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. 12. And I will destroy her vines, and her fig-trees, whereof she hath said, These are my re∣wards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forrest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

Fourthly, he threatens to destroy, not only their fruits, but the trees they grew upon, and so to leave their land desolate as a forrest for wilde beasts: and that because they looked on these things as the reward of their Idolatry. Whence learn, 1. Spi∣ritual judgements and deprivation of Ordinances, will have but little weight with wicked men, unlesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other rod be with them; Therefore after that threatening, v. 11. of depriving them of their solemnities, must this again be added, I will de∣stroy her vines, &c. 2. Such is the desperate stupidity and ob∣stinacy of declining sinners, as no cutting off of present enjoy∣ments

will affect them, unlesse their future expectations be cut off liikewise: For, he must destroy, not only her present fruits, but her vines and her fig-trees, and make them a forrest, that the beasts of the field may eat them, before she be sensible of it as a stroak. 3. As God doth not cut off enjoyments from sinners, but when they do abuse them; So we would take head of forget∣ting Gods quarrel under calamities, and particularly, the abuse of prosperity, in not acknowledging God, but stregthening our selves in an ill way, because of it; Therefore is the challenge repeat∣ed, he destroyeth her vines, &c. whereof she said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me; or, the fruits of my I∣dolatry, and the benefits I reap by that which the Prophets call my whoredome; For, the speech alludes to the hire given to an harlot.