A69234:413
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.
But let us come to the words themselves. Plead with your mother, &c. Where we are to consider, who they are whom the Lord commandeth to plead as children: secondly, who this mother is, that is to be divorced: and thirdly, the divorce it self. Concerning the first, divers are of divers judgements, some understand it of the faithful in the time of the Gospel, that they after they were added to the Church should plead with their mother the Church of the Jews, that laying her sins to her charge they might bring her to repentance. But this cannot agree with the rest that followeth; for they are commanded to accuse her for her idolatry, in forsaking the Lord and worshipping the Heathen gods, which sin was not committed by the Church of the Jews in the time of the Gospel, nor after their return out of the captivity of Babylon.
But let vs come to the words themselues. Plead with your mother, &c. Where we are to consider, who they are whom the Lord commandeth to plead as children: secondly, who this mother is, that is to bee diuorced: and thirdly, the diuorce it selfe. Concerning the first, diuers are of diuers iudgements, some vnderstand it of the faithfull in the time of the Gospell, that they after they were added to the Church should plead with their mother the Church of the Iewes, that laying her sinnes to her charge they might bring her to repentance. But this cannot agree with the rest that followeth; for they are commanded to accuse her for her idolatry, in forsaking the Lord and worshipping the Heathen gods, which sinne was not committed by the Church of the Iewes in the time of the Gospell, nor after their returne out of the captiuitie of Babylon.
Others understand it of the two Tribes of the kingdom of Judah, that every one of them who were faithful, should admonish their mother; that is, their Church and synagogue, that she should take example of the ten Tribes, and forsake her idolatry, lest she should likewise be divorced and rejected. But this is not likely, seeing the Prophet was not sent to the Jews, but to the ten Tribes; and therefore to them he directeth his speech for their conversion, and not unto the other, who were not belonging to his charge.