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. 19. And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgement, and in loving kindnesse, and in mercies.

20. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness, and thou shalt know the LORD.

The fifth ground of consolation, and fountain of all these bles∣sings, is the renewing of the Marriage-covenant with them: which because they had turned it of old into a Covenant of Works to themselves, and had been plagued for the breach of it; Therfore he promiseth now to renew it on such tearmes, as should make it sure and comfortable. Doct. 1. Whatever may be Gods dealing at first with his own people whom he calleth, yet his cal∣ling of them imports, and tends to an advancing of them to a Mar∣riage-communion with himself, whereby they are made one with him, and reap the fruits of this conjunction in communication of estates, and much love to them; For, I will betroth thee un∣to me, saith he; and it is called betrothing, not only because his affection continues still fresh, as of new betrothed persons, but because our enjoyments here, are but as a betrothing in order to a Marriage to be consumnat in Heaven, Revel. 19.7. 2. The Lords renewing his Covenant with his penitent people, after their backslidings, will be without any upbraiding of them for

former debordings, whereof now they are ashamed; For, his covenanting with converted Israel, is not a taking her again as an adulterous and divorced wife, but a betrothing of her as a pure Virgin. 3. Albeit there may be many vicissitudes betwixt Christ and his confederate people, as to their conditions, his dispensa∣tions and manifestations; yet the Marriage-tie will remain un∣violable for ever: And thr Covenant being renewed with Israel as a Natton, will endure for ever, for the good of the Elect among them; For, I will betroth thee unto me for ever, It is so well ordered that it must be sure, 2 Sam. 23.5. See Psal. 89.30, —34. 4. As for the first propertie of the Marriage-Covenant, that it is in righteousnesse, it may import that this bargain shall be made and performed in reality, and not in shew only, Jer. 32.41. (for thus Gods righteousnesse seemeth to be taken for his integrity in promising, and his reality and constancy in per∣forming what he undertakes, as Mic. 7.9. and is the same with that uprightnesse, and opposite to that unrighteousnesse, of which, Psal. 92.15.) But it seemes to hold out yet more concerning this Covenant, that God will communicate the imputed righte∣ousnesse of Christ, to the confederate, whereby he shall stand in Covenant for ever, nothing being to be objected against him, but what is abundantly answered and satisfied in his Cautioner, Rom. 8.33, 34. And that the Lord by doing this, shall do them good in righteousnesse, as being satisfied in his Son, 1 John 1.9. and without any imputation to his righteousnesse and ju∣stice against sin, having received such a ransome, Rom. 3.25, 26. 5. The second property (in judgement) teacheth, 1. That as for his confederate people, the Lord will have a tender respect and consideration what they are, and what their mould is with whom he makes the bargain; and therefore will not cast the bar∣gaine for after-failings, seeing he knew what they would prove whom he choosed, and he will moderate his dealing with them, as considering what they are able to bear: This discreet conside∣ration and moderating of dispensations is held out under the name of judgement, as Psal. 99.4. and elsewhere. Secondly, it teacheth, that as for enemies, he will not faile to execute venge∣ance on these of them who are incorrigible, and will right all wrongs done to her; Thus judgement is frequently taken in Scripture. 6. The third property (in loving kindnesse, or good∣nesse, or bounty) teacheth, that the Lord will not only keep Co∣venant because he is tied; but as of his love and bounty, he en∣tered in Covenant, so he will constantly delight in the confede∣rates,

as a Bridegroom in his Bride, Zeph. 3.17. he will do them good freely and bountifully, will be easie to be intreated, and answer all objections that can be moved, with his own good∣nesse and love. 7. The fourth property, (in mercies, or bowels) teacheth, that as the confederate will be far from perfection, and will daily need much compassion, both as to his sin and mise∣ries following upon it, and yet be confederate for all that: So the Covenant doth ensure unto him the tender bowels of Gods com∣passion, to sympathize with him in his afflictions, and gracious∣ly to pardon acknowledged and repented of guilt; and that there shall be many, even bowels of them, to answer to the greatnesse of his sin or trouble, and his frequent falling in the one or the o∣ther. 8. The fifth property, (in faithfulnesse) if we take it more generally for firmnesse and stability, and real truth of a thing, (as it is, when joyned with mercy, as Psal. 57.3.) it teacheth, that however there be many impossible like things promised in the Covenant, and all of it depending on free-mercy; and however the confederate may be oft-times ready to faile, and doth faile on his part; yet considering the fidelity of God, and that he undertakes for both parties, it shall prove a firme and stable Covenant. But if we understand the word more particu∣larly for faith (as it is used, Hab. 2.4.) then it teacheth, that the condition required on mans part in this Covenant, is true faith, whereby he renounceth himself, and layeth hold on the offer, and by resting on the Word wherein the offer is made, cometh at length to real performance of what is promised in the Covenant, as Luk. 1.45. 9. That which is subjoyned, (and thou shalt know the Lord) may comprehend both Gods under∣taking to work in them what the Covenant requires, (whether faith, as this word imports, Isa. 53.11. or all other Covenant-dispositions, or fruits of saving faith, as Jer. 31.34.) and the effects of their embracing the Covenant, in experimental tasting what he is. And so it teacheth, 1. God is the undertaker for, and worker in his people of all that is required on their part for entring in and keeping Covenant with him; It is his promise, thou shalt know the Lord. 2. A right and sanctified knowledge of God, is the root and companion of all sanctified graces, and Covenant-dispositions; Therefore all are comprehended in this, to know the Lord; Faith gets that name, not only because of the certitude and evidence it brings with it, but because it is begot∣ten by his Word and knowledge of him in it, and is cherished and confirmed by taking him up still more, as he is revealed

there, as Psal. 9.10. 2 Tim. 1.12. and other graces flow from this faith, and are cherished by studying to know him with whom we have to do. 3. When sinners get grace to close with God in the Covenant, then he will communicate himself, his hid Man∣na, and rich love unto them; the nearer they come to him, they shall know the more of his excellency and fulnesse, and they shall experimentally know what a partie he is with whom they are confederate, how like himself in his dealing, and how far a∣bove their shallow conceptions; For, then they shall know the Lord indeed; See Num. 23.19. 2 Sam. 7.19. Isa. 55.8, 9. Hosea 11.9.