A69234:357
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 the words. The doctrines 1which from hence arise are these. First, out of the connection of this with the former point, we learn, that we are first gathered together by God into his Church, effectually called and chosen to be Gods people, before we choose Christ to be our King and head, or will submit our selves to be ruled by the sceptre of his word and Spirit: whereby it appeareth, that we are not causes of this spiritual union with Christ, nor of those royal dignities, and excellent benefits, which hereby are derived unto us; but the free grace and mercy of God, which before we have any desire of attaining hereunto, preventeth us with his love, calling and choosing us to this glorious and happy estate, when we had neither ability nor will to aspire unto it. God therefore did not choose us for his subjects, because first we made choice of him to be our King and head; but as the Apostle saith, of his love, we loved him because he loved us first: 1. John 4. 19. so may we speak of the 2fruits of his love; we come unto him, because first he called us; we choose him for our King and head, because first he chooseth us for his subjects and members; we submit our selves to his government, because first he ruleth and over-ruleth us by his spirit, with the inward working thereof inclining us to holy obedience, who naturally are stubborn and rebellious: so that all our works and duties towards God, are but the effects of his gracious working in us, and nothing but inferior motions of that first mover, and as it were but reflections of those heavenly beams of Gods grace and goodness which shine upon us.
And this is the meaning of the words. The doctrines 1which from hence arise are these. First, out of the connexion of this with the former point, we learne, that we are first gathered together by God into his Church, effectually called and chosen to be Gods people, before we chuse Christ to be our King and head, or will submit our selues to bee ruled by the scepter of his word and Spirit: whereby it appeareth, that we are not causes of this spirituall vnion with Christ, nor of those royall dignities, and excellent benefits, which hereby are deriued vnto vs; but the free grace and mercy of God, which before we haue any desire of attaining hereunto, preuenteth vs with his loue, calling and chusing vs to this glorious and happy estate, when we had neither ability nor will to aspire vnto it. God therefore did not chuse vs for his subiects, because first we made choice of him to be our King and head; but as the Apostle saith, of his loue, wee loued him because he loued vs first: