A69234:711
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.
Thirdly, the wife is moved to break her conjugal fidelity, 1and to leave her husband, and follow her lovers, when as she is brought into doubt of his love and good will, in respect ⟨p. 298⟩of his illiberal carriage towards her, and when as by his niggardly restraining her of necessaries, she is brought into extremity and want; for then being hopeless at home, she rangeth abroad, and seeketh help of strangers, when her husband neglecteth her. Whereas contrariwise, when she hath assured testimony of his love, by his readiness to supply all her necessities to the uttermost of his power, it is a notable means to work in her love towards him, and to preserve her faith inviolable. And thus it fareth in this spiritual marriage, when we doubt of Gods love and favour, and are brought into extreme exigents, through our spiritual or corporal wants, then our corrupt nature inclineth us to leave trusting and depending upon the Lord, and to follow Idols, Saints, Angels and Images, looking for by them a supply of that wherein we think that the Lord is defective. And therefore he here promiseth, that he will also marry her unto himself in mercy, or as the word may more fitly in this place signify, in benignity and beneficence, that is, that he will so multiply upon her mercies and benefits, as thereby she shall have full assurance of his love and providence watching over her, and shall by his bounty be so furnished with all necessaries, that she shall not need to depend upon any other. The which promise is accomplished, both in respect of corporal and spiritual benefits; for if the first be wanting, the Lord giveth the other in such plenty and abundance, that in the middest of worldly wants, she shall have little cause to doubt of Gods love and liberality, seeing he doth bestow upon her these rich treasures, and gifts of greatest value. And thus have we this prophecy expounded, Jer. 32. 40. I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will never turn away 2from them to do them good, &c. 41. Yea I will delight in them to do them good, &c.
Thirdly, the wife is moued to breake her coniugall fidelitie, 1