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…

Fourthly, we may, out of the order which the Prophet here ¹observeth in setting down their idolatry, note the progress which idolaters make in their sin, ascending from one degree to another till they come to the highest. First he saith, that through the natural inclination which is in every man, they are drawn to worship and serve their Idols. Secondly, more and more doting in their fond love toward them, they deck and adorn both their statues and images and themselves, being to perform worship unto them, with gold, silver, jewels and precious ornaments, that hereby they may themselves perform service unto them with greater pleasure, and also allure others to join with them in their idolatry. Thirdly, having thus bewitched themselves with their own sorceries, they go forward in their idolatry with great pertinacie and wilful obstinacy. And lastly, they so inebriate themselves with drinking in this golden cup of fornications, and are so wholly intent and devoted unto their blind superstitions, that they quite forget the Lord and his true worship. All which are noted in this place in the idolatrous Israelites by the Prophet, and may be observed in the practise of the Papists in our own days. The consideration whereof should move us to flee the first allurements unto idolatry, and the beginnings and first degrees of this sin, for one steppe will bring us to another till we come to the highest, namely, forgetfulness of God and utter neglect and contempt of his pure religion.

Fourthly, we may, out of the order which the Prophet here ¹obserueth in setting down their idolatrie, note the progresse which idolaters make in their sinne, ascending from one degree to another till they come to the highest. First hee saith, that through the naturall inclination which is in euery man, they are drawne to worship and serue their Idols. Secondly, more and more doting in their fond loue toward them, they decke and adorne both their statues and images and themselues, being to performe worship vnto them, with gold, siluer, iewels and pretious ornaments, that hereby they may themselues performe seruice vnto them with greater pleasure, and also allure others to ioyne with them in their idolatrie. Thirdly, hauing thus bewitched themselues with their owne sorceries, they goe forward in their idolatrie with great pertinacie and wilfull obstinacie. And lastly, they so inebriate themselues with drinking in this golden cup of fornications, and are so wholly intent and deuoted vnto their blinde superstitions, that they quite forget the Lord and his true worship. All which are noted in this place in the idolatrous Israelites by the Prophet, and may be obserued in the practise of the Papists in our owne daies. The consideration whereof should moue vs to flee ye first allurements vnto idolatrie, and the beginnings and first degrees of this sinne, for one steppe will bring vs to another till we come to the highest, namely, forgetfulnesse of God and vtter neglect and contempt of his pure religion.