A69234:458
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.
And these are the main things at which the Prophet aimeth The Do∣ctrines. in these words. The doctrines which from hence are to be observed are these. First, we may observe, what is the 1cause why the Lord denounceth his judgements against his people; to wit, that they may repent of their sins, and that repenting they may escape punishment, which his justice urgeth him to inflict upon them continuing in their sins. So he causeth the divorce to be proclaimed, that they may take away their adulteries, and that repenting of them, they might not be stripped of all the gifts and benefits which as yet they enjoyed. So that the end of Gods threatenings is, that we may repent, and of our repentance that we may escape punishment; and the end of one punishment is, that making good use of it, we may escape an other. Whence we may observe, that God even in wrath remembereth mercy; for he threateneth that he may not punish, and punisheth that he may not destroy; he punisheth unwillingly after a sort, and therefore before hand he giveth warning that we may escape it; and having inflicted it, he laboureth to apply it to our senseless hearts, that by our obstinacy we do not urge his justice to proceed in punishing. And therefore let us not by our stubbornness and impenitency make Gods end frustrate, and turn mercy into justice; but when he threateneth, let us repent that we may escape punishment; or at least let us turn unto him when he punisheth, that we do not move him to deal more severely with us.
And these are the maine things at which the Prophet aimeth The Do∣ctrines. in these words. The doctrines which from hence are to be obserued are these. First, we may obserue, what is the 1cause why the Lord denounceth his iudgements against his people; to wit, that they may repent of their sinnes, and that repenting they may escape punishment, which his iustice vrgeth him to inflict vpon them continuing in their sins. So he causeth the diuorce to be proclaimed, that they may take away their adulteries, and that repenting of them, they might not be stripped of all the gifts and benefits which as yet they inioyed. So that the end of Gods threatnings is, that we may repent, and of our repentance that wee may escape punishment; and the end of one punishment is, that making good vse of it, we may escape an other. Whence we may obserue, that God euen in wrath remembreth mercy; for hee threatneth that he may not punish, and punisheth that he may not destroy; he punisheth vnwillingly after a sort, and therefore before hand he giueth warning that wee may escape it; and hauing inflicted it, he laboureth to apply it to our senselesse hearts, that by our obstinacy wee doe not vrge his iustice to proceede in punishing. And therefore let vs not by our stubburnnesse and impenitency make Gods end frustrate, and turne mercy into iustice; but when he threatneth, let vs repent that we may escape punishment; or at least let vs turne vnto him when he punisheth, that we doe not moue him to deale more seuerely with vs.