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…

The general dissuasion is contained in these words: Though thou Israel play the harlot, yet let not Judah sin, as if he had said, although thou Israel being wholly possessed with a spirit of fornication, art so desperately addicted to idolatry and spiritual whoredom, that there is no hope remaining that ever thou wilt be reclaimed, yet let not the Lord be as it were robbed of both his sons in the same day, O let not Judah who is not as yet come to that desperate degree of sin, be seduced by your bad neighbour-hood and evil example, and derive the same guilt of iniquity upon himself; for so the word Assam usually signifieth such a fault or guilt as is derived from one to another, the one being the motive and impulsive cause of the other sin.

The generall disswasion is contayned in these words: Though thou Israell play the harlot, yet let not Iuda sinne, as if hee had said, although thou Israell being wholy possessed with a spirit of fornication, art so desperately addicted to idolatrie and spirituall whoredome, that there is no hope remayning that euer thou wilt be reclaymed, yet let not the Lord be as it were robbed of both his sonnes in the same day, O let not Iuda who is not as yet come to that desperate degree of sin, be seduced by your bad neighbour-hood and euill example, and deriue the same guilt of iniquitie vpon himselfe; for so the word Assam vsually signifieth such a fault or guilt as is deriued from one to another, the one being the motiue and impulsiue cause of the other sinne.

The ground of this dissuasion was the dangerous estate of the people of Judah, first in regard of their near neighbour-hood with these idolatrous Israelites, who were ready to seduce them both by their example and allurements; the which is implied in the first words, Though thou Israel, &c. As though he should have said, seeing thou Israel which art ⟨p. 282⟩so near a neighbour and kinsman to Judah, art so defiled with idolatry, that there is great danger least thou should poison them with thy contagion, yet let Judah carefully take heed to avoid thy leprous infection. Secondly this amplifieth their danger, that they were already tainted with their superstition and idolatry, which through their natural corruption and proneness unto this sin was apt to spread further and further, and therefore like a good Physician he laboureth to cure their ague in the first fits, and to stay them from falling any deeper into this sickness of sin. And to this purpose he admonisheth them that they should not imitate the Israelites in their Idolatry, but purge away their dregs of superstition, wherewith they were already corrupted, and restore Gods pure worship in his Temple amongst them, by the office and Ministry of his true Priests and Levites.