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…

Now we are further to observe, that we are not to deliver this glad tidings of the Gospel, for the conversion of those who are not yet called, once or twice, or divers times; but continually till they be converted, we must teach them, persuade and exhort them to ascend out of the land of darkness, into the kingdom of Christ: for he doth not define and determine a certain number, but indefinitely and absolutely commandeth us that we should speak unto them. For God calleth not all at the same hour, but some at one time, and some at another, neither doth he make the word effectual for the conversion of all sinners at the first hearing, but in some he lets it often outwardly sound in their ears, before by the inward working of his Spirit he openeth them, and inclineth their hearts to believe and embrace it; lest we should ascribe the whole praise of our conversion unto the ministry of man, which is principally due to his holy spirit, who is the chief cause thereof. As therefore the pool of Bethesda did not at all times cure diseases, but only when the Angel descended and infused virtue into the water, and yet nevertheless the people at all times watched that they might be ready to put in their friends when the opportune time came; so these rivers and streams of the Gospel, which run from the sanctuary, have not always virtue and power in them to heal our diseases and sores of sin, but then only when the spirit of God descendeth, and by his secret working infuseth virtue thereunto; and therefore we are continually to watch for this time, in the mean while using the means continually appointed by God to this purpose.

Now we are further to obserue, that we are not to deliuer this glad tidings of the Gospell, for the conuersion of those who are not yet called, once or twice, or diuers times; but continually till they be conuerted, we must teach them, perswade and exhort them to ascend out of the land of darkenesse, into the kingdome of Christ: for hee doth not define and determine a certaine number, but indefinitely and absolutely commandeth vs that we should speake vnto them. For God calleth not all at the same houre, but some at one time, and some at another, neither doth he make the word effectuall for the conuersion of all sinners at the first hearing, but in some he lets it often outwardly sound in their eares, before by the inward working of his Spirit he openeth them, and inclineth their hearts to beleeue and imbrace it; lest wee should ascribe the whole praise of our conuersion vnto the ministery of man, which is principally due to his holy spirit, who is the chiefe cause thereof. As therefore the poole of Bethesda did not at all times cure diseases, but onely when the Angell descended and infused vertue into the water, and yet neuerthelesse the people at all times watched that they might be readie to put in their friends when the opportune time came; so these riuers and streames of the Gospell, which runne from the sanctuarie, haue not alwaies vertue and power in them to heale our diseases and sores of sinne, but then onely when the spirit of God descendeth, and by his secret working infuseth vertue thereunto; and therefore wee are continuallie to watch for this time, in the meane while vsing the meanes continually appointed by God to this purpose.