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. 21. And it shall come to passe in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth.

22. And the earth shall hear the corne, and the wine, and the oyle, and they shall hear Jezreel.

The sixth ground of consolation, is a promise of plenty and outward meanes of subsistence, which is a fruit of Marriage, when he communicates (as it were) of his estate with her whom he be∣trotheth. The Lord promiseth that all the creatures should (so to say) concurre to seek to be employed to furnish Israel, and God should so blesse the order and influence of second causes, as they should evidently see God blessing them, who had been Jez∣reel, the scattered of the Lord, but will be then Jezreel, the seed of the Lord, as the next verse intimateth. Whence learne, 1. While the Lords people are within time, they may read their own frailty in needing so many things to uphold even their outward man; For, they need a blessing upon heaven and earth to furnish food to them. It were good so to be com∣forted by the promises, as to read them still speaking humility to us. 2. Outward mercies do so far follow on the Covenant, as the confederate may be free of fear and anxiety about them; For, so much doth this promise assure all, beside what it may promise to Israel after their conversion, or what the Lord may give to his people at some time. Albeit the Lord do not alwayes see it meet to heap plenty of corne, and wine, and oyle upon his people; yet they get still as much, as with godlinesse and contentment makes

them not only subsist, but be as well as when they have most; and they may be as free of anxiety in greatest wants, as if they had greatest plenty: For, when they seek the best things, other things will certainly be added, Matth. 6.33. when God hath given them his own Son, he will not deny lesser things, when they are needed, Rom. 8.32. and his providence in hearing the need of creatures, may ease them. 3. God is so tender a respector of ne∣cessities, that he hath an ear to hear the dumb cries of very insen∣sible creatures in their need, and that they may be useful one to another, especially for the good of his people; For, when the heaven is made iron, it hath a cry which he will hear for the good of inferiour creatures, and of his people: I will hear; saith the LORD, I will hear the Heavens. The repetition holdeth forth the certainty of it. 4. Gods reconciled people are to read, not only Gods love in their plenty, but that all the Creation (which groan under mans sin,) do in their kinde, with a good-will, con∣curre to serve him who is now at peace with their Maker: So much may be gathered also from their calling one to another in their order, and to God, that they may be blessed for the good of his people. 6. The Lord sets a mark of excellency upon man, and especially on his Church, in that so many things concurre to serve them, and provide for them; For, here heavens and earth, concurre for this end. 6. Whatever it be that one creature affords unto another, or may be in the course of nature expected from it; yet every creature in it self is empty, and must be supplied by God before it satisfie any; For, let the Earth call to the Heavens for ordinary rain and influence, yet they cannot afford it till God hear them. 7. As the Lord is not to be tempted, but waited on in his established order, for any thing, (as here, they must ex∣pect to be fed, by corne, and wine, and oyle, coming in Gods e∣stablished course of nature;) So we are not to rest on any such or∣der or course of nature, but to see Gods hand in it, who establish∣eth and blesseth it for such ends; For, the corne, and wine, and oyle, hear Jezreel, (not answering any prayers made to them, but supplying these necessities, which they are appointed for,) and the earth doth bring forth these, and the heavens give influence for that end, yet so as it is God who maketh all these so to do, and he is to be seen doing so. Not that he hears only the heavens, and then they hear all the rest of second causes, but that beginning at the heavens, he blesses their plenty in all the steps of second causes, even to the putting a blessing in it, when it is produced; For it remaines still in his hand to blesse or curse it, even when

it is in the basket and store, and in mens mouthes. 8. The Lords former sad dispensations toward his people, will not hin∣der him to change his dealing, but he will be kinde and do them good so much the more; and thoughts of this will make his kindnesse so much the sweeter: For, albeit they had been Jez∣reel in respect of their scattering, yet he would turn that into a name of blessing, and do them good so much the more.