A69234:607
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.
But it may be demanded, that if this be so, to what purpose serveth the ministry of the Word, and exhortations to repentance, seeing he speaketh in vain, that persuadeth a ⟨p. 250⟩dead man to rise to life? I answer, that the ministry of the Word, is the means of our conversion, which the Lord by the inward operation of his holy Spirit, maketh effectual for this purpose, in the hearts of all his elect. These exhortations therefore unto repentance are not in vain, seeing the Lord worketh not upon men, as upon stocks and stones, but as upon reasonable creatures, whom he exhorteth to repentance, and withal working upon their hearts, by his holy Spirit, inclineth them to perform that unto which he exhorteth them; and as he outwardly commandeth, so inwardly he inclineth, and enableth them to do that which he commandeth: and hence it is, that our Saviour saith, that the words which he spake were Spirit and life, Joh. 6. 63. because 1they were not like the law, which only commanded, and did not enable to yield obedience, but being made effectual by the Spirit, which gave life unto them, they both enjoined and wrought in us true obedience.
But it may be demaunded, that if this be so, to what purpose serueth the ministerie of the Word, and exhortations to repentance, seeing he speaketh in vaine, that perswadeth a ⟨p. 250⟩dead man to rise to life? I answere, that the ministerie of the Word, is the meanes of our conuersion, which the Lord by the inward operation of his holy Spirit, maketh effectuall for this purpose, in the hearts of all his elect. These exhortations therefore vnto repentance are not in vaine, seeing the Lord worketh not vpon men, as vpon stocks and stones, but as vpon reasonable creatures, whom he exhorteth to repentance, and withall working vpon their hearts, by his holy Spirit, inclineth them to performe that vnto which hee exhorteth them; and as he outwardly commandeth, so inwardly he inclineth, and enableth them to do that which he commandeth: and hence it is, that our Sauiour saith, that the words which he spake were Spirit and life,