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.

Ver. 3. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD; his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the raine; as the latter and former raine unto the earth.

In the third ground of encouragement, (which is an enlarge∣ment of that living in his fight, ver. 2.) they promise unto them∣selves that by repentance and turning unto God, they shall attain unto, and grow in the saving knowledge of God, which is the root of true piety, and in the experimentall knowledge of the favour and love of God in Christ, as the fruit and cherisher of piety. The certainty and sweetnesse of this encouragement, is further confirmed and illustrate from two similitudes, shewing that unto the penitent there is a time of Gods manifesting him∣selfe, like the morning light that comes after the dark night, and the rain that comes after the drought: So the knowing of God is to be understood here, as comprehending true piety and godlinesse, whereof this is the root. See, ver. 6. Jer. 22.15, 16. Hos. 4.1. and 5.4. and likewise the experimentall knowledge of the favour of God. It is also to be observed that in the ori∣ginall, this promise is not conditionall, We shall know, if we follow on to know, (though that be true also in some respect) but absolute, we shall know, we shall follow on to know. Doct. 1. The great encouragement of a true penitent, is the hope of attaining to true piety, which is an encouragement and reward

unto it selfe; and such as begin a true repentance, may expect not to be disappointed in this; for, Then (to wit, when we re∣turne, and he hath revived) shall we know, to wit, the Lord, as is after expressed: This is their sure hope and sweet encourage∣ment. 2. The summe and root and life of true Religion con∣sists in the saving knowledge of God in Christ: for, so do they comprehend it, we shall know the Lord. See, Joh. 17.3. It is not onely a principall part in Religion, 1 Cor. 2.2. but more doth flow from it; for, if God were better known in his power, fidelity, beauty, terror, and in his other attributes, and his love in Christ, it would produce more confidence, encouragement, obedience, fear to offend, and would allure hearts more unto him. See, Psal. 9.10. Isay. 51.12, 13. 2 Tim. 1.12. Heb 12.28, 29. and elsewhere. 3. The Lord is for the most part an unknown, or mistaken God in the world, by reason of our na∣turall darknesse, the distance bred by desertion, the power of tentation, our looking through the prospect of our own guilt, and the want of sensible need of what is in him; for, here it is held out as a speciall priviledge of penitents, We shall know the Lord. 4, The true penitent pursuing after piety, shall not on∣ly attain thereunto, but shall experimentally taste of the excel∣lency and goodnesse of God, to encourage him in his course; He shall experimentally know how good God is, and that it is not in vain to seek him, Psal. 34.8. Isai. 45.19. He shall know his fidelity in keeping Covenant, notwithstanding sad dispen∣sations; He shall be confirmed that his wisdome and power o∣ver-rules all dispensations for his good, and that he hath thoughts of peace toward him, in times of saddest trouble; So much also doth this import, we shall know the Lord. 5. Piety and the knowledge of God, and the experimentall manifestations of him, is an infinite and growing subject, which cannot be all ta∣ken up at first; Every step of our way may discover more of our short-coming and ignorance to us, and when we have tasted most of his bounty, there is still more to be communicate; for, when men know, there is need to follow on to know the Lord. See, Job. 42.5. Prov. 30.2, 3. 1 Cor. 8.2. 6. As true and san∣ctified knowledge of God will be growing, and make men desire more of it, both for securing their own good condition to them, Joh. 8.31, 32. and that they may tast more of the sweetnesse of it, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3. So such as thus presse on to know God, do prove that indeed they do know him, how little soever they seeme to have: For; it is added, We shall follow on to know the Lord,

both as an effect, and evidence of their knowing of him. 7. When penitents have done all they can by way of duty, yet their living, their knowing and enjoying of God, must flow from his gracious and active manifestation of himselfe, without which all their endeavoures would be uselesse; for so much is held forth in the confirmation, it is his going forth, (or manifestation of himselfe, opposite to his going away, Chap. 5.15.) and his com∣ing to us, that is the cause of all this. 8. The manifestations of God toward his penitent people, are certain and in readinesse as being decreed of old; for, his going forth is prepared, and ready. See, 1 Cor. 10.13. Psal 31.19. 9. This similitude taken from the morning doth teach, 1. That refreshment and deliverance is as certain unto penitents, after their trouble, as it is certain in the course of nature, that the morning followeth the night. Hence it is, that these vicissitudes in the course of nature are brought in the Churches plea for the change of her sad condition, Psal. 74.16, 17. 2. That the Lords manifestation of himselfe to his people, will be as refreshfull after their trouble, as the cleare morning is after the dark night, especially to a wearied Centinell, Psal. 130.6. Doct. 10. The second similitude from rain, &c. Teacheth. 1. The presence of God to his people parched with trouble and tentation will be as refreshfull, as the rain can be to burnt up ground. See, Jer 31.12. 2. Gods refreshing of his people will produce fruitfullnesse also, and cheare up their decayed, discouraged and blasted graces, as the rain doth the fruits of the ground. 3. The manifestations of God to his people, will be seasonable, when they are most needed, and may be most usefull; for, so is the former and latter rain, dispensed on the earth. See, Heb. 4.16. 4. His manifestations will also be constant to his peo∣ple, to begin and carry them on to perfection; for, in this also doth the resemblance hold in the former and latter rain. 5. Al∣beit the Lord see it fit oft-times to delay and suspend the mani∣festation of himselfe, yet it is his peoples duty not to weary; but they ought to testifie their estimation thereof, by their eagerness and unwearied patience in expecting it; for, to this end also is this similitude made use of in Scripture; That as men wait for this rain with great earnestnesse, as being of singular use, Job. 29.23. and as the husband-man patiently waits for it, that he may at last have a fruitfull harvest to recompence his labours: So should the Lords people earnestly and yet patiently wait for him, as knowing that his coming will make up all, Jam. 5.7, 8.