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. 17. So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountaine: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no stranger passe thorow her any more.

The second promise is, that by these and other experiences of his love, they shall be confirmed of his interest in them and care of them, no lesse then when of old he resided among them in the visible signes of his presence. The third promise is that (for fitting them to enjoy his presence) he will make them holy by sanctification; And upon this shall follow their preservation

from the invasion of open enemies, and that they shall not be exposed as a prey to them, as formerly they had beene. This al∣so in Scripture-language is understood by their being holy, as it is observed in Obad. v. 17. partly because of the ceremonial pollu∣tion that of old did accompany the invasion of their land by hea∣thens, beside that it did obscure their priviledge of being the Lords peculiar, sanctified, and set apart people; But chiefly, be∣cause (as is usual in wars, when prophane Nations invade the Cuhrch) they did overturne holy ordinances, and cast all loose and in confusion. Doct. 1. Interest in God is the great ground of the Churches encouragement; for, it is held out as their great mercie, I am the Lord your God. 2. This interest is yet more sweet when it is evidenced by his presence and the gracious effects thereof among his people, and he is not provoked to forsake them, though they be his; Therefore it is added, I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion. 3. It is an addition to all these mer∣cies, when not only matters stand so, but the Church knoweth it, and is convinced of it; And this must be Gods own work, with∣out whose help, they will neither see interest nor presence, who yet in reality enjoy both; Therefore he undertakes it, to make their comfort and mercy compleat, Ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, &c. See 1 Cor. 2.12. 4. The Lord will in due time make his interest in, and presence with his people con∣vincingly clear, by visible dispensations and actings for them; for, so (by what I will do for you) shall ye know that I am the Lord your God, &c. 5. Where God takes up his dwelling a∣mong a people, all that concernes them becometh his, and he takes care thereof; for, then it is my mountaine, to wit, Zion where he dwelleth. 6. Gods presence with a people must be entertained and proven by their holinesse; for, then it is my holy mountaine, and Jerusalem is holy. See Psal. 93.5. 7. It is God only who can undertake for making his people holy, and it is their duty to deny themselves, and imploy him for that end; for, it is his pro∣mise, then shall Jerusalem be holy. 8. Where a people have re∣al sanctification, as a fruit and evidence of Gods presence, they have also the promise that he will preserve them from the invasion of enemies; for, then shall Jerusalem be holy in this respect also, that no stranger shall passe thorow her, to wit, in an hostile way. And albeit this seeme to be a peculiar promise to convert∣ed Israel, and albeit others (even Judah it self) when they have been upon the amending hand, have met with sad stormes from enemies; Yet certainly such have the promise of this mercy, when

it is for their good; and what they meet with which seemeth con∣trary to it, is but to stir them up yet more to the study of holi∣nesse, and in that respect they get a blessed issue from their troubles, and will come to a compleat issue at last. 9. It is a sad ingredient in the trouble of the Lords people, when they are invaded by profane Nations, that not only their priviledges are obscured thereby, but that their invasion and the confusions oc∣casioned therreby, together with their corrupt principles and pra∣ctices, do cast l••••se and overturne Religion, and bring in a de∣luge of prophanity; Therefore is the mercy of their deliver∣ance from strangers set forth under the name of being holy, as is before explained. 10. Such as have been long molested by ene∣mies, though they will meet with trouble, in one kinde and de∣gree or other, while they are within time; yet they may attaine to this mercy, to be free of molestation and trouble from invading enemies, and not meet with it any more in the measure that for∣merly they have had; for, such is the promise to Israel and Jeru∣salem, being converted, there shall no strangers passe through her any more. Whatever troubles they may meet with from enemies, after that great day of vengeance formerly mentioned; yet they shall not any more passe through them as formerly, to subdue or rul•• over them, or carry them into captivity; So that their greatest hazard then will be, that quietnesse may breed security.