An exposition of the prophecy of Hosea begun in divers lectures upon the first…An exposition of the prophesie of Hosea begun in divers lectures vpon the first…

6. It is a most dangerous thing for men to subject the works of God to their own base ends,¹ specially the public works of God, when a man is called to public services, if he subject that to his own base ends, God will be sure to be even with him for that. The more excellent any work is, the more dangerous it is to subject it to a lust. It is an evil thing to make use of meat, and drink, and clothe, to be serviceable to our lusts; but to make use of the great works of God, suppose he calls us to public services, to make these stoop and be serviceable to your base lusts, must needs be grievous indeed. It is a thing accounted burden enough for the basest servant that is, to be serviceable to some base lust of his Master; but if the Mr. should make his wife serviceable to his filthy uncleanness, oh what a villainy were that! So I say, the greater the thing is any man makes serviceable to his lust, the more vile and the more dangerous is the sin. Hearken to this you that are professors o• Religion. The drunkard he makes beer serviceable to his lust, and he shall be damned for that: but you make the worship of God, Prayer, and hearing, and fasting, &c. serviceable to your lust, oh what shall become of you▪ A base wretch that sitteth tippling in an Alehouse you account vile, but it is but a poor creature that he subjects to his base lust; but a Minister or a Magistrate subjects things of a higher nature to their lusts, oh this is exceeding vile.

6. It is a most dangerous thing for men to subject the workes of God to their own base ends,¹ specially the publique works of God, when a man is called to publique services, if he subject that to his owne base ends, God will be sure to be even with him for that. The more excellent any worke is, the more dangerous it is to subject it to a lust. It is an evill thing to make use of meate, and drink, and cloath, to be serviceable to our lusts; but to make use of the great works of God, suppose he calls us to publique services, to make these stoop and be serviceable to your base lusts, must needs be grievous indeed. It is a thing accounted burthen enough for the basest servant that is, to be serviceable to some base lust of his Master; but if the Mr. should make his wife serviceable to his filthy uncleanenesse, oh what a vilany were that! So I say, the greater the thing is any man makes serviceable to his lust, the more vile and the more dangerous is the sinne. Hearken to this you that are professors o Religion. The drunkard he makes beer serviceable to his lust, and hee shall bee damned for that: but you make the worship of God, Prayer, and hearing, and fasting, &c. serviceable to your lust, oh what shall become of you A base wretch that sitteth tipling in an Alehouse you account vile, but it is but a poore creature that hee subjects to his base lust; but a Minister or a Magistrate subjects things of a higher nature to their lusts, oh this is exceeding vile.