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. 15. And I will give her, her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope, and she shall sing there, as in the dayes of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

The second ground of consolation, (wherein he insists in the allusion to their coming out of Egypt,) is, that as of old Israel had an end put to their toile in the wildernesse, and got the pos∣session of a fruitful land, (here signified by vineyards, a part for the whole;) and as they at first entred into the possession of that fruitful valley near Jericho, as a pledge of their future suc∣cesse, and of the fertility of their land: So the Lord will put an end to his peoples toile and wandering, by giving them compleat rest in Heaven, or particular deliverances from particular troubles within time; and more particularly, Israels toile after their con∣version, shall end in restitution to wonted enjoyments, and (as would appear) to their land, which will be made fruitful to them; And further, till this full enjoyment come, he will give unto them such beginnings and tastes of his bounty, as may be a pledge and ground of hope of getting more. This promise is amplified from an effect, that Gods bounty should make them rejoyce and sing, as of old at the red Sea, Exod. 15.1, &c. Doct. 1. The Lord will comfort his people, not only with ample promises, but in due time also with real effects of his love in performing promi∣ses; Therefore is this promise subjoyned to the former of speak∣ing comfortably, v. 14. 2. The Lord can, and will make the troubles of his reconciled people have a notable end, and restore them to their enjoyments which were lost, by reason of sin: For, I will give her, her vineyards from thence; albeit these were cut off for sin, v. 12. yet now they are recovered, and they are given

from thence, or, from the wildernesse, out of which they entered into the possession of these. 3. Albeit the Lord do not at first satisfie his peoples expectations and desires, nor give them all he promiseth, when he begins to appear for them; yet he will not faile to let out pledges of his love, which may support them, and be a pledge of what is coming, and whereof they should make use for that end: For, he will give them the valley of Acho••, (of which, Josh. 7.24, 25, 26) and that for a door of hope, as disco∣vering ground of hoping for more, and allowing them to do so, as 1 Sam. 7.12. This valley (though it got the name from Achans troubling them, yet) was a door of hope, because it was the first place they possessed after they passed over Jordan, and was given them as a pledge of possessing the whole. And the fruitfulnesse thereof, (of which, Isa. 65.10) was a pledge to them what the whole land should prove: Thus the godly have the Spirit as the earnest of their inheritance, and some help from some straits as a pledge of the sweet issue of all of them; and converted Israel will be restored to some beginnings of Gods wonted bounty, assuring them of more. 4. The Lords dealing with his reconciled peo∣ple, is such as will furnish them cause of joy, and the Lord will refresh them by it; For, it is his promise, she shall sing. 5. Not only ought Gods people to rejoyce when all things are performed according to promises, but (beside what is required of glorying in tribulations, Rom. 5.3.) when the Lord gives any pledge of his love, or begun evidences of it, they ought to cherish it by joy and praise, though full fruition be wanting; For, even there, on the border of her wildernesse, in the valley of Achor, she shall sing. 6. The Lords ancient kindnesse, and the Churches joy of old, is recorded in Scripture as a pledge of what she may yet expect, when she is reconciled to God; and the joy of Israel after their conversion, shall come behinde with no song that at any time they have had; For, she shall sing as in the dayes of her youth, (that is, in the day when he first married her, and entered in Covenant with her, Jer. 2.2, 3 Exek. 16.60. and so it is expounded in the following words,) and as in the day when she came up out of the Land of Egypt. 7. That vocal singing to the Lords praise, is a Gospel-ordinance, may appear in part from this place, wherein it is promised as a Gospel-practice, and the practice of converted Israel, that they shall sing as of old at the Red-Sea: Though mu∣sical instruments and dances, (which wera used then also,) are abolished, as being ceremonial.