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…

Secondly, Mercy to Israel and Judah both together, and that first, In the multitude that shall be gathered, secondly, In the excellency of the state of the Church at that time above that which was before; before they were People, but then they shall be Sons: Thirdly, In the unity of them, Israel and Judah shall be both gathered together under one head. Some time was spent in the last exercise about unity, and the excellency of the unity of the Churches; wherein we laboured to convince you that uniformity in judgement, and practice is not necessary for unity in the Churches, for unity of hearts. It is a false principle that runs in the world, that all men must needs be brought to believe and do the same thing or else there can be no peace. If we would have light let in to us, we must so prise it as to be willing that in the discussion of truths there should be some hazard of some differences in lesser things. If a man have a house closed on every side with a thick brick-wall, and he is so desirous to keep his house safe and strong, that he will rather all his days sit in the dark, then be at the trouble to have a hole digged or a few bricks broken to let in any light, we would accuse that man of folly. It is true indeed, we must not be so desirous of light as to break so much of the wall as to endanger the house, we must keep that safe; but yet it is hard to let in light but there will be some bricks taken away, and there must be some trouble. A child when he sees the work-man with his tools breaking the wall and making a deal of rubbish, he thinks he is pulling down the house, but a wise man knows it is but a little trouble for the present to let in light that shall be for the beauty of the house afterward.

Secondly, Mercy to Israel and Judah both together, and that first, In the multitude that shall be gathered, secondly, In the excellency of the state of the Church at that time above that which was before; before they were People, but then they shall be Sons: Thirdly, In the unity of them, Israel and Judah shall be both gathered together under one head. Some time was spent in the last exercise about unity, and the excellency of the unity of the Churches; wherein we laboured to convince you that uniformity in judgement, and practice is not necessary for unity in the Churches, for unity of hearts. It is a false principle that runnes in the world, that all men must needs be brought to believe and doe the same thing or else there can be no peace. If we would have light let in to us, we must so prise it as to be willing that in the discussion of truths there should be some hazard of some differences in lesser things. If a man have a house closed on every side with a thick brick-wall, and he is so desirous to keepe his house safe and stronge, that he will rather all his dayes sit in the darke, then be at the trouble to have a hole digged or a few bricks broken to let in any light, wee would accuse that man of folly. It is true indeed, we must not be so desirous of light as to break so much of the wall as to indanger the house, we must keepe that safe; but yet it is hard to let in light but there will be some bricks taken away, and there must be some trouble. A childe when he sees the work-man with his tooles breaking the wall and making a deale of rubbish, hee thinks he is pulling down the house, but a wise man knows it is but a little trouble for the present to let in light that shall be for the beauty of the house afterward.