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. 26. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be sa∣tisfied, and praise the Name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wonderously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.

27. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

These promises and causes of their joy are amplified from some effects. As, 1. That they shall have the use of this plenty to their satisfaction. 2. That they shall praise God for it. 3. That by this his dealing, and his other mercies toward them, he will convince them of his relation to them, who is God only; and will confirme them and all the godly, that they shall never be

disappointed of their hope in him; which he asserts twice for fur∣ther confirmation. And this is the first spiritual promise, whereby he encourageth them to repent. Doct. 1. It is an addition to the mercy of plenty, when men are allowed the use of creatures to satisfaction, without challenge of conscience, and are not denied a blessing upon, and with them, nor are others permitted to take them away after they are growen up; as, Isa. 62.8. For, it is a promise, Ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied. 2. It is the du∣ty of such as receive the good things of this life, to make consci∣ence of thankfulnesse to God, whose providence supplieth their wants; And true penitents, and such as are turned to God, will make conscience of this duty, considering (especially) that these common favours come to them in special love, and from their own God in Covenant with them; Therefore it is added to their eating and satisfaction, and shall praise the Name of the LORD your God. See Isa. 62.8, 9. Deut. 8.10. 3. It is our duty to stir up our selves to praise in this, by considering the wonderful∣nesse of the providence of God in providing continually our daily bread: And especially in his sending great plenty after famine, in which change of dealing, both his providence and mercy shi∣neth; For, it is added as an argument of praise, that he hath dealt wonderously with you, both in his ordinary providence, and especially in that great change. 4. The chief blessing and ad∣vantage of temporal benefits unto the godly, is, that by receiving and using of them, they reap some spiritual benefit and advantage by confirmation of their faith, and discovering of the love of God unto them; so much are we taught by subjoyning this spiritual promise, containing an effect of conferring this temporal favour. 5. Gods dealing kindly with his Church, or any one of them, in any particular according to the Covenant, may be a pledge that none, be who they will, that are his people, will ever finde it in vaine to seek him, or be ashamed or disappointed of their hope in him according to his Word; For, this is a general conclusion drawn from this particular proof of his love, and my people shall never be ashamed. 6. An interest in God by vertue of a Cove∣nant, and his manifested presence following upon that, is the choice of mercies; And it is sweet when this maybe read and seen shining in his mercies, as a penitent is allowed to do; For, it is held out as the sweet effect and consequent of his bounty to∣ward penitents, ye shall know, not only that I am the Lord your God, but that he hath not withdrawn himself, though the inter∣est stand, but that I am in the midst of Israel, or these who are

now left of Israel to be a people to him. And however the Lord here promiseth prosperity to evidence this; yet if the Lord clear it any other way, it is sufficient. 7. It is also a great addition to the Churches mercy, that he who alone is her God, is also the only true God; and therefore is the only portion, and above all the opposition that can be made to her felicity; For, I am the Lord your God, and none else, none beside him to prove a God unto her, let her choose never so many. 8. However the people of God may be oft put to pray against that sad affliction of being ashamed of their confidence, as, Psal. 119.116. Yet it is to be believed, and again and again inculcate, that not only now, but for ever, Gods people have no cause of fearing disappontment; & that God will by actual performance of his promises, put them from all cause of fear; Therefore in opposition to the recurring of such tentations, it is again repeated, and my people shall never be ashamed. Where it is given them as a ground of hope, that God who chooseth and calleth them to be his peculiar people, will not raise such an ill report upon his own love, or service, as thus to entertain them; Nor will he make his own purpose and grace in election and calling void, albeit they be worthlesse.