A69234:298
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.
And thus have I showed the meaning of the first point. The Do∣ctrines. The doctrines which from hence arise, are these. First, we may learn what is the disposition and behaviour of hypocrites, 1who boast themselves of their outward titles, shows, and ceremonies, whereas they are destitute of all correspondency in substance, sincerity, and truth: and together, how we may beat down their pride, and answer their vain brags. The Israelites resting in the outward titles, of the posterity of Abraham, the Church and people of God, and in performing some external worship, consisting rather in ceremonies, then in substance, in vain shows and shadows, and not in spirit and truth; were hereby so puffed up in pride, and lulled asleep in such deep security, that they imagined God could not be true of his word, unless they were preserved, and that there was no way, but the Church must needs utterly perish, if they were overthrown and rejected: and therefore against all the threatenings of the true Prophets, they opposed these titles and shadows, that they were the posterity of Abraham, the Church of God, his chosen people, who were in the covenant, and such as had the Temple, Ark, and Law amongst them; and with these bucklers they fenced and bore off all threatenings of their ruin and destruction, and kept them from wounding their consciences with unfeigned sorrow for their sins; and withal, were moved hereby to condemn the Prophets to be liars, who spake not ⟨p. 101⟩from the Lord, but according to their own melancholy phantasies, and discontented conceits. To these our Prophet by a Prolepsis answereth, that though they were the posterity of Abraham and Jacob, yet they were not true Israelites, but degenerated Iizreelites, such as had only outward titles, shows, ceremonies, and external prerogatives, but that they were not the children of Abraham, according to the spirit, not in the covenant of grace, which they had often broken, not the true Church and people of God, seeing they had forsaken him, and in stead of his true worship, which ought to be performed in spirit and truth, they offered unto him a false worship, according to their own inventions, and in the hypocrisy of their hearts.
And thus haue I shewed the meaning of the first point. The Do∣ctrines. The doctrines which from hence arise, are these. First, we may learne what is the disposition and behauiour of hypocrites,