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 second benefit, which is the consolation of Gods Spirit. Now in the third place he promiseth that he will not only be reconciled unto her, receiving her into his love and favour, and giving unto her the inward comfort and peace of conscience, but that he will also give further assurance of his favour and her reconciliation, by multiplying his temporal benefits upon her, the which shall not only in their own use be comfortable, but much more in respect that they are offered by God, and received by the Church, as pledges of Gods eternal love, and earnest-pennies of her heavenly happiness in Gods kingdom; with all which she shall be so replenished with joy and true thankfulness, that she shall with all cheerfulness sing the praises of God, the author of all her welfare and felicity. All which is contained, vers. 15. in these words: And I Vers. 15 will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for the door of hope, and she shall sing there as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came out of the land of Egypt. In which words is contained, first a benefit which God promiseth ¹to the Church: and secondly the Churches thankfulness, which she returneth unto God for it. In the benefit promised is set down: first, the benefit it self: secondly, the time when God bestoweth it: and thirdly, the end why it is given and received. The benefit it self is expressed in these words, I will give her her vineyards, and the valley of Achor. Where the, Lord opposeth his benefits here promised to the punishments before denounced, vers. 12. for there he threateneth to take away her vines and fig trees, and here he promiseth to restore them again, and that with advantage, as is signified by the change of the word: for there he threateneth to take ⟨p. 256⟩away her vines, and here he promiseth to give her vineyards, which consist of many vines; the which also is expressed in the plural number, to intimate their multitude and abundance.

ANd so much concerning the second benefit, which is the consolation of Gods Spirit. Now in the third place he promiseth that hee will not onely be reconciled vnto her, receiuing her into his loue and fauour, and giuing vnto her the inward comfort and peace of conscience, but that he will also giue further assurance of his fauour and her reconciliation, by multiplying his temporall benefits vpon her, the which shall not only in their owne vse be comfortable, but much more in respect that they are offered by God, and receiued by the Church, as pledges of Gods eternall loue, and earnest-penies of her heauenly happinesse in Gods kingdome; with all which she shall be so replenished with ioy and true thankfulnesse, that she shall with all cheerefulnesse sing the praises of God, the author of all her welfare and felicitie. All which is contained, vers. 15. in these words: And I Vers. 15 will giue her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for the doore of hope, and she shall sing there as in the daies of her youth, and as in the day when she came out of the land of Egypt. In which words is contained, first a benefit which God promiseth