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…

And so much for the meaning of these words. The instructions ¹which hence arise are these. First, we may observe what was the cause of all those punishments before denounced both against the Church of Israel & her children, namely their sins, especially their idolatry and unthankfulness. For because the mother played the harlot, and her children were begotten in her adulteries; and not only so, but also liked and approved, embraced and followed the whoredoms of their mother, therefore joining in sin, they were joined in punishment. And indeed the sin of man is the cause of all the miseries and evils which he suffereth, for God who is the chief goodness, taketh his delight in doing good, and in multiplying his benefits upon his creatures, according to that, Psalm. 145. 9. The Lord is good to all, and ²his mercies are over all his works; and that of Micah, Chap. 7. vers. 18. He retaineth not his wrath for ever, because mercy ³pleaseth him. Neither doth he punish but when mens sins urge his justice, and draw upon themselves his judgements. Whence we learn, when we are punished, not to murmur against God, nor to look to inferior means, but rather to examine our own consciences, and to search out our sins ⁴which are the cause thereof, that so we may clear God and accuse our selves. And likewise if we would have the punishment removed, we must not use evil means, for the evil of sin will not remove the evil of punishment; nay rather it will redouble it, as being the chief cause thereof: but if we would have our punishment taken away, let us first take away our sins by unfeigned repentance, for if the cause be removed, the effect will cease.

And so much for the meaning of these words. The instructions ¹which hence arise are these. First, wee may obserue what was the cause of all those punishments before denounced both against the Church of Israel & her children, namelie their sinnes, especially their idolatrie and vnthankfulnes. For because the mother plaied the harlot, and her children were begotten in her adulteries; and not onely so, but also liked and approoued, imbraced and followed the whoredomes of their mother, therefore ioyning in sin, they were ioyned in punishment. And indeede the sinne of man is the cause of al the miseries and euils which he suffereth, for God who is the chiefe goodnesse, taketh his delight in doing good, and in multiplying his benefits vpon his creatures, according to that,