A69234:732
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.
Fourthly, whereas he saith, that he will marry his Church 1in his mercies: hence we learn, that there is no cause, why our sins should alienate our minds from Christ, seeing so ⟨p. 307⟩manifold are his mercies, that he is always ready upon our repentance to forgive us. It is a Machiavellian principle, put in practise by too too many in our days, that whom they have offended, those they will never forgive, because in their self-guilty consciences, they expect from him whom they have injured deserved revenge, and therefore to such, one degree of wrong is an occasion unto another. This hellish policy so odious in the sight, even of a civill man, our corrupt nature is inclined to use towards Christ, for when we have offended him, in stead of flying to him, and seeking reconciliation, we are ready to flee from him, and in guiltiness of conscience to distrust of his favour, and to seek for help of Idols, Images, Saints, Angels, Popish pardons, and such like wicked means, therein making amends for our former sins, by adding others unto them much more grievous. But little cause have we to be thus Italianate towards Christ, seeing his mercies are infinite, so that he is always ready freely to forgive, and after reconciliation will never bear a secret grudge, nor watch for opportunity of revenge.
Fourthly, whereas he saith, that he will marrie his Church 1in his mercies: hence we learne, that there is no cause, why our sinnes should alienate our minds from Christ, seeing so ⟨p. 307⟩manifold are his mercies, that he is alwaies readie vpon our repētance to forgiue vs. It is a Machiauellian principle, put in practise by too too many in our daies, that whom they haue offended, those they will neuer forgiue, because in their self-guiltie consciences, they expect from him whom they haue iniured deserued reuenge, and therefore to such, one degree of wrong is an occasion vnto another. This hellish policie so odious in the sight, euen of a ciuill mā, our corrupt nature is inclined to vse towards Christ, for when we haue offended him, in stead of flying to him, and seeking reconciliation, we are readie to flee from him, and in guiltines of conscience to distrust of his fauour, and to seeke for helpe of Idols, Images, Saints, Angels, Popish pardons, and such like wicked meanes, therein making amends for our former sinnes, by adding others vnto them much more grieuous. But little cause haue we to be thus Italianate towards Christ, seing his mercies are infinite, so that he is alwaies readie freely to forgiue, and after reconciliation wil neuer beare a secret grudge, nor watch for opportunitie of reuenge.