel, chap. I. and II. He pursueth in five chapters following Israel manifold trans∣gressions, and mighty sinnes: Intermixing both Threatnings and Ex∣hortations. Threatenings of Judgements generaly, upon all Israel, That they shall finaly be drowned in a flood of miseries, and be capti∣vated: Particularly, upon Jeroboams house; and upon Amaziah Priest of Bethel. And inserting Exhortations to Israel for repentance; as, chap. IV. 3. with Promises of Mercie thereupon; as, chap. V. 4, 14. 15. And after, upon their Obstinacie, and Incorrigiblenesse; He shewes in the two last chapters, under two Types, of a Basket of Sum∣mer fruit; and of smiting the doore of the Temple; their ripen∣ing, approaching subversion, and Gods abdicating his house, and peo∣ple. Yet concluding all, with Evangelical Promises to his Church, of a Reduction, and restauration by, and under Christ.

Among other places, chap. V. 10, 13. and chap. VI. 10. do shew the evil of his times.

Carmel] Carmel signifieth plenty, [chapter I] [verse 2] fruitfulnesse, and fruitful field. This mountaine was situate in the Confines of Asher, and Issachar, near the Midland-Sea; and not farre from Mount Tabor, Josh. XII. and XV. chapters. See more of it in my Annotations on this Text.

revealeth] Yet Gods true Prophets are not alwayes in all things, [chapter III] [verse 7] guided by divine revelations; As, 1 Chron. XVIII. 2. 2 Kings IV. 27. 1 Sam. XVI. 6. The meaning here is, That God usualy reveals to his

Prophets his great judgements which he intends to bring upon his own people, for their sins.

A kinde of Ironie, [chapter IV] [verse 4, 5.] as, Gen. III. 22. 1 Kings XVIII. 27. and XXII. 15. 2. Chron. XVIII. 14. and XXV. 8. Eccles. XI. 9. Job XII. 2. Lam. IV. 21. Mark VII. 9. Of Hyperbolies, see on Josh. XI. 4. Gen. XI. 4.

mighty sinnes] Ezek. [chapter V] [verse 12] XVI. 23, 27, 28, 33, 34, 47, 48, 51, 52, 56. and chap. XVII. 15, 16, 18. See my Annotations on Ezek. II. 4, 5. God is said to fret at sinne, Ezek. XVI. 43. And to ease and quiet him∣self upon vengeance taken for it, Esay I. 24. Ezek. XVI. 42.