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…

Lastly, by the Prophet, who is commanded by God to love this Adulteress beloved of her husband, we are to understand Jesus Christ, who loved these elect Israelites which were excluded out of the covenant of works, and married them unto himself, by making with them the new covenant of grace; and this appeareth in that he willeth him to love her with such love as the Lord loved her, namely, with a constant, most infinite, and eternal love, which properly can be ascribed to no other, saving to our Saviour Jesus Christ alone.

Lastly, by the Prophet, who is commaunded by God to loue this Adultresse beloued of her husband, wee are to vnderstand Iesus Christ, who loued these elect Israelites which were exculded out of the couenant of works, and marryed them vnto himselfe, by making with them the new couenant of grace; and this appeareth in that hee willeth him to loue her with such loue as the Lord loued her, namely, with a constant, most infinite, and eternall loue, which properly can be ascribed to no other, sauing to our Sauiour Iesus Christ alone.

And this is the meaning of this parable: The exposition followeth: According to the love of the Lord towards the children of Israel; yet (or when as) they looked to other Gods, and loved the wine bottles. In which words the Lords love is amplified by the wickedness and unworthiness of the people, and the peoples sin aggravated by the love and goodness of God towards them. The Lords love is hereby commended, in that he did not only love this people whilst they loved him, kept their conjugal faith, and served him according to his word, but even when they despised him, forsook him, violated their faith, and committed spiritual whoredom with false Gods; the which he could never have done had not his love been infinite, most constant, and eternal.

And this is the meaning of this parable: The exposition followeth: According to the loue of the Lord towards the children of Israell; yet (or when as) they looked to other Gods, and loued the wine bottles. In which words the Lords loue is amplyfied by the wickednesse and vnworthinesse of the people, and the peoples sinne aggrauated by the loue and goodnesse of God towards them. The Lords loue is hereby commended, in that he did not onely loue this people whilest they loued him, kept their coniugall faith, and serued him according to his word, but euen when they dispised him, forsooke him, violated their faith, and committed spirituall whoredome with false Gods; the which he could neuer haue done had not his loue beene infinite, most constant, and eternall.