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…

But if we would go to the fountain of these evils, and find out the core of all these corruptions, we shall find that howsoever inferiors cannot be excused, yet the ⟨p. 274⟩fault is principally in the Superiors and governors. Either because they neglect their duty towards them, from whom they expect duty, as by being like Ely indulgent, not correcting the vices of their Children, and so honouring them more then God, or by being loose in their government, or lewd and scandalous in their example; or finally because they do not like Abraham instruct their family in the ways of the Lord themselves, nor take care that they may be instructed by others; and so living in ignorance, and neglecting all duties which they owe to God, it is no marvel that they are undutiful and disobedient to parents and governors, seeing the love and fear of God is the fountain of all love and duty towards men. Or if so be men can plead not guilty in all these indictments, yet if they be arraigned at the bar of Gods judgement, and have their own consciences produced as witnesses against them, they will be forced to confess, that they have ben exceeding negligent in performing all good duties towards God himself, and through their coldness, backwardness, want of zeal, and disobedience, they have been wanting to God in the advancement of his glory, and contrariwise have dishonoured his name and scandalized their profession; and therefore it is most just with God that he exposeth them to shame and reproach, by suffering their children and servants to live in such infamous sins and rebellious wickedness, as disgrace and discredit the whole family, without any inward restraint of his spirit, or any outward stop by afflictions and punishments.

But if wee would goe to the fountaine of these euils, and finde out the core of all these corruptions, wee shall finde that howsoeuer inferiours cannot be excused, yet the ⟨p. 274⟩fault is principally in the Superiours and gouernours. Either because they neglect their dutie towards them, from whom they expect dutie, as by being like Elie indulgent, not correcting the vices of their Children, and so honouring them more then God, or by being loose in their gouernment, or lewde and scandalous in their example; or finally because they doe not like Abraham instruct their familie in the wayes of the Lord themselues, nor take care that they may be instructed by others; and so liuing in ignorance, and neglecting all duties which they owe to God, it is no meruaile that they are vndutifull and disobedient to parents and gouernours, seeing the loue and feare of God is the fountaine of all loue and dutie towards men. Or if so be men can pleade not guiltie in all these inditements, yet if they be arraigned at the barre of Gods iudgement, and haue their owne consciences produced as witnesses against them, they will bee forced to confesse, that they haue ben exceeding negligent in performing all good duties towards God himselfe, and through their coldnesse, backwardnesse, want of zeale, and disobedience, they haue beene wanting to God in the aduancement of his glorie, and contrariwise haue dishonoured his name and scandalized their profession; and therefore it is most just with God that hee exposeth them to shame and reproach, by suffering their children and seruants to liue in such infamous sinnes and rebellious wickednesse, as disgrace and discredite the whole familie, without any inward restraint of his spirit, or any outward stop by afflictions and punishments.