A69234:295
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.
By all which is signified, that the Church of God, after the coming of Christ, gathered together by the preaching of the Gospel, should be in numbers numberless, even like unto the sands by the sea side: which, howsoever God, infinite in knowledge; can number, yet unto man they are innumerable. And not only so, but that also it should not, as in former times, be contained within the narrow limits of Canaan, but extend it self very spaciously over the face of the earth. For here he useth two words; the first is referred to a continued quantity of place; which cannot be measured: the other to a discrete quantity, that is, to the number or multitude, which cannot be told. By both which joined together, he showeth, that the Church of God and Kingdom of Christ, should be so spacious, that it should be contained in no limits, and so many in multitude, that it should be defined with no number.
By all which is signified, that the Church of God, after the comming of Christ, gathered together by the preaching of the Gospell, should be in numbers numberlesse, euen like vnto the sands by the sea side: which, howsoeuer God, infinit in knowledge; can number, yet vnto man they are innumerable. And not onely so, but that also it should not, as in former times, be contained within the narrow limits of Canaan, but extend it selfe very spatiously ouer the face of the earth. For here he vseth two words; the first is referred to a continued quantity of place; which cannot be measured: the other to a discrete quantity, that is, to the number or multitude, which cannot be told. By both which ioyned together, he sheweth, that the Church of God and Kingdome of Christ, should be so spatious, that it should be contained in no limits, and so many in multitude, that it should be defined with no number.
But here it may be demanded, how this can stand with the saying of our Saviour Christ, who calleth his Church a little flock. I answer, that Christ speaketh of it being compared with infidels & worldlings which are not of the church; in respect of whose huge multitude, the true church of Christ is but a little flock; but yet being considered in it self, the number thereof is great, even like the stars of heaven, and sands by the sea shore, which cannot be measured nor told.