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 when God hath taken this creature and separated it from others, this creature must be expected to have more efficacy to signify the thing to my soul, and to stir up my soul to think of his holiness, then any creature in the world not so appointed, though other creatures have as much in them naturally to do it. This is Gods institution. Now mans institution, that cometh near to Gods, where there is a setting our post by his post, is when man shall take one creature from thousands of others, and all those thousands have as much in them naturally, and put into them by God, to put me in mind of holiness, and to stir up my heart; now this creature shall be separated from the rest, and by virtue of an institution put upon it, there shall be expected more efficacy in this to stir up my mind, and to draw my heart nearer to God then other creatures that only do it in a natural way, here I say is entrenching upon that which belongeth to the government of Christ.

But when God hath taken this creature and separated it from others, this creature must be expected to have more efficacy to signifie the thing to my soul, and to stiree up my soul to think of his holinesse, then any creature in the world not so appointed, though other creatures have as much in them naturally to do it. This is Gods institution. Now mans institution, that cometh neere to Gods, where there is a setting our post by his post, is when man shal take one creature from thousands of others, and all those thousands have as much in them naturally, and put into them by God, to put me in minde of holynesse, and to stirre up my heart; now this creature shall be separated from the rest, and by virtue of an institution put upon it, there shall be expected more efficacy in this to stir up my mind, and to draw my heart nearer to God then other creatures that onely do it in a natural way, here I say is intrenching upon that which belongeth to the government of Christ.

Therefore I beseech you my brethren be not mistaken in this, because I know you are ordinarily led by that speech of the Apostle, let all thing be, done decently and in order. Understand it aright, It is true we must do so and it is a sin, not to do things decently and in order, in the worship of God: but this doth not at all countenance any institution of mans when it comes to be spiritual, to draw the heart nearer unto God, or God nearer unto the heart, by virtue of mans separation of it from common use.