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. 5. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lilly, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

In the next place, God answers their suite concerning doing of them good, and receiving of them graciously. And first, he pro∣miseth, through the influence of his grace and blessing, to make them flourish, as flowers and trees of all kindes do by dew and rain. What this may point at of the temporal prosperity of Israel, and their being so rooted and fixed in it, as no opposition shall prevaile against them, I leave to the Lord by his performance to expound. But certainly it holds out the flourishing, beautifull and sure estate of the Church of converted Israel, and the bles∣sed condition of the converted among them, (who will be very many) in their spiritual estate. Whence learn, 1. God can easily when he pleaseth, alter the disconsolate and desolate estate of a Church, or particular persons; For, all these promises are opposite to former curses denounced against them, (as, ch. 9.16. and 13.15. and else-where) which now he promiseth to turn in∣to contrary blessings. 2. God answereth the prayers of his needy

people richly, and so as may commend his love and fulnesse; for, in answer to their short petition, do good, all these promises are made. His knowledge of our case, and his love to us, is infinitly beyond any skill or love that is in our selves. See Ephes. 3.20. 3. Israel will yet be made to revive and flourish, and Gods blessing will make that Nation not only become a Church, but prosper in that state; For, this promise is expressely made con∣cerning them, who have now so long time layn under the sad ef∣fects of the formerly denounced threatenings. 4. As all the pros∣perity of a Church or particular persons, floweth from divine in∣fluence and blessing, and so they have nothing to boast of in themselves; So a penitent and pardoned people may expect that God will make them to revive and flourish through his blessing; For, unto Israel, unto whom the former promise is made, v. 4. it is likewise added, I will be as the dew to Israel, to make him fruitful and flourishing, as trees and flowers are through dew and rain. 5. Such is the compleat and perfect blessednesse of a people or person who abides under the drop of Gods influence and grace, that no one similitude can expresse it; Therefore are so many conjoyned here, because no one of them could set it out fully; for, a lilly, though it set out their amiable condition, by its beautiful∣nesse, yet it is but fading, and so comes short; and this want must be made up by another similitude of casting forth his roots as Leba∣non, or, taking deep root, as trees do there, that so they may en∣dure: Again, though the trees of Lebanon, which have deep roots, may point out their stable condition with their beauty, yet possibly rooted trees may not grow up; therefore another simili∣tude is requisite, his branches shall spread. And because such as have abundance of branches and leaves, may not be fruitful, nor still green; Therefore it is added, his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, which is fruitful and still green, Jer. 11.16. And because the fruit of the Olive hath not a pleasant savour; there∣fore it is subjoyned, his smell shall be as Lebanon, where variety of trees and flowers cast a fragrant smell. In a word, to be under the influence of Gods grace and favour, maketh compleatly bles∣sed. 6. In particular, these similitudes pointing out the blessed condition of the Church of converted Israel, and of the Elect a∣mong them, may teach, 1. God by his grace and blessing can make his Church and people singularly beautiful and pleasan••; For, they shall grow as the lilly, which surpassed the glory of So∣lomon, Matth. 6.28, 29. 2. Beauty or apparent excellency▪ is little worth, unlesse there be some root of stability, which God

only can effectuate; Therefore it is added, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. See Matth. 13.20, 21. 3. No pretext of rootednesse, sobriety or stability, should hinder the visible ap∣pearance of the fruits of grace; but where God works the one, he worketh the other also; for, it is subjoyned, his branches shall spread. 4. The visible appearances of the grace of God in peo∣ple must not consist in ostentation or empty shewes; but in reall and green fruits; For, his beauty shall be as the olive-tree. 5. The Church and people of God would also so endeavour to be fruitful, as that they study to be savoury, and to have their way not only accepted of God, but gaining also upon others; for, this closeth all, his smell shall be as Lebanon, which is refreshful and alluring to them who finde it. 6. Albeit these things be the duty of Gods people to endeavour them; yet they are also Gods promise, who undertakes to make them such, in the faith whereof we ought to set about the duty; For, all these are promises made to Israel.