A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

II. Reason. The Lord (say they) commanded Hosea, To take a wife of fornication, and children of fornication, Hos. 1.2. It is not therefore unlawful? Ans. There be divers interpretations of that place. Some say that was only in vision, and not a fact done. Others say, it was in speech only, because he prophesied unto the people that he himself was as a man of fornication unto them. These expositions may well stand. Yet others hold that the Lord commanding him this, it was to be done, and was done indeed. And sundry circumstances seem to prove that it was a fact done, for the woman's name is set down to be ^(b)Go•er, and her fathers name Diblaim. Secondly, a thing in vision or in speech only, doth not so much prevail with wicked people, as that which is done indeed. Thirdly, the ancient opinion of best divines that lived nearest to the Apostles times, avouch it was a fact done. Object. But this maintaineth fornication, against good manners, and the express law of God. Ans. It were so indeed, if the Prophet had done it on his own head, but he did it by Gods special appointment, who is Lord of his own law, and may dispense with it at his pleasure. God in his law forbiddeth to kill, yet Abraham is commanded to kill his son: Which if he had done he had not sinned, because he had a special commandment for it, which a man must obey, though it be against a moral precept. Again, Hosea took a wife of fornication, not to maintain her in her sin, but to make her a chaste woman. And whereas he was commanded also to take unto him children of fornication: it must not be understood of children begotten by him, but borne of her in fornication: As if he should say, Take a wife with her children which she brought forth in fornication. So that this place which way soever we take it, doth nothing maintain their wicked errors.

II. Reason. The Lord (say they) commanded Hosea, To take a wife of fornication, and children of fornication, Hos. 1.2. It is not therfore vnlawfull? Ans. There be diuers interpretations of that place. Some say that was onely in vision, and not a fact done. Others say, it was in speech onely, because hee prophesied vnto the people that he himself was as a man of fornicatiō vnto them. These expositions may well stand. Yet others hold that the Lord commanding him this, it was to be done, and was done indeed. And sundrie circumstances seeme to prooue that it was a fact done, for the womans name is set downe to be