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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	answer_v	lord_n	zion_n	61	3	9.2890	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45333	An exposition by way of supplement, on the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of the prophecy of Amos where you have the text fully explained ... : together with a confutation of Dr. Holmes, and Sir Henry Vane, in the end of the commentary / by Tho. Hall ...	Hall, Thomas, 1610-1665.; Homes, Nathanael, 1599-1678.	1661 (1661)	Wing H431; ESTC R18972	450,796	560

measures out the dayes and nights and moneths and years that our trials shall continue Iob 7.3 As we came into the world by Providence so we goe out of the world by Providence God hath set us our bounds which wee cannot pass Iob 7.1 14.5 neither men nor Devils can take away our lives from us till our work be done Ioh. 7.30 wee should therefore be couragious in duty and run hazards for God in whose hand is our life and not be afraid of man who must dye Isa. 51.12 we have our day and to morrow to work and till we have finisht our course none can hurt us Luk. 13.32 to God the Lord belong the issues from death Psal. 68.20 we should therefore submit our wills to Gods will bee willing to live so long as he would have us live and to dye when he shall call for us 3 We should bless God who hath brought us forth into the best times that ever the Nation saw our Lot is fallen in pleasant seasons they are happy times in respect of means though we have made them unhappy for want of hearts to improve them We should not therefore quarrel at the Providences and various dispensations of the times but rather admire and adore the wisdome and goodness of God in them so did Daniel ch 2.20 21. 4 We should improve the time which we have from God unto his praise Who plants a Vineyard and doth not eat the fruit of it Our time is Gods and therefore great reason we should spend it to his praise Acts 13.36 It was the great commendation of the men of Issachar that they understood the times and knew what Israel ought to doe in them 1 Chro. 12.32 It is the greatest wisdome in the world to observe the opportunities and seasons of grace Ephes. 5.15 16. Hence our Saviour chargeth it as a great sin upon Iezabel in that hee gave her space to repent but she repented not Revel 2.20 most live as if time were at their owne dispose they are very liberal of anothers right promising themselves many dayes and years when they have not assurance of one day Isa. 56. ult Luke 12.20 As we cannot adde one cubit to our stature so we cannot adde a day to our daies How sad then is the condition of wicked men who daily dishonour that God in whose hand is their life Consider your times are in the hands of that God to whom you are profest enemies and with whom he is angry every day Psal. 7.12 13. though he bear long yet he will not alwayes bear for their feet shall slide in due time Deut. 32.35 VERSE 8. The Lord God hath sworn by himself saith the Lord of Hosts I abhor the excellency of Jacob and hate his Palaces therefore will I deliver up the City with all that is therein IN this Verse we have a Prolepsis or preventing of a Plea which Israel might make for themselves saying Wee are the people of God in Covenant with him and have received Circumcision the seal of the Covenant and at this day we doe enjoy many glorious priviledges and signal favours from him and therefore it is not like that he will destroy us whom he hath loved so long and made the head of the Tribes and the glory of the world To this the Prophet answers Deceive not your selves with any vain confidence in your pomp and priviledges as if your glory and excellency could secure you from divine Justice for I must tell you from the Lord that since you have abused his blessings hee abhors your Excellency hates your Palaces and will destroy your Cities wherein you trust vers 1. and the better to assure you to the truth of all this he hath sworn it The Lord hath sworn that he abhors the excellency of Jacob. In this Verse we have 1. A Commination I will deliver up the City with all that is therein q. d. you glory in your two fortified Cities viz. Samaria and Ierusalem you trust in the riches strength and fulness of them but though they be never so full of men money and all manner of store yet for your sins I will deliver them and all their riches with all the inhabitants into the hands of the Assyrians and Chaldeans for a prey Though in their owne conceit they seem invincible by reason of the multitude of men and ammunition yet I will empty them and will send an enemy to besiege them into whose hands I will deliver them By City here is meant the Citizens and their substance all should become a prey to the merciless enemy both in Samaria and Ierusalem for by a Synechdoche both are here threatned both had sinned and therefore now both shall suffer Samaria shall be sackt by the Assyrians and Ierusalem by the Chaldeans It is true that in this Chapter and in the whole Prophecy the Prophet speaks primarily and principally to the ten Tribes but secondarily and concomitantly to Ierusalem and the other two Tribes as I have shewed vers ● 2. Here is the ground of this destruction and that is Gods detestation of them for their sins I abhor the excellency of Iacob and therefore I will deliver their Cities into the hands of their enemies Some render the words thus I abhor the Pride of Iacob that is true for as the Lord abhors Pride in all so especially in his Israel a people neer unto him The word signifies both Pride and Excellency but because this people confided in their Priviledges and boasted of their Dignity therefore the word is most properly rendred excellency The word is sometimes taken in evil part for pride and arrogancy Exod. 15.7 and sometimes in good part for magnificence and excellency so here for the Prophet in this Verse doth not enveigh against their pride he had done that before but he labours to remove their carnal confidence which they placed 1. In the Temple which is called in Scripture by the name of Excellency and Glory because it was that wherein they gloried Psal. 47.4 Ezek. 24.21 2 In their Riches Dignities Priviledges and Prerogatives wherewith that Nation was adorned above all the people of the world Rom. 3.1 2. 9.4 5. they thought that the bare having of these would shelter them from punishment but the Lord tells them that he abhorred both them and their priviledges and since they had abused them and so forfeited them all they were now so much the more hateful and abominable to God q. d. You look upon your selves as the only high and holy ones of the World but I tell you saith God since you abuse my blessings to my dishonour I look upon you as a pack of prophane ungodly men and will deal with you accordingly and therefore tell not me of your Temple Sacrifices dignity and riches for I tell you to your faces that I detest both you and your excellencies and abhor your stately Palaces which you have built by oppression and cruelty and have

this That it was in vain for them to trust in their Mountains Riches and strong Cities since other Nations with their Metropolies which were greater and stronger than theirs were now decayed and ruined That Almighty hand which brought them down notwithstanding all their Ammunition and Fortifications will also bring Israel down notwithstanding all their riches and strength Behold therefore as in a glass whither Luxury Oppression Security and abuse of Mercies hath brought those Cities and do you fear by their Examples The summe of all is this O yee Inhabitants of Jerusalem and Samaria that glory in Mount Sion and trust in the Mountain of Samaria Go and see what I have done to Calneh Hemath and Gath three potent populous famous Cities seated in three different Kingdomes viz. Babylon Syria and Palestina consider how I have made them a desolation for their sins and have brought their borders into a narrower compass though they were larger and pleasanter than theirs and were fortified both by Art and Nature Bee warned therefore by their example and go not on in your Idolatry Luxury Security and Obstinacy lest you also become a desolation like to them OBSERVATIONS 1. Wee should diligently observe and carefully consider the Iudgements of God on others We should not let a judgement passe that we see at home or hear of abroad without learning something of God from it As wee should consider his mercies to make us love him so we should consider his judgements to make us fear him Hence 't is that God bids his people here Go Go Go Go to Calneh Go to Hemath Go to Gath and consider what I have done to them for their sins Go not with your feet but with your affections go not in body to view the ruines of those places for that you may do and be never the better but in your Meditations go thither and observe Gods hand upon them to awaken you As a man may go to Heaven even whilst his body is on earth yet by Meditation hee may ascend thither so by Meditation we may go to Germany Savoy Ireland Poland and see Gods Judgements there Do not barely think of Gods Judgements but ponder every circumstance and rest not till you have suckt some benefit out of them and got your heart affected with them Wicked men never once think of God or his judgements they forget him daies without number and he is not in any of their thoughts and as for his judgements they are far above out of his sight or if he sleightly think of them that is all But you must know that there are three Acts of the Soul 1. Cogitation 2. Meditation 3. Consideration Cogitation is a thought and away Meditation is a dwelling longer upon an Object But Consideration looks round about and weighs all Circumstances of Judgements and Mercies that they may take a deeper impression upon our hearts and this is that which the Lord so oft calls for Hee would have us consider our waies to humble us Hag. 1.5 7. His Iudgements to fear us Iob 23.15 His Mercies to allure us 1 Sam. 12.24 His Word that wee may attain the practical knowledge of it 2 Tim. 2.7 This consideration fortifies the soul against sin it layes before us the losse and hurt which attends upon sin so that wee cannot rush into it with that boldnesse as the wicked and inconsiderate do Ier. 8.6 2. Gods Iudgements on others must awaken us Their destruction must be our instruction As Gods people here must go to Calneh Hemath and Gath so he bids them go to Shiloh and consider what hee did to that priviledged place and be warned by their woes Ier. 7.12 'T is a great favour when the Lord teacheth us our lessons on other mens books and backs making them examples unto us when hee might have made us examples unto them 3. Sin brings famous Cities to ruine Wee see here three famous Cities with all their Territories made a desolation for their sins Let men make walls as high as heaven and ditches as deep as hell yet if sin reign within it will ruine all Deut. 18.9 12. This brought the Kingdome of Israel into the hands of the Assyrians 2 King 17.7 to 19. and Iudah into the hands of the Chaldeans Sins especially crying sins do emasculate mens spirits and weaken the hearts and hands of a people so that they become an easie prey to a cruel adversary VERSE 3. Yee that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to draw near IN this Verse the Prophet goes on with his charge especially against the Judges Rulers Counsellours and those in Power and Authority in the Kingdome of Iudah and Israel Hee chargeth them in this Verse with two sins which were the effects and evidence of their security before mentioned Verse 1. The first is the contempt of Gods Threatnings God oft foretold them by his Prophets that Judgements were coming upon them but they would not beleeve it but put the evil day far from them Sleighting Gods Threatnings as if they had been but fables and would never surprize them Though they walk in wayes of wickednesse adding sin to sin and daily provoked the Lord to anger yet they blest themselves in their evil wayes promising themselves peace and prosperity for all that They were setled upon their lees and lived without any fear or thought of danger giving themselves up to Idlenesse Wantonnesse Pride Luxury Violence and all manner of Iniquity not once thinking of the destruction which was coming upon themselves and the Kingdome Yea they counted it a loathsome thing as the word in the Original signifies once to mention the evil day They were so given up to mirth and jollity that they would not once hear of sorrow They thought themselves priviledged by having the Temple and Gods worship amongst them against all storms and tempests But the further they put away the evil day the nearer it was to them and though they could have wished there had been no such day yet their wishes were but vain for the Lord had decreed to bring a dismal day upon them and it is not the counsels of men but the counsels of the Lord that shal stand and the thoughts of his heart unto all generations Psal. 33.10 11. As they had their evil day of sinning so God was determined to bring upon them an evil day of suffering Q. But what was that evil day A. The evil day here meant was more especially the day of their Captivity when the Assyrian should come and carry away Israel and the Babylonian should come and carry away Iudah out of their own Land into Captivity and banishment This evil day the Prophet calls before a day of darkness and not of light Amos 5.18 19 20. The words are read by some passively thus Yee are separated and set apart by divine Justice for an evil day even for a day of banishment and slaughter q. d. Yee

Verse the Prophet thunders against the secure and sensual Inhabitants of Iudah and Israel and especially against the great ones Qui ut divitiis sic vitiis primi fuere as they abounded in wealth so in wickedness also who gave themselves to Pastimes and Merriment in despight of the Prophets threatnings and that in a time when Gods Judgements were round about them Though Amos were primarily sent to Israel yet Iudah being partaker with them in Sin he all along in this Chapter joyns them together in reproof In the words we have 1. A Iudgement denounced included in the Particle H●i Woe which is used three waies in Scripture 1 By way of Commiseration when we are grieved at the calamities which we see are coming upon a people Ier. 6.4 13. ult Micah 7.1 2 By way of Imprecation when we pray for the destruction of the incurable enemies of Gods Church Psalm 40.14 15. 3 There is a woe of Prediction and denu●tiation which is the Woe here meant where the Prophet fore-tells and denounceth Judgements temporal and eternal against this obstinate and back-sliding people Hee threatens them with a Woe of Captivity and general desolation here which was but a fore-runner of their eternal destruction hereafter And this woe of denouncing miseries against an impenitent People is very frequent in Scripture as Isa. 3.11 5.11 18. Ezek 16.23 Mat. 11.21 23.23 25. Luke 6.24 The Prophet had oft fore-told them of evils approaching but they were no whit awakened thereby but Princes and people still lay secure and sung a requiem to themselves putting the evil day farre from them therefore the Prophet falls to denouncing Woes against them the better to awaken them out of their deep sleep and security The Woe prefixt in the front of this Verse is to bee understood in the rest of the Verses as vers 3. Woe to them that put the evil day farre from them Woe to them that lye upon beds of Ivory c. vers 4. Woe to them that chant to the sound of the Viol vers 5. Woe to them that drink Wine in bowls ver 6. 2 Here are the Persons against whom this Judgement is denounced and those are 1 Secure wealthy sinners who lived quietly and carelesly at ease in pomp and pleasure without any fear of Gods judgements or any sense of his displeasure This more especially concerned the great ones of those times who took no notice of Gods hand on their inferiours though the Regions round about lay wast yet they lay snorting and secure in their fenced Cities making their guts their God and sleighted all his threatnings they were full themselves and they little regarded who else wanted 2 He thunders against Carnal confident-ones who trusted in the Mountaine of Samaria that is they trusted in the strength and riches of Samaria their chief City as if it were invincible and by reason of its situation impregnable They trusted not in God but in their wealth and walls 3 Ungrateful men God had made them the Head of the Nations and brought them into Canaan a Land flowing with Milk and Honey and by his owne Almighty Power he planted them there and drove out the Canaanites before them Psal. 44.3 78.55 but they forgot the God of their Mercies and fell to Luxury and Riot He made them the chiefest most famous and renowned of all the Nations he had separated those twelve Tribes from all the rest of the World to be his owne peculiar people Exod. 19.5 Ier 2.3 they were to him as the flower and first fruits of the Nations whom he prized and preferred before them all To whom the House of Israel came This is another Priviledge these two Cities Ierusalem and Samaria were the chief Seats and residence of their Kings and therefore here was a great confluence of people both for Civil and Ecclesiastical affairs Iudah and Benjamin went to Ierusalem and the ten Tribes to Samaria 3 Here are the Places where those Sinners dwelt and that is in Ierusalem of which Mount Sion was an eminent part and therefore is oft put for Ierusalem it self à parte praestantiori fit denominatio this was the Metropolis of Iudah as Samaria was of the Ten Tribes Samaria is principally threatned yet because the other two Tribes were their brethren in sin therefore he threatens them with parity of punishment The inhabitants of these two chief Cities were more secure and sensual in the midst of Gods Judgements than other parts of the Land and therefore the Prophet deals more sharply and roundly with them and by a Prolepsis prevents a cavil whereas they might object that they were the chief of the Nations and all the people resorted to their Cities for Justice and for the Worship of God and therefore they concluded that God would not destroy them Yea therefore saith the Prophet God will destroy you because you sin against such Mercies and Priviledges OBSERVATIONS 1 The Scripture is full of Divine Rhetorick and Eloquence Carnal-worldly-wise-men look upon the Bible as St. Austin did before his conversion as a book of a low incompt unlearned stile This very sixth of Amos will in part confute such The Prophecie of Esay abounds with such a fluent divine grave and lofty stile that all the eloquence of Cicero and all the flowers of Demosthenes with the rest of those admired Heathens is but as Chaff to Wheat and Dross to refined Gold Hence the Scripture is compared to a pleasant Garden bedeckt with Flowers and a rich Garment beset with Pearls when the depth of learning that there lyes hid is uncovered then the glory of the Word doth affect us and leaves a deep impression of its excellency upon our spirits VVee should not therefore barely read the VVord but search the Scriptures and dig those Mines that wee may the better finde out the Golden Oare Iohn 5.39 VVee should also bless God who hath given such variety of gifts unto men for the good of his Church Some are Eloquent Orators Isa. 3.3 Others are Acute Disputants and mighty in convincing as Apollos Act. 18.24 28. Some are milde and gentle as Barnabas others more fierce and fervent as Peter and Paul Some excel in Prose others in Poetry as David who is stiled the sweet singer of Israel many spiritual songs are scattered up and down the Scripture but none excelled in that gift like David who was more especially inspired by the Holy Ghost and singularly qualified for that purpose All these hath God gifted for the good of his Church 1 Cor. 3.22 Observ. 2. Those that are highest in Priviledges may bee nearest to miseries Woe to Sion first and then to Samaria So Rom. 2.9 Wrath falls upon the Iew first and then upon the Gentile To be secure in other places was sinful but to be dead and carelesse in Ierusalem the City of the Living God where his Temple and Worship was this doubled their sin and therefore the Prophet

Emphatically sets a Woe upon their heads Woe to them that are at ease in Sion 3. Gods Ministers must denounce Woes against the wicked As they must proclaim promises to the penitent so they must denounce judgements against the obstinate They must make a difference to some they must shew lenity and to others severity Iude 22 23. What dreadful woes do all the Prophets denounce against impenitent sinners Christ who was love it self and in whom there was no gall nor guile yet how many dreadful woes did he denounce against the hypocritical Pharisees even eight woes together Mat. 23.13 14 15 16 23 25 27 29. If men will be so bold as to proclaim their wickednesse Ministers must be so bold as to proclaim their woes 4. Woe and sorrow is the portion of secure sinners Both Legal woes and Evangelical woes temporal spiritual and eternal woes The Law cryes Woe to such sinners and so doth the Gospel but Gospel-woes are the sadder of the two for if the Law say woe to us yet the Gospel may say mercy to us but if the Gospel say woe to us where shall we finde mercy 'T is true sinners may laugh and be merry in the acting of sin but woe and weeping is in the conclusion Luk. 6.25 The end is death Rom. 6.21 As all the promises of Grace and Mercy hang over the heads of the godly and drop blessings upon them which way soever they go so clouds of wrath hang over the heads of the wicked dropping judgements upon them even in their highest prosperity when they think themselves most free from misery The mirth of every secure sinner that goes singing to hell is no better than madnesse for where security goes before destruction ever follows When men cry Peace Peace then comes sudden and swift destruction Luk. 12.19 20. 1 Thes. 5.3 Secure Laish became a booty to its enemies Iudg. 18.27 Carelesse Ethiopians shall be made afraid Ezek. 30.9 And carelesse Daughters shall be troubled Isa. 32.9 10 11. God is much displeased with a people when the fire of his wrath shall beset them round about and yet they remain unhumbled and insensible Isa. 22.12 13. and 42. ult 5. God usually fore-warns us of woe before hee sends woe Hee first cuts men down with the sword of his mouth before he cuts them off with the sword of his hand Hee delights not to take sinners at an advantage but loves to exercise his patience towards them that they might repent as wee see in both the destructions of Ierusalem the one by the Caldeans which was fore-told by the Prophets and the other by the Romans which was fore-told by Christ. But of this at large elsewhere 6. Carnal Confidence ruines a Land When men forsake God and trust in men and mountains in Kings and Kingdomes in Guards and Garrisons both they and their creature-confidences shall perish for as there is no policy so there is no power or fortifications that can defend us against God Prov. 21.30 31. Use means wee may but we must not Idolize them prepare armies and strong-holds but not trust in them They are branded that trust in Riches Psal. 52.7 9. and cursed that trust in men Jer. 17.5 6. 7. Ingratitude is a God-provoking and a Land-destroying sin God had made this people the head of the Nations and chose them for himself from amongst the Nations but they fought against God with his own blessings and as they were increased so they sinned against him abusing the good Land which hee had given them to Idolatry riot and excess till at last the Land spewed them out VERSE 2. Pass yee on to Calneh and see and from thence go to Hemath the great then go down to Gath of the Philistims bee they better than these Kingdomes or their borders greater than your borders THE Prophet goes on to awaken Israel and Iudah out of their security and to drive them from their carnal confidence in their Mountains Ammunition and fortified Cities to this end hee sets before them Gods Judgements on the Assyrians Caldeans and Philistims those Idolatrous and Heathenish Nations whose bounds were larger and their Cities stronger than theirs Hee instanceth in three Calneh Hamath and Gath. 1. Calneh this was an ancient wealthy great City built by Nimrod after the Flood in the Territories of Babylon Gen. 10.10 It was afterwards inlarged by the Parthians and called Ctesiphon and was made the Metropolis of the Kingdome 2. Hamath called here the great and mighty City to distinguish it from a City of that name in the Land of Israel Iosh. 19.32 35. It lay on the North side of Israel and was a boundary of the promised Land Numb 13.21 34.8 Zach. 9.2 'T was built by Antiochus and thereupon called Antiochia and was the Metropolis of Syria 'T was destroyed by the Assyrian for all its power and greatness Isa. 10.9 3. Gath a strong City of the Philistims well known to Israel for its enmity against them 2 Sam. 1.20 'T was at last taken its walls were broken down and it made tributary to others 2 Chron. 26.6 These bordering famous Cities were well known to them and therefore the Lord instanceth in them though under them synecdochically other flourishing Cities which were made a desolation may also bee included Hee bids them See and diligently consider the downfall of those places that their falls might make them fear and flye from security oppression and carnal-confidence lest they bee ruined as these were and they bee made an example unto others since they will not bee warned by others Bee they better than these Kingdomes or the borders of their Land greater than your borders These words admit of some difficulty Some make the Interrogation a Negation q. d. Are these Nations better than yours in no wise for do but compare your Kingdome of Iudah and Israel with those Kingdomes your Cities with their Cities and your borders with theirs and it will easily appear that none of those Nations are better than your Nation for either they are Tributary to others or ruined God hath done more for you than for them in many respects the greater is your sin and the sorer will your punishment bee if you abuse so pleasant a Land and such rich mercies to the dishonour of him that gave them Thus they bring in the Lord upbraiding them for their ingratitude that they had not rendred according to the mercies hee had shewed them This sense is good and many learned men go this way and though it must bee acknowleded that if wee look on Canaan Israels Land with all its priviledges it was the glory of all Lands Ezek. 20.15 yet other Nations might surpass it for strength and greatness of Cities for largeness of borders and for amenity and fruitfulness of soil as Babylon did But with submission to better judgements I conceive the Interrogation to bee here an Assertion and the genuine sense of the place to bee