A69234:19
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 Preface or Introduction.
Before I come to expound this our Prophet, I will prefix somewhat, 1both concerning the twelve Prophets, of which this our Prophet is one; and also concerning the Prophet himself in general. Concerning the former, we will consider in the first place, why they are called the smaller or lesser Prophets, the other four the greater. Not because the other were before them in time; for this our Prophet in this respect had the precedence of them all, as afterwards shall appear; nor yet because they excelled them in dignity and authority, for in these respects also this our Prophet giveth place to none of the greatest: but because the books containing the prophecies of the other four, are much more large then these which contain the prophecies of these twelve. And therefore, because the dignity and authority of the books of holy Scriptures is not derived from their length and greatness, but from God, who is the Author of them, and from the truth which they contain, we are not to make less account of the shortest then of the longest, nor of the smallest Prophet then of the greatest.
BEfore I come to expound this our Prophet, I will prefixe somewhat, 1both concerning the twelue Prophets, of which this our Prophet is one; and also concerning the Prophet himselfe in generall. Concerning the former, we will consider in the first place, why they are called the smaller or lesser Prophets, the other foure the greater. Not because the other were before them in time; for this our Prophet in this respect had the precedence of them all, as afterwards shall appeare; nor yet because they excelled them in dignity and authoritie, for in these respects also this our Prophet giueth place to none of the greatest: but because the bookes containing the prophecies of the other foure, are much more large then these which containe the prophecies of these twelue. And therefore, because the dignity and authoritie of the bookes of holy Scriptures is not deriued from their length and greatnesse, but from God, who is the Author of them, and from the truth which they containe, wee are not to make lesse account of the shortest then of the longest, nor of the smallest Prophet then of the greatest.