A69234:787
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.
And this is the meaning of these words: The doctrines 1which arise out of them are divers. First we may observe out of the general scope of this Chapter our exceeding proneness to run into two extremes, secure presumption, & abject desperation, in respect of our divers estate and condition: when we are in prosperity we are deaf to all reprehension, admonition & threatenings, we flatteringly persuade our selves, that this Sun of Gods favour will ever shine upon us, notwithstanding that our sins continually ascend, and as a thick cloud interpose themselves between us & the beams of Gods love; and when we hear Gods curses, we bless our selves in our hearts saying: I shall have peace although I walk 2according to the stubbornness of mine own heart, adding drunkenness unto thirst, as it is, Deut. 29 19. Yea when the Lord beginneth to punish, we are ready in the security of our hearts to promise unto our selves immunity, and to say with those wicked men. Isaiah. 28. 15. We have made a covenant with 3death, and with hell we are at agreement, though a scourge run over, and pass through, it shall not come at us, &c. And on the other side, when God withdraweth from us his gracious countenance, and taking away our prosperity, in stead thereof layeth upon us affliction and adversity, then we are as ready to fall into the contrary extreme, concluding that God hath utterly rejected us, and cast us off for ever, foolishly imagining that when our Sun of comfort is once set, and the night of sorrow and adversity hath overshadowed us, that it will never arise again and replenish our hearts with joy and consolation. An example hereof we have in the Israelites, in this place, and in David. Psal. 30. 6. 8. The consideration whereof should move all Gods Ministers according to the practise of the Prophet in this place, wisely to intermix ⟨p. 8⟩comminations with consolations, judgement with mercy, threatenings with promises, and the Law with the Gospel, that they may keep men in an even course, and in the golden mean, neither presumptuously going forward in sin, in regard of Gods mercies and benefits, nor desperately sinking under the weight of sin and punishment, when they are overtaken of Gods judgements.