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 12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Unto these challenges a further threatning is sub-joined of some strange judgements to come upon them. In con∣sideration whereof, he exhorts them to prepare to meet him; that is, (according to that speech, Luke 14. 31, 32,) either they would strengthen themselves to grapple with him, and resist his judgements: Or, (since they were too weak for that) they would by repentance study to pre∣vent this stroak of an angry God. And this exhortation hath an argument couched in the bosome of it, that as it became them who were Israel, thus to behave themselves; So it might encourage them that the Covenant was not yet renounced or made void, but he was their God still. Doct. 1. The incorrigiblenesse and impenitency of a smitten people doth portend terrible judgements yet to come, and doth justly procure them. For it is righteous with God to prosecute his begun processe against an un∣danted people (who have said by their practise, that they will not receive correction, nor be reclamed, whatever he do) till it be seen whose word shall stand, his or theirs, as Jer. 44.28. And it is just with him not to respect any afflictions that are on a people who make no use of them, but still to inflict more plagues, though they had never so many before. Therefore doth their incorrigible∣nesse draw forth this sentence; Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel. 2. When the Lord hath smitten a people never so sore, he hath yet more and sadder judgements to inflict, if they continue impenitent; for, after all the for∣mer stroaks, he yet threatens, thus will I do unto thee; and L••v. 26. it is often said, he can smite an impenitent people yet seven times more. The judgement here threatned is onely mentioned in a general, thus will I do, whereby we

are not so much to understand, that he will do as he hath formerly threatned v. 2.3. or that he keeps it up, that he might make it sadder or lighter, according as they car∣ry themselves in the matter of repentance. But by this it seems he would point out the tetriblenesse of this stroak, in that it is inexpressible, and the very nameing of it ter∣rible. And if any question what can be added to the judgements formerly inflicted; it would be considered, 1. Albeit former judgements have not wrought upon a people; yet there may be hope that Gods pursuing them, may prevaile: Therefore the Lord may adde this to all the former judgements, that they shall be plagued with the want of any future blessings of rods, and that afflictions shall never do them any more good, but shall harden them. See Ezek. 22.20. and 24.13. 2. Whereas these judge∣ments had wrought slowly toward their ruine; He can turn the moth into a lion, and speedily consume them. See Hos. 5.12, 14. 3. He can send these judgements not successively one after another, upon a people, but can pour them out all at once, as Lam. 2.22. 4. Whereas mens mindes may be supported under a deluge of out∣ward calamities; he can break the peace of their minde, can fixe their eyes to pore upon their troubles, raise up tentations about them, and waken up anguish and per∣plexities, as Lam. 3.18, 19. Iob. 9.18, 27, 28. 5. Whereas notwithstanding all the former judgements, a people may yet have a remnant preserved, and be per∣mitted to dwell in their land; He can cast them out of their land, and make their remembrance to cease, as v. 2.3. Ezr. 9.14. Deut. 32.26. 6. Whereas a people under all these calamities, may yet continue to be a Church; He can break his staves and unchurch them. Hos. 1.9. 7. All these calamities formerly mentioned are but temporal; but God can adde to all these the cast∣ing of both body and soul in hell. Doct. 3. This exhor∣tation given to threatned Israel, may in general teach, 1. When the Lord is about to strike in great severity, yet he desireth an intercessor, and to be prevented; And albeit this will not alwayes hold off the stroak (especially when some few onely set about it, and the body of a people are perverse and stubborn, Jer. 14.11. Ezek. 14.13, 14. &c.) yet it is well pleasing to him, that the duty be set

about; therefore doth he command it here. See Isa. 59.16. Ezek. 22.30. 2. Such as have been much hardened in impenitency, under many warnings and judgements, may yet attain to repentance, if they will know the plague of their own heart, and in time set about the duty; for, the exhortation supposeth that any who are sensible of their former obduration, should not despair of repentance as impossible. See Lev. 26.40, 41. 3. No man but he will indeavour to prevent wrath by repentance, who is sensible that he is no party for God, nor able to abide his anger; for, so much doth the exhortation import, that if they were not able to stand it out, they should submit and repent. See 1.1. Cor. 10. 22. Psal. 90.11. Doct. 4. In particular, these exhortations to prepare to meet God, holds out the duty of true penitents, in these particulars. 1. A penitent should take up God as his party with whom he hath to do, both in judgements, and in performing duties of repentance; for, it is God he hath to do with. 2. He is not to look upon repentance as a duty he will attain to at a fit, but there must be preparation and up∣stirring for it, by reall conviction for sin, much diligence and seriousnesse; for, they must prepare for this duty. 3. He must make it his care, especially, to prevent wrath by repentance; for, he must prepare to meet God, comming against him with vengeance. Albeit repentance be good at any time, yet a penitent under trouble will finde his stroak the sadder, that it might have been prevented in time: and he will finde his work the more difficult, that the storme is broken upon him. 4. When a penitent hath done all he can by way of duty; yet he is bound to think little of it, as being rather a preparation, then any thing else; and he will so judge of it, if he be reall. 5. Whatever sense he have of short comming, and whatever he be in his way; yet he is bound not to stay away, but to creep toward God, and prepare to meet him. Doct. 5. The motives and arguments of repentance, here held out, may teach. 1. As whatever guilt and sad dispensations may seem to say, a true penitent will finde the Covenant standing firme; (as here it is imported to be yet in force, notwithstanding all their sin, and judgements for the same:) So such as would repent indeed, ought not one∣ly to be affected with challenges and judgements; but

should make use of faith in Christ, and of the Covenant to melt their hearts, and draw them to repentance. And such as do professe an interest in God, should be ashamed to continue impenitent, when he is angry, and not to tremble, and seek to make their peace, when he pro∣clames war against them. Therefore, saith he, prepare to meet thy God, as directing them to make use of the Cove∣nant for this end, and inforceing repentance upon them from their own professions of interest. 2. As the Lords heart warmeth towards his poor people, and upon this it is that he invites them to repentance (for, he names Israel twice, as a name that had been deare to him, as David did name Absolon in his perplexity, 2. Sam. 18.33.) So the titles and priviledges of a people, should prove an argument of repentance unto them; for, if they be Israel, they should prepare to meet God, for so did Israel of old, Hos. 12.3, 4. and thereupon obtained that name, Gen. 32.28.