A69234:497
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.
The quality of the punishment is expressed in these words: I will hedge thy way with thorns, and make a wall; (for so the original text readeth.) Where he continueth the allegory, showing, that if they like harlots, wander abroad, and run after their lovers; he will keep a more strait watch over them, and restrain them, will they nill they, from gadding abroad: or else (which I rather think) he alludeth to the custom of husbandmen, who when their beasts will not keep in their own pasture, do make strong their fence, and hedge them in; and if this will not contain them, they make walls of mud or stone, to make them sure for leaping over. So the Lord threateneth, that if they will not be contained in his Church, but will leap over unto their Idols and false gods, he will provide a hedge, and a wall to keep them in.
The qualitie of the punishment is expressed in these words: I will hedge thy way with thornes, and make a wall; (for so the originall text readeth.) Where he continueth the allegorie, shewing, that if they like harlots, wander abroad, and run after their louers; he will keepe a more straite watch ouer them, and restraine them, will they nill they, from gadding abroad: or else (which I rather think) he alludeth to the custome of husbandmen, who when their beasts will not keep in their owne pasture, do make strong their fence, and hedge them in; and if this wil not containe them, they make walles of mud or stone, to make them sure for leaping ouer. So the Lord threatneth, that if they will not bee contained in his Church, but wil leap ouer vnto their Idols and false gods, he will prouide a hedge, and a wall to keep them in.
Now this hedge of thorns and strong wall, of which he speaketh, are crosses and afflictions, as the diseases of the body, sorrow of mind, war, famine, poverty and such like, which are compared to thorns: for as when thorns lie in our way, they prick, molest and grieve us, keeping us from going forward, unless it be with great pain and difficulty: so in the way of our pilgrimage, these thorns of afflictions vex and trouble us, by tormenting the body, and wounding the mind. And in this sense is the word taken, Jos. 23. 13