An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

The Prophet Hosea (Chap. 7.9.) speaks as much of Jerusalem under the name of Ephraim. Strangers have devoured his strength, and be knoweth it not, grey hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not. Strangers devour his strength, that is, according to the language of Job, the mountains wherein his strength did consist, were devoured and overthrown by strangers, and yet he knew it not, he did not observe the hand of God in the hand of man against him. Grey hairs are here and there upon him; grey hairs are a great change; grey hairs note the most discernible change of a mans life. There are two states of a man, easily distinguished, Youth, and old-age, and grey hairs make the most visible distinction between these two; so that to say, Grey hairs are upon him, is to say there is such a change upon his estate, as is between a young man and an old man, and yet he knows, he observes it not. Of all things a man is most apt to take notice of his own natural grey hairs: and many are so troubled at the first sight of them (because they tell us we begin to be old) that they will pick them out; but such ⟨p. 180⟩is the senselessness of many about the dealings of God with them, that when great changes are upon them, changes like that of youth into old-age, they are not affected with it; providential or judiciary grey hairs are not often known.

The Prophet Hosea (Chap. 7.9.) speaks as much of Jerusalem under the name of Ephraim. Strangers have devoured his strength, and be knoweth it not, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth it not. Strangers devour his strength, that is, according to the language of Job, the mountains wherein his strength did consist, were devoured and overthrown by strangers, and yet he knew it not, he did not observe the hand of God in the hand of man against him. Gray hairs are here and there upon him; gray hairs are a great change; gray hairs note the most discernable change of a mans life. There are two states of a man, easily distinguished, Youth, and old-age, and gray hairs make the most visible distinction between these two; so that to say, Gray hairs are upon him, is to say there is such a change upon his estate, as is between a young man and an old man, and yet he knows, he observes it not. Of all things a man is most apt to take notice of his own naturall gray hairs: and many are so troubled at the first sight of them (because they tell us we begin to be old) that they will pick them out; but such ⟨p. 180⟩