A69234:404
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.
Fourthly, we are to observe, to whom this duty is to be performed, namely, to our brothers and sisters, that is, those who are already, and those that may be hereafter our brethren and sisters: and in y• we do not know who these are, because Gods 1secret counsel & decree of election is known only to himself, therefore we are to exhort, instruct, and persuade all to become members of the Church, so far as in regard of our state and calling we possibly can: for the Spirit bloweth where it listeth, and can easily cause Lions, Tigers, and Cockatrices, to become the sheep of Christ; he can make idolatrous Abraham the feather of the faithful; bloody and barbarous Manasseh, an humble convert; a persecuting Saul a preaching Paul; and a lewd chief a holy confessor: and therefore say not in thy heart, I will spare my labour, because this or that man is too wicked, too worldly, too covetous, too proud to make a Christian, seeing the Lord is able of stones to raise up children unto Abraham, to humble the most proud and obstinate, and to sanctify the most profane; neither is he only able to do it, but also often doth it, to show the infinite riches of his wisdom, power, mercy and goodness, and that our salvation is not for our own works or worthiness, but of his own free grace and undeserved love, that so he may be all in all, and have the whole glory of his own work.
Fourthly, we are to obserue, to whom this duty is to be performed, namely, to our brothers and sisters, that is, those who are already, and those that may be hereafter our brethren and sisters: and in y• we do not know who these are, because Gods 1secret counsaile & decree of election is known only to himselfe, therfore we are to exhort, instruct, and perswade all to become members of ye Church, so far as in regard of our state and calling we possiblie can: for the Spirit bloweth where it listeth, and can easilie cause Lions, Tigers, and Cockatrices, to become the sheepe of Christ; hee can make idolatrous Abraham the fether of the faithfull; bloodie and barbarous Manasses, an humble conuert; a persecuting Saul a preaching Paul; and a leaud cheefe a holy confessor: and therfore say not in thy heart, I will spare my labour, because this or that man is too wicked, too worldlie, too couetous, too proud to make a Christian, seeing the Lord is able of stones to raise vp children vnto Abraham, to humble the most proud and obstinate, and to sanctifie the most prophane; neither is hee onely able to doe it, but also often doth it, to shew the infinite riches of his wisedome, power, mercie and goodnesse, and that our saluation is not for our owne works or worthinesse, but of his owne free grace and vndeserued loue, that so he may be all in all, and haue the whole glorie of his owne worke.