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…

Secondly, whereas the Lord commandeth the Prophet ¹yet again to put the people in mind of his mercies, and their own sins and unworthiness; hence we observe that it is not sufficient for Gods Ministers once alone to stand upon these points, but considering how forgetful men are of Gods benefits, and how obdurate and obstinate in their wicked courses, they must repeat, & beat upon these things again and again; never thinking any duty sufficiently taught, which is not also sufficiently learned. Neither must they seek to please the itching ears of fantastical hearers, who are impatient in hearing the same things twice delivered, nor seek to delight such surfeited and cloyed appetites as cannot endure oftener then once to taste of the same food, no nor yet take pleasure though variety of food be offered unto them, if it be brought in the same dish, desiring only variety, and to hear continually new matter, out of a new Text: but they must like good Surgeons apply the same salves to the same sores till they be perfectly cured, they must speak again and again of the same mercies of God till they be remembered, teach the same doctrines till they be learned, exhort to the same duties till they be practised, and reprove the same sins till they be amended. And like good house-holders, as they are to avoid the glutting of the family, by the continual use of the same meat: so also they must oftener then once set before them that spiritual food, which they know is good and wholesome, and think it no disgrace and disparagement to their plenty and hospitality, if they feed twice of the same dish.

Secondly, whereas the Lord commandeth the Prophet ¹yet againe to put the people in minde of his mercyes, and their owne sinnes and vnworthinesse; hence we obserue that it is not sufficient for Gods Ministers once alone to stand vpon these points, but considering how forgetfull men are of Gods benefits, and how obdurate and obstinate in their wicked courses, they must repeate, & beate vpon these things againe and againe; neuer thinking any duety sufficiently taught, which is not also sufficiently learned. Neyther must they seeke to please the itching eares of phantasticall hearers, who are impatient in hearing the same things twise deliuered, nor seeke to delight such surfetted and cloyed appetites as cannot indure oftner then once to tast of the same food, no nor yet take pleasure though varietie of food be offered vnto them, if it be brought in the same dish, desiring onely varietie, and to heare continually new matter, out of a new Text: but they must like good Surgeons apply the same salues to the same sores till they be perfectly cured, they must speake againe and againe of the same mercyes of God till they bee remembred, teach the same doctrines till they be learned, exhort to the same dueties till they be practised, and reproue the same sinnes till they be amended. And like good house-holders, as they are to auoid the glutting of the family, by the continuall vse of the same meate: so also they must oftner then once set before them that spirituall food, which they know is good and wholesome, and think it no disgrace and disparagement to their plenty and hospitalitie, if they feed twise of the same dish.