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 so much for the persons who are to be exhorted. The matter of the speech which containeth in it the main arguments, whereby the exhortation is enforced, is in these two words, Ammi, Ruchamah: that is, ye are my people, ye have obtained mercy; or, O ye my people, O thou who hast obtained mercy. The which is the voice and glad tidings of the Gospel, containing effectual motives, to move all to ascend into the kingdom of Christ, if they be not already ascended; or more and more to ascend, if they be already gone up.

And so much for the persons who are to be exhorted. The matter of the speech which containeth in it the maine arguments, whereby the exhortation is enforced, is in these two words, Ammi, Ruchamah: that is, ye are my people, ye haue obtained mercy; or, O ye my people, O thou who hast obtained mercie. The which is the voyce and glad tidings of the Gospell, containing effectuall motiues, to moue all to ascend into the kingdome of Christ, if they be not already ascended; or more and more to ascend, if they be already gone vp.

For the first, those that are the people and subjects of God, are not to dwell in the land of darkness, under the government of sin, Satan, and the world, but to ascend into the kingdom of their own King: but we are now become the people and subjects of God; for though in former times our sins moved the Lord to reject us from being his people, and to exile us out of his kingdom, suffering us to be dispersed as captives in the land of darkness, and in the bondage of Satan; yet now Christ our head hath satisfied Gods justice for our sins, appeased his wrath, reconciled us unto him; so that now again he is content to admit us for his people and subjects: and therefore let us no longer abide in the land of darkness, and in the captivity of Satan, from which Christ hath freed us, but being delivered and admitted Gods subjects and people, let us now adjoin our selves unto his kingdom, and obediently submit our selves to his government.

For the first, those that are the people and subiects of God, are not to dwell in the land of darkenesse, vnder the gouernment of sinne, Satan, and the world, but to ascend into the kingdome of their owne King: but we are now become the people and subiects of God; for though in former times our sinnes moued the Lord to reiect vs from being his people, and to exile vs out of his kingdome, suffering vs to be dispersed as captiues in the land of darkenesse, and in the bondage of Satan; yet now Christ our head hath satisfied Gods iustice for our sinnes, appeased his wrath, reconciled vs vnto him; so that now againe he is content to admit vs for his people and subiects: and therefore let vs no longer abide in the land of darkenesse, and in the captiuity of Satan, from which Christ hath freed vs, but being deliuered and admitted Gods subiects and people, let vs now adioyne our selues vnto his kingdome, and obediently submit our selues to his gouernment.