An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

VER. 5.

Thy Calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off.

THY Calf, O Samariah. He calls the Idol a calf by way of contempt.¹ But why is it called the Calf of Samaria? It was not set up in Samaria: There is two Calves only that we read of, and yet here it is called the Calf of Samaria. The reason is this; that Samaria was the chief City, and because the Calf was by the power and riches, and countenance of the chief City of the Land maintained, therefore it is called the Calf of Samaria; Where that's corrupted, the whole Land will quickly be corrupted, & where that stands right it goes well wth the whole Land: that's the reason why the Adversaries seek to corrupt and overthrow our chief City. As all did depend upon what Samaria did, therefore the corruption of false worship is attributed to Samaria, it is thy Calf Oh Samaria. And therefore if God had not moved the hearts of the People of this City,² but we had brought Popery in, it might have been said, it was the Popery of London: and whereas on the other side, if God please to work their spirits right to go on to the end, the children not yet born may have cause to bless this City, and say, This is the Reformation that we may bless London for.

THY Calf, O Samariah. He calls the Idol a calf by way of contempt.¹ But why is it called the Calf of Samaria? It was not set up in Samaria: There is two Calves only that we reade of, and yet here it is call'd the Calf of Samaria. The reason is this; that Samaria was the chief City, and because the Calf was by the power and riches, and countenance of the chief City of the Land maintained, therefore it is call'd the Calf of Samaria; Where that's corrupted, the whol Land wil quickly be corrupted, & where that stands right it goes well wth the whol Land: that's the reason why the Adversaries seek to corrupt and overthrow our chief Citie. As all did depend upon what Samaria did, therefore the corruption of false worship is attributed to Samaria, it is thy Calf Oh Samaria. And therefore if God had not moved the hearts of the People of this City,² but we had brought Popery in, it might have been said, it was the Popery of London: and whereas on the other side, if God please to work their spirits right to go on to the end, the children not yet born may have cause to bless this Citie, and say, This is the Reformation that we may bless London for.

1. 1Calf of Samaria why so called.
2. 2London.

It hath cast thee off.

Hath cast thee off from me, so some have it. But rather as you have it in your books, Thy Calf hath cast thee off. Whence note.

That though Idolaters promise to themselves safety and protection by their Idols, ¹yet they will leave them at last. All you that go on in the ways of sin, know that those ways of sin of yours will leave you in the lurch at the last: as they say, the Devil leaves the Witches when they come to the prison: when Judas went to the Scribes and Pharisees in the anguish of his spirit and cast down the money and said, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. What's that to us (say they) see thou to that? Therefore the best way is to cast off our sin and wickedness first. But God will not do thus, God will not cast off his People in the time of trouble, and when our unbelieving hearts do think that God will cast us off in the time of trouble we make God an Idol, as if God would do as the Idols did, cast us off. We may in Gods Cause be brought into straights but God will never cast us off in them, when we are ready to think our selves to be utterly forsaken in straights, then God may be working the greatest good for us; we have a most notable Scripture for that in Isa. 49. 13, and 14. verses, Sing Oh Heavens, and be joyful Oh Earth, and break forth into singing Oh Mountains; for God hath comforted His People, and will have mercy upon His afflicted. But mark, Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me. They were in a singing condition, and God calls the Heavens to sing, and the Earth to be joyful, and the Mountains to break forth into singing, because of so great a work that God was making for His People: but Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me. And so it is with particular souls, they are ready to say, the Lord hath forsaken me, but God will not do so.

That though Idolaters promise to themselves safety and protection by their Idols, ¹yet they will leave them at last. All you that go on in the waies of sin, know that those waies of sin of yours will leave you in the lurch at the last: as they say, the Devil leaves the Witches when they come to the prison: when Judas went to the Scribes and Pharisees in the anguish of his spirit and cast down the money and said, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. What's that to us (say they) see thou to that? Therfore the best way is to cast off our sin and wickedness first. But God will not do thus, God will not cast off his People in the time of trouble, and when our unbeleeving hearts do think that God will cast us off in the time of trouble we make God an Idol, as if God would do as the Idols did, cast us off. We may in Gods Cause be brought into straights but God will never cast us off in them, when we are ready to think our selves to be utterly forsaken in straights, then God may be working the greatest good for us; we have a most notable Scripture for that in Isa. 49. 13, and 14. verses, Sing Oh Heavens, and be joyful Oh Earth, and break forth into singing Oh Mountains; for God hath comforted His People, and will have mercy upon His afflicted. But mark, Zyon said, the Lord hath forsaken me. They were in a singing condition, and God calls the Heavens to sing, and the Earth to be joyful, and the Mountains to break forth into singing, because of so great a work that God was making for His People: but Zyon said, The Lord hath forsaken me. And so it is with particular souls, they are ready to say, the Lord hath forsaken me, but God will not do so.

1. 1Obser.

Mine anger is kindled against them.

When wicked men are brought into the greatest straits then Gods wrath is hottest,¹ and then also Conscience belks and burns most hot; as mens countenances change red and pale sometimes with anger, so it is said here, that even the countenance of God grow red and pale with His anger against this people. Though superstitious men may think that outward pompous worshipping pleases God most, yet we see here that it doth stir up the anger of God, so that God grows even pale against them with anger.

1. 1Excanduit [as in hot Iron there is whiteness mixed with the redness]Excanduit [as in hot Iron there is whiteness mixt with the redness]

How long will it be ere they attain to innocency.

Mens hearts are stubborn in their own ways, they will not be taken off, wicked men will be true to their own principles, there is a stubborn constancy in evil, as well as a gracious constancy in good, How long will it be?

Mens hearts are stubborn in their own waies, they will not be taken off, wicked men will be true to their own principles, there is a stubborn constancy in evil, as well as a gracious constancy in good, How long will it be?

Again secondly, God is very patient a long time. Then,

Thirdly: Continuance in sin is no excuse but an aggravation of sin to make it grievous to God; when God chastises us we are ready to cry, How long Lord? Will he reretain his anger for ever? Know that our continuance in sin, is as great a burden to Gods Spirit, he cries out when will they be made clean, when shall it once be? and in Jer. 4. 14. ver. Oh Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved; how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee.

Thirdly: Continuence in sin is no excuse but an aggravation of sin to make it grievous to God; when God chastises us we are ready to cry, How long Lord? Will he reretain his anger for ever? Know that our continuance in sin, is as great a burden to Gods Spirit, he cries out when will they be made clean, when shall it once be? and in Jer. 4. 14. ver. Oh Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou maiest be saved; how long shall thy vain thoughts lodg within thee.

Ere they attain to innocency.