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…

And as they superstitiously sin, which put difference in places dedicated to Gods public worship and service, seeing in his word he hath taken such differences away, so they ⟨p. 252⟩likewise offend, who confound public & private worship, together with the places allotted to either of them, because god in the scriptures hath distinguished them. For example, when God requireth public worship on his sabbaths in the assemblies and congregation, it is a sin for any man to neglect this, though he offer unto God his private service at home by reading and praying. So whereas God in his public service requireth unanimity and uniformity, it is a sin for any in the assembly to distract himself from the rest, and to make a rent in these holy exercises; as to read privately when the Minister with the congregation prayeth publicly, or to pray when he preacheth. For if it be an absurd kind of unmannerliness, to speak to our better whilst he speaketh unto us, because such confusion hindereth both our hearing and understanding, or whilst he conferreth with us about important affairs, to turn from him & talk with another; then is it no less absurdity to speak unto God in prayer, whilst he speaketh unto us in the Ministry of the Word, or when he dealeth with us about businesses of no less moment then the salvation of our souls, to turn from him and give our selves to private reading.

And as they superstitiously sinne, which put difference in places dedicated to Gods publike worship and seruice, seeing in his word he hath taken such differences away, so they ⟨p. 252⟩likewise offend, who confound publike & priuate worship, together with the places allotted to either of them, because god in the scriptures hath distinguished them. For example, when God requireth publike worship on his sabbaths in the assemblies and congregation, it is a sinne for any man to neglect this, though he offer vnto God his priuate seruice at home by reading and praying. So whereas God in his publike seruice requireth vnanimitie and vniformitie, it is a sinne for any in the assemblie to distract himselfe from the rest, and to make a rent in these holy exercises; as to reade priuately when the Minister with the congregation prayeth publikely, or to pray when he preacheth. For if it be an absurd kinde of vnmanerlinesse, to speake to our better whilst he speaketh vnto vs, because such confusion hindreth both our hearing and vnderstanding, or whilst he conferreth with vs about important affaires, to turne from him & talke with another; then is it no lesse absurditie to speake vnto God in prayer, whilst he speaketh vnto vs in the Ministerie of the Word, or when hee dealeth with vs about businesses of no lesse moment then the saluation of our soules, to turne from him and giue our selues to priuate reading.