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. 17. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wander∣ers among the nations.

The Prophet concludes all this doctrine, with subscribing to Gods sentence, and recapitulates it, shewing that they should be rejected, and made to wander in exile, because they rejected Gods Word, inviting them to return to him. Whence learn, 1. Albeit it be the duty of godly men to intercede in behalfe of a sinfull and perishing people, yet they ought also to subscribe to the equity of Gods judgements, and acknowledge his justice shining therein; For, so doth the Prophet here••, after his for∣mer intercession, vers. 14. 2. It is the commendation of men to cleave to God and his way, and be zealous for him, though they should do it alone, and to make sure an interest in God, when common calamities are imminent; And God will mani∣fest his interest in such, in hard times; Therefore doth Hosea name him My God, whom he had owned and been zealous for, when Israel had rejected him, whatever they pretended, and who

would prove so to him in that sad time which followed. 3. God will abhorre even his confederate people, when they corrupt them selves, and will prove it is so, by rejecting them from enjoying his presence or favour in Ordinances, or wonted mercies; For, my God will cast them away; the word in the Original imports his abominating of them, and (upon this) his rejecting of them. 4. It is righteous with God, that they who will not rest nor ac∣quiesce in him, should finde no rest otherwise, or in other things, and that they become vagabonds among Heathens, who do not prize the communion of Saints, or of the visible Church in her pure Ordinances; For, upon these grounds it is threatned a∣gainst Israel, they shall be wanderers, (or vagabonds) among the Nations. 5. As the contempt of the Word is a fountain of sin in men; so it fills up the measure of iniquity, and makes it in∣curable, when people will not hearken to the Word inviting them to repentance, and conversion from their evil way; For, it is the controversie here, because they did not hearken unto him, that is, they contemned his Word and directions, and so walked as they listed; and particularly, they would not hearken to the many messages of the Prophets, sent to reclaim them before the stroak came. 6. The Word of the Lord is therefore much con∣temned, because men will not see God speaking in it, but do on∣ly eye instruments; or will not ponder the authority and power of God, albeit they pretend to acknowledge him: And all the indignity offered to the Word in the mouth of his Servants, he interprets it as done to himself; Therefore is their contempt de∣scribed, they did not hearken to him, who spake in and by that Word.