A69234:1375
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.
Where he taketh away an objection, which might be made by the hypocrites, namely, that it would not stand with the justice of God to deal so severely with the people; for they had a good meaning in all their devotions, and if they failed in the manner of worshipping God, it was through ignorance, and therefore to be excused. To which objection, the Prophet seemeth to answer, that they were ignorant indeed, and by reason hereof they fell into all manner of sin, but their ignorance did not excuse their faults, neither was it self to be excused, seeing they contemned the means of knowledge and remained ignorant, because they would be ignorant, and affected the darkness of superstition, more then the light of Gods truth.
Where hee taketh away an objection, vvhich might bee made by the hipocrites, namely, that it would not stand with the justice of God to deale so seuerely vvith the people; for they had a good meaning in all their deuotions, and if they fayled in the manner of vvorshipping God, it was through ignorance, and therefore to bee excused. To which objection, the Prophet seemeth to answere, that they were ignorant indeede, and by reason hereof they fell into all manner of sinne, but their ignorance did not excuse their faults, neyther was it selfe to bee excused, seeing they contemned the meanes of knowledge and remayned ignorant, because they would be ignorant, and affected the darknesse of superstition, more then the light of Gods truth.
The punishment denounced is, that they shall fall; that is, because they are indocible and will not by any means be informed in the right course, therefore the Lord will give them over to their own blindness of mind, that so they may go on in their superstition and Idolatries, and remain perplexed in their reprobate errors, until at length they stumble, and fall into the pit of utter ruin and destruction.
The punishment denounced is, that they shall fall; that is, because they are indocible and will not by any meanes bee informed in the right course, therefore the Lord will giue them ouer to their owne blindnesse of minde, that so they may goe on in their superstition and Idolatryes, and remaine perplexed in their reprobate errours, vntill at length they stumble, and fall into the pit of vtter ruine and destruction.