A69234:1107
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.
Lastly, whereas he speaking of the Priests sin, saith that they had forgotten his Law; and of his own punishment, that he would forget their children: hereby is implied Gods merciful justice and mans impiety, in that God doth not forget them, before they have forgotten him; ⟨p. 141⟩and therefore if God at any time neglect and forget his people, it is manifest that it is because they have neglected and forgotten him first.
Lastly, whereas hee speaking of the Priests sinne, saith that they had forgotten his Law; and of his owne punishment, that hee would forget their children: hereby is implyed Gods mercifull justice and mans impietie, in that God doth not forget them, before they haue forgotten him; ⟨p. 141⟩and therefore if God at any time neglect and forget his people, it is manifest that it is because they haue neglected and forgotten him first.
And thus have I showed the meaning of the words: the doctrines which arise out of them are divers. The first thing 1to be observed is, that if a people live in ignorance of God and his religion, for want of teaching and instruction, the Lord condemneth it as a great sin, both in the ministers and people In the ministers, in that they neglect their duty, and either through their insufficiency or idleness, suffer them to go on in the ways of darkness to their perdition, whereby they become accessory, yea principal causes of their destruction, of which I shall speak afterwards. And in the people, in that they are content to live in their ignorance, and voluntarily submit themselves to be led by such blind guides, as cannot inform them in the ways of the Lord. For they should have care of their own souls, though others neglect it: they should count this one thing necessary, to be instructed in the knowledge of gods truth, and prefer it before their worldly affairs; they should wanting this precious pearl of gods word, rather sell all they have to purchase it, then content themselves to be without it; they should themselves read, study, and meditate in the scriptures, which are sufficient to make them wise to salvation, especially when the ordinary means fail.