A brief exposition on the XII. smal prophets: the first volume containing an exposition on the prophecies of Hosea, Joel, & Amos. By George Hutcheson, minister at Edenburgh.

Vers. 8. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kind∣led together.

In the second part of the Chap. the Lord comforts the godly against the imminent and deserved judgements, with some blenks of his mercy. And first, in this v. the mercy of God is held forth in coming over their provocations, to do any thing for them, and interposing to hold off the extremity of judgements deserved by them; wherein, 1. It is insinuate (by way of sen∣tence for their Apostasy) that their sins deserved hard things, even such calamities as befell Sodom and the neighbouring Ci∣ties, of which See Gen. 19.24. Deut. 29.23. But (2.) in the execution, the Lord was willing to make a stand, and not let it out. And here the Lord speaks to our capacity, that as a fa∣ther greeved with the disobedience of a son, is ready to avenge it sharply, and yet out of fatherly affection represseth his anger, and doth not let all of it out in execution; So the Lords bowels of compassion are such, as not to execute his just wrath, as if he repented, and as men who repent use to do. Doct. 1. The provo∣cations of the visible Church may be, and oft-times are so great both in themselves and by reason of many aggravations of ingratitude and backsliding, as to deserve utter extirpation, like Sodom and Gomorrah; For, so is imported, that it was just to make them as Admah, and set them as Zeboim. See Isa. 1.10. Ezek. 16.48. It is but a needlesse curiosity to enquire why he mentions these two Cities, and not Sodom and Gomorrah, and therefore I passe it. 2. Not only doth the Churches sinne de∣serve

much; but it is no easie matter to hold off the extremity of execution, when after long forbearance sin is still continued in; For, so is imported here, that only strong afflictions in God prevented the extremity of desolation; They were at this brink of misery, though they little considered it. 3. Whatever be the desert and danger of the sinfull people of God, yet no trouble can take effect against them, unlesse God permit and let it out, and actively concurre in it; For, whatever their sin was, yet they could not be plagued, till he give them up and deliver them, to the will and power of enemies; yea, till he make them as Admah, and set them as Zeboim. See Deut. 32.30. 4. When the Church hath put her selfe in a wofull plight by sin, there is nothing to step in and interpose for preventing what is deserved, but on∣ly mercy in God; For, there is no other impediment to this sad sentence, but how shall I give thee up, &c? mine heart is turn∣ed within me, &c. And this he layeth before them, that at least, they would study to see their need of mercy. 5. Mercy in God toward his sinfull people, as it cannot be hindered by the greatnesse of their sin; So it can put a stop to deserved judge∣ments; For how shall I give thee up, &c. Saith he, mine heart is turned within me, &c. He can finde reasons against his own proceeding in justice against them, taken from himselfe, when they have nothing to plead, and there is no cause of it in them: And can argue that mercy is free, and goeth not by the rule of deserving, and therefore may be extended to the most unworthy. And albeit it be an act of his sovereignty in free-grace, thus to respect a people going on in sin; and therefore ought not to be presumptuously rested on by the impenitent: Yet as that cannot hinder it to be shewed even to them; So it may be an encourage∣ment to them who are driven sensibly to need his mercy. 6. The greatnesse of Gods mercy toward his people, is such as all the affections of parents toward their children, are but shadowes of it, and he who is the unchangeable God, will do all for them that can be expected from a parent, whose anger is overswayed and changed into pity; For, so much do all these expressions point out, How shall I give thee up? doth import, that his fatherly af∣fection could not think of putting Israel into the miserable con∣dition they deserved, and that he looked on it, as not beseeming his love, and interest so to deal with them, mine heart is turned within me, (or overcome with motions of love striving against that severity) and my repentings are kindled together, (which are tearmes borrowed from among men) do import what abun∣dance

of stirrings of love are in his heart toward his ill-deserving people; and how all things that might prevent that sentence, were kindled and mustered up within him, that it might not come to execution and effect. 7. It is a speciall evidence of Gods magnified mercy toward Israel, that whatever condition they be put in, yet they are never dealt with as Sodom and Gomorrah, nor totally con∣sumed, without hope of restitution or recovery; For, that is the scope of this whole v. which is further explained in the following purpose.