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…

Yet further.¹ In that Hosea did prophesy in the time of Jeroboam, by that it will appear that he was the first Prophet that ever brought these hard tidings to them, of the utter destruction of Israel, It will appear by that which is said, 2 King. 14. 27. that before this time God had not so threatened Israel; for the Text saith: The Lord said not before this time that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. Mark, there is given the reason why the Lord saved them by the hand of Jeroboam, because he had not yet said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, that is, the Lord never before sent any of his Prophets thus plainly and fully to declare his intention to them for the utter blotting out the name of Israel, upon their going on in their sins. So that it is clear, that Hosea was the first that was sent about this message. And certainly it was so much the harder, he being the first of all. For they might have said, why do you come with these new things, and in so great severity, who did ever so before you? It was a hard task: For we know if a Minister come with any thing that seems to be new, if he presents any truth to you that hath but a show of Novelty, that you heard not before, though it be never so good and comfortable, he shall find little encouragement. Nay if he do but come in a new way, as this very exercise, because it is like to go on in a way that yet hath been disused, it will meet with many discouragements. What then will the threatenings of hard things, of judgments, and destruction do when they come with novelty? Surely Hosea had a hard task of this, and yet he went on faithfully with it.

Yet further.¹ In that Hosea did prophesie in the time of Jeroboam, by that it will apppear that he was the first Prophet that ever brought these hard tidings to them, of the utter destruction of Israel, It will appeare by that which is said, 2 King. 14. 27. that before this time God had not so threatned Israel; for the Text saith: The Lord said not before this time that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but hee saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the sonne of Joash. Mark, there is given the reason why the Lord saved them by the hand of Jeroboam, because he had not yet said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, that is, the Lord never before sent any of his Prophets thus plainly and fully to declare his intention to them for the utter blotting out th name of Israel, upon their going on in their sins. So that it is clear, that Hosea was the first that was sent about this message. And certainly it was so much the harder, he being the first of all. For they might have said, why do you come with these new things, and in so great severity, who did ever so before you? It was a hard task: For we know if a Minister come with any thing that seems to be new, if he presents any truth to you that hath but a shew of Novelty, that you heard not before, though it be never so good aud comfortable, he shall find little encouragement. Nay if hee doe but come in a new way, as this very exercise, because it is like to goe on in a way that yet hath been disused, it will meet with many discouragements. What then will the threatnings of hard things, of judgments, and destruction do when they come with novelty? Surely Hosea had a hard taske of this, and yet he went on faithfully with it.