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…

But this sin is much more heinous in the people, if they continue in ignorance when as the Lord giveth them liberally the means of knowledge; if they wilfully shut their eyes when the light of Gods word clearly shineth unto them; if they continue blind because they will not see; if they refuse to hear the word preached, or neglect and despise it when they hear it, as not worth the knowing or remembering; if they choose rather to be under blind guides, because they would not be troubled with hearing and learning, or with admonitions and reprehensions (whereas they rather desire to live quietly and securely in their sins) then under faithful and painful Ministers, who would disturb their ⟨p. 142⟩ease and awake their consciences out of the sleep of sin, for such living in ignorance are without excuse, and for want of knowledge shall most certainly be destroyed.

But this sin is much more haynous in the people, if they continue in ignorance when as the Lord giueth them liberally the meanes of knowledge; if they wilfully shut their eyes when the light of Gods word clearly shineth vnto them; if they continue blinde because they will not see; if they refuse to heare the word preached, or neglect and despise it when they heare it, as not worth the knowing or remembring; if they chuse rather to be vnder blind guides, because they would not be troubled with hearing and learning, or with admonitions and reprehensions (whereas they rather desire to liue quietly and securely in their sinnes) then vnder faithfull and painefull Ministers, who would disturbe their ⟨p. 142⟩ease and awake their consciences out of the sleepe of sinne, for such liuing in ignorance are without excuse, and for want of knowledge shall most certainely be destroyed.

The second thing to be observed is, that where the people ¹are destitute of knowledge for want of instruction, there the people & ministers shall be destroyed. The people first, because they content themselves with such blind guides and willingly remain in their ignorance: secondly, because wanting knowledge they deprive themselves of all means whereby they may be saved, for those whom God hath elected to salvation as to the end, he hath also ordained that they should use the means, whereby they may attain to salvation; that is, that they should be effectually called, justified, and sanctified; but none can attain to any of these means without the knowledge of God and his religion: for whomsoever God effectually calleth, those with his word and holy spirit he illuminateth with the knowledge of his will, their own misery, the work of redemption wrought by Christ, and with other principles and fundamental points of Religion; without then this knowledge there is no effectual calling. So likewise no justification, for whosoever are justified they are also endued with a lively faith, whereby they apply unto themselves the merits and sufferings of Christ; but without knowledge there is no faith, for we cannot believe and be certainly persuaded of that whereof we are ignorant, and consequently no justification. In a word without knowledge there is no sanctification; for knowledge is the foundation of all virtue and obedience, without which we can neither choose the good nor refuse the evil. Now without these means there is no salvation, neither is there any saved, but those who are effectually called, justified and sanctified; and therefore it necessarily followeth, that they who want knowledge, are destroyed. This might be proved more particularly, whether we respect the temporary destruction of the body and state, or the eternal destruction of the soul, but that I have already handled this point before, entreating of the first verse of this Chapter.