A69234:341
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 this is the meaning of these words. The doctrines which arise from them, are these. First, whereas the promises 1of God, concerning the gathering together of his Church, are made both to the Jews, Israelites, and Gentiles; and unto ⟨p. 118⟩the Jews in the first place. Hence we learn to lay aside that ancient enmity which is in worldly men towards that Nation, and to love those which are converted to the faith as brethren; and likewise to pray for those which are not yet called, that they may be added to the Church. The malice of men towards this nation hath bin such, that it is grown into a proverbial speech; to hate one as they hate a Jew: the which, howsoever it is a just judgement of God upon the Jews, for their obstinacy in their infidelity and unthankfulness; yet it is a sin in them, seeing this people have in divers respects deserved well at our hands; in that they were for a long time together, faithful treasurers of Gods divine oracles, the Law and Prophets; in that they were our mother Church, unto which we were added, from whom we have received our light and knowledge; and in that by their fall, salvation is come unto us Gentiles: Rom. 11. 11. And therefore 2let us not boast our selves against the natural branches, who were branches of the wild Olive tree. For if God spared not them, let us take heed lest he also spare not us: Rom. 11. 21. Yea, but will some say, they crucified the Lord of life, 3and therefore deserve to be hated of all. I answer, that we are rather to turn the edge of this hatred against our own sins, which were the principal cause of Christs death, whereof they were but instruments, and as it were our executioners. Besides, God in his exceeding mercy and goodness, hath turned this their cruel fact to our exceeding good, even to the redemption and salvation of our bodies and souls: and therefore if this were a sufficient cause to appease Josephs anger towards his brethren, because God turned their malice to all their good, even the advancement of Joseph,