For the people thereof shall mourn over it
For the people thereof shall mourn over it.
The people thereof] Here he speaks about the Calf of Beth-aven in the singular number, for so I find it's refer'd by most interpreters, The people of the Calf. (Of it) not of Samaria.
From there the note would be thus, that wicked men, idolaters did dedicate themselves to their idols, they are the people of the idol. Those that were the very peculiar of God and his treasure, the people of God, now they are called the people of the Calf, for they have none to go to for help but only that idol of theirs; they had forsaken God.
And it's said, That they yet mourn over it. Though certainly at first, the setting up of the Calf could not but be a very strange thing to the people of Israel, yet within a while after they were used to it, they did worship it, and it took their very consciences, so as they loved it, and when it was taken away they mourn'd and were in extream distress and trouble. Idolaters they do mourn when their false worship is taken from them. At this day, my Brethren, how do many mourn after their superstitious vanities, their superstitious customs that they were wont to have? Now Prelates, and Service-Book, and Altars, and such kind of things are taken away, when they come to meet together, Oh! now all Religion is gone: So they perswade poor people in remote parts, that the Parliament has taken away all Religion; and there is a great mourning in their spirits, they think they know not how in the world to serve God if their Book be taken away from them: and I make no question it has been a cause that many have taken up Arms, meerly to defend such superstitious vanities and customs that they were wont to have. Their Burialls for the dead as they were wont to have, Oh! they mourn for this, and they would almost as lieve lose their lives as such kind of things as these are. I remember I have read of the Indians that were wont to worship an Apes Tooth, it was a Religious Relick among them, and it was taken from them, and there was a great mourning among them, so that they came and offered a very great price, that was valued at thousands to redeem but their Apes Tooth that was taken from them, because it was a Religious Relick. And so we have men this day, though their superstitious vanities and customs be no better than a very Apes Tooth, yet they mourn over them and would be willing to part with a great proportion of their estate to redeem them again, they mourn after their Calves.
Oh! how should we mourn after the true worship of God then, how deer should that be to our souls? For Calves, Superstitious Relicks, and Customs, Apes Teeth, and such things be so deer to Idolaters, Oh! those Ordinances of God in which our souls have met with so much soul-refreshings, and communion with God, and so much of the Spirit of God let out to our souls through them. Such enlightenings by them, Oh! how should we mourn after them? You that have gotten any thing by the Word, by the Ordinances of God, that ever has known what it has been to have communion with God in them, you should think with your selves, If these should be taken from me, then I should have cause to mourn indeed: I have lost much of my estate, and my friends many of them are lost, and these are cause of mourning, Oh! but if I should lose the Ordinances, and worship of God, Oh! what cause would there be then of mourning? It follows.