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. 10. Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the King of princes.

The Lord threatens because of this, that their endeavours to hire help among the Nations, should not availe them, but God should gather them, that is, either their hired friends, to be employed a∣gainst themselves; or, he will gather themselves among the Na∣tions in heaps, as dead corpses; or, whereas they were wilde and untameable, v. 9. he will reclaim them from this humour, and make them endure his yoke of judgements, as, Jer. 2.24. This stroak is amplified from an effect, that however the taxes imposed upon them by the great King of Assyria, 2 Kings 15.19, 20. and 17.3. were very heavy, and a cause of that revolt, 2 King. 17.4. yet they should finde cause to grieve little at that, in respect of what followed, when part of the Nation was carried into capti∣vity. 2 Kings 15.29. and then all of them, 2 Kings 17. Doct. 1. It will be but to small purpose, what means men use, so long as they do not make matters sure with God, and do not consider

how he will dispose of them, or their helps; For, so it proved here; Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them. 2. When God is provoked to anger, he can em∣ploy the means of our help, to ruine our selves, and can bring the wildest under sad rods; So much doth his gathering them, as is before explained, teach. Now, or, shortly, will I gather them. 3. When the Lord hath his Church to try, or them and the rest of the world to scourge, he can and may let wicked men prosper to a very great height for that end: For, the Assyrian is the King of princes, having so many Kings and Princes subject and tribu∣tarie to him, Isa. 10.8. & 36.13. 4. A people who have suffered under lesser trouble, and yet have made no right use of it, to prevent more, or have used sinful means to be rid of it, may expect no other issue, but that the Lord will send a greater trouble to make them forget the former: For, this had been their car∣riage under their tribute and burdens, and they are therefore told, they shall sorrow a little for the burthen of the King of princes. See Matth. 24.7, 8. 5. Taxes and burdens under the feet of op∣pressours, are but easie in comparison of captivity and exile, and therefore ought to be the more patiently born; For, they sorrow a little for the burden, &c. as being easie in respect of what followed.