A69234:1426
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 serveth to teach us, that as at all times we 1be ready with all meekness and patience, to hear our selves admonished, and our sins reproved, so especially when we are exposed to these tentations, and are in danger to be infected through the neighbourhood of wicked men; seeing they are stiff in evil, we weak in good; they earnest in drawing us into sin, and we weak in making resistance; they apt to infect us, and we as apt to receive infection. And for as much as we live in dangerous times, wherein faith, piety and justice exceedingly fail amongst men, and contrariwise all manner of sin and wickedness aboundeth upon the face of the earth; let us not only carefully watch over our own hearts and ways, that we may escape these dangers, but also let us be content to suffer the Lords watchmen to oversee us; and when they observing out declining from good things, coldness in holy duties, and proneness unto the sins of these sinful times, do out of Gods word admonish us either publicly or privately of our defection and corruption, and exhort us to amendment, let us patiently hearken to their admonitions and exhortations, seeing we shall find all little enough to keep us from being carried away with the stream of common corruptions, and to preserve us from being infected with the contagion of these sinful times. Yea and not only let us hearken to the admonitions of Gods Ministers in ⟨p. 293⟩the ministry of the word; but also let private men in the fear of God both perform the duty of admonition, when they see their neighbour ready to fall into sin, or already fallen, and also when themselves need, be as ready to be admonished of their faults, as being an excellent means sanctified by God, both for the restraining of men from sin, before it is committed, and to restore them by true repentance when they have committed it. And this mutual duty of admonition is commended unto us, Levit. 19. 17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, but thou shalt plainly rebuke 2thy neighbour, and not suffer him to sin. Hebr. 3. 13. Exhort one another daily, whilst it is called to day, lest any of you be