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. 2. After two dayes will he revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his fight.

This ver. (containing the second ground of their encourage∣ment) is by many applied to the resurrection of Christ on the

third day, (which will be acknowledged by Israel in the time of their conversion) as if it were the Scripture the Apostle points at, 1 Cor 15.4. And thus the sense is, that the penitents fetch the ground of their hope of recovery from the resurrection of Christ, in whom and through whom it is that his people do live and recover out of their miseries and troubles. And indeed this interpretation hath these truths in it, 1. That Christ and promises concerning him, is the usuall and ordinary ground of the Churches comfort in troublous times, as, Isa. 7.14. 2. Penitents apprehending Christ by faith, in his sufferings and re∣surrection, will finde ample ground of comfort in all their troubles; for, 1. Through him the sting is taken out of all their trouble, 1 Cor. 15.55, 56, 57. 2. As he is their head, so all their troubles are accounted his, not onely what is expresse∣ly for his truth and cause, but even all of the penitents trou∣bles are his in respect of sympathy. 3. They are sweetned to the penitent, by Christs essaying their lots in his own person, and so sanctifying them unto them. 4. As believers are made con∣forme to him in sufferings, so in his deliverance he is a pat∣terne of their victory, Rom. 8.17. 5. He is the purchaser of believers deliverance, having paid a price for it. 6. His resur∣rection and victory is a pledge of their deliverance, being judici∣ally raised up in him, Eph. 2.6. All which should invite afflicted sinners to close with Christ, as being a compendious way to a sweet issue from all troubles.

But the drift of this context seemeth not to speake so expresse∣ly of his resurrection, as of the raising up of penitents them∣selves, which doth indeed flow from his resurrection, and that may be hinted at here. And so this encouragement is an ampli∣fication of the former, meeting with the deadlinesse and con∣tinuance of their trouble; wherein they expect that albeit their troubles were so great and of such continuance, as that they seemed to be dead and buried under them; yet the Lord, in due time, would not onely revive and raise them up from their graves, but make them live a comfortable life in his presence and favour. As for the time to which this restitution is limited, after two dayes, in the third day, it is diversly conceived, by some for a long time, that neither at present, nor for some time after, were they to meet with this mercy; others under∣stand it of a short time. We may take in both in diverse re∣spects; that the time of their restitution after their conversion, may be somewhat prolonged, and seeme so to sense, and yet it

may be justly accounted short, if they reckon right. Doct. 1. Such oft-times is the obstinacie of the visible Church in her sin, and her stupiditie under judgements inflicted for sin, and such is the Lords severity in prosecuting a begun controversie, That she may not onely be smitten, and sore wounded and torne, but in a manner quite dead and buried under trouble; for, so is here imported, she needs to be revived, and raised up. See, Ezek. 37.2, 3, &c. Psal. 14.1.7. 2. True penitents are allowed ground of hope of recovery, were their condition never so desperate and deadly; for, here they professe their hope that it will be so. Pe∣nitents do but wrong God, and themselves, when they draw hard conclusions on their lots, and do not leave a latitude to Gods love and omnipotency, and answer all their inextricable doubts with, O Lord, thou knowest. Ezek 37.3. 3. It may seeme good to the Lord, not to deliver penitents at their first seeking of him, but may keep them under exercise for a time that he may sharpen them yet more in that duty, and try the reality thereof for, it is after two dayes, and not at first they expect it. 4. Albeit length of time under trouble, joyned with the greatnesse of it, and the Lords seeming to neglect prayer and repentance for a time, be a sore triall, as, Psal. 22.1, 2. and 119 82. yet the penitent is allowed to believe, that however he delay, till it come to that complaint, Jer. 8 20. yet delive∣rance will come, and that no length of time ought to bring the truth of the Word in question: for, so do they reckon, that though it be not till after two dayes, yet he will revive. See, Hab. 2.3. 5. How long soever the Lord delay, a penitent is still bound to avoid fainting, and to account the time short, by compa∣ring it with eternity, and by his resolution, patience, and ma∣king use of the delay; for, in these respects, this form of speech, after two dayes, in the third day, may import a short time. 6. Albeit the Lord in delivering his people, do proceed usually by degrees, because our narrow vessels can receive his mercies, and observe them but by parts; yet where he begins, he will compleat deliverance, how small soever the beginnings be: for, here his Word is held out in severall branches, of reviving in their graves, raising up out of their graves after they are revived, and causing them to live and walke after they are revived and raised up; and all these toge∣ther, make a compleat deliverance. 7. The Lord will not on∣ly, in due time, recover the desperat and hopelesse outward condition of his people; but will also refresh and revive their

dying spirits thereby, which may be so broken, that outward deliverances will not cure them; for, so much may be imported in that when they are revived, and raised up, they shall live, that is, their hearts shall be encouraged and refreshed thereby, and enabled to improve that mercy. 8, As much and long con∣tinued trouble, may give a sore crush to piety, and weaken hands in the duties thereof; So mercies and encouragements are then blessed, when they make men active and lively in walking be∣fore God; for, so much also is imported in that, being revived and raised up, they shall live, or walke in newnesse of life. 9. As they who would approve themselves in duty, ought to walke singlie as before God; so his delivered people, improving their deliverances for that end, may expect to enjoy the favour and countenance of God, and to live under his protection and care; for, both these may be held out in this, we shall live in his fight: or, walk as before him, and be refreshed in his favour and care.