Ver. 15. So shall Bethel do unto you, because of your great wickednesse: in a morning shall the King of Israel be utterly cut off.
Secondly, as for their confidence in their way of Religion, and settled State, the Lord threatens, First, that that sore calami∣ty mentioned, v. 14. should come upon them, because of their great sin of Idolatry at Bethel. Secondly, that their King and Kingdome should fall by a sudden and speedy blow. Whence learn, 1. Idolatry and corrupting of Religion, is the great wickednesse of a visible Church, and the cause of saddest judgements, For, So (as is before threatned) shall Bethel do unto you, because of your great wickednesse, to wit, which is committed there, and under Bethel, the other place of their corrupt worship are com∣prehended. 2. As we are ready enough to see instruments in our calamities, and ought to acknowledge Gods hand in them: So we should see the great influence of our own sin in procuring them; For, So shall Bethel do unto you, to wit, by your provok∣ing of God there. 3. Impenitent Rulers and their Kingdomes may not only be sore afflicted and wasted, but it may draw at length to utter cutting off, even though they be Gods people in visible Covenant with him; for, the King of Israel, (and the Kingdome with him) shall utterly be cut off. 4. God can very speedily and suddenly bring about great revolutions and overturn∣ings of Kingdomes; And he would have the greatnesse of their sin, and of his displeasure seen in such a dispensation; for, in a morn∣ing shall this be done; which imports a short time, as a morning before the Sun rise; and a sudden stroak, as if in a morning be∣fore men were awake, an Army or City were surprized. And it seemes that albeit Samaria endured a three years siege, 2 King. 17.5. yet some one morning it was surprized, and so their King and Kingdome came to an end,