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. 6. According to their pasture, so were they filled: they were filled, and their heart was exalted, therefore have they forgotten me.

In the next place we have their part and carriage toward God who had been thus kinde to them, to wit, that being brought out of the wildernesse to the good land, they were swelled with pride and forgat God. Whence learn, 1. Gods owning and caring for his people will end in a good issue, when he seeth fit, for, these whom he knew in the wildernesse, v. 5. come at last to get a pasture. 2. It is the fault of Gods people, that they take too well with prosperity and deliverances; and do fat themselves therewith, and let loose all their lusts to satiate themselves; for, according to their pasture, so were they filled, which imports not only Gods bounty in giving them abundance, but that they minded no more but to fill themselves with it. See, Deut.

32.15. When this is considered, it needs not to be thought strange, if God oft-times withhold such a lot from his people, Prov. 30.8, 9. 3. The great sin and evidence of abused pros∣perity, is pride and loftinesse of minde, and that men do not become the more humble that mercy is let out unto them; for, they were filled, and their heart was exalted: See, Deut. 8.12, 13, 14. Psal. 73.6, 7, 8, 9. 4. Pride under prosperi∣ty, is then at the height, when God is forgotten in our prosperi∣ty, either what sensible need sometime we have had of him and his help, or what he did for us, or for what end, and what en∣gagements his bounty layeth upon us to seek him; for, their heart was exalted, therefore have they forgotten me; See, Deut. 6.10, 11, 12. and 8.10, 11. Psal. 10.4.