A69234:748
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, we here learn, that whatsoever virtue & strength 1is in any of the creatures to benefit, sustain, and nourish us, they have it wholly from the Lord, as appeareth by this notable gradation, for we cannot ordinarily live without corn ⟨p. 314⟩and food, we cannot have these unless the earth bring them forth for our use, the earth is barren and unfruitful, unless it be watered with the dew of heaven, the heavens have no power to distil their fruitful and pleasant showers upon the earth, unless the Lord give this virtue unto them. So that he is the principal cause and first mover, who setteth all inferior means on work, and giveth them motion and strength to derive his blessings and benefits upon man; neither can a drop of rain fall upon the earth, nor the earth bring forth one grain of corn, but by Gods providence and appointment: and therefore we may conclude with the Apostle, that In him we live, move, and have our being, Act. 17. 28. Is then 2the earth fruitful? let us ascribe the whole glory unto God; have we a fertile soil? let us not rest upon it, but upon Gods providence, for he that hath given it this power and virtue, can take it away & make it barren. Is there a dearth and scarcity 3in the land? let us not look so much to the heavens, clouds, and weather, as unto God the ruler and disposer of them all, expecting and begging plenty at his hands, and so he will hear the heavens, and the heavens the earth, the earth the fruits, and the fruits will hear us, &c.
Thirdly, we here learne, that whatsoeuer vertue & strēgth 1is in any of the creatures to benefit, sustaine, and nourish vs, they haue it wholly from the Lord, as appeareth by this notable gradation, for we cannot ordinarily liue without corne ⟨p. 314⟩and food, we cannot haue these vnlesse the earth bring them foorth for our vse, the earth is barren and vnfruitfull, vnlesse it be watered with the dew of heauen, the heauens haue no power to distill their fruitfull and pleasant shewers vpon the earth, vnlesse the Lord giue this vertue vnto them. So that he is the principall cause and first mouer, who setteth all inferiour meanes on worke, and giueth them motion and strength to deriue his blessings and benefits vpon man; neither can a drop of raine fall vpon the earth, nor the earth bring foorth one graine of corne, but by Gods prouidence and appointment: and therfore we may conclude with the Apostle, that In him we liue, moue, and haue our being,