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 3. Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come neer:

The Lord proceedeth to hold forth further causes of that denounced, wo, by pointing out several effects and evidences of their security. The first is, That they con∣temned all the threatnings of the Prophets concerning a day of vengeance; as not looking for it at all, or not so suddenly, or driving all thoughts of it out of their head. And upon this (which is a second effect and evidence) they followed injustice and oppression with great eager∣nesse, and hasted on the day which they would not be∣lieve, nor desire to think on. Doct. 1. As there is a day, which will be noisome and evil to the guilty, hast∣ning upon the backe of security and sin, (for, so is here imported, that there was the evil day, foretold to be com∣ing) So it is the great sin of a people, and an evidence of their desperate secure condition, when they do provoke God, and yet do neither fear nor believe approaching judgement, nor will take with warnings of it; for, this people did draw these courses near, which unavoidably drew on judgements, and yet when they were told of danger, they put far away the evil day, which may be under∣stood that they did not believe, or fear it at all, as chap.

5.18. and 9.10. and in scorn told the Prophets it was prolonged, and therefore did fail, as Ezek. 12.22. 2. As it is the sin of men to look on judgements even but as a far off, when sin is come to an height, and they are sleeping securely in it; So is it also their great sin, and the dreame of secure sinners, when they content themselves that judgements are far off, and not neare, when yet that is but a poor comfort, seeing any thing that is measured by time will soon come about; for, so is further imported here, they put far away the evil day, when they looked on it (if it should come) as not near at hand, and conten∣ted themselves with that. 3. It is yet further a poor shift of secure men, when they make not sure their peace with God, nor deale with him to avert judgements; but all their care is, to put thoughts of judgement out of their minde, let God do as he pleaseth; and so evil is upon them ere they know of it: for so much further may be imported here, that whether judgements were far off or near hand, they laboured to put all thoughts of it far a∣way. 4. Men are but in a poor condition, when they do not order their way so as to abide and endure an evil day, as Isa. 33.14, 15, 16. and do not daily labour to answer that question, what will ye do in a day of visitation? Isa. 10.3. But all their care is to avoid it on any termes; for, so much also doth this putting far away the the evil day import, that they had nothing to beare out in such a day if it should come; whereas the godly are made able to resolve upon and ride out the saddest of stormes, Hab. 3.17, 18. 5. When men sin, and yet cast off all fear of judgements, it will soon harden them and make then very eager in their course; and that is a new judge∣ment upon them; for, upon the former followeth, they cause violence to come neare, and are eager upon it. 6. Whatever ground of confidence men may seeme to have against an evil day; yet it is an ill mark of it, when it makes them the bolder on sin, which procureth the stroak, and makes it bitter and sad: for, this is marked as one fault of their secure thoughts about an evil day, that this made them more bold to sin, they put far away the evil day, and cause violence to come neare. 7. Oppression and vio∣lence is not onely an hainous sin, but a cleare evidence of security, of atheistical contempt of the word and threat∣nings

thereof; for, upon their security, and putting far away the evil day, this sin in particular followeth, they cause vio∣lence to come neare: So neare as they bring this, so far have they put away the other in their hearts. 8. Op∣pression is yet the more hainous, when it is acted under colour of law and justice, by Superiour and inferiour Magistrates; for, it adds to it that it is the seat (or bench) of violence, and elsewhere the throne of iniquity, Psal. 94.20.