A69234:603
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.
Secondly, out of the connection of this with the former 1verse, we may observe how infinitely the mercy of God exceedeth the mercy of man: for whereas man being offended ⟨p. 248⟩maketh this conclusion, because he hath injured me, therefore I will revenge my self upon him, the Lord contrariwise in this place concludeth, that because the people had grievously provoked his anger by their obstinacy in their idolatry, and forgetfulness of him, therefore he would allure them to repentance by his benefits and speak comfortably unto them; as though he should say, Though they be so peevishly obstinate, that they care not wilfully and desperately to go on in their sins to their utter destruction, yet I will not set my wisdom against their folly, nor suffer their stubborn wills to cross my will and eternal counsel, but I will now begin to take care of them, seeing they will take no care of themselves; and because they have nothing profited by all my threatenings and punishments, I will mollify their hard hearts, and incline their stubborn and rebellious wills with my gracious promises and merciful benefits. So that the Lord behaveth himself like a tender hearted father, and we demean our selves like stubborn children; though our stiff harts relent not under his corrections, yet his heart yearneth at our pain, and he is sooner weary of punishing, then we of suffering punishment; and when his chastisements will not overcome our maliciousness, he laboureth to overcome us with his goodness and kindness: and as the careful and loving Physician is not moved by the desperate wilfulness of his impatient patient, both refusing that which is good for him, and eagerly seeking that which is hurtful and pernicious, to give him over to himself, but useth the greater care and diligence, by how much the less he seeth that he careth for himself; and when he heareth for all his love and labour nothing but distempered and railing speeches from his patient, is rather thereby moved to pity then revenge: so dealeth the Lord with us who are sick in sin, &c.
Secondly, out of the connexion of this with the former 1verse, wee may obserue how infinitly the mercie of God exceedeth the mercie of man: for whereas man being offended ⟨p. 248⟩