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 4. Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me; and behold, the Lord God called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up apart.

5. Then said I, O Lord God, cease I beseech thee, by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

6. The Lord repented for this. This also shall not be, saith the Lord God.

The second type and vision pointing out Gods long-suffering, is of fire devouring the great deep (or drying up the springs which come from it) and consuming a part of the land; the progresse whereof is stopped upon the intercession of Amos, as the former was. This also being a type represented in a vision, needs not to be understood literally of fire or drought, whereby some parts of that Kingdome were afflicted. chap. 4.7.8.9. but it see∣meth to point out other sadder calamities, which like fire threatned to devour the whole Kingdome (which may be here signified by the great deep, or a confluence of waters; as usually great Nations are signified by waters, Rev. 17.1.15.) and did consume it in part, when their power was broken and weakned, their men killed, and the sword, famine, and pestilence, succeeding one another, or com∣ing together, had almost ruined them. And particularly, it seemeth to relate to the stroaks inflicted by Hazael and his son, which had undone them, if the Lord had not raised up Jeroboam the second to interpose, 2. Kings 14.23,—27: and it may be also to the stroaks inflicted by the Assyrians before their final overthrow. Doct. 1. Lesser corrections, and moderation and favour shewed in them, are ofttimes so abused, as draweth on new and sadder stroaks; for, this followed after the former, when they had made no use of them, nor of their deliverance from them. 2. Such as will contend and strive with God, and will not be bettered by his dealing, do provoke him to strive with them yet more; and he hath still more and sadder stroaks, and instruments to inflict them, and power to make them effectual: for, he called (to his fitted instru∣ments) to contend against their stubbornnesse by a new judgement of fire, and it devoured. By all which he pro∣veth himself to be the Lord God, as here he is twice de∣signed. 3. The wrath of God pursuing an inpenitent people, is so violent and irresistible as no indeavours of men can stand in its way, or stop the course thereof; Therefore it is compared to fire, devouring the great deep, and eating up a part, and ready to devour all, if God had not recalled it. 4. It is the duty of Gods people not to be weary of prayer and intercession in times of calamitiy, even albeit they should increase, and a people grow still worse; for, Amos intercedes again upon this new occasion,

though greater, and though the people were so much the more hardened, by their abuse of Gods former dealing. 5. Albeit Gods faithful servants be ofttimes ill-beloved and hated by a wicked people; yet they are indeed their best friends, and special means, by their intercession, of draw∣ing down any blessings which they enjoy; for, so did Amos prove to Israel, however they could not endure him. 6. The same arguments for coming speed in prayer, must not be cast away, even when a people have abused Gods accepting of them; but may yet be pleaded before him in new straits; for, albeit the people made ill use of Gods favouring them in mercy, upon the grounds of Amos plead∣ing; yet he reneweth the same sure in this new difficulty; onely in place of pardon and forgiving, he pleads that God would cease, or forbeare to strike further and consume them by it; as being a visible effect of pardon, which he desires may be manifested: or as pointing out what it is to grant a National pardon to the body of a people; to wit, That the Lord would so far passe over their provocations, as not to destroy them from being a Church and Nation, though by peece-meal he cut off all the particular offen∣ders, were they never so many, yea and punish them eter∣nally for their sins. See Numb. 14.19, 20, 21, 22, 23. 7. The Lords compassion is not so exhausted, by letting forth it selfe in former exigents, nor yet by a peoples a∣busing the effects thereof; but he hath still bowels of mercy ready upon prayers and intercessions, to respect them: and it is not once but often that he moderates the afflictions of his people, before he utterly consume them. For, upon this second intercession for this stubborn people, Amos finds the same mercy in God, and gets the same an∣swer that formerly. And albeit Amos was an eminent Prophet, yet he was a man subject to like passions, and may be an encouragement to others, Jam. 5.17.