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…

Gods ways and his Cause are so equal, that private Christians, though they be very weak,¹ yet they may be able to plead it with a Church. It is true, there is a great deal of disadvantage that a poor, weak, private Christian hath, when he is to deal with a whole Church, where there are many godly and learned: but where as there is a disadvantage one way, so the advantage is as much the other way, in regard that the Cause of God is one the one side, and not on the other. The goodness of the Cause is as great an advantage as the abilities and number on the other side is a disadvantage.

Gods wayes and his Cause are so equal, that private Christians, though they be very weak,¹ yet they may be able to plead it with a Church. It is true, there is a great deale of disadvantage that a poore, weak, private Christian hath, when he is to deale with a whole Church, where there are many godly and learned: but where as there is a disadvantage one way, so the advantage is as much the other way, in regard that the Cause of God is one the one side, and not on the other. The goodnesse of the Cause is as great an advantage as the abilities and number on the other side is a disadvantage.

1. 1private members may in some cases plead with the whole Church.

And sometimes particular members of a Church have no other way to free themselves from the guilt of the sins of the Church, but only by pleading with them; except they plead, they are many times inwrapped in the guilt, and therefore of necessity they must do it, though they be never so weak,

And sometimes particular members of a Church have no other way to free themselves from the guilt of the sinnes of the Church, but onely by pleading with them; except they plead, they are many times inwrapped in the guilt, and therefore of necessity they must do it, though they be never so weak,