A30575:785
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth chapters of…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhill, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eleventh, twelfth, & thirteenth chapters of the prophesy of Hosea being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil, London / by Jeremiah Burroughs ; being the seventh book published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1651
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN EXPOSITION Of the PROPHESY of HOSEA. › Chapter 12 › Verse 3: VER. 3.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Therefore oh remember this that it is the way of God 1when he doth intend the greatest mercy to any of his people, sometimes to bring them into the depth of affliction, and therefore do not conclude that never any was so afflicted as I have been, why Jacob might have said so, and yet at that time God had never greater thoughts of mercy than he had to him then, and therefore remember this again, when such kind of temptations work, never any ⟨p. 232⟩was so afflicted as I have been, grant it, yet it may be there is mercy intended for you at this time, that never yet was granted to any of the children of men before, 'tis possible it may be so, it was so with Jacob, and therefore let not your faith flag.
- 1God sometimes brings the deepest afflictions when he intends the greatest mercy.
He had power with God; in this great distress that he was in he doth not lie down as a man discouraged, but 1he […]rs up what strength he had, and he falls a wrestling, a wrestling with this man, even with God thus appearing against him as an enemy: Oh! thus should the seed of Jacob do, you that are the seed of Jacob, for so specially your praying Christians in time of distress are called by the seed of Jacob, [I said not to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain.] They are not called the seed of Abraham, but of Jacob, because Jacob was so eminent in praying in so great extremity, the seed of Jacob should do so, every little opposition that comes upon a sluggish heart, a heart that hath low and mean principles, sinks him presently, I say, take a man or woman that hath but low and mean principles, every little opposition presently damps his spirit and maketh him yield and bows him down, and they are ready to say all is gone if they are but opposed a little; Oh! art thou of the seed of Jacob? the seed of Jacob should never think their condition to be so sad, but there may be recovery; Is it a great affliction that is upon me? am I in great distress? let me so much the more stir up my strength. As I remember it was said of Alexander, that when he was in a great danger, saith he, Now there's a danger fit for the mind of an Alexander. So, doth God bring into great straights? now there's a straight fit for a gracious heart, for one that is partaker of the Divine Nature to encounter with; stir up therefore what strength thou hast, do not say, I shall never be table to overcome this difficulty, do not say so, for you are not in greater straights than Jacob was at this time, and yet mark, Jacob had power, and stirs up his power.