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. 11. Whoredome, and wine, and new wine take away the heart.

This general sentence subjoyned, may be understood of the judgements to come upon them, and that they shall meet with such stupidity under them, as useth to attend these sinnes; as in∣deed trouble will confound sinners, especially such as have beene unfaithful and given to luxurie, as these Priests and the people were. But it seemes rather to be a general sentence, pointing out the cause of all their miscarriage challenged both before and af∣ter, and in particular, of their neglecting God, v. 13. to wit, that their sensual pleasure and filthinesse had besotted them, so that they waxed wanton, and considered not what they did. Whence learn, 1. In times of defection, it is good to be well acquainted with, and scene in the causes of it, and what distempers draw men to that height they go; Therefore doth the Prophet here point at it. 2. It is a great plague on men, that they cannot guide prosperity well, and know no way how to use it, but to feed sensu∣all lusts by it; for, all the use they made of Gods bounty, was Whoredome and wine. 3. Sinnes go seldome there alone, but are linked together, and draw on one another; and particularly, Whoredome and intemperancy go often hand in hand together; Therefore are they conjoyned, Whoredome, and wine, and new wine. He mentions wine, and new wine, because (as drunkards use to do) they tried all kinds of it, or the latter is by way of ex∣plication, because new wine makes soonest drunk. 4. It is a great plague on unclean and sensual men, that thereby they not only abuse their bodies, and become guilty of self-murther, and do wear out any spark of conscience that they had; but that by following these brutish lusts, they renounce even humanity, and turne brutish without sense and common understanding, so that they know not what they do, nor can discerne, or be ashamed of any ill course, nor fear any threatening of danger, and do render themselves unuseful either in Church or State, and effeminate and unable to encounter any trouble: for, Whoredome, and wine, and new wine take away the heart, or sense and understanding. The

word signifieth oft-times to take by force, or by industry, to shew that however at first there may be some wrastlings betwixt lust, and mens sens sense and principles of reason, yet at last lusts given way unto, will carry it. 5. As it is Gods judgement on unfaithful Ministers that they are given up to sensuality; so that will soone besot them, and make them saplesse in their doctrine, and carelesse in their duty; for, in particular, it is true of them whom he had challenged before, Whoredome, and wine, and new wine take away the heart.