A69234:191
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.
Here therefore Princes, Magistrates, Masters of families, and all superiors are to learn their lesson; namely, that 1they visit before they punish, and by due examination find out the fault, before they give sentence, or proceed to execution: for if God thus behave himself in judgement, before whose eyes all things lie open; how much more should men, who are oft mistaken, and easily deceived, unless they use great deliberation in their judicial proceedings? Let therefore all such consider, that where there is the most power, there should be the least passion; that rashness is a fault, in all dangerous, but in superiors pernicious: that reasonable men should first judge before they punish, because punishment deferred, may be inflicted, but being inflicted, cannot be recalled; that they sustain the honourable place of a Judge, whilst they examine causes; but the place of an executioner, when without judgement & advice they inflict punishment: that they are Gods deputies, & represent his person; & therefore are according to his example, first to visit, and then to punish, lest for want of due examination, they punish ⟨p. 57⟩the innocent in stead of offenders.
Here therefore Princes, Magistrates, Masters of families, and all superiours are to learne their lesson; namely, that 1they visit before they punish, and by due examination finde out the fault, before they giue sentence, or proceede to execution: for if God thus behaue himselfe in iudgement, before whose eyes all things lie open; how much more should men, who are oft mistaken, and easily deceiued, vnlesse they vse great deliberation in their iudiciall proceedings? Let therefore all such consider, that where there is the most power, there should be the least passion; that rashnesse is a fault, in all dangerous, but in superiours pernicious: that reasonable men should first iudge before they punish, because punishment deferred, may be inflicted, but being inflicted, cānot be recalled; that they sustain the honorable place of a Iudge, whilest they examine causes; but the place of an executioner, when without iudgement & aduice they inflict punishmēt: that they are Gods deputies, & represent his person; & therfore are according to his example, first to visit, and then to punish, lest for want of due examination, they punish