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. 30. And I will shew wonders in the hea∣vens, and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoake.

31. The Sunne shall be turned into darknesse, and the Moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

To prevent all secure and carnal thoughts, as if upon em∣bracing of the Gospel, and receiving of the Spirit, men should be rid of all outward trouble; The Lord foretells of great commotions which were to be in the world after the pouring out of the Spirit. Whereof though there were some particular ac∣complishments in these primitive times, and before that dread∣ful day of the destruction of Jerusalem; Yet the prediction stretcheth forth to all ages after the pouring out of the Spirit, till the second coming of Christ to judgement, which is here called the great and terrible day of the LORD. The expressions pointing out these commotions, of wonders in heaven & earth, &c. may be understood either literally, that there shall be signes of blood, fire, darknesse, and eclipses of Sun and Moon, going before these calamities as presages thereof, or figuratively, that there shall be such commotions, and such signes of Gods anger for sin, such judgements and calamities, of sword, famine, and sicknesses, such persecutions, desertions, tentations, heresies, schismes, &c. as if heaven and earth were going through other, the course of nature overturned, and the world full of dreadfull fights of blood, fire and darknesse, and neither Sunne or Moon affording wonted light or comfort. To dip further into what may be connceived to be figuratively pointed at under every one of these, I conceive is not very safe. Doct. 1. Whatever breathing times God may allow upon his Gospel-Church; yet it is her duty to look for commotions and troubles, especially after times of pouring out of the Spirit, and times of much light and reformation: For upon the one hand. Satan will bend all his power to oppose the progresse of the Gospel, and will set the world in opposition to the Church; and on the other hand, God will poure out all sorts of calamities upon the visible

Church, to punish them who contemne his rich offer, and do not walk answerably to such dispensations; and to trie the graces of his own, that they may aspire toward spiritual happinesse in heaven: And he will punish secret and open enemies, for the injuries they do to the Church; For these causes is this predicti∣on subjoyned to the former promise. 2. It is the Churches du∣ty, not only to look for troubles, but to expect that they will be great and very dreadful, such as may testifie the greatnesse of Gods displeasure against sin, and of mens fury against the Church, such as may throughly trie the godly, and bring about Gods deep counsels: For, there will be wonders in the heavens, (or, the firmament and several regions of the aire,) and in the earth, blood and fire, &c. 3. Whoever be employed in raising these great commotions, and whatever be the designes and malice of men in them; yet it is the Churches good and safety, to see a supreme hand of God in all of them; For, saith he, I will shew won∣ders, &c. 4. Though the Church in several ages, may get times of breathing and tranquillity, yet these will not be perma∣nent, but interrupted with sad blasts, till the second coming of Christ, which as it is certainly approaching, so it will put a pe∣riod to all stormes wherewith the godly are tossed; For, these things will be before the great and terrible day of the Lord come, that is, in all ages till that time, and belike very violently immedi∣ately before, Math. 24.29, 30. 5. The day of Christs second coming, will be great and terrible, and (as it is, Acts 2.20) a notable or illustrious day; A despised Christ will be seen great there, great things will be done in that day: He will then reach his full and final end of all his works; All things will then be re∣vealed and made patent, the glory of God will be seen face to face, the secrets of hearts, the glory of Saints, and the truth of promi∣ses and threatenings will then be made manifest; And though the godly will then be free of all terrour, yet it will be in it self a day of much state and majesty of the Lord, and of great terrour to the wicked: For, it is for these causes it gets this name.