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…

Secondly, he aggravateth their sins and gross ingratitude, in that after the Lord had cast out the Canaanites, the ancient inhabitants of this country, for their Idolatry and other sins, and given this land to the people of Israel for their possession, that therein they might make profession of ⟨p. 55⟩his true religion, and glorify his name by worshipping and serving him according to his will; they nevertheless neither remembering gods judgements inflicted upon the Canaanites, nor his mercies multiplied upon themselves, forsook the covenant of their God, broke his laws, committed idolatry, and all other outrageous sins, and so defiled the land with the same sins for the which the Canaanites were expelled, in the which gods true religion, holiness of life, and righteousness should have reigned and flourished.

Secondly, he aggrauateth their sinnes and grose ingratitude, in that after the Lord had cast out the Canaanites, the auncient inhabitants of this country, for their Idolatry and other sinnes, and giuen this land to the people of Israell for their possession, that therein they might make profession of ⟨p. 55⟩his true religion, and glorifie his name by worshipping and seruing him according to his will; they neuerthelesse neither remembring gods judgements inflicted vpon the Canaanits, nor his mercies multiplyed vpon themselues, forsooke the couenant of their God, broke his lawes, committed idolatrie, and all other outragious sinnes, and so defiled the land with the same sinnes for the which the Canaanits were expelled, in the which gods true religion, holinesse of life, and righteousnesse should haue raigned and flourished.

And this was the cause or matter of their indictment; in all which the Prophet aimeth at this, that he might bring the people to true repentance upon some hope of their reconciliation; for whereas he saith that the Lord had a controversy with the people, he doth herein include a secret admonition, that seeing the Lord was not only far mightier then they, but also had the law & equity on his side, therefore they should labour after reconciliation, by turning unto him by unfeigned repentance, for other means there was none to escape his just judgements. And this is indeed the main end at which the Lord aimeth in all his threatenings, namely that those his people whom he threateneth hearing of his judgements, might prevent and escape them by their repentance. For as a loving father when he threateneth his child, showeth that he hath no desire to punish him, seeing by threatening he giveth him warning to desist from his faults, that so he may escape: so our gracious and heavenly father, threateneth his judgements in the ministry of the word, that hearing them we may avoid them, by forsaking our sins and humbling our selves before him, and this end of the Lords contending with his people is plainly