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.

Verse 2. You onely have I knowne of all the Fa∣milies of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

Followeth the Lords express obviating and refuting of all their exceptions against what the Prophet had in com∣mission against them. And first, whereas they might al∣ledge, that they onely, of all the Nations, were Gods peculiar and chosen peopl••, and therefore could not be rejected nor ruined, unless God would resolve to want a people: The Lord (in answer to this) declareth, that so much the more as they were his people, he would not spare them, since they walked not answerably. Whence learn. 1. The Lords faithfull servants must resolve not onely to have much humbling toyle and exercise in seeking to know Gods minde, and in carrying it unto his people; but also to be exercised with casting down of many strong holds and imaginations, which sinners raise up in their hearts, to ruine themselves by obstructing the successe of the word; for so much doth this paines taken to refute their exceptions and delusions, teach. See 2 Cor. 10.4, 9, 2. It is the Lords prerogative to make choyce of what Nation he will to be a peculiar people unto himselfe, and they are highly honoured whom he so chuseth above o∣thers, be their other lots what they will; for, saith he, you onely have I knowne (that is, chosen and taken special no∣tice of) of all the Families of the earth; Whereby is not intimate any injury done to other Nations, but it inti∣mates his absolute soveraignty to choose whom he will, being debtor to none, and his great mercy to them who are thus respected. See Acts 14.16. Psal. 147.19, 20. 3. Such as doe enjoy special priviledges, and doe not make right use of them, will soone come to a great height of iniquity, both for nature and number; for they are guilty of iniquities, and there is an all of them, all your iniquities. 4. When Gods peculiar people do make de∣fection and goe wrong, their priviledges turne a great snare unto them, filling them with conceeit of their own excellency, notwithstanding their sinne and guilt, and hiding from them the odiousness of their sinne, and the greatnesse

of their danger thereby; for, here Gods knowing of them is an exception to be removed and refuted. 5. Whatever may be the dreames of secure sinners, yet they will finde that their priviledges doe aggravate their sinne, and doe draw on more certaine and severe stroaks upon them; for, saith he, You only have I known, &c. there∣fore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Which is not so to be understood as if he would altogether spare others when they sinne, but that however he may wink at the sinne of others, yet he will more certainly and severely punish them then any other. For 1. Their sin is more grosse then the sinne of any others, and there must be more of malice and wickedness in it, considering the ma∣ny meanes they enjoy. 2. There is much ingratitude in their sinne, which renders it the more odious and in∣tolerable. 3. Whereas God is therefore kinde unto a people, that he may be glorified in their holiness and o∣bedience, it cannot but grievously provoke him, when they walk the quite contrary way. ••4. It concerns God to vindicate his owne glory and holiness by punishing them when they sinne, lest he should seem (by forbear∣ance) to approve of their sinne, who are so neere unto him by priviledges. 5. Because they are his people, there∣fore he will reclame and not want them, whereas he may let others walk in their own wayes.