A69234:1397
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.
The use hereof is that we do not labour to hide our sins under this broken veil of Ignorance, or extenuate our faults by pretending that if we do offend, it is because we are ignorant, and know no better, for our ignorance after that we have so long enjoyed the light of the Gospel, cannot be necessary, but voluntary and wilful, because we neglect or despise the means of knowledge; and therefore this ignorance will not excuse us, but rather ⟨p. 278⟩aggravate both our sin and punishment.
The vse hereof is that wee doe not labour to hide our sinnes vnder this broken vaile of Ignorance, or extenuate our faults by pretending that if wee doe offend, it is because wee are ignorant, and know no better, for our ignorance after that wee haue so long injoyed the light of the Gospell, cannot bee necessarie, but voluntary and wilfull, because wee neglect or dispise the meanes of knowledge; and therefore this ignorance will not excuse vs, but rather ⟨p. 278⟩aggrauate both our sinne and punishment.
Lastly, we here learn, that when the Lord hath used 1all means both by his word and works, his benefits, chastisements, and more gentle punishments, to bring a people to Knowledge, Faith, and Repentance; and they nevertheless neglecting and contemning these means, do continue in wilful Ignorance, gross Infidelity, and secure Impenitency; then the Lord will give them over to their own wicked courses, and suffer them to fall head-long both into the evils of sin, and the evils of punishment. For Example, he will give them over to the blindness of their minds, to run on in Errors, Heresies, Superstition, and Idolatry; to the perverseness of their wills, to refuse the good, and choose the evil, to their own vile affections, to commit such abominable wickedness, as nature it self, though much corrupted abhorreth and detesteth, and even to a reprobate sense, that they may heap sin upon sin, and treasure up against themselves wrath against the day of wrath. And when he hath often assayed fatherly corrections, and light afflictions, to amend them, and they will not be reformed, he will cause them to be overtaken by his fearful plagues and heavy judgements, and in the end plunge them into the gulf of destruction and eternal condemnation. An Example hereof we have in this place, for when the Israelites would not understand, nor be reformed, neither by Gods Word nor works, his mercies nor judgements, the Lord caused them to fall and to be over-whelmed with most fearful punishments. When the Gentiles would not serve God according to that light of nature, which he had given unto them, he gave them up to their own vile affections, and to a reprobate mind.