A30574:242
A30574:242
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhill, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
By these words, Vessel of no pleasure, is meant, a vessel that is for the carrying up and down of excrements; only the Scripture when it mentions such vile things, speaks in a modest way; but that's the meaning of the word: as if he should say, Even my people shall be in a vile contemptible condition among the Gentiles, as a vessel that is fit for nothing but excrements. Jehoiakim is threatened in Jer. 22. 18. though a great man, yet he is threatened to be as a vessel wherein is no pleasure, they had wasted their substance in seeking help from the Egyptians and Assyrians, and these made a prey of them; so long as they had any thing of value continued, then they made much of them, but their estates being once wasted, and they swallowed up in their very estates,1 they look now upon them as vile and contemptible in their eyes. And this is the way of wicked men, while wicked men are serving their own turns upon any, they will hug them and make much of them, but if that be done, then they scorn them & contemn them; non are more scorned and contemned than Professors of Religion ⟨p. 48⟩who have basely crouched to wicked men, and sought to shelter themselves under them, when their estates are once consumed and gone, they are more scorned by those that served themselves of them than any; and therefore let us learn wisdom, and how far we venture to make use of men, and do not please our selves in this, that they hug and commend us, if it be but to serve their own turns, when they have gotten what they would have, they will then scorn you, and look upon you as base people, and kick you out.
By these words, Vessel of no pleasure, is meant, a vessel that is for the carrying up and down of excrements; only the Scripture when it mentions such vile things, speaks in a modest way; but that's the meaning of the word: as if he should say, Even my people shal be in a vile contemptible condition among the Gentiles, as a vessel that is fit for nothing but excrements. Jehoiakim is threatned in Jer. 22. 18. though a great man, yet he is threatned to be as a vessel wherein is no pleasure, they had wasted their substance in seeking help from the Egyptians and Assyrians, and these made a prey of them; so long as they had any thing of value continued, then they made much of them, but their estates being once wasted, and they swallowed up in their very estates,1 they look now upon them as vile and contemptible in their eyes. And this is the way of wicked men, while wicked men are serving their own turns upon any, they will hug them and make much of them, but if that be done, then they scorn them & contemn them; non are more scorn'd and contemn'd than Professors of Religion ⟨p. 48⟩who have basely crouched to wicked men, and sought to shelter themselves under them, when their estates are once consum'd and gone, they are more scorned by those that served themselves of them than any; and therefore let us learn wisdom, and how far we venture to make use of men, and do not please our selves in this, that they hug and commend us, if it be but to serve their own turns, when they have gotten what they would have, they will then scorn you, and look upon you as base people, and kick you out.
Again,1 A vessel wherein is no pleasure. The Seventy translate it, an unprofitable vessel. But there is more intended certainly in this expression; a vessel employed in base and contemptible uses; Israel shall be so employed; and thereby he shall know a difference between my service, and the service of their enemies:2 Oh it is a sad expression, what Israel! a vessel employed and received to empty out excrements! §1[1. Israel were a people precious and honourable in §2the eyes of God, Isa. 43. 4. [2. An holy people unto the §3Lord, Deut. 14. 2. [3. They were Gods peculiar People above §4all Nations in the world in the same place. [4. Gods §5Portion, Deut. 32. 9. [5. Gods Inheritance, Isa. 19. 25. §6[6. Gods, peculiar Treasure, Exod. 19. 5. [7. Gods Glory, §7Isa. 46. 13▪ [8. Gods Delig••• Isa. 62. 4. [9. Israel were §8the dearly Beloved of Gods Soul• ▪
Some men are vessels of mercy, they are chosen vessels,1 vessels of honour fitted for the Masters use: and it is an infinite mercy of God to us when as we have deserved to be cast out as vessels wherein there is no pleasure, that God should employ any of us to be vessels of His Sanctuary, that God should take us out of the common lump, such vessels; whereas others are vessels of wrath employed only in base services that are beneath the excellency of an immortal Soul.
Some men are vessels of mercy, they are chosen vessels,1 vessels of honor fitted for the Masters use: and it is an infinite mercy of God to us when as we have deserved to be cast out as vessels wherein there is no pleasure, that God should imploy any of us to be vessels of His Sanctuary, that God should take us out of the common lump, such vessels; whereas others are vessels of wrath imployed only in base services that are beneath the excellency of an immortal Soul.
Yea,1 Some there are who have been eminent in the Church heretofore, who have been vessels filled with the Gifts of the holy Ghost (I do not say Graces) now they are vessels in which there is no pleasure; many of the Saints heretofore have been refreshed by them, from those Gifts of the holy Ghost that have been in them, but now their Gifts are gone, they are fit for no pleasure, but for Pot or Pipe: Now idle drones that are fit for nothing but to set in the Ki•••in, and (it may be) to scum the pot, yea some of them filled with poison, vessels wherein neither God nor man can take pleasure,2 yea and some very forward professors of Religion that once were as the polished ⟨p. 50⟩Sapphires and are now become more black than the coal, turned Apostates; they were as golden vessels in the House of God, and now are become vessels wherein is no pleasure. It was a speech that once Demosthenes had to the Athenians, 3he desired them that they would not make an Urinal of a Wine pot; for to employ those men in base services that had been eminent, even those men that God Himself hath heretofore made use of for great services in Church and Common-wealth, the Lord hath left them to be vessels of no pleasure. Oh! remember all you from whence you are fallen, thy heart is now exercised upon such low things, thy work (it may be) now is only to further the wicked designs and desperate malice of other men; And doest thou think to be a vessel of glory, to stand before the presence of the holy God, and join with Saints and Angels in the eternal praises of His Name? Oh! remember from whence thou art fallen, and be not at quiet till the Lord hath been pleased to purge thee and make thee fit for thy Masters use, and to become a vessel of honour in thy Masters house.
For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild Ass alone by himself; Ephraim hath hired Lovers.
THE Lord by the Prophet proceeds on in his charge against the ten Tribes here.
They are gone up] 1they look not up to the high God for their help, but they are gone up to Assyria, Assyria is higher in their eyes than the God of Heaven is. How vile a thing is it to forsake confidence in God out of suspicious thoughts of him; for so it was here, they retained suspicious thoughts of God, as if He would leave them in their extremity, and out of those suspicious thoughts of him, ⟨p. 51⟩they forsake him and seek help else where; they expect more good, more faithfulness, more love, not only from the creature than from God, but from the very Enemies of God than from God Himself; yea, and that people that professed Interest in God, that would seem to bless themselves in this, That God was their God, even this People, looked to have more good and to find more faithfulness in the very enemies of God than in God Himself; let the Heavens be astonished at this wickedness: and yet this evil is in the hearts of the children of men.
They are gone up] 1they look not up to the high God for their help, but they are gone up to Assyria, Assyria is higher in their eyes than the God of Heaven is. How vile a thing is it to forsake confidence in God out of suspitious thoughts of him; for so it was here, they retained suspitious thoughts of God, as if He would leave them in their extremity, and out of those suspitious thoughts of him, ⟨p. 51⟩they forsake him and seek help else where; they expect more good, more faithfulness, more love, not only from the creature than from God, but from the very Enemies of God than from God Himfelf; yea, and that people that professed Interest in God, that would seem to bless themselves in this, That God was their God, even this People, look'd to have more good and to find more faithfulness in the very enemies of God than in God Himself; let the Heavens be astonished at this wickedness: and yet this evil is in the hearts of the children of men.
This creature the Scripture mentions in divers places for one of the most unruly, and untamable, and fierce creature in the world. Such a creature as cannot be brought to be serviceable, it will not be brought to live with men, no, it cannot be brought to live long with other beasts, no nor to keep company with their own kind, so fierce and savage it is, but runs up and down in the wilderness alone. In Job, 11. 12. we have mention of this creature. For vain in an would be wise, though man be born like a wild Asses Colt. And in Job, 39. 5. Who hath sent out the wild Ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild Ass? And in Jer. 2. 24. to name no more. A wild Ass used to the wilderness that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves, in her month they shall find her. 1In her occasion when he hath a mind unto the female, she snuffeth up the wind, as the Historians say of her, they go up to Mountains and there they seek to have the sent of the female, or the male, so they snuff up the wind even for the sent of her.2 And so the Naturalists that write the nature of this Creature, Pliny. in his eighth Book and forty Chapter: Those that are Scholars that desire to know more of the nature of this beast may find divers things there. But now we are only ⟨p. 52⟩to speak of it as the Scripture speaks of it here.
This creature the Scripture mentions in divers places for one of the most unruly, and untamable, and fierce creature in the world. Such a creature as cannot be brought to be serviceable, it wil not be brought to live with men, no, it cannot be brought to live long with other beasts, no nor to keep company with their own kind, so fierce and savage it is, but runs up and down in the wilderness alone. In Job, 11. 12. we have mention of this creature. For vain in an would be wise, though man be born like a wild Asses Colt. And in
For two Reasons.1 1. To show the extreme stubbornness and fierceness of this people.2 Wicked men that have forsaken God, and are left to themselves, do not only become like unto savage creatures, but the very worst of all savage creatures, they run up and down satisfying the lusts of their own hearts irresistibly and bear down all before them,3 they stamp, and rage, and are mad when at any time they are opposed in their wicked way, this is the scope of the holy Ghost here: thus Ephraim was when he was opposed. Do you not find many so, that are in a violent way set upon wickedness and ungodliness that they will hear nothing, they snuff at the wind and all that is said against them, and run violently upon wicked ways, and upon their own ruin:4 It may be in their month you shall find them; that hath reference unto the very last month which the wild Ass goes when it is with young, then when it is so big, and till then there is no dealing with them. Some Historians say that the wild Asses are so fierce, that they will tare asunder Armour of proof, but only in the very month when they are so big that they cannot weld themselves, then you shall find them. So, though sinners be never so stubborn, yet God hath his month, and perhaps then you shall find them. When at any time you find your children, or servants, or others to be stubborn and stout against whatsoever is said to them, and even rage in their madness for the satisfying of their wicked wills, you may remember this text and creature: they are as wild Asses that are alone by themselves; and among all wicked men Idolaters are the most stubborn and stout in their wicked ways, their hearts are set upon their Idols, yea as the phrase of Scripture is in Jer. 5. 38, They are mad upon their Idols.
For two Reasons.1 1. To shew the extream stubbornness and fierceness of this people.2 Wicked men that have forsaken God, and are left to themselves, do not only become like unto savage creatures, but the very worst of all savage creatures, they run up and down satisfying the lusts of their own hearts irresistably and bear down all before them,
There's nothing that can be said to those whose hearts are taken with false worship, nothing will ⟨p. 53⟩prevail with them without an infinite power of God put forth, and there's no sinners more bold, more untamable and fierce in their ways, then those that are superstitious, and that's their reason that if they be opposed in their way of false worship, you know there will be such tumultuousness of people flinging of stones against windows where God is truly worshipped, any thing in the world though they know not what they do, yet because they think themselves condemned in their sinful ways, therefore they run like wild beasts in a furious manner even against those that worship God better than themselves.
There's nothing that can be said to those whose hearts are taken with false worship, nothing will ⟨p. 53⟩prevail with them without an infinite power of God put forth, and there's no sinners more bold, more untamable and fierce in their waies, then those that are superstitious, and that's their reason that if they be opposed in their way of false worship, you know there will be such tumultuousness of people flinging of stones against windows where God is truly worshipped, any thing in the world though they know not what they do, yet because they think themselves condemn'd in their sinful waies, therefore they run like wild beasts in a furious manner even against those that worship God better than themselves.
Secondly,1 God compares the ten Tribes to the wild Ass in way of contempt of them. As in the former place of Job, 11. 12. Vain man would be wise; though man be born like a wild Asses Colt: he would fain think himself somebody, yet he is a most base and vile creature. And if any of you be not so fierce in your wicked ways as some others are, if God hath tamed your spirits by His Word and Spirit, bless God for it, for all men are born like a wild Asses Colt, they are mad upon their wicked ways to ruin themselves.2 But because there's no men that think higher of themselves than stubborn spirits; for stoutness and stubbornness doth evermore proceed from pride, because they think it such a dishonour for their wills to be crossed in any thing, therefore the Scripture casts the more contempt upon them, and calls such, proud, stout fools, wild Asses; and indeed there are none more contemptible in the eyes of God than stout sinners. It follows.
Secondly,1 God compares the ten Tribes to the wild Ass in way of contempt of them. As in the former place of Job, 11. 12. Vain man would be wise; though man be born like a wild Asses Colt: he would fain think himself somebody, yet he is a most base and vile creature. And if any of you be not so fierce in your wicked waies as some others are, if God hath tamed your spirits by His Word and Spirit, bless God for it, for all men are born like a wild Asses Colt, they are mad upon their wicked waies to ruin themselves.2 But because there's no men that think higher of themselves than stubborn spirits; for stoutness and stubborness doth evermore proceed from pride, because they think it such a dishonor for their wills to be crost in any thing, therefore the Scripture casts the more contempt upon them, and calls such, proud, stout fools, wild Asses; and indeed there are none more contemptible in the eyes of God than stout sinners. It follows.
Again,1 A vessel wherein is no pleasure. The Seventy translate it, an unprofitable vessel. But there is more intended certainly in this expression; a vessel imployed in base and contemptible uses; Israel shall be so imployed; and thereby he shall know a difference between my service, and the service of their enemies:2 Oh it is a sad expression, what Israel! a vessel imployed and received to empty out excrements! §1[1. Israel were a people precious and honorable in §2the eyes of God, Isa. 43. 4. [2. An holy people unto the §3Lord, Deut. 14. 2. [3. They were Gods peculier People above §4all Nations in the world in the same place. [4. Gods §5Portion, Deut. 32. 9. [5. Gods Inheritance, Isa. 19. 25. §6[6. Gods, p••ulier Treasure, Exod. 19. 5. [7. Gods Glory, §7Isa. 46. 13▪ [8. Gods Delig••• Isa. 62. 4. [9. Israel were §8the deerly Beloved of Gods Soul• ▪ Jer. 12. 7. and yet now §9Israel is become a vessel only to take in and empty out excrements; Oh what a change doth sin make! they were holy vessels, imployed in holy services, in attending upon God and His Worship, so as no people were; but now, oh! what a change hath sin made in them? How doth sin vilifie men, to be imployed in base services, it is the most against an ingenuous spirit that any thing can be. I remember I have read of a young man of Sparta that being taken by Antigonus and sold for a slave, ••l the while that he that brought him did imploy him in any thing that did stand with ingenuity he did it, but when he bid him go ⟨p. 49⟩and empty a vessel wherein is no pleasure, no saith he, I will not serve you now in such a thing, and his Master being angry with him he gets up to the top of the house and falls down and breaks his neck rather than he would empty such a vessel.3 And certainly there is nothing that is so beneath the excelleney of an Immortal soul as sin is, for hereby though thou beest, high in thine own thoughts thou comest to be a vessel for the very Devil to empty his excrements into: and that's lower than to be a Scavenger to go up and down to take the filth of the street: in being imployed in the service of the Devil thou doest more deba•e thy self than if thou wert a Scavenger to carry dung and filth in a Dung-Cart; but as if thou wert judged to such a kind of life and imployment, that thou shouldest go from morning to night to carry away the filth in thy very hands and mouth.
Yea,1 Some there are who have been eminent in the Church heretofore, who have been vessels fil'd with the Gifts of the holy Ghost (I do not say Graces) now they are vessels in which there is no pleasure; many of the Saints heretofore have been refreshed by them, from those Gifts of the holy Ghost that have been in them, but now their Gifts are gone, they are fit for no pleasure, but for Pot or Pipe: Now idle drones that are fit for nothing but to set in the Ki•••in, and (it may be) to scum the pot, yea some of them fill'd with poyson, vessels wherein neither God nor man can take pleasure,2 yea and some very forward professors of Religion that once were as the pollished ⟨p. 50⟩Saphirs and are now become more black than the coal, turn'd Apostates; they were as golden vessels in the House of God, and now are become vessels wherein is no pleasure. It was a speech that once Demosthenes had to the Athenians, 3he desired them that they would not make an Urinal of a Wine pot; for to imploy those men in base services that had been eminent, even those men that God Himself hath heretofore made use of for great services in Church and Common-wealth, the Lord hath left them to be vessels of no pleasure. Oh! remember al you from whence you are fallen, thy heart is now exercised upon such low things, thy work (it may be) now is only to further the wicked designs and desperate malice of other men; And doest thou think to be a vessel of glory, to stand before the presence of the holy God, and joyn with Saints and Angels in the eternal praises of His Name? Oh! remember from whence thou art fallen, and be not at quiet till the Lord hath been pleased to purge thee and make thee fit for thy Masters use, and to become a vessel of honor in thy Masters house.