A69234:799
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.
But let us come to the words themselves, Verse 2. So I Verse. 2 bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an Homer of Barley & an half Homer of Barley. In which words is contained both the peoples punishment, and the love of 1God, who inflicted it: the punishment is, that they should become captives in a strange country; and this is signified by this phrase of buying, for no free people, but only captives, slaves and servants were bought for money. So that the meaning of this part of the vision is this; as the Prophet buyeth an adulterous wife as though she were a captive: so the children of Israel shall be led into captivity, and bought and sold for money.
BVt let vs come to the words themselues, Verse 2. So I Verse. 2 bought her to mee for fifteene peeces of siluer, and for an Homer of Barley & an halfe Homer of Barley. In which words is contayned both the peoples punishment, and the loue of 1God, who inflicted it: the punishment is, that they should become captiues in a strange countrie; and this is signified by this phrase of buying, for no free people, but onely captiues, slaues and seruants were bought for money. So that the meaning of this part of the vision is this; as the Prophet buyeth an adultrous wife as though she were a captiue: so the children of Israell shall be led into captiuitie, and bought and sould for money.
- 1The exposition
Yea but the Prophet was commanded to love this adulteress, and here no mention is made of his love, but only that he bought her, that is, brought her into the base estate of a slavish captive; how then doth this signify the love of ⟨p. 14⟩God, seeing it seemeth rather an effect of hatred? I answer if we respect Gods end, which was the profit, conversion and salvation of the Israelites, this was a singular note of gods love. For when they abused their liberty to all licentiousness, God caused them to live in captivity, but to this end, that by this misery he might reclaim & regain them unto himself. So that the Lords severity was exceeding profitable and necessary to reform this adulteress, and to make her keep her marriage faith inviolable for the time to come, when as she felt the smart of her uncleanness. If a husband laying aside his right of superiority and rule, do basely cocker and flatter his adulterous Wife, and suffer her at pleasure to range abroad and company with her lovers, his fondness will hearten her in her wicked courses, and cause her the more to scorn and contemn him; the Lord therefore like a wise husband dealeth otherwise here with this adulteress, that is, he retaineth his authority, he handleth her roughly, and restraineth her of her liberty, but yet inwardly he loveth her, for he doth all this to cool the heat of her lust, and to make her chaste and faithful, that so being reclaimed, he may receive her into his wonted favour.