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 1. HEar this word ye kine of Bashan that are in the mountain of Sama∣ria, which oppresse the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring and let us drink.

In this first article of accusation, the Lord prosecuts that processe for cruel and covetous oppression, which he had begun, chap. 3.9, 10. And in this v. he calls the Nobles and Judges of the chief City Samaria to hear what he had to say against them for their oppression and crush∣ing of the poor and meaner sort; and he laieth to their charge, that they stirred up one another, as they had power over the poor by being Creditors or Judges in their causes, to poll them, that so they might have among

them wherewith to satisfie their lusts: Or, they being Judges, did conspire with the Creditors and Masters of the poor, to crush them, providing they got a bribe where∣with to make merry. He compareth them to kine of Ba∣shan, which was fit place for pasturage, Num. 32.4. Deut. 32.14. because they were not onely fatted, and made brutish and insolent by prosperity (upon which grounds enemies are compared to bulls of Bashan, Psal. 22.12.) but were also become effeminate thereby. Doct. 1. Nobles, Judges and great and potent men, are ordinarily the ringleaders of all provocations in a land, and such as God hath most to say against; for, these are understood by kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, and especially the Judges, as the purpose ma∣keth clear. 2. While Amos is directed to call them kine of Bashan, we are not to conceive that he con••emns and affronts what lawful authority any of them had; for, that is contrary to duty and sound principles, Jude, v. 8.9. But he doth onely point out what their course was in it selfe, and laieth to their charge that they had prostitu∣ted and abused their place and office, and rendered it and themselves contemptible. And in particular, by this he would teach, 1. That however great men do ordi∣narily despise ministers, especially if they be mean persons; yet their sinful courses do render themselves more base and contemptible, notwithstanding all their grandour; for, whereas they thought little of him, as being an herdman; he declareth that they were yet worse then he, and but like beasts; and so an herdman was a fit enough messen∣ger for them. 2. Albeit also great men be readily puffed up by reason of their wealth and outward prosperity; yet that affords but poor matter of gloriation; and abused wealth doth not augment the honour, but rather increase the contempt of the abusers; for, in oppositon to the high thoughts they had of themselves by reason of their wealth, he declareth that they had no more to glory of then beasts which got a good pasture as well as they; and that all their wealth and greatnesse did but render them more brutish and effeminate. See Psal. 49.20. Doct. 3. Al∣beit that men, and especially great ones, be unwilling to hearken to God speaking in his word; and albeit their grandour and prosperity doth but hinder them to hear,

and harden them that they will not hear, Jer. 5.5. and 22, 21. yet they are bound to hear, and will be made to hear upon their own cost, if they do it not willingly: for, hear this word, (to wit, of the challenge, but especially the sentence, as the construction of the purpose bears) imports that preaching to them needs a preface to atten∣tion; that it is even their duty to hear, and however they stop their eares, yet God will inforce audience one way or other. 4. Whatever be the prosperity of men, or their apparent stability in it; yet they are still in a wofull case, so long as the word is a party against them, condem∣ning their way, or writing bitter things against them for it; for, though they were fat, and settled and wanton on their mountain; yet hear this word, is still an alarme unto them, and that which may mixe their cup with worm∣wood. 5. Oppression is one chief sin for which God con∣tends with a land; and specially when Magistrates, who are appointed for the protection and support of the weak and indigent, do rather by fraud or force crush them; for, it is the challenge against these kine of Bashan, that they oppresse the poor, and crush the needy. The first word may signifie their oppression by fraud, and the other, their vi∣olent oppression and crushing them, so that they were made utterly unable to subsist. And so oppression is di∣stingushed, Luke 3.14. It is a sin in any to oppresse, and especially in Magistrates to oppresse their subjects, and most of all, to oppresse these who are already miserable. Naboths Vineyard lost Ahab a Kingdome, and Rehoboams oppressing humour lost him ten Tribes. See Jer. 34.17. Neh. 5.1.—13. 6. Albeit the poor and indigent have none to owne them, nor to resent the injuries done to them; yet God, who is the supreme Lord, will not faile to plead their cause with the greatest; for, here he pleads it against the kine of Bashan: and how much more will he plead their cause, if they be his own people, and cry to him under oppression? See Psal. 12.5. Luke, 18.7, 8. 7. It is a great height of sin which God will not passe over, when men (and especially Judges) dare encourage and stir up others to oppresse, and dare concurre with them for their own interests; for, this the Lord doth spe∣cially challenge, they say to their Masters, Bring and let us drink. 8. It is but a poor benefit men reap by their

oppression, when all is employed to satisfie their lusts; and that is the height of the good that ever men will get of ill purchase; that they provoke God yet more against them by the ill use thereof; for, all they mind in their bri∣bery and oppression, is Bring and let us drink, which was a vice they were addicted to, Isa. 28.1. And for this the Lord also challengeth. 9. Though nature be content with little, and sobriety and religion would teach men so; Yet men devoted to their lusts, are in Gods judgement insatiable, and have never enough; for, albeit they be like fat beasts, yet they must drink more; and albeit they have much, yet their lusts consume it all, and they must oppresse and take bribes, and all little enough to furnish them wherewith to drink.