A69234:483
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.
Where by her lovers, we are to understand her idols and false gods, which are compared fitly unto lovers: for as lovers, that is adulterers, allure & entice mens wives, to withdraw ⟨p. 188⟩their hearts from their lawful husbands, and to fix it upon them; to break their conjugal faith, and to commit whoredom by offering unto them gifts and pleasures. So the spouse of God is allured and enticed by idols, to forsake the Lord, and to set her heart upon them, and to violate her marriage saith by leaving his pure worship and service, and prostituting her self to commit spiritual whoredom with them, when as they seem to offer unto her as a reward, some profit or delight.
Where by her louers, we are to vnderstand her idols and false gods, which are compared fitly vnto louers: for as louers, that is adulterers, allure & intice mens wiues, to withdraw ⟨p. 188⟩their hearts from their lawfull husbands, and to fixe it vpon them; to breake their coniugall faith, and to commit whoredome by offering vnto them gifts and pleasures. So the spouse of God is allured and inticed by idols, to forsake the Lord, and to set her heart vpon them, and to violate her mariage saith by leauing his pure worship and seruice, and prostituting her selfe to commit spirituall whoredome with them, when as they seeme to offer vnto her as a reward, some profit or delight.
And this also appeareth in the reason which she yieldeth of her apostasy, in the words following: that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. In which words is also contained the exceeding great unthankfulness of the people in ascribing all the benefits which they enjoyed unto their idols and false gods, whereas the Lord alone was the author and fountain of them. The which their sin was so much the more unexcusable, because in the Law the Lord had promised all these gifts unto them, to the end that they should expect them from him alone, & having received them, they should ascribe the whole praise unto him only of his own gifts: