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…

That which is intended especially here, is, that they should not be content merely with change of their hearts, to say, Well, we will acknowledge the Lord to be the true God, and our hearts shall wholly trust in him, but for these external things what great matter is there in them? Oh no, they must abstain from all appearance of evil; from the badges of Idolatry, there must not be so much as the garb and dress of a whore upon them, they must take away their adulteries from between their breasts.

That which is intended especially here, is, that they should not be content meerly with change of their hearts, to say, Well, we will acknowledge the Lord to be the true God, and our hearts shall wholly trust in him, but for these externall things what great matter is there in them? Oh no, they must abstaine from all appearance of evill; from the badges of Idolatry, there must not be so much as the garbe and dresse of a whore upon them, they must take away their adulteries from betweene their breasts.

The breasts of the Church are the Ordinances that are there, for out of them do the Saints suck sweetness and spiritual nourishment. So they are called in Isa. 66. 11. That you may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of consolation. Now certainly it is an evil thing for any thing that is whorish ⟨p. 169⟩to be upon the breasts, to be in the Ordinances of the Church, to think to adorn them withal as whores do their breasts. No, the breasts are so near the heart that it is pity any thing should be upon them but Christ himself; it is most fit that he should lye there. Cant. 1. 13. A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me, he shall lye all night between my breasts, Myrrh we know is a bitter thing, but though Christ were as a bundle of myrrh, and brought many afflictions that add bitterness to the flesh, yet the Church would have Christ to lye between her breasts and she would rejoice in Christ, Christ was sweet to the Church though with afflictions, As a bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved. So many faithful Ministers of God have been contented, yea joyful to keep Christ between their breasts, and in the Ordinances, though as a bundle of myrrh, though he hath brought some afflictions to them, yet rather then they would endure any expression of that which is whorish upon the breasts of the Church,