A69234:1509
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 is, that if we desire to preserve our chastity, we avoid the company of adulterers and unclean persons, seeing in it self it is sufficient to corrupt us, and to make us copartners with them in this sin. For as there needeth no bellows to blow the fire, when it toucheth gunpowder, because the one is no more fit to fire, then the other to be inflamed; so there needeth no other help to inflame the heart with lust, then the touch and familiar acquaintance of unchaste persons; because as they are fit with the fire of their lust to inflame us, so we carry in our selves such combustible matter, as is no less ready to take the fire & to be inflamed.
The vse hereof is, that if wee desire to preserue our chastitie, we auoid the companie of adulterers and vncleane persons, seeing in it self it is sufficient to corrupt vs, and to make vs copartners with them in this sinne. For as there needeth no bellowes to blow the fire, when it toucheth gunpowder, because the one is no more fit to fire, then the other to be inflamed; so there needeth no other helpe to inflame the heart with lust, then the touch and familiar acquaintance of vnchast persons; because as they are fit with the fire of their lust to inflame vs, so wee carrie in our selues such combustible matter, as is no lesse readie to take the fire & to be inflamed.
Thirdly, we here learn that it is one of the highest degrees 1of sin, when as we do not only fall into wickedness, but also grow into love and liking with it: for this is the sin of the Princes of Israel in this place, who did not only bribe, but also took delight in bribing, and not only said, but loved to say, Bring ye. Which as it argued that they had brazen faces, so also that their hearts were rotten, and wholly corrupted with sin. So long as the sickness is seated in the outward parts only, there is great hope of recovery, because whilst the heart is whole and sound, it ministereth and conveyeth life, spirits and strength to the exterior members, whereby they are enabled to encounter the disease, and in the end to expel it and get victory; but if it have once seized upon the heart, and taken thorough possession of it, there is no hope of any recovery; so whilst our spiritual diseases of sin enter no further then the imaginations,