A69234:1249
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 more special interpretation, which I take to be most fit and agreeable to the text is this; that because they had used all wicked & ungodly means, to maintain themselves in voluptuous pleasures, to attain unto riches, and to propagate their posterity, and had left off to observe the Lord, that is, to wait upon him, in the use of lawful means, for the attaining unto their desires, not regarding what was his will, so they might have their own will, nor relying upon his providence, but upon their own unlawful shifts; therefore he would cross them in their wicked courses, and would so curse their ungodly means unto them, because they would not rely themselves upon his blessing, in the use of those which were good, that they should perish in their frustrated hopes, and altogether fail in their desires.
The more speciall interpretation, which I take to be most fit and agreeable to the text is this; that because they had vsed all wicked & vngodly meanes, to maintaine themselues in voluptuous pleasures, to attaine vnto riches, and to propagate their posteritie, and had left off to obserue the Lord, that is, to wait vpon him, in the vse of lawfull meanes, for the attaining vnto their desires, not regarding what was his will, so they might haue their owne wil, nor relying vpon his prouidence, but vpon their owne vnlawfull shifts; therefore he would crosse them in their wicked courses, and would so curse their vngodly meanes vnto them, because they would not relye themselues vpon his blessing, in the vse of those which were good, that they should perish in their frustrated hopes, and altogether faile in their desires.
And this is the meaning of the words; the doctrines which The doctrines arise out of them are divers. First, we may generally observe, 1that howsoever the wicked & ungodly do make sure account by their subtle plots and mischievous practises to accomplish their desires, and to compass what they will, yet the Lord so crosseth them in their evil courses, that they fail in their hopes, and are altogether disappointed in their designs; for either the Lord doth merely frustrate all their labour, in not suffering them to attain unto such worldly benefits, which they pursue, or if they obtain them, yet doth not suffer them to enjoy them, because he with-holdeth his blessing, and all comfort and contentment in the use of them. For the first: how many are there who have set their harts wholly upon the world, and with far more fervent desire have sought for temporal benefits, then the salvation of their own souls, not caring what wicked means they used, so they might accomplish their designs, and yet have been so crossed by God, that they could never achieve their wills? How many ambitious men have spent their whole lives in