A69234:714
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.
Where we may further note, that he doth the third time repeat these words, I will marry thee unto me, to this end, that we might by this his redoubling of his speech, be the more undoubtedly assured of the certainty of this holy and ⟨p. 300⟩heavenly contract, of which we are easily moved to make some question, in respect of Gods glorious Majesty, and incomprehensible greatness, and in respect of our own base vileness and unworthiness.
Where we may further note, that he doth the third time repeate these words, I will marrie thee vnto me, to this end, that we might by this his redoubling of his speech, bee the more vndoubtedly assured of the certaintie of this holy and ⟨p. 300⟩heauenly contract, of which we are easily moued to make some question, in respect of Gods glorious Maiestie, and incomprehensible greatnesse, and in respect of our owne base vilenesse and vnworthinesse.
Lastly, the wives ignorance of her husbands perfections, 1whereby she neither knoweth nor acknowledgeth his excellencies and good parts, and whereby as she is often ready to undervalue his worthiness; so also with an overweening conceit, to overprize the gifts and qualities of strangers, is a notable means to alienate her mind from her husband, as being unworthy of her love, and to move her to affect others: so the ignorance of the spouse, the Church, of Gods excellency, mercy, goodness, and all perfections, is a chief cause that moveth her to leave the Lord, and to follow her lovers; for if she did but know the Lord, she should need no other arguments to ravish her heart with his love, nor any further inducement to move her to forsake all others, and to embrace him alone with constant affection. And therefore the Lord in the last place promiseth, that he will eternize the marriage between him and his Church, by illuminating her mind with a true knowledge of him; whereupon it must necessarily follow, that she will prefer him above all idols and false gods, seeing she clearly perceiveth that he infinitely excelleth them all, in goodness, perfection, and all true worthiness.