A69234:865
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.
The use hereof, serveth to comfort all the faithful in their greatest troubles and miseries, seeing they may be assured that the Lord vvill sanctify their afflictions for their humiliation, conversion & salvation. For well may we be contented ⟨p. 42⟩to be beaten, that we may be bettered; to be put into the furnace of affliction, that being purged from the dross of our corruptions, we may like pure gold be treasured up in the treasury of eternal happiness: to be pruned, that we may become more fruitful: to be hammered, that our hard hearts may be made contrite, and not only with patience, but also with joy, and love may we kiss that rod, which maketh us to run unto God for mercy and forgiveness.
The vse hereof, serueth to comfort all the faithfull in their greatest troubles and miseries, seeing they may bee assured that the Lord vvill sanctifie their afflictions for their humiliation, conuersion & saluation. For wel may we be contented ⟨p. 42⟩to be beaten, that wee may bee betred; to bee put into the furnace of affliction, that being purged from the drosse of our corruptions, wee may like pure gold be treasured vp in the treasury of eternall happinesse: to be pruned, that wee may become more fruitfull: to be hammered, that our hard hearts may be made contrite, and not onely with patience, but also with joy, and loue may we kisse that rod, which maketh vs to run vnto God for mercy and forgiuenesse.
But forasmuch as the tree of affliction bringeth forth no such fruits, unless it be watered with the sweet dew of gods spirit: therefore let us also make this use hereof, that when we are afflicted, we earnestly pray unto God, that he will sanctify our miseries to our use and benefit: and out of this poison, gather for our good, this sweet honey of humiliation and obedience: that is, that our poverty may turn to our spiritual enriching with the gifts of his spirit, that our trouble may tend to eternal rest, our shame to glory, our sense of pain, to the increase of our sense of sin, and that our light and momentany afflictions may cause unto us a superexcellent