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.

Vers. 13. Ye which rejoyce in a thing of nought, which say, Have not we taken to our selves horns by our own strength.

14. But behold, I wil raise up against you a Nation, O house of Israel, saith the Lord the God of Hosts; & they shall afflict you from the entring in of Hemath, unto the river of the wilderness.

Secondly, whereas they did glory that their strength was renewed and increased (as it was under Jeroboam the second, and Judah was strong under Ʋzziah, 2 Chron. 26.) so that they might drive away any enemies who should invade them; The Lord declareth that all this was but vain gloriation; And that he would refute it, by sending enemies who should afflict and oppresse them, from Hemath on the North border (as is cleared v. 2) to the river of the wildernesse, or of Egypt, on the South bor∣der, as Num. 34.5. Josh. 13.3. and 15.47. 1 King. 8.65: And so it comprehends the whole land of Canaan, and takes in Judah also, who were vexed and oppressed (as the word signifieth) by the Assyrians, when Israel went into captivity; If it do not also relate to their captivity by the Babylonians, which must be understood in these threatnings, v. 7.8. Doct. 1. It is no strange thing to see much gloriation and carnal joy among a people, when yet their sins are come to a great height, and vengance is very neare; for, at this time they were rejoycing. 2. The power and strength of a people is one cheefe cause of a peoples sinful gloriation, and it is hard 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have these and not to glory in them; for, this they rejoyce in, that they have horns, or power to push their enemies. 3. As all things beside God are but naught and vain to be gloried in; So a peoples gloriation in any thing is a way to make it prove naught in effects, whatever it seeme to promise; for, in these respects he saith of this their power, ye re∣joyce

in a thing of naught; or that which is nothing. 4. Mens exalting themselves in what they enjoy, and ascribing the glory of it and the purchase thereof to themselves, is a cleare evidence of carnal gloriation, and that what they glory in will prove naught; for, this was an evidence thereof, they rejoyce in a thing of naught, who say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? as quickening up themselves and others to consider this, as if they were not yet high enough in their own or others thoughts. See Dan. 4.30, 31. and 5.19, 20. 5. Men are ordinarily so deluded in the matter of carnal gloriation, that they will not see the folly thereof any other way then by effects; And God will refute it so: for, so is subjoyned, But behold I will raise up against you a Nation &c. see Ezek. 28.9. 6. God is an impartial avenger of sin in one and other; and when a disease is universal, he can make scourges go through a land and all the corners thereof: And as carnal gloriation will not cease, so long as a people have any thing to look to in any corner; So God will strip sinners of any such refuge; for, so much is imported in this, they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath, unto the river of the wildernesse, whereby is held out, that God would neither spare Israel nor Judah, but would send an universal stroak to refute their folly in every corner.