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 thus have I showed the meaning of the words and The Do∣ctrines. the chief points contained in them. In the next place we are to consider of those doctrines which arise out of them, both for our instruction and consolation. And first out of ¹this contract of marriage we may observe, that the covenant of grace between God and his Church, is grounded upon Gods free mercy and undeserved goodness, without any condition of our own works and worthiness. Neither is it here said, that he would marry the Church if she were just, holy, faithful, and worthy his love; but he absolutely promiseth, without all conditions that he will marry her, and being married, will endow her with righteousness, judgement, pardon of her sins, faithfulness; so that these are not the causes moving the Lord to espouse the Church, but because in his free love he hath married her, therefore he will prosecute her with his love, and bestow all these graces and benefits upon her. But this most clearly appeareth, whereas he saith he will marry her in benignity and mercy, for benignity presupposeth the Churches want and poverty, and mercy presupposeth her misery, neither if she were rich in her self should she need the Lords beneficence, nor if she were in happy estate should she need mercy and compassion.

And thus haue I shewed the meaning of the words and The Do∣ctrines. the chiefe points contained in them. In the next place wee are to consider of those doctrines which arise out of them, both for our instruction and consolation. And first out of ¹this contract of mariage wee may obserue, that the couenant of grace betweene God and his Church, is grounded vpon Gods free mercie and vndeserued goodnesse, without any condition of our owne workes and worthinesse. Neither is it here said, that hee would marrie the Church if she were iust, holy, faithfull, and worthie his loue; but hee absolutely promiseth, without all conditions that hee will marrie her, and being married, will endow her with righteousnesse, iudgement, pardon of her sinnes, faithfulnesse; so that these are not the causes mouing the Lord to espouse the Church, but because in his free loue he hath married her, therefore hee will prosecute her with his loue, and bestow all these graces and benefits vpon her. But this most cleerely appeareth, whereas hee saith hee will marrie her in benignitie and mercie, for benignitie presupposeth the Churches want and pouertie, and mercie presupposeth her miserie, neither if she were rich in her selfe should she neede the Lords beneficence, nor if she were in happie estate should she neede mercie and compassion.