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 8. Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are up∣on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth, saying that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord.

Hitherto Amos hath in this Prophecy onely denounced hard things against this incorrigible people, saving that sometime he hath made some gracious offers, if they would repent, and considering that there was no hope of that, did return to threaten again. Now in the close of the prophecy, all this doctrine is sweetened with a twofold comfortable promise. In the first whereof, these hard tidings are corrected with a promise of moderation and preserving a remnant under these calamities, till better dayes should come under the Gospel, which is the summe of the second promise. The first promise is propounded in this v. That though he have an eye upon their wayes, and do purpose for their sin to destroy the profane body of the people, and to make them cease from being a Na∣tion; Yet he will not utterly destroy all the people, but preserve some, because of the Covenant, and because of the elect of them, and of their posterity who were to spring of them. Whence learn, 1. A people confederate with God may come to that height in sin, as to be justly accounted a sinful kingdom, not onely because of the corruption of Rulers in it, but because of the general overspreading of impiety and wickednesse; Therefore it gets the name of the sinful kingdome. 2. As God doth observe the wayes of all Nations, to punish them accor∣dingly; so especially he doth so toward his Church and people; and his observance of their debordings, and his stroaks upon them, will be especially remarkable; for, saith he, Behold, (as a thing to be remarked) the eyes of the Lord are upon the sinful kingdome, and I will destroy it. 3. The Lords confedrate people may so far miscarry, as to provoke him to consume them so as (beside the general cutting off of particular persons) they shall not have the face of a Nation upon the earth; for, of this Israel is a sad instance, I will destroy it from off the face of the earth. 4. Even

when God deals with his people in greatest extremity, there is still moderation toward them, and under saddest dispensations, they will meet with some proofe of love; for, this threatning hath an exception subjoyned. 5. As the Lords preserving a remnant of his people under calamities, (even though they be scattered and afflicted, and the face of their Nation extinguished) is a sufficient reason why they should not murmur, Lam. 3.22, 39. and being well emproven, may pretend much future good to them, how sad soever their cause may be for present; So, in particular, the Lord will never utterly consume his ancient people Israel, but doth preserve a remnant of them, to witnesse that their election stands fast, notwithstand∣ing their long and sad afflictions, ready to be manifested in glorious effects in due time; for, I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, faith the Lord.