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…

Secondly, we may observe, that the same things which the ¹Prophet here condemneth in the Israelites, are at this day practised by the Church of Rome. For first they have their Baalims, their petty gods and patrons, whom they religiously serve & worship; they offer unto them incense, vows, oblations; they deck and adorn not only their Idols, but also themselves, when they solemnize their feasts, and approach into their presence, placing a great part of their holiness and devotion, in their outward pomp and bravery, which are not prescribed by God, but invented by themselves, and therefore may fitly be called their own. All which ⟨p. 238⟩decking and adorning of themselves, and their Idols, they like impudent harlots use, that with these baits of outward pomp and beauty they may allure others to go a whoring with them after their Idols: they have also a long time lived in their spiritual adulteries, with great impudency and obstinacy, boasting and glorying in their sin; and finally they have so set their hearts upon their lovers, and are so intent & earnest in their service, that they may be truly said to have forgotten the Lord, because they do not so remember him as he hath revealed himself in his word; because they have forgotten to worship him in spirit and truth, and in stead thereof offer unto him their own inventions; and also because they use much more care and diligence, and spend much more time and labour, in the service of the Virgin Mary, Saints, Angels, Images, and other Idols, then in the service of the true and everliving God. From whence we may assuredly gather, that the Lord will visit upon them the days of Baalim, though for a time to show his own patience, and to make them the more unexcusable, he defer their justly deserved punishments. And therefore let all those come out of Babylon, who would not be partakers of her plagues. Apoc. 18. 4.²

Secondly, we may obserue, that the same things which the ¹Prophet heere condemneth in the Israelites, are at this day practised by the Church of Rome. For first they haue their Baalims, their pettie gods and patrons, whom they religiously serue & worship; they offer vnto them incense, vowes, oblations; they decke and adorne not onely their Idols, but also themselues, when they solemnize their feasts, and approch into their presence, placing a great part of their holinesse and deuotion, in their outward pompe and brauerie, which are not prescribed by God, but inuented by themselues, and therefore may fitly be called their own. All which