A69234:1100
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 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.
The sin therefore which is here condemned in the priests is, that they vsurped the office of the Priesthood, and chalenged the honour, and seazed vpon the profits due vnto it, ⟨p. 138⟩but neglected their duety; for thinking it sufficient, to weare the habite, and offer the Sacrifices, and administer the other Ceremonies, they refused the chiefe duety which God required of them; that is, to teach the people, for they vtterly neglected and dispised the knowledge of God and his trueth themselues, or at least such a knowledge as their calling required; for though they had some knowledge in the braine, yet they had none in the lips; though they had some in speculation, yet through idlenesse, or carelesnesse, or couetousnesse, or ambition, they made no vse of it, for the instruction of the people, for they were destroyed for want of knowledge.
And this was their sin. The punishment which the Lord doth proportionate unto it is, that because they had refused knowledge, he would refuse them, that they should be no Priests unto him: where we are to observe, that he speaketh unto them as unto one man in the singular number for the greater Emphasis; showing that seeing they had joined together as one man in their sin, so they should be joined as one in the punishment, and not one of them escape.