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 7. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves, shall be removed.

Followeth the Lords sentence for these sins, and an ex∣plication of that wo, v. 1. in several branches. And first, He threatens that they shall be first and chief a∣mong these who shall go into captivity; whereby he will put an end to their luxurious feasting. Whence learn. 1. The luxury of great and rich men doth import such a di∣stemper among a people as will draw on speedy captivity upon them; for, now captivity is to be the lot of all, as well as of them. 2. Such as are most secure when the Lord makes a breach by trouble, and do think themselves fur∣thest from it, may taste first of it; for, they shall go captive with the first that go captive, to wit, of the inhabitants of these Cities; for, otherwise the country was spoiled and many of them captivated before. Or, it may be read, they shall go captive in the head of them that go captive, that is, they

shall be ring-leaders, and noted and eminent sufferers in this misery, as before they were eminent in place, and chief in following sinful pleasures. Yea in Judah we finde they suffered before the poorer sort, 2, Kings 24.12, 13. and more then they, 2. Kings 25.18, 19, 20, 21. 3. Luxury and wanton sensuality and superfluity will be made to cease; and if nothing else will do it, God can make captivity effect it: Therefore it is sub-joined, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves (or, abounded with superfluities) shall be removed; The word rendered banquet, signifieth mourning, or, a mourning feast, as it is trans∣lated Jer. 16.5. in the text and margent; to intimate that their feasting should in the issue prove sad and mourn∣ful, as their mourning feasts were. 4. God abhorreth sensuality for this among other causes, that it exhausteth men with providing needlesse superfluities, whereas na∣ture is content with a little; and it mispends their time, and makes them unable for a calling; for, so is held out here, they (as the word will beare) abounded with super∣fluity in their banquets, and they did eat and drink, and then stretched themselves on beds, when they were full, as being meet for no employment.