A69234:405
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.
Fifthly, we are to observe the main arguments which the 1faithful are to use, that they may persuade others to ascend with them, out of the land of darkness, into the kingdom and Church of Christ: namely, because they were the people of God, and therefore they are to ascend into the kingdom of their Lord and redeemer. And lest their sins, and Gods justice and wrath, should discourage them, it is further said, that they have obtained mercy and remission of their sins, and are now reconciled unto God in Christ. Whence we learn, what is the strongest inducement, and most forcible argument to move any to leave the kingdom of darkness, and to adjoin themselves unto the Church of God, namely, when they hear, and hearing believe, that ⟨p. 150⟩they who were aliens and strangers, are now in Christ become Gods subjects and servants; that they whom the law for their grievous sins excluded from all mercy, and made obnoxious to Gods wrath, are now in Christ made partakers of Gods mercy, whereby they have the remission of their sins, and are so reconciled to their Lord and Sovereign. So long as a malefactor, who hath deserved death, knoweth that his Prince is justly displeased with him, and intendeth to prosecute the law against him, he fleeth his kingdom, and liveth in voluntary exile: but if he hear that the princes son favoureth him, and hath obtained his fathers pardon, and reconciled him unto him, this is a strong motive to persuade him to leave the strange country where he liveth, and to return again into the kingdom of his Sovereign. So we (who are grievous malefactors; which by transgressing Gods law have made our selves subject to to his wrath, and obnoxious to the punishment of the law, eternal death, whilst we remain in this case) flee from Gods presence, and as much as in us lieth (though it never lieth in us) we banish our selves out of his kingdom and jurisdiction; but when we hear that Christ his dearly beloved son hath obtained our pardon, and reconciled us to his father, then, and not before, we approach his presence, and adjoin our selves to his kingdom. It is then the preaching of the Gospel which gathereth us into Christs kingdom. For it is Gods strong power unto salvation to all that believe, whereby he persuadeth us to come out of Satan's kingdom, and to adjoin our selves unto his Church.
Fiftly, we are to obserue the maine arguments which the