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 2. Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them: though they climbe up to hea∣ven, thence will I bring them down.

3. And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence, and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the

sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bit them.

4. And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.

This last part of the sentence, concerning their not es∣caping, is further amplified and enlarged, wherein it is declared that wherever they can flee to for shelter, he is omnipresent and able to reach them, and will do so. Though they should dig into hell or the depths of the earth, or climbe up to heaven, yet he will take them and bring them down; In tops of mountains he will finde them out; in depths of the Sea, he hath monsters ready to bite and devour them; and their thinking to escape by yeelding unto enemies, and being carried into captivity, will not for all that preserve them from the sword. It is also further declared, that the Lord will do all this in his great displeasure against them, which shall watch over them for evil and not for good. Doct. 1. Secure and and presumptuous sinners are endlesse in multiplying false confidences; and even when trouble breaks out upon them, they will not be driven to God, nor see their ex∣treame danger, but are ready to think they will finde wayes abundant to get out; for, so is here imported in all these suppositions of digging to hell, climbing to heaven &c. which shew how many shiftes they dreamed of to avoid this sentence, even albeit it should break forth in execution. 2. Among other deluding confidences, whereby secure sinners think to shelter themselves, this is one, that they think their captivity and former troubles lying on, should be a reason why no more should be laid upon them; Therefore is that brought in among the rest, though they go into captivity before their enemies, because they reckoned that being already captives, either their enemies with whom they had capitulate, would spare them or God who had thus afflicted them, would therefore forbeare to strike them any more. 3. All the defences creatures can seek unto, are to no purpose against an angry

God, were they more then they are; He is omnipresent, and cannot be fled from, Psal. 139.7.8. &c. He is powerful to destroy, having armies and instruments of vengeance everywhere: for, so is here held out, and all these suppositions of climbing to heaven, digging to hell, hiding in the bottom of the sea &c are here produced, not that they could do so much for their own safety, but to shew how vain their confidences were, seeing albeit they could do much more, yet it would not availe them. 4. It is righteous with God not to rest satisfied with the sub∣duing, yea and captivity of an incorrigible and impenitent people, but to pursue them with the sword in all the corn∣ers where they are carried captives; for, so is threatned here, Though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them. See Ezek. 5.2. 5. It is a sad addition to the weight and bitternesse of stroaks, when they flow from anger, and are inflicted in displeasure; Therefore it is added to the rest, and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil &c. which is borrowed from among men, who as they look with delight on these they affect, so their anger against these they are displeased with, appeares in their lookes, and their watching all ad∣vantages, to be about with them. 6. God pursuing in anger is too sore a party for a sinner; He can take ad∣vantage of them at every step, to deprive them of all good, and afflict them with all kinde of evils: and when sinners are so crossed and afflicted on every hand, they are bound to read the vigilant displeasure and severity of God in it; for, so much is imported in this, I will set mine eyes upon them for evil and not for good, that he will be (so to say) in∣tent and watchful to reach them, as he can easily do. See Jer. 44.11. and this is yet the sadder, that a reconciled people have a contrary promise, Jer. 24.6.