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. 15. All their wickednesse is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickednesse of their doings, I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are re∣volters.

In the last part of the Chap. the Lord (as it were, answering to the Prophets intercession, ver. 14.) accuseth them for their Idolatry, especially of the calves, which they used in Gilgal, among other places, Chap. 4.15. and, 12.11. and that all their Princes who led them on these courses, were Apostates from the first to the last. And therefore he proceeds to threaten, de∣claring that he hates them, and that he will cast them out of his land, and from being a Church, and will withhold the former effects of his kindnesse. While he saith, all their wickednesse is in Gilgal, the meaning is not, 1. That they had no other wickednesses but that of Idolatry, but that as their Idolatry was their chiefe and greatest sin, and the fountain whence their o∣ther wickednesse did spring; so that whereas they pretended to cover all their wickednesse with these Idolatrous sacrifices which they obtruded on him; the Lord declares that this was the chief and height of their wickednesse. Nor, 2. is this the mean∣ing, that they had no other place of publick worship but Gil∣gal; But whereas they had chosen (and possibly now frequent∣ed most) this place as holy, and more famous then Bethel, because of more recent favours there, in rolling away their re∣proach, giving them the first fruits of the land, and the first passeover after they came out of the wildernesse. The Lord de∣clares that this adds to the sin, and their sacrifices were more abominable there, then any where. Whence learn. 1. Not on∣ly is Idolatry and corrupting of Religion a peoples chiefe sinne, and openeth the sluce to other wickednesse: But peoples think, ing to cover their other sins, and stop Gods mouth with externall performances of worship, (espcially in an unlawfull and un∣warranted way of worship) doth exceedingly add to the sin, and become their chiefe guilt; For, thus all their wickednesse is in Gilgal, as is before explained. See Jer. 7.9, 10. 2. The fair∣er pretexts and maskes men have for a corrupt way of serving God, and in corrupting Religion, it is still the more odious, and the more men would wash such a course, it will be still the blacker; For, so was all their wickednesse in Gilgal, which they thought the best place, and made u••e of what God had done of old there, as a plausible pretence to make their Religion ta••e with others, 3. It is a chiefe sin in people, to meet Gods mercies with in∣grate and corrupt service, and to abu••e them to render a corrupt religion acceptable; For, thus did they in Gilgal, return Ido∣latry for all the mercies they had received there, and made a pre∣tence of these, to make it passe currant. 4. Rulers will not be a∣ble

to assoile people from sin, by their commanding it, but may well get themselves challenged as chiefe Apostates; For, so are they here, all their Princes are revolters. 5. Iniquity doth then become Nationall and land-destroying, when it gets up upon the throne, and from thence by authority and example, infects the people; For, such was Israels case, when they are to be cast off, their Princes are revolters. 6. Gods judgements may be very sad on a people, in a succession of ill Rulers, who keep up ill courses till destruction put a period to them; For, thus was Is∣rael plagued, all their Princes are revolters. 7. It is but small matter what men think of their own way, or how they mask it, if God hate it, as he will do wickednesse, whatever men pretend for it: so doth he prove their wickednesse in Gilgal, which they made so plausible, from an effect; For (or, therefore) there, or, for the sins done there, I hated them. 8. Whatever be the Lords pitty and compassion through Christ, toward his own under their infirmities and daily escapes; yet Idolatry and cor∣rupting of Religion will meet with hatred and indignation; For, there I hated them. 9. As God is provoked to take away his partition-wall, and unchurch them, who dare bring corrupt and humane inventions in the matter of worship, into his house: So this stroak is the capestone of a peoples misery, and speakes Gods great anger; Therefore it followeth, I will drive them out of mine house. 10. As the former effects of Gods love in outward things, may be cut off from a visible Church without hope of restitution: So the want of these will be sad, however his love in them was little seen or acknowledged, while they were enjoyed; For, it is a part of the stroak, I will love them no more, that is, give them no more outward proofes of it; for he speakes in their tearmes, who would never think but God loved them, so long as they prospered.