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…

Now the reason why Judah is forbidden to ascend into these places was, because they were consecrated to idolatrous worship. For when Jeroboam took upon him the government, as on the one side he saw that it was necessary to have a place for the public service of God, because religion is the surest bond of all good society and government, so on the other side consulting with no better a counsellor then humane wisdom, he thought it dangerous to his state, that the people should go up to Jerusalem, least having too much familiarity and intercourse of friendship with the men of Judah, his people should be drawn to make a defection from him to the kingdom of the house of David. And therefore he resolved upon this ¹course, as the safest, to appoint in his own country some places for the public exercises of Religion. Now because there seemed to be some difficulty to with-draw the people from the Temple which was expressly appointed by God for this purpose, unto other places which were as expressly prohibited, therefore in wicked policy he made choice of such places as were most famous, and unto which the people were most devoted, for some special privileges which they had had in former time, that hereby he might ⟨p. 285⟩blind their judgement and allure their affection. Now none seemed fitter for his purpose then these two: seeing Gilgal was in special account with the people, because of all those memorable things there done, of which I have already spoken, and especially in respect of the appearing of the Angel, who also said that it was holy ground, though in truth this was spoken not in regard of the place it self, but in regard of Gods glorious presence at that time. And Bethel was esteemed not only in respect of the name, but also in that formerly Jacob had there erected an Altar, and ²offered Sacrifices, as appeareth. Gen. 28. The which also was a strong motive to persuade the people, who are in themselves inclinable to imitate the example of their fore-fathers, seeing they had such an holy Patriarch for their President.

Now the reason why Iuda is forbidden to ascend into these places was, because they were consecrated to idolatrous worship. For when Iereboam tooke vpon him the gouernment, as on the one side hee saw that it was necessarie to haue a place for the publicke seruice of God, because religion is the surest bond of all good societie and gouernment, so on the other side consulting with no better a counsailour then humane wisedome, hee thought it dangerous to his state, that the people should goe vp to Ierusalem, least hauing too much familiaritie and intercourse of friendship with the men of Iuda, his people should bee drawne to make a defection from him to the kingdome of the house of Dauid. And therefore hee resolued vpon this