A69234:817
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.
Now because this tedious captivity and confused anarchy should not be without comfort, therefore the Lord giveth them some testimony of his love, by assuring them that he would as well wait for their true conversion, as they for his mercy, and that in the mean time he would not reject them, and make choice of some other people to be his Church, but would stay his choice till upon their true repentance he might receive them into his former love and favour.
Now because this tedious captiuitie and confused anarchie should not be without comfort, therefore the Lord giueth them some testimonie of his loue, by assuring them that hee would as well waite for their true conuersion, as they for his mercy, and that in the meane time he would not reject them, and make choyse of some other people to be his Church, but would stay his choyse till vpon their true repentance hee might receiue them into his former loue and fauour.
And this is emphatically signified in these words, And I will be so unto thee: where the Lord not doth explicate his meaning at large, but (like those whose minds are exceedingly perturbed with grief, indignation, or some singular commiseration) he useth this abrupt and broken speech, as though it so much grieved him to defer reconciliation, and to withhold the outward testimonies of his love from his people, ⟨p. 22⟩that he was not able to pronounce this his definitive sentence at large, but in these abrupt and broken speeches. So that here is Judgement mixed with Mercy: Judgement in that he with-holdeth from them the signs of his love for a time; Mercy in that he with-holdeth them not for ever; Judgement in that he would not as yet admit them to be his people; Mercy in that for their sakes he will make choice of no other, but expecteth their repentance, that thereupon he might be reconciled unto them.
And this is emphatically signified in these words, And I wil be so vnto thee: wher the Lord not doth explicate his meaning at large, but (like those whose mindes are exceedingly perturbed with griefe, indignation, or some singular commiseration) he vseth this abrupt and broken speach, as though it so much grieued him to deferre reconciliation, and to withhould the outward testimonies of his loue from his people,