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 meaning of the words being understood typically, of the Prophet & the adulteress, which being fitted unto the Lord and the Church of Israel (which are the parties represented in this type, by the Prophet and the Harlot) ⟨p. 21⟩do signify thus much; that howsoever the Lord so loved this harlot the people of Israel that he took care of her conversion and salvation, and to this end used means, that she might forsake her idols & spiritual whoredom, yet so horrible and odious were her adulteries and unthankfulness in his sight, that he would not be reconciled unto her and admit her into the former communion of marriage, till by many trials & much experience, she had given assured testimony of her unfeigned repentance. And therefore his purpose was to afflict her with a tedious captivity, wherein he would restrain himself from her & have no communion with her, either in respect of political or ecclesiastical government, for neither should she have any form of a common wealth, wherein he should rule as their King, nor of a Church, wherein he should be worshipped as their God, with such public service as he required in his word: and as he would restrain them of the public means of his worship, so also he would not suffer them to forsake him, and to make choice of other Gods and so to commit spiritual whoredom with their idols, as they had done in former times, but they should keep themselves from idolatry, waiting the Lords leisure, till in his son Jesus Christ he would be reconciled unto them, and again contract them unto himself in marriage.

And this is the meaning of the words being vnderstood typically, of the Prophet & the adultresse, which being fitted vnto the Lord and the Church of Israell (which are the parties represented in this type, by the Prophet and the Harlot) ⟨p. 21⟩doe signifie thus much; that howsoeuer the Lord so loued this harlot the people of Israell that he tooke care of her conuersion and saluation, and to this end vsed meanes, that shee might forsake her idols & spirituall whoredome, yet so horrible and odious were her adultries and vnthankfulnesse in his sight, that he would not be reconciled vnto her and admit her into the former communion of marriage, till by many tryals & much experience, she had giuen assured testimony of her vnfayned repentance. And therefore his purpose was to afflict her with a tedious captiuitie, wherein hee would restraine himselfe from her & haue no communion with her, either in respect of politicall or ecclesiasticall gouernment, for neither should she haue any form of a common wealth, wherein hee should rule as their King, nor of a Church, wherein hee should bee worshipped as their God, with such publike seruice as he required in his word: and as he would restraine them of the publike meanes of his worship, so also he would not suffer them to forsake him, and to make choyse of other Gods and so to commit spirituall whoredome with their idols, as they had done in former times, but they should keepe themselues from idolatrie, waiting the Lords leasure, till in his sonne Iesus Christ he would be reconciled vnto them, and againe contract them vnto himselfe in marriage.