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 14. Seek good and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts shall be with you, as he hath spoken.

The exhortation is the fourth time repeated, and is part∣ly explained and pressed by propounding encouragements, v. 14, 15. and partly pressed from the calamities that were approaching, v. 16, 17. In this v. the exhortation is explained, that they should so seek him, as to follow what is good, and to renounce evil. And unto this, the former promise of life is sub-joined. To which is further added, by way of explication, that whereas they now onely presumptuously dreamed and boasted of their en∣joying Gods presence, they should, upon their sincere seek∣ing of him, finde it really true. Whence learn, 1. When the Lord is most sharply reproving, and sadly threatning a people, yet he would not have them thereby deterred from seeking to him; Therefore to prevent this mistake, he repeats the exhortation after the former challenges and threatnings. 2. Men do need frequent up-stirring unto, and informations concerning the right way of re∣pentance and seeking of God, as being unwilling, and very ignorant and ready to run wrong, or please themselves on sleight grounds in that matter: Therefore is the exhor∣tation again inculcate and explained. 3. Men in seek∣ing God, should follow that which is really good, and not what seems to be so onely; And they who seek God sin∣cerely, do not onely offer service and homage to God, but are seeking their own reall good: Therefore is seeking of God explained to be seek good. 4. Albeit it be an evi∣dence of mens enjoying reall good, when they sincerely seek God; And albeit there be much good daily conferred on them who are seeking him; Yet the sincere seeker of God will see his wants most, and be set on work to pursue after what is good; and these who are sincerely pursue∣ing, are accepted in Gods sight. Therefore are true pe∣nitents

described, that they seek good, rather then by their enjoyments. 5. Men must not lay their account to seek after good, retaining their former evils; But they who would approve themselves, must abandon them, that they may enjoy good; Yea, their former fervour in following thereof, must be employed in seeking good, and must be a spur in their sides, not to be remisse and coldrife in their duty; Therefore it is Subjoyned, seek good and not evil. 6. Let men reproach God and his waies as they please; yet it is a certain truth, that God delights to do good un∣to his people, and that none shall seek him in vain; For, his word is again given, that seeking tends to this, that ye may live. Wherein not onely the certainty of their liveing is held forth, but his delight and desire that they should live; and therefore he exhorts them to seek, that so they may take the way to life, and get it, seek good that ye may live. see Ezek. 18.29, 30, 31, 32. 7. Albeit con∣vinced sinners, ought to make use of the Law as well as the Gospel; and albeit their discouragement and unbeliefe, being convinced, may for a time put them to some diligence and pains: Yet neither will they be able to persevere in such a course, nor will it worke an effectual and through change, unlesse the Gospel and encouragement by faith be made use of, and eyed likewise. Therefore, also doth he propound Gospel encouragements and comforts, as a special means of making the exhortation effectual, seek good that ye may live &c. 8 The Lords presence in favour and mercy is the sweet comfort and rich upmaking of a people, and the special and cheife cause of their happy life: And no wonder, he being the Lord, whose being is of him∣selfe, and needs nothing of them, and can give a being unto any encouragement, and by his word can create it of nothing, when they need it, and being the Lord of hosts, whose power is able to protect them, and raise instuments and meanes of help unto them: Therefore it is added as their special encouragement, & an explication of that promise of life, So the Lord, the Lord of hosts shall be with you. 9. Albeit the members of a visible Church, will not be put from a conceit of Gods favour and presence with them, what ever their way be; Yet they are but deluded and do onely dreame of it, while they continue in sin, and do not sincerely seek him; for, it is imported they have spoken

much of his presence, but groundlesly, so long as they did not seek good and not evil 10. It is a special encouragement to seek God sincerely, that whatsoever men conceit of Gods favour and their own happinesse, while yet they are in a wicked way, will prove all really true, if they will take the right way of seeking God: for, so is expresly held out for their encouragement, seek good &c. And so the Lord, the God of hosts shall be with you, as ye have spoken. 11. What∣ever men may boast of Gods favour and their hope to at∣tain salvation, as their great happinesse; yet they declare themselves liars, and proclame their contempt thereof, when they will not so much as follow the sure way to at∣tain that, which they pretend so much to esteeme; There∣fore also doth he urge their presumptuous delusions against them, as pleading for what he presseth, that they should take the right way to attain what they pretend to account so much of.