A69234:398
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.
So those that have already begun to ascend, may be hereby moved more and more to go forward in this course, and that both in respect of their faith, and in respect of their affections; for if they be admitted the people of God, and have obtained his mercy, why should the huge weight of their sins weigh them down, and keep them from ascending in the assurance of faith, seeing God is gracious unto his own people and inheritance, and in his mercy hath done away all their sins? and therefore, seeing they have obtained ⟨p. 146⟩Gods infinite mercy, they have a sufficient medicine for their greatest misery.
So those that haue already begun to ascend, may be hereby moued more and more to goe forward in this course, and that both in respect of their faith, and in respect of their affections; for if they be admitted the people of God, and haue obtained his mercy, why should the huge waight of their sinnes weigh them downe, and keepe them from ascending in the assurance of faith, seeing God is gratious vnto his owne people and inheritance, and in his mercy hath done away all their sinnes? and therefore, seeing they haue obtained ⟨p. 146⟩Gods infinite mercy, they haue a sufficient medicine for their greatest misery.
If they be the people of God, who have obtained mercy, then may they be moved hereby to ascend in their affiance, trusting in the providence of their all-sufficient and most bountiful King; and not suffer their minds to be tied unto earthly means and secondary causes, presuming in their abundance, and despairing in their want. If they be Gods people, then may they ascend in hope, that they shall, being his subjects, be admitted into his kingdom both of grace and glory, and be made partakers of the riches and royal benefits of them both, and not suffer transitory trifles to be the end and top of their hopes, seeing they are advanced to higher dignities. Then also are they to ascend in their fear; for if they be the people and subjects of God, then are they to fear the anger and displeasure of their Sovereign, as the greatest evil; and in regard hereof, to be much more careful and fearful lest they offend him, then any mortal man. And so likewise in their love; for if they be Gods people, who have obtained mercy and assurance of Gods kingdom, then what sottish folly were it, to place their love upon the vanities of the world, which are of no value nor continuance, and not rather on God, heaven and heavenly joys, which are most excellent and permanent?