A69234:847
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.
Here therefore two extremes are to be avoided: for as we must not sink and fall down flat under the burden of Gods displeasure: so we must not stand upright with stiff and stretched out necks, casting it aside without care or sorrow, but we must take the middle course, that is, we must stoop and buckle under our burden, as being weary of bearing it, we must sit down and mourn like a widow, forsaken and desolate, delighting in nothing till we feel and find that God delighteth in us, and is reconciled unto us. An example hereof we have in the Church. Psal. 137. 2. 3.1
Here therefore two extreames are to be auoyded: for as we must not sincke and fall downe flat vnder the burthen of Gods displeasure: so we must not stand vpright with stiffe and stretched out necks, casting it aside without care or sorrow, but we must take the middle course, that is, we must stoupe and buckle vnder our burthen, as being weary of bearing it, we must sit downe and mourne like a widdow, forsaken and desolate, delighting in nothing till wee feele and finde that God deligheth in vs, and is reconciled vnto vs. An example hereof we haue in the Church. Psal. 137. 2. 3.1
- 1Psal. 237. 2. 3.
Thirdly, we are to observe Gods wise mixture of Mercy and Judgement, that the Church might neither be secure 1and careless, nor yet comfortless and without hope: for whereas he saith, that she shall sit mourning for many days, herein is implied, that her afflictions should neither be very short, nor very long. First, he showeth that they should not be very short, for they should last for many days: and then that they should not be very long, for they should not last for many ages, or many years, but only for many days. He doth not reckon the time by minutes or hours, for then they would have been secure and wretchlesse, and so taking no care to arm themselves with patience, they would have been altogether unprepared, when contrary to their hope their afflictions were tediously continued; nor yet by years