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…

And thus much concerning their sins of idolatry, against the first table. In respect of the second, they sinned two ways. First, against themselves by intemperance. Secondly, gainst their neighbours. And these sins were either common to all the people, to wit, their whoredoms and uncleanness, or peculiar to their Magistrates, namely, their bribing and extortion. Al which are comprised in these words, Vers. 18. Their drunkenness stinketh, they have committed Vers 18 whoredom, their Rulers love to say with shame, Bring ye. Or thus, Their drink putrefieth and stinketh: or as others read, Their drink is refractarious & rebellious, they continually commit whoredom, their Princes love to say with shame, Bring ye. Which words are not in number so many, as are ¹the interpretations divers, which are by divers Expositors given of them: but I will propound only those which seem most probable, and insist in that which best agreeth with the drift of the Prophet, and circumstances of the place. Some expound these words allegorically, understanding by drink, or drunkenness, that they were made spiritually drunken, with their unbridled love of superstition, and being thus besotted, they committed spiritual whoredom, that is, idolatry without shame. But as I take it, allegories in expounding the Scriptures, are like oaths in speech, never good, but when they are necessary. Besides, he had spoken of their desperate love towards their idols in the former verse, comprehending under it the sins of the first table; and therefore it is not likely, that in this brevity of speech, he doth inculcate and reiterate the same thing, but rather useth a new argument to dissuade the men of Judah from frequenting their company, namely, because they were guilty of the breaches of the second table also; of which he giveth three instances, to wit, their drunkenness, adultery, and bribery, under which he compriseth all the rest.

ANd thus much concerning their sinnes of idolatrie, against the first table. In respect of the second, they sinned two waies. First, against themselues by intemperance. Secondly, gainst their neighbours. And these sinnes were either common to all the people, to wit, their whoredomes and vncleannesse, or peculiar to their Magistrates, namely, their bribing and extortion. Al which are comprised in these words, Vers. 18. Their drunkennesse stincketh, they haue committed Vers 18 whoredome, their Rulers loue to say with shame, Bring ye. Or thus, Their drinke putrifieth and stincketh: or as others reade, Their drinke is refractarious & rebellious, they continually commit whoredome, their Princes loue to say with shame, Bring yee. Which words are not in number so many, as are