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…

2. It appears from hence that Hosea must needs begin to prophesy very young.¹ If he were a Prophet 80. years, certainly he was but young when he began first to prophesy, and yet he was set upon as great an employment as any of the Prophets were (as we shall see hereafter.) It pleaseth God sometimes to stir up the hearts of young ones to do him great service, he sends such sometimes about great works and employments, so he did Samuel, and Jeremiah, and Timothy, therefore let no man despise their youth.

2. It appears from hence that Hosea must needs begin to prophesie very young.¹ If hee were a Prophet 80. years, certainly hee was but young when he began first to prophesie, and yet he was set upon as great an employment as any of the Prophets were (as we shall see hereafter.) It pleaseth God sometimes to stir up the hearts of young ones to doe him great service, he sends such sometimes about great works and employments, so he did Samuel, and Ieremiah, and Timothy, therefore let no man despise their youth.

1. 1Obs. 2.

3. Hosea prophesying thus long,¹ it appears he lived to be old in his work. When God hath any work for men to do, he doth lengthen out their days. So he did the days of John the Disciple, he lived near upon an hundred years, if not more, for the time of the writing of his Gospel (as it is noted) was in the 99. year of Christ, 66. after the Ascension. Let not us be too solicitously careful about our lives, to maintain our healths and strengths, let us be careful to do our work; for according as the Lord hath work for us to do, so he will continue to us our health and strength, and life: when you come to dye, you may dye comfortably, having this thought in you; well, the work that the Lord sent me to do, is done, and why should I seek to live longer in the world? God hath others enough to do his work. It was a sweet expression of Jacob,