A69234:1463
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 second thing to be here observed, is, that both the 1sins and punishments of wicked men, should be effectual reasons to dissuade the faithful from frequenting their company; for these are the arguments which the holy Ghost here useth, to dissuade the men of Judah from resorting unto the Israelites, because they were rebelliously stubborn in their sins, and like unruly heifers had shaken off the yoke of government, and because by these sins they had made themselves liable to Gods fearful punishments of captivity, ⟨p. 310⟩and manifold calamities, which in short time should be inflicted on them. Concerning the former, we are not to understand it of all sins, for then we should avoid all company in the world, for as much as all men are sinners; but only of such sins as being wilfully committed, are also obstinately defended. For when men are come to this pass, that they commit their sins against their knowledge and conscience, presumptuously and with an high hand against God, and that after they have been often instructed, admonished and rebuked, both in private conference, and in the public ministry of the Word; when they become like unruly heifers, stubbornly casting off the yoke of Gods government, and do in rebellious manner oppose against God himself, defending their sins, and glorying in their wickedness, as the Israelites did in this place; then are we carefully to flee and avoid all manner of familiar friendship, and fellowship with them. For first, whereas the main end, why we should resort into the company of wicked men, is, to instruct, admonish and rebuke them, that so we may reclaim them from their wicked ways, and convert them unto God; for which purpose our Saviour kept company with publicans and sinners; this end is taken away through their contemptuous stubbornness, and obstinate contempt of all these holy means of their conversion: for here our Saviour Christs rule taketh place, that we must not cast holy things unto dogs, nor pearls before swine, lest they tread these precious jewels under their filthy feet, and turning again all to rent us, as it is, Matth. 7. 6.
The second thing to be heere obserued, is, that both the 1