A69234:1099
Lectures upon the four first chapters of the prophecy of Hosea Wherein the text…Lectures vpon the foure first chapters of the prophecie of Hosea Wherein the text…
Lectures upon the four first chapters of the prophecy of Hosea Wherein the text is expounded and cleared, and such profitable instructions observed, and applied, as naturally arise out of this holy Scripture, and are fit for these times. By John Downame Bachelor in Divinity, and preacher of Gods word.Lectures vpon the foure first chapters of the prophecie of Hosea Wherein the text is exponded and cleered, and such profitable instructions obserued, and applied, as naturally arise out of this holie Scripture, and are fit for these times. By Iohn Dovvname Bacheler in Diuinitie, and preacher of Gods word.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston and T. East for William Welby, 1608
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.
The knowledge therefore which was required in the Priests, and which in this place they refused, was such a knowledge, as was proper to their calling and function; that is, not only a speculative knowledge in the brain, but a practical knowledge, whereby they communicated that they knew to the people, not alone in the understanding, but in the lips, that is, in speech, publishing and preaching Gods truth, that the people may seek it from their mouth: not an idle knowledge, whereby they know to know, and make no use of it; but an operative knowledge whereby they teach & inform Gods people in his true religion.
The knowledge therefore which was required in the Priests, and which in this place they refused, was such a knowledge, as was proper to their calling and function; that is, not onely a speculatiue knowledge in the braine, but a practicall knowledge, whereby they communicated that they knew to the people, not alone in the vnderstanding, but in the lips, that is, in speach, publishing and preaching Gods truth, that the people may seeke it from their mouth: not an idle knowledge, whereby they know to know, and make no vse of it; but an operatiue knowledge whereby they teach & informe Gods people in his true religion.
The sin therefore which is here condemned in the priests is, that they usurped the office of the Priesthood, and challenged the honour, and seized upon the profits due unto it, ⟨p. 138⟩but neglected their duty; for thinking it sufficient, to wear the habit, and offer the Sacrifices, and administer the other Ceremonies, they refused the chief duty which God required of them; that is, to teach the people, for they utterly neglected and despised the knowledge of God and his trueth themselves, or at least such a knowledge as their calling required; for though they had some knowledge in the brain, yet they had none in the lips; though they had some in speculation, yet through idleness, or carelessness, or covetousness, or ambition, they made no use of it, for the instruction of the people, for they were destroyed for want of knowledge.