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…

The first thing that shall be done in this great day of Jezreel, shall be the deliverance of the Churches from woeful affliction which they shall be found to be in a little before. For so the Scripture tells us, Dan. 12. 1. that before this day there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time, and at that time thy people shall be delivered. I might tell you much how some of the Ancients have spoken of this, that though it be a point that seems to be somewhat strange to us,¹ yet it was one of the most ordinariest things that was known in the primitive times. It was then so generally acknowledged, that I remember Just in Martyr (who was but 30. years after Saint John) hath such an expression as this, There is no man (saith he) that is of the Orthodox faith in all things, but he doth acknowledge it. And Lactantius in his 7. book, cap. 15. 24. 28. and divers other chapters he spends in showing the glory of this great day of Jezreel, but withal he shows that a little before there shall be most grievous times that shall fall out, such times saith he, as that all right shall be confounded,² the law shall perish, no body shall know what is his own, the wicked they shall have the preeminence, & the Saints they shall be persecuted, so that (saith he) though in this our time wickedness is grown to such a height, that a man would think it could increase no higher, yet in comparison of the time a little before that great day, these times may be called Golden ages.

The first thing that shall be done in this great day of Iezreel, shall be the deliverance of the Churches from wofull affliction which they shal be found to be in a little before. For so the Scripture tells us, Dan. 12. 1. that before this day there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time, and at that time thy people shall be delivered. I might tell you much how some of the Ancients have spoken of this, that though it be a point that seemes to be somewhat strange to us,¹ yet it was one of the most ordinariest things that was known in the primitive times. It was then so generally acknowledged, that I remember Just in Martyr (who was but 30. years after Saint John) hath such an expression as this, There is no man (saith he) that is of the Orthodox faith in all things, but he doth acknowledge it. And Lactantius in his 7. book, cap. 15. 24. 28. and divers other chapters he spends in shewing the glory of this great day of Iezreel, but withall he shewes that a little before there shall be most grievous times that shal fall out, such times saith he, as that all right shall be confounded,