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…

Now the main drift of these summons is, to move the people to hear with greater reverence, care and conscience, the reprehensions and comminations which after follow: for howsoever they might have some reason to neglect and contemn them, if they regarded the Prophets person and the meanness of his quality & condition, yet there was great cause why they should hear them, not only with reverence but also with fear and trembling, if they considered that he was but a crier, who summoned them in the name and at the appointment of the supreme judge of heaven & earth; and but a mean ambassador, who delivered unto them not ⟨p. 52⟩his own words, but the embassy of his glorious and most mighty king, from whom he is sent.

Now the maine drift of these summons is, to moue the people to heare with greater reuerence, care and conscience, the reprehensions and comminations which after follow: for howsoeuer they might haue some reason to neglect and contemne them, if they regarded the Prophets person and the meanesse of his qualitie & condition, yet there was great cause why they should heare them, not onely with reuerence but also with feare and trembling, if they considered that he was but a cryer, who summoned them in the name and at the appointment of the supreame judge of heauen & earth; and but a meane ambassador, who deliuered vnto them not ⟨p. 52⟩his owne words, but the ambassage of his glorious and most mighty king, from whom he is sent.

But let us more specially consider of those arguments ¹which are contained in these summons, proclaimed by the Lords Crier, whereby he moveth them to receive his message with attention, fear and reverence: The first is taken from the manner of his speech, which is used when matters of great weight and importance follow, and therefore is not to be hearkened unto negligently, or lightly to be regarded. The second is taken from the person of him, from whom this message is delivered; namely, because it is Jehovah that speaketh unto them, who created them, and continually preserved them, who is all-sufficient to reward those who hearken unto him, and almighty to punish those who neglect his word: who had given unto them many testimonies of his love, and multiplied upon them all his benefits, above all other nations of the earth; who did not reprehend and punish them for malice to their persons, or other sinister respects, but that he might preserve them from utter destruction, if they would repent and forsake their sins, or glorify his justice in their punishments, if by no means they would be reclaimed, but obstinately persist in their sins, after they had so often warning. The third reason to move them to hear and obey the voice of the Lord summoning them by his Prophet, is taken from their own persons, to whom the message is delivered; in that they were the people of Israel, descended of the holy Patriarchs, chosen amongst all other nations to be Gods peculiar Church and people, with whom God had made a covenant, and had on his part most absolutely performed it, preserving them from their enemies, and multiplying upon them all his benefits.