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 concerning the third punishment. The fourth is expressed in these words: Vers. 12. And I will Vers. 12 destroy her vines, and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me, and I will make them as a forrest, and the wild beasts shall eat them. In which words is set down their punishment, together with the cause thereof: their punishment was, that he would strip them of ¹his temporal and corporal benefits, and bring their land to utter desolation. For whereas he saith that he would destroy her vines, and fig trees; under these specials he doth by a Synecdoche generally understand, that he would utterly spoil their pleasant gardens, and fruitful orchards and vineyards, yea and all their fertile country, with all the increase thereof. So that here he denounceth a far more heavy judgement, then that contained in the ninth verse, namely, that he would take away their corn and wine, that is, the fruits of the earth: for though there had been a dearth of them through one years scarcity, yet their gardens, orchards, fields and vineyards remaining untouched of Gods punishing hand, the fruitfulness of the following year might have supplied the want and defect of his forerunner: but when they also were wasted and destroyed, there remained no hope of any relief. And this he threateneth, because as they ascribed the fruits of the earth to their Idols, so also even their fields, orchards, trees, and vines themselves according to the custom of the Heathen. The which their sin was the more unexcusable, because the Lord had taught them, not only by continual experience, but also by his written word, that all these were his blessings and benefits, and therefore the praise of them was due unto him alone: Deut. 8. 7. 8.²

ANd so much concerning the third punishment. The fourth is expressed in these words: Vers. 12. And I will Vers. 12 destroy her vines, and her figge trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my louers haue giuen mee, and I will make them as a forrest, and the wilde beasts shall eate them. In which words is set down their punishment, together with the cause thereof: their punishment was, that hee would strip them of ¹his temporall and corporall benefits, and bring their land to vtter desolation. For whereas he saith that he would destroy her vines, and figge trees; vnder these specials he doth by a Synecdoche generally vnderstand, that hee would vtterly spoile their pleasant gardens, and fruitful orchards and vineyards, yea and all their fertile countrie, with all the encrease thereof. So that heere hee denounceth a farre more heauie iudgement, then that contained in the ninth verse, namely, that hee would take away their corne and wine, that is, the fruites of the earth: for though there had been a dearth of them through one yeeres scarcitie, yet their gardens, orchards, fields and vineyards remaining vntouched of Gods punishing hand, the fruitfulnes of the following yeere might haue supplied the want and defect of his foreruiner: but whē they also were wasted and destroied, there remained no hope of any reliefe. And this he threatneth, because as they ascribed the fruites of the earth to their Idols, so also euen their fields, orchards, trees, and vines themselues according to the custome of the Heathen. The which their sinne was the more vnexcusable, because the Lord had taught them, not only by continuall experience, but also by his written word, that all these were his blessings and benefits, and therefore the praise of them was due vnto him alone: