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…

But now other men they have more liberty, they indeed quarrel not one with another, why? because they have wide, checker, lither consciences, & having ends of their own they will yield to any thing for the attaining of those ends;¹ so that here they have this advantage, that if they see that the contention will bring them more trouble then they conceive the thing is worth, they will condescend though it be against light of conscience. But other men upon whom the light of the Gospel hath prevailed have that bond upon conscience, that though all the world should differ from them, they must be content to lye down and suffer, they cannot yield, though you would give them all the world they cannot go against that light. But indeed they may search, and it may trouble them that their apprehensions of things should be different from the apprehensions of their brethren, and that they cannot yield to that which their brethren yield too. It is true, they should be humbled, and suspect their hearts, and look to themselves, and fall down before God and pray, and use all means for advice and counsel, and consider of things again and again. Well, but suppose they have done all this, and yet the Lord doth not reveal to them any further light, though it be a sad affliction to them yet they must lye down under it, for they cannot yield, one known truth is more then all the world, therefore unless others will bear with them in their infirmity, they must suffer whatsoever men will lay upon them.

But now other men they have more liberty, they indeed quarrel not one with another, why? because they have wide, checker, lyther consciences, & having ends of their owne they will yeeld to any thing for the attaining of those ends;¹ so that here they have this advantage, that if they see that the contention will bring them more trouble then they conceive the thing is worth, they will condescend though it be against light of conscience. But other men upon whom the light of the Gospel hath prevailed have that bond upon conscience, that though all the world should differ from them, they must be content to lye down and suffer, they cannot yeeld, though you would give them all the world they cannot go against that light. But indeed they may search, and it may trouble them that their apprehensions of things should be different from the apprehensions of their brethren, and that they cannot yeeld to that which their brethren yeeld too. It is true, they should be humbled, and suspect their hearts, and look to themselves, and fall down before God and pray, and use all means for advice and counsell, and consider of things again and again. Well, but suppose they have done all this, and yet the Lord doth not reveale to them any further light, though it be a sad affliction to them yet they must lye down under it, for they cannot yeeld, one known truth is more then all the world, therefore unlesse others will beare with them in their infirmity, they must suffer whatsoever men will lay upon them.