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 likewise as the wife subjecteth her self to her husband, as to her head and governor, obeying him in all things which are honest and lawful, as she regardeth him with reverent respect, and ingenuously feareth his displeasure; and in a word, as she demeaneth her self in all her words and actions, modestly, soberly, humbly and quietly, so as she may be most amiable to her husband: So the Church submitteth her self unto Christ, as unto her only Lord and husband, she performeth unto him absolute obedience, she reverenceth him with awful love, and feareth his displeasure above all worldly loss; and to conclude, in all her carriage and conversation, she demeaneth her self humbly and dutifully, desiring nothing more then to appear lovely and amiable in Christs sight.

And so likewise as the wife subiecteth her selfe to her husband, as to her head and gouernour, obeying him in all things which are honest and lawfull, as shee regardeth him with reuerent respect, and ingenuously feareth his displeasure; and in a word, as shee demeaneth her selfe in all her words and actions, modestly, soberly, humblie and quietly, so as she may be most amiable to her husbād: So the Church submitteth her selfe vnto Christ, as vnto her only Lord and husband, she performeth vnto him absolute obedience, she reuerenceth him with awfull loue, and feareth his displeasure aboue all worldly losse; and to conclude, in all her carriage and conuersation, she demeaneth her selfe humblie and dutifully, desiring nothing more then to appeare louely and amiable in Christs sight.

But yet in the degree and measure of performing these mutual duties, there is to be observed a difference; for Christ performeth them all most absolutely, and in the highest degree of all perfection. The Church performeth them also, but yet in her measure and proportion: that part of the Church indeed which is triumphat, performeth these duties to her husband Christ, in such a degree of perfection, as the creature is capable of, yet far short of that measure and degree, in which her husband performeth them: but the Church militant with much more weakness and imperfection, for whereas she is partly regenerate, and partly unregenerate, the spiritual part laboureth to perform all good duties unto Christ, but the flesh rebelleth and disobeyeth, she delighteth to obey her husband in the inner man, but she findeth another law in her members rebelling against the law of her