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 this is the main scope and chief end of this Prophecy. In the next place we are to speak of the special parts thereof: And first, of the testification of Gods love towards the Church of Israel. Ver. 1. And the Lord said unto Verse. 1 me, go yet and love a woman, beloved of her husband, and was an harlot; according to the love of the Lord towards the children of Israel, yet they looked to other Gods & loved the wine bottles. In which words the love of God is typically propounded, ¹and afterwards plainly expounded: it is typically shadowed under another vision, not much unlike unto the former. Chap. 1. 2. wherein the Lord commandeth the Prophet to love an adulterous and ungrateful harlot, not that indeed he would have him to set his affection upon such an one, seeing it was a thing unlawful and dishonest for the Prophet of God to love an Adulteress; being another mans wife, but that he having received this commandment by vision, might propound it as a Parable unto the people, that hereby they who were dull of conceit, might see both the love and mercy of God, and their own wickedness and unworthiness represented as in a clear glass or plain picture. As though he should say, go yet again unto the Israelites and propound this parable unto them: that the Lord is like unto a husband, who continueth to love his wife, though she neglecting his love and forgetting his benefits, have forsaken him, committed whoredom with her lovers, and given over her self unto all voluptuous pleasures.

ANd this is the maine scope and chiefe end of this Prophecie. In the next place we are to speak of the special parts thereof: And first, of the testification of Gods loue towards the Church of Israell. Ver. 1. And the Lord said vnto Verse. 1 me, goe yet and loue a woman, beloued of her husband, and was an harlot; according to the loue of the Lord towards the children of Israell, yet they looked to other Gods & loued the wine bottles. In which words the loue of God is typically propounded, ¹and afterwards plainely expounded: it is typically shadowed vnder another vision, not much vnlike vnto the former. Chap. 1. 2. wherein the Lord commaundeth the Prophet to loue an adulterous and vngratefull harlot, not that indeed he would haue him to set his affection vpon such an one, seeing it was a thing vnlawfull and dishonest for the Prophet of God to loue an Adultresse; being another mans wife, but that hee hauing receiued this commaundement by vision, might propound it as a Parable vnto the people, that hereby they who were dull of conceit, might see both the loue and mercy of God, and their owne wickednesse and vnworthynesse represented as in a cleare glasse or plaine picture. As though he should say, go yet againe vnto the Israelites and propound this parable vnto them: that the Lord is like vnto a husband, who continueth to loue his wife, though she neglecting his loue and forgetting his benefits, haue forsaken him, committed whoredome with her louers, and giuen ouer her selfe vnto all voluptuous pleasures.