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…

By all which it appeareth that Gods benefits are not blessings ¹unto us if we do abuse them as motives unto sin, but rather they make our sins out of measure sinful, and our punishments more intolerable. And of this the reason is most apparent; for as it excuseth the neglect of duty, when the party to whom it is to be performed is but a mere stranger, and extenuateth the fault, when as it is committed against an enemy, so it doth much aggravate it, if he be a familiar acquaintance, or near friend, unto whom we are deeply indebted for many benefits: if the wife do misdemean her self towards a crabbed and perverse husband, though it doth not altogether excuse her, yet it extenuateth her fault; but if she thus behave her self towards a husband who is most kind and loving, and omitteth no good duty which can be required of him, the world is ready to cry shame against such misbehaviour. If the servant neglecteth his duty to such a master as performeth no duty unto him, but defraudeth him of his wages, and daily oppresseth him with new injuries, although it will not justify his doings, yet it will lessen his faults; but if this neglect be towards such a one as is loving and liberal, it deserveth justly a sharper censure and more severe punishment. So if the Lord were unto us as a stranger or enemy, a bitter husband, or cruel master, we might have some-what to say for the neglect of our duty; but seeing he is most bountiful and benign, requiting every dram of love with a pound of kindness, and rewarding every penny-worth of service, with a talent of wages, yea, seeing he preventeth us with his free grace, and beginneth, and continueth, and multiplieth his benefits without any manner of our deserts, if after all this we neglect our duties to such a God, so gracious, and infinite in mercy, yea, ⟨p. 233⟩and contrariwise abuse his own gifts to his dishonour, and take occasion by his benefits the more to provoke his wrath by our sins, what judgements are too heavy, what punishments too grievous for such unthankful wretches?

By all which it appeareth that Gods benefits are not blessings ¹vnto vs if we doe abuse them as motiues vnto sinne, but rather they make our sinnes out of measure sinfull, and our punishments more intollerable. And of this the reason is most apparant; for as it excuseth the neglect of dutie, when the partie to whom it is to be performed is but a meere stranger, and extenuateth the fault, when as it is committed against an enimie, so it doth much aggrauate it, if he be a familiar acquaintance, or neere friend, vnto whom we are deepely indebted for many benefits: if the wife do misdemeane her selfe towards a crabbed and perverse husband, though it doth not altogether excuse her, yet it extenuateth her fault; but if she thus behaue her selfe towards a husband who is most kinde and louing, and omitteth no good duty which can be required of him, the world is ready to crie shame against such misbehauior. If the seruant neglecteth his duty to such a maister as performeth no duty vnto him, but defraudeth him of his wages, and daily oppresseth him with new injuries, although it will not justifie his doings, yet it will lessen his faults; but if this neglect be towards such a one as is louing and liberall, it deserueth justly a sharper censure and more seuere punishment. So if the Lord were vnto vs as a stranger or enimie, a bitter husband, or cruell maister, we might haue som-what to say for the neglect of our duty; but seeing he is most bountifull and benigne, requiting euery dramme of loue with a pound of kindnesse, and rewarding euery penny-worth of seruice, with a talent of wages, yea, seeing he preuenteth vs with his free grace, and beginneth, and continueth, and multiplyeth his benefits without any manner of our deserts, if after all this we neglect our duties to such a God, so gracious, and infinite in mercy, yea,