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 1. THus hath the Lord God shewed un∣to me, and behold he formed gras∣hoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the lat∣ter growth: and lo, it was the latter growth after the Kings mowings.

2. And it came to passe that when they had made an end of eating the grasse of the land, then I said, O Lord God; forgive, I beseech thee, by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

3. The Lord repented for this, It shall not be, saith the Lord.

The Lord being to declare that his long-suffering and patience toward that people, was at an end; He doth first hold forth how and in what measure it had been ma∣nifested to them, by two types and visions. The first whereof (in these verses) is of grashoppers created by God to consume their fruits, which having consumed much, they are (upon the intercession of Amos, pleading from Jacobs irrecoverable condition) recalled from the utter consuming of all. For clearing of this, consider, 1. This being but a vision, it is not needful to understand

these grashoppers literally, or onely of these or the like creatures sent among them, and causing famine, of which chap. 4.9. But generally they signifie all the lesser af∣flictions (by incursions and invasions from enemies, by drought, insects, or the like) whereby they were afflicted, and by which, and his sending them in a more moderate and gentle way, God did excite them to repentance. 2. As for the time of this vision, being the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth, after the Kings mowings, it see∣meth to be understood not so much of their cutting the first growth of the rank corn, that so it might stand and ripen the better; as that the first growth of their grasse was cut down for the Kings use, to maintain his war-horses, and the latter growth came to the people for their private use. And this circumstance of the vision is not necessarily to be interpreted of their condition after their defection from the house of David, that their former flourishing con∣dition was become but like a latter growth, oft cut down: But it seemeth rather to signifie that this rod did afflict chiefly onely the body of the people, their Kings being (as the type imports) furnished, and their state yet standing. 3. This intercession of the Prophet, albeit it hold forth in particular his tendernesse and sympathie with that people; yet it points out also what was the practice of all the godly in that time. Doct. 1. When the Lord is about to strik his people in greatest extremity, it is their duty to be convinced, and acknowledge that mercy and long-suffering hath been much manifested to∣ward them, before it come to that; for, so much doth the scope of this and the following type and vision, premitted to the third, import: for by the two first he clears what his long-suffering had been, before the final sentence come forth. 2. Such is our stupidity, and little observing of Gods dealing, that when it is most obvious and visible, yet it must be much and divers wayes inculcate; for, al∣beit the afflictions that had come upon them, might be sensibly felt; Yet it must not onely be told they were af∣flicted, but it must be held out in a sensible type, and they excited twice to remark it, Behold, lo; and all this espe∣cially is done, to let them see Gods hand in these lots, that so they might make use of them. 3. It is not inconsistent with the Lords mercy and long-suffering toward a sinning

people, that he strikes them in some measure: But when he doth smite in measure and not procceed to extremity, even that should serve to magnifie his mercy and long-suffering, and to invite them to repentance, that they may reap more fruits of mercy; for, in this vision, wherein he holds out his long-suffering, it is declared he did smite them, but so as might rather allure them to come to him, then consume them. 4. Trouble is of Gods creating and forming, and he is to be looked on as the author thereof; and before a needful affliction be wanting, God will create or forme it out of nothing, or what is unlikely to produce such a trial: for, the Lord God shewed to me, and behold, he formed grashop∣pers. 5. Weak means and scourges in Gods hand will serve his turn, to afflict in what measure he pleaseth; Therefore are these afflictions compared to grashoppers, or the like little creatures, and yet they did eat up, and put the sensible Prophet to prayer. 6. It should be acknow∣ledged as special mercy, when God doth spare any thing, when he inflicts stroaks on a people for sin: And in par∣ticular, albeit stroaks on particular persons may be very sad; yet they should not be accounted intolerable, so long as the publick interest and a state stands; for, so much may be signified by the grashoppers coming not be∣fore the latter growth after the Kings mowings, as is before explained. 7. It is no strange thing, that when God in∣flicts any calamities, they do consume much before a peo∣ple be stirred up to make any use of them; for, so much is imported in the vision, they made an end of eating the grasse of the land, before the Prophets intercession. 8. Albeit ofttimes few of these who are smitten and especially con∣cerned in judgements, will be sensible or seek to God un∣der them; yet the truly godly both should and will inter∣cede with God in times of publick calamities; for, so much doth Amos practice teach. 9. Such as would in∣tercede acceptably with God, in times of calamities, should be most affected with the sense of sin, and a desire to have it removed; Therefore doth Amos begin, O Lord God forgive, I beseech thee, as expecting a good issue from the trouble, in the pardon of their sin. 10. Such as are truly convinced of, and humbled under the sense of sin, will be driven to seek for a free pardon, as their onely re∣fuge; and will be far from thoughts of their own deser¦vings,

or of their ability to rid themselves of that burden: for, such is Amos request, forgive I beseech thee. 11. Trouble will soon exhaust and bring a people so low, as there will be no visible effectual mean of their restaura∣tion, were they never so potent before; for, so much is imported in that question, by whom shall Jacob arise? that they were fallen, and neither could they raise themselves, nor were there any other to help them. 12. When the Lord brings a Church so low, and they are sensible of their sin; such a condition calls on them who are sensible to betake themselves to God, as Amos doth here; and they are warranted to cleave to a Covenant interest (im∣ported in the name of Jacob, with whom the Covenant was made or renewed) to plead in faith against the utter ruine of a Church, and her falling without recovery (for, the question laieth this as a principle, that Jacob must a∣rise, and upon that he pleads against their hoplesse con∣dition) and they are warranted to make use of their own weak and low condition, as an argument of pity; There∣fore it is sub-joined, for he is small. 13. The Lord is very willing to be intreated, and upon intreaty, to divert and moderate his stroaks, especially during the time of his long suffering; for this, it shall not be (to wit, to undo them quite) saith the Lord; his word is enough for it. 14. Whatever be the carriage of men under calamities; Yet it is Gods mercy and gracious condescendence that is a∣lone to be magnified in any moderation or favour they meet with; for, The Lord repented for this, or of this &c. It was his gracious condescending to change his dealing (as men do, when they repent) that produced this favourable sentence.