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…

Now this their sin is further aggravated by divers arguments; first, by their shameless impudency, in that notwithstanding they consulted with these Idols, and used all these devilish ceremonies, yet they still boasted that they did not worship nor consult with the Images themselves, but God in the Image. And therefore it is not said that they did ask counsel of their Images, but in their Images, for so the Text hath it; that is, used them as their instruments, wherein they boasted that they consulted with the true God. Secondly, he doth not simply say that they consulted with an Image or staff, but they ask counsel in their wood, and their staff teacheth them, signifying hereby that they had learned no such thing out of Gods word, where all such practises are condemned as most odious abominations, but that they were their own will-worships, human inventions, and devilish superstitions.

Now this their sinne is further aggrauated by diuers arguments; first, by their shamelesse impudency, in that notwithstanding they consulted with these Idols, and vsed all these diuellish ceremonies, yet they still boasted that they did not worship nor consult with the Images themselues, but God in the Image. And therfore it is not said that they did aske counsaile of their Images, but in their Images, for so the Text hath it; that is, vsed them as their instruments, wherein they boasted that they consulted with the true God. Secondly, he doth not simply say that they consulted with an Image or staffe, but they aske counsaile in their wood, and their staffe teacheth them, signifying hereby that they had learned no such thing out of Gods word, where all such practises are condemned as most odious abhominations, but that they were their owne will-worships, humaine inventions, and diuellish superstitions.

Lastly, he aggravateth their sin, by their sottish folly, in that they had not only refused the counsel and direction of the most wise and all-seeing God, but also had made choice of base and blind Idols made of wood and stone to be their guides and counsellors; which were in other things (though not in this) far more senseless then themselves, and suffered themselves to be advised and directed by their staves, which were not only destitute of understanding, but also of sense and motion. but as it pleased themselves to carry, move, turn and rule them, herein like unto blind men, who refer themselves over to be guided by their staff in their way which themselves carry. Yea, in truth herein far more blind and extremely sottish, in that the blind mans staff, howsoever it doth sometimes deceive, yet most commonly it helpeth him to avoid dangers, whereas these men suffering themselves to be guided by these staves of devilish superstition, are thereby misled into the deep pit of eternal destruction.