Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	plead_v	zeal_n	zealous_a	18	3	9.0718	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86934	A brief exposition of the prophecies of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah. By George Hutcheson minister at Edenburgh. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy	Hutcheson, George, 1615-1674.	1654 (1654)	Wing H3822; Thomason E1454_1; ESTC R209588	282,367	353

1. Christ will have nothing seen in his Churches protection and deliverance but himself only nor will he make use of any thing which might seem to obscure his glory in doing all therefore whatsoever might seem to challenge any of that glory must in that day be cut off See Judg. 7.2 Zeph. 3.12 13. 2. Humane helps confided in prove a great hinderance of deliverance therefore Cities Horses c. will he cut off not only by judgements to come on that people but even in that day of restitution they will be laid by as impediments 3. Confidence in outward things is idolatry Therefore here their cities horses chariots to wit as they are depended on are ranked in with witchcrafts and idols 4. It is rare to see a people enjoying outward things that may seem to promise any thing unto them and yet not confide in them this is evident in that their cities chariots c must be cut off they can hardly enjoy them and acknowledg God as becomes them 5. When the Lord is pleased to deprive his people of probable means of help and calleth them to depend on him it is a pledge of his appearing in an eminent way for them for their cities c. being cut off ver 10 11. so will he destroy their enemies as the latter part of ver 14. ought to be read as agreeing with the Original also and fitting the scope best in this place 6. In the Church of God there is hazard of falling into grossest evils for here it is supposed there may be witchcraft or magiâ—k whereby men wanting the fear of God enter into one expresse or implicite league with the devil for attaining such ends as their discontentment in their condition impatience under affliction envie malice or curiosity propound unto them there may be soothsayers or divinations whereby men not conâ—ent to know their duty nor with what God hath revealed of future events do take sinful and damnable courses and put other things in Gods room to foretel what they desire there may be also images and the work of mens hands set up in Gods room as the object of worship and groves or shadie places where they pretended to worship God or indeed worship their idols after their own imaginations There are no evil courses but the Church of God how reformed soever is to be afraid of falling into them 7. These devillish courses and corruptions in worship do hinder the Lords appearance for his people for these must be cut off that he may do for them 8. The cutting off of idolatry and wicked courses is a work of the Lords own hand it is he who oft-times destroyes them by sore plagues and it is he only who can banish these things out of mens hearts I saith the Lord will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand or make thee not to practise it I will cut off thy graven images c. 9. There can be no blessed delivery from trouble but when there is a compleat and thorough reformation of Religion endeavoured and a destroying of the very monuments of idolatry for not only shall they not worship any more the work of their hands but their images and groves shall be cut off and plucked up and so will he destroy their enemies 10. The Lord will appear for his Church in a singular and wonderful manner and plague their enemies with unuseful judgements after that he is reconciled with them and hath brought them to walk in his wayes for after all this is done I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen such as they have not heard saith the Lord. CHAP. VI. IN this Chapter the Lord again after these many promises stirs up the Prophet to plead his controversie and expostulates with his ungrateful people v. 1 2 3. shewing forth his kindnesse toward them v. 4 5. and what duty they offered to him v. 6 7. with what they ought to have done v. 8. which seeing they did not obey therefore he gives an alarm of the rods coming upon them v. 9. then he more particularly sets forth and proves their several transgressions of their duty in sins against the second Table v. 10 11 12. for which he gives out sentence against them v. 13 14 15. and for their idolatry against the first Table v. 16. Vers 1. HEar ye now what the LORD saith Arise contend thou before the mountaines and let the hills hear thy voice 2. Hear ye O mountaines the LORDS controversie and the strong foundations of the earth for the LORD hath a controversie with his people and will plead with Israel The Prophet propounds in general the Lords controversie given him in commission to plead publickly as it were in view of all the creatures from the high mountaines to the low channels or foundations of the earth this way of procedure formerly used chap. 1. v. 2. doth yet further teach us 1. That sin causeth a controversie betwixt God and the sinner for the Lord hath a controversie 2. The controversie is so much the sadder as it not breaks out betwixt God and strangers but betwixt him and his Church with whom he dealt friendly and who professed friendship and subjection to him and therefore he can endure their offences the worse The Lord hath a controversie with his people and he will plead with Israel 3. The Lord is zealous to have the controversie discussed and himself cleared Arise saith he the Prophets zeal coming short of his forwardnesse to plead this cause contend thou c. and he will plead with Israel that is not only will he have his quarrel shewed but will have it clearly demonstrated that he gave no occasion of the discord and therefore will justly punish as the following purpose cleares 4. Even insensible creatures are so to say more fit to be spoken to then an obdurate people and will bear witnesse against them for therefore beside other reasons insinuate on chap. 1 2. are the mountaines and strong foundations of the earth called to in this processe they keep still their obediential subjection to their Creatour and do tremble if he threaten whereas Israel was stupid and withal these had sometime been shaken and discovered for the good of Israel Psal 18.15 and 114.3 4. and therefore might beare witnesse against their ingratitude 5. A backsliding people are for the most part dull of hearing and plagued with obstinacie and cannot be sensible of their case and danger therefore is the dispute repeated again and they called to hear Hear ye now what the Lard saith 6. Messengers of God their reproofs are not to be sleighted but taken notice of as the Lords controversie for Micah by contending is to cause the Lords controversie to be heard Vers 3. O my people what have I done unto thee and wherein have I wearied thee testifie against me Followeth the pleading of the controversie wherein God first appears and challengeth them for their ungrateful departing from him and his obedience

allowance of comfort but judgements full of bitternesse and calamity for here Strangers carry away their forces enter the gates by force and cast lote upon Jerusalem or divide their prey by lots as Joel 3.3 Nahum 3.10 2. However the Lord in great feverity punish his people yet he hath an eye upon the carriage of every instrument of their calamity to requite them accordingly and would have his humbled people comforted in believing that his love is such as to do so for whereas it might have been thought that the Lord when he was afflicting Judah had cast of all pity towards them yet afterwards he reckons with Edom for his behaviour as that which he had narrowly marked and revealeth this Doctrine to the Church for her comfort 3. An idle beholder or on-looker on the people of Gods distresse as not concerned or affected with it is in Gods account an enemy especially being one who is obliged to do otherwise for it is a part of Edom's violence and cruelty that He stood on the other side staid aloof looked on and came not near to condole as the same word in the Original is used Psal 38.11 4. It is horrible wickednesse before God and will be especially remarked by him when false brethren not only countenance but actively concur and partake with enemies in oppressing the Church of God Even thou wast as one of them in all their hostility and a remarkable one as being not only a brother and they but strangers and forreigners but a most active instrument setting on the rest Psal 137.7 Ver. 12. But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distresse Ver. 13. Thou shouldst not have entred into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity yea thou shouldst not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity Ver. 14. Neither shouldest thou have stood in the cross way to cut off those of his that did escape neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distresse Edoms violence is yet further described by shewing negatively what he ought not to have done and yet did to wit that in the day of Judah's calamity by the Caldeans he a brother who is borne for adversity Prov. 17.17 ought not to have looked on their condition with delight nor insulted and spoken blasphemously against God and his people as this is expounded Ezek. 35.12 13. not entred the City with the enemies and spoiled them of their goods nor have laid wait for such of the Jewes as fled to cut them off or deliver them into the enemies hand Doct. 1. The houre of the Churches trial and conrection is a very sharp dark and violent blast It is a day of calamity destruction and distress a day wherein he becomes a stranger That is not dealt with as a priviledged people but as strangers and sent to a strange Country in exile and were exercised with strange lots The Churches heinous sins and Gods jealousie over his confederate people causeth this and withal the Lord mindeth to haste over the Churches affliction and therefore sends it thick on 2. The Church of God suffering much must not therefore think to be exempted from more trial but must by what they suffer be taught submission to yet further exercise if the Lord will For Judah in their distresse and calamity must yet have more from Edom. 3. However wicked men walk after the lusts and passions of their own hearts and stick at nothing which they will and have power to effect yet the Lord will let them know that they stand obliged by a Law to duty the violation whereof he will remark aggravate and punish For though Edom satisfied himself and his passion in what he did against Jacob yet the Lord tells him thou shouldest not have done thus and thus but wast obliged by the Law to do otherwise being both a brother and a neighbour 4. To adde affliction to the afflicted is great cruelty especially when it is done by those from whom comfort might in reason be expected Thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger c. This adds to Edoms sin that he chose such a time wherein to let out his hatred 5. As a careless or greedy look on the affliction of the people of God as it were a pleasant spectacle is a further degree of their triall and affliction So it is Esau-like and the badge of a reprobate condition to take pleasure in such a sight For it is twice marked that hee looked on the day of his brother as an evidence of his cruelty in adding that to their affliction See Ps 22.17 6. As rejoycing of enemies and their blasphemies against God his truth and his peoples priviledges in him is an usuall and sore triall of the Church when she is in affliction So it is the badge of wicked men to become insolent with successe and a cause wherefore God will plead with them For it is another challenge as for great cruelty that Edom rejoyced over Judah in the day of their destruction and spoke proudly in the day of distresse 7. The Lord will not forget the least injures done by any to the Church even when greater wrongs are in doing to them which might seem to hide the lesser For albeit the Caldeans were now bringing all to ruine yet the Lord takes notice of an insolent eye proud looks entering into the gate and laying hands on substance 8. Apostates and false brethren are most cruel enemies and persecuters of those whom they desert For Edom the brother beside all his insulting and joyning with the enemy did yet more and stood in the crosse way to cut off those that did escape and delivers up the remnant when it seems the Caldeans had given over 9. Even when God is afflicting his Church and letting loose the reins to the fury of men against them yet he doth not quit his interest in them For in the midst of all this storm from the Chaldean and Edom the Lord gives them the Covenant-title My people as not onely standing unrepealed but forth-coming for much sympathie from God and a reason why he thus pleads their cause Sin may procure affliction but every provocation will not make void the Covenant Ver. 15. For the day of the LORD is neer upon all the heathen as thou hast done it shall be done unto thee thy reward shall returne upon thine ownâ— head 16. For as ye have drunk upon mine holy mountain so shall all the heathen drink continually yea they shall drink and they shall swallow down and they shall be as though they had not been The

inferiours This evil temper is foretold to be in the perillous latter times 2 Tim. 3.2 3. 2. There is no sure hold to be had of any man how strictly soever he be bound who is declining from God and hath not a tender conscience standing in awe of God for in this declining time friends guides wives sons daughters c. are not to be trusted in He who is false in his duty to God will prove true to none 3. In times of defection and backsliding as the godly ought out of love to believe all things 1 Cor. 13.7 and not easily take prejudice so are they also to walk warily and prudently Trust ye not saith he put no confidence keep the doores of thy mouth especially none is to be looked to for help or trusted in but only God Verse 7. Therefore I will look unto the LORD I will wait for the God of my salvation my God will hear me Followeth the consolation of the godly who lament this defection and were to be involved in these common miseries and calamities whom the Prophet by his practice in their name directeth to encourage themselves in God and look unto and waite for him in hope of acceptance and deliverance which is the general ground of encouragement Doct. 1. The Lord makes use of troublesome and declining times to drive his people the more to their duty and thrift for therefore saith he I will look unto the Lord. 2. There is in God sufficient matter of encouragement to counterbalance any difficulty or discouragement that his people meet with in the world for in expectation thereof do they in such a time look unto the Lord as an alsufficient remedy to keep them from being carried away with a declining time and from discouragement in a sad time by eyeing him 3. In declining and sad times the people of God ought to be most earnest in dealing with him depending on him and in expecting his help for the word signifieth that like a watchman set upon a tower he will intently observe and watch and look to God and for help from him See Psal 5.3 Lukewarm dealing with God however it may please fooles in a caâ—me day yet will not bear out in a time of publick defection 4. In the reeling and turning upside-down of things here below the people of God are not so much to look to these incertainties as unto the immutability of God in what he is to his people for so much also is implied in his looking to the Lord. 5. With our faith and ardency in expecting Gods help patient waiting is also to be conjoyned by keeping his way notwithstanding difficulties or delayes of deliverance and resolving to have faith exercised before it get the victory therefore doth he resolve also to wait for God 6. In all the people of Gods waiting on him there is still hope and confidence though it be not always seen to the waiter for the same word in the Originall signifies both waiting and hoping 7. As it is the Lord onely who can save and deliver and as he is the onely Saviour of his Church by vertue of the Covenant of grace made with her in Christ so will he save all such as will implore him onely in their straits and have all their salvation from him and in him according to the Covenant for all this doth that stile the God of my salvation which is made the ground of his waiting implie 8. We ought to encourage our selves to deal with God by acting faith that we shall be accepted I will look and wait saith he and that because my God will hear me 9. God is bound by Covenant to hear the lawful and needy desires of his people in due time my God will hear me 10. Gods hearing of our prayers or confidence that he will hear them is sufficient encouragement in hardest times for such is the Prophets encouragement here my God will hear me A man that gets accesse unto God and knows he will speed in heaven may defie time to straiten him having such a fair back door of enlargement Vers 8. Rejoyce not against me O mine enemie When I fall I shall rise when I sit in darknesse the LORD shall be a light unto me The Prophet proceeds to hold out more special grounds of consolation and encouragement the first whereof is that the Church hath ground of hope of a satisfactory deliverance and in this verse the Prophet speaking in her person directs her how to manage this hope of comfort in reference to her insulting enemies to wit that having such ground of hope she should resolutely professe the same before them and contemn their insolent mockery and resolutely endure it till the Lord by actual deliverance put them to silence Doct. 1. The Church of God may for sin be deprived of the possession of her dignities and be cast into a perplexed desolate condition wanting both comfort and judgement to know what to do for she may fall and sit in darknesse 2. The people of God being in trouble will not want enemies to reproach and insult over them to embitter their calamity for here they have an enemy rejoycing against them 3. It is no strange thing to see the Church brought very low and yet be raised up again to see her fall is not to ruine and her eclipses not continuing therefore doth she expect to arise after her fall and to have light after her darknesse When I fall I shall arise c. whereas the fall of enemies hath no such comfort 4. The Lord is alsufficient to give unto his people comfort in trouble and an issue from it therefore doth the believing Church seek no other ground for her faith but the Lord shall be a light unto me it being he who had undertaken and who by manifesting his own presence could create comfort and issue in the midst of troubles 5. When the Churches priviledges and grounds of hope are rightly seen neither will enemies be found to have such cause of boasting because of her trouble as they suppose nor needs the Church be much affected with their insulting but may professe her despising them and it both in hope of his help therefore saith she Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy as if she said â— boast at leasure ye have no such cause as ye dream of 6. However enemies having present advantage against the Church will not give over their insolent reproaching which she must endure in hope yet the Lord by delivering her will put them to silence and let them see that their joy was groundlesse Rejoyce not against me when I fall I shall arife c. Vers 9. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him until he plead my cause and execute judgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousnesse The Church is yet further directed how to manage this her hope of comfort in relation to her guilt

which might seeme to stand in the way of it for whereas it might be objected How could she expect that God would be her light seeing she by sin had provoked him to anger and to cast her into these troubles and so was her party She answers that she submissively stooping and accepting in these troubles the punishment of her iniquity out of his hand did expect that in due time the Lord whom she had provoked to afflict her would plead her cause against her enemies who unjustly oppressed her and plague them and would restore her to her ancient glory and in publick view give her to enjoy the effects of his bounty and fidelity Doct. 1. The Lord may have fatherly indignation against his people for their sins and may testifie the same by inflicting of outward calamities and yet not reject their persons for this cause is the godlies trouble called here the indignation of the Lord though men were instruments See 2 Chron. 19.2 2. It is the duty of the godly when God is angry and chastiseth to be sensible of their sin procuring the same to stoop humbly under his afflicting hand and to bear it patiently and submissively accepting the punishment of their iniquity I will bar the indiguation of the Lord because I have sinned against him saith she 3. Sense of sin and of its great demerit will make men submissive and stoop patiently under the rod who otherwise would repine more for this is the reâ—son of her bearing the rod because I have sinned This is the cause wherefore men get so many rods dipped in their own guilt because they bear not cleanly reds patiently there being no crosse so humbling as a sinful crosse See Lam. 1.18 4. True patience and submission unto God in affliction ought to preâ—scâ—ibe no term-day unto it self but to refer all to his will I will bear until he plead 5. Such as humble themselves before God and patiently stoop under a procured affliction may expect that God will take their part against all the instruments having hand in the same trouble and clear their righteous cause in respect of those who sought only their own ends in afflicting them and their humility and patience ought to be seasoned with this hope He will plead my cause saith she who bears his indignation See Isa 47.6 Zech. 1 15. 6. The Lord will not only clear his peoples right against their oppressors by pronouncing sentence in their favour in his Word but will accordingly put his sentence to execution for so doth she expound his pleading He will execute judgement for me 7. The Lord having by affliction humbled his people for sin and exercised their patience and faith will restore unto them their wonted priviledges and as it were in publick view and make manifest that they are his therefore saith he He will bring me forth to the light that is not only comfort but publickly own and honour me and I shall behold or enjoy to my satisfaction his righteousness or the wonted effects of his fidelity in keeping Covenant notwithstanding this seeming interruption Vers 10. Then she that is mine enemie shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the LORD thy God mine eyes shall behold her now shall she be troden down as the mire of the streets This hope for deliverance is further commended from the effects thereof upon the Churches enemies to her satisfaction she is heâ—e directed to professe her hope that her enemies who mocked her faith should be confounded at the sight of her deliverance and be ignominiously cut off to her great joy and satisfaction Doct. 1. God seeth it fitting sometimes to make his peoples happinesse conspicuous to the world yea even to their enemies that it may make them a sore heart for then she that is mine enemie shall see it to wit her deliverance See Rev. 3.9 Psal 112.10 2. Faiâ—h in God and adhering to the true Religion hath been an old subject of derision to the Churches enemiâ—s when she was in trouble for they said unto me Where is the Lord thy God 3. Scorning of saith and piety whatever disadvantage seem to follow it shall resolve into the scorners shame and confusion by seeing God to do for his people according as they expected from him for mine enemie shall see it and shame shall cover her she shall be utterly confounded with it who said unto me Where is the Lord thy God 4. When the Lord hath tried his people then the cup is put to the head of the wicked and the enemies of the Church and mockers of her considence will be destroyed as contemptible things for now shall she be troden down as the mire of the streets 5. It will be a comfortable sight to the people of God to see Gods justice against their enemies and his good-wil toward them cleared and made manifest after long trials for saith she mine eyes behold her Otherwise to take pleasure in the calamity of others though enemies is not lawful Prov. 24.17 further then in that God is hereby glorified in the execution of his justice and clearing of his keeping Covenant with his peoples See Ps 58.10 11. Vers 11. In the day that thy walls are to be built in that day shall the decree be far removed 12. In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria and from the fortified cities and from the fortresse even to the river and from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain A second ground of encouragement and comfort is held forth in Gods promise to his Church confirming her formerly professed hope wherein he assures her of restitution and of deliverance from the yoke of strange authority and their cruel decrees whereby they had been scattered among the Gentiles oppressed by tyrants and the work of God obstructed amongst them as when the building of the Temple was discharged Ezra 4.5 6 21 22 23 24. And he assures them further of the enlargement of the Church of Israel not only by their returne from all the parts where they had been scattered and detained Isa 27.12 13. but by the Conversion of many Nations who should joyne themselves to the Church from Assyria and from Egypt and from all the quarters of the world This decree may also without wronging of the text be safely understood of the Doctrine of the Gospel called a decree Psal 2.7 which after the restauration of the Jewes should be sent through the world for promoting of this promised enlargement whereby both Jewes and Gentiles should be gathered to the Church as by the decree of Cyrus the Jewes were set at liberty to return to their countrey from all quarters where they were scattered Doct. 1. The Church endeavouring to comfort her self with hope in God in her troubles will abundantly be confirmed therein by God for after her professed hope v. 8 9 10. the Lord confirmes her here by a promise See Psal 27.14 2. The Church may procure

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