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…

The third thing here expressed, is the end why God giveth, and the Church receiveth these his gifts and graces, not only that she may have by them joy and comfort in their present use, but that they may serve as pledges and earnest pennies, to confirm their hope and assurance of the possession of eternal happiness, the which is signified by this phrase, For the door of hope. For that is said to be the door of hope, which giveth entrance unto hope, by offering some assurance that we shall obtain the thing hoped for. As therefore the Lord gave to the people of Israel the valley of Achor, that it should be unto them a door of hope, because the possession of the borders was a pledge unto them, that they should enjoy the whole land of promise: so the manifold benefits which the Lord bestoweth upon the faithful, whilst they be in the borders of Canaan, the Church militant, are unto them a door of hope, being assured pledges, that after we have a while fought with our spiritual enemies, we shall have full possession of the heavenly Canaan, and the new Jerusalem.

The third thing heere expressed, is the end why God giueth, and the Church receiueth these his gifts and graces, not onely that shee may haue by them ioy and comfort in their present vse, but that they may serue as pledges and earnest penies, to confirme their hope and assurance of the possession of eternall happines, the which is signified by this phrase, For the doore of hope. For that is said to be the doore of hope, which giueth entrance vnto hope, by offering some assurance that we shall obtaine the thing hoped for. As therefore the Lord gaue to the people of Israel the valley of Achor, that it should be vnto them a doore of hope, because the possession of the borders was a pledge vnto them, that they should enioy the whole land of promise: so the manifold benefits which the Lord bestoweth vpon the faithfull, whilest they be in the borders of Canaan, the Church militant, are vnto them a doore of hope, being assured pledges, that after we haue a while fought with our spirituall enemies, wee shall haue full possession of the heauenly Canaan, and the new Ierusalem.

And these are the benefits which are here allegorically promised. Now the reason why the Lord speaking of the spiritual deliverance and happiness of his people, alludeth to their temporal deliverance out of Egypt, and entrance into the land of Canaan; was first, that hereby he might strengthen their faith in the full assurance of his promises, seeing they had already experience of his truth, power, mercy, and goodness in their former deliverance, when as the grievous sins, and great unworthiness of their forefathers, could not move him to change his purpose, nor frustrate his word, because his covenant was grounded, not upon their deserts, but upon his own undeserved love, and mere good will. And secondly, in promising new benefits, he doth by this allusion put them in mind of the old, that by the remembrance of