A69234:661
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.
This rule then is to be observed of all, who reform the 1Church, that they root out idolatry and superstition, both head and tail, in substance and ceremony, and not suffer an idolatrous or superstitious name to remain: yea they are not only to remove things out of the Church, which are idolatrous and superstitious in their own nature, but also such indifferent things, as being lawful in themselves are abused to idolatry; because through the corruption of our nature, ⟨p. 274⟩all means and occasions, to put us in mind of idolatry, are so many traps to catch us, and so many baits to allure us to fall into this sin again. So here the Lord will not have his people to name Baalims, because he would not have them so much as remembered. But lest it might be objected, that these idolatrous names are originally evil, we shall also find, Jer. 23. 36. that the Lord forbiddeth to call his Word, 2the burden of the Lord, notwithstanding that it was his own phrase by the mouth of his Prophets, because it was now grown amongst the people into obloquy and contempt. And Hezekiah is commended for breaking the brazen serpent, which was made by Gods appointment, because the people abused it to idolatry, 2. King. 18. 4. Yea but 3who hath this authority to purge the Church from all relics of idolatry? I answer, chief Governors, Princes, and supreme Magistrates, who are appointed by God to be the nursing fathers of the Church; neither may private men intermeddle with public reformation, but only the Governors of the Church, as we may see it confirmed by innumerable presidents in Gods word. And they, as I said, are to root out idolatry and all relics thereof; for this is a singular duty belonging unto them, which is so much commended in those godly Magistrates and Kings, Moses, David, Hezekiah, Josiah, and the rest: the neglect whereof, we shall find condemned in other Kings, though virtuous and religious, who restoring Gods true religion, yet suffered the groves and high places to remain.