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 these things are to be gathered out of her second conception. It is further said, that her second child was a daughter: by which he intimateth their declining, both in respect of their manners and state; the former whereof was the cause of the latter. First, he showeth their declination in manners: for as the woman sex is more weak and inconstant then the man; so they were declined from that strength of faith, virtue, and constancy that was in Jacob, and the rest of their godly ancestors, and were become weak and inconstant in all good things. Secondly, he showeth their declination, in respect of the state of their Common-wealth. For whereas their ancestors had valiantly defended and enlarged the Kingdom against all their enemies, they were so weakened, partly through their effeminateness, the daughter of peace and plenty, and partly through seditions and civill wars, that they had made themselves a fit pray for their enemies, being no more able to defend themselves, then if they had been a Common-wealth of women. And this weakness and infirmity is signified under the sex of women in the Scriptures. So when God would signify that the Babylonians should not be able to stand in the hand of their enemies, he saith; that they should be like women: that is, weak and impotent: Jer. 50. 37. Now this weakness in their state proceeded ¹from their weakness in grace, virtue, faith, and constancy: for when they declined from holy obedience, and after a weak and inconstant manner, suffered themselves to be withdrawn from God, and were enticed to serve idols, God took away from them their valour, strength, and manly courage; and depriving them of their hearts of men, gave them women's hearts, which caused them to be so effeminate, timorous, and cowardly, that they durst not endure the least encounter of their enemies.

And these things are to be gathered out of her second conceptiō. It is further said, that her secōd child was a daughter: by which he intimateth their declining, both in respect of their maners and state; the former whereof was the cause of the latter. First, he sheweth their declination in manners: for as the woman sexe is more weake and inconstant then the man; so they were declined from that strength of faith, vertue, and constancy that was in Iacob, and the rest of their godly ancestors, and were become weake and inconstant in all good things. Secondly, he sheweth their declination, in respect of the state of their Common-wealth. For whereas their ancestors had valiantly defended and inlarged the Kingdome against all their enemies, they were so weakened, partly through their effeminatenesse, the daughter of peace and plenty, and partly through seditions and ciuill warres, that they had made themselues a fit pray for their enemies, being no more able to defend themselues, then if they had been a Common-wealth of women. And this weakenesse and infirmity is signified vnder the sexe of women in the Scriptures. So when God would signifie that the Babylonians should not be able to stand in the hand of their enemies, he saith; that they should be like women: that is, weake and impotent: