A30572:515
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…
An exposition of the prophecy of Hosea begun in divers lectures upon the first three chapters, at Michaels Cornhill, London / by Jer. Burroughs.An exposition of the prophesie of Hosea begun in divers lectures vpon the first three chapters, at Michaels Cornhill, London / by Jer. Burroughes.
London: printed for R. Dawlman, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 1 › Lecture 5: The Fifth LectureChapter 1 › Lecture 5: The Fift Lecture
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.
Thirdly, do not forbear the work till all difficulties about it be first over. That is a sluggish spirit that will not set about the work till they can see how all the difficulties about the work are or may be removed. You must up and be doing, be doing presently, fall to the work, and then when you are working, wisely to prevent and avoid the difficulties that come in it; As those active spirits did that we read of in Nehem. 4. 17. when they were at work, with one of their hands they wrought, and with the other hand they held a weapon; they did not stay the building of the wall of Jerusalem till all their adversaries were quashed; but presently they fell to it, and with one hand they wrought in the work, and with the other held a weapon. This is an active spirit.
Thirdly, do not forbear the work till all difficulties about it be first over. That is a sluggish spirit that wil not set about the work till they can see how all the difficulties about the worke are or may be removed. You must up and be doing, be doing presently, fall to the worke, and then when you are working, wisely to prevent and avoid the difficulties that come in it; As those active spirits did that we read of in Nehem. 4. 17. when they were at work, with one of their hands they wrought, and with the other hand they held a weapon; they did not stay the building of the wall of Jerusalem till all their adversaries were quashed; but prefently they fell to it, and with one hand they wrought in the work, and with the other held a weapon. This is an active spirit.
Further, we must not be active in a sudden mood, & upon a mere flash, and so gone,1 but in a constant solid way; Active, yet solid. Many indeed are stirring and active for the present, but as the flame of a wisp of straw that makes a noise, and a great stir for the present, but soon after there remains nothing but black dead ashes. But we must be considerately active; Therefore observe, the Scripture saith (speaking of the Saints specially in the time of the Gospel) that they are lively stones (you know the place of Peter) What a stone, and yet lively? A stone of all things is the most dead thing,