A69234:546
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 meaning therefore of these words is, that the Lord would pluck out of the hands of the idolatrous Israelites these his blessings, because they unjustly possessed them and abused them to wicked purposes. They possessed them unjustly, because they did not acknowledge them, as held of the Lord the true owner of heaven and earth: for as he hath ⟨p. 220⟩no right to his lands, which are held in capite of the Prince, who will not acknowledge him his grand Lord, but rather some foreign enemy, and therefore is justly dispossessed; so in this case. And as he who having received either authority or riches from his King, that hereby he may th• better be enabled to serve him; if he abuse his Princes gifts by using them against him and serving his enemies, is justly stripped of all: so here, &c.
The meaning therefore of these words is, that the Lord would plucke out of the hands of the idolatrous Israelites these his blessings, because they vniustly possessed them and abused them to wicked purposes. They possessed them vniustly, because they did not acknowledge them, as held of the Lord the true owner of heauen and earth: for as he hath ⟨p. 220⟩no right to his lands, which are held in capite of the Prince, who will not acknowledge him his grand Lord, but rather some forraine enemie, and therefore is iustly dispossessed; so in this case. And as he who hauing receiued either authoritie or riches from his King, that hereby hee may th• better be enabled to serue him; if he abuse his Princes gifts by vsing them against him and seruing his enemies, is iustly stript of all: so here, &c.
Lent to cover her shame. The word here used signifieth, her nakedness, and more especially the nakedness of the secret parts. Whereby some understand that these idolaters abused the gifts of God to cover their spiritual nakedness, and did hide their sins under the veil of Gods benefits. But, as I take it, the more simple and plain interpretation is best, and most agreeable to the text, namely, that the Lord would take away from her, his wool and flax, because whereas he had given unto them these things, that they might with them apparel themselves and hide their nakedness, they abused them for the decking and adorning of their Idols. As it may plainly appear, if we compare this verse with the former, and with