A69234:914
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 is, that we do not with simple idiots 1bless our selves, because we are harmless and do no man wrong, and because we abstain from such gross impieties, as we see others commit; for the Lord requireth that we not only refrain from evil, but also that we do good: so that it is not sufficient that we do not scorn Gods worship, if we do not also religiously serve him; nor to abstain from blaspheming Gods name, if we do not also glorify it; nor to forbear doing wrong to our neighbour, unless also we be ready to perform the duties of justice, charity and christianity towards them.
The vse hereof is, that wee doe not with simple ideots 1blesse our selues, because we are harmelesse and doe no man wrong, and because we abstaine from such grosse impieties, as we see others commit; for the Lord requireth that we not onely refraine from euill, but also that we doe good: so that it is not sufficient that we doe not scorne Gods worship, if we doe not also religiously serue him; nor to abstaine from biaspheming Gods name, if we doe not also glorifie it; nor to forbeare doing wrong to our neighbour, vnlesse also wee be ready to performe the duties of justice, charitie and christianitie towards them.
- 1That we must not bless our selves in our harmlessness.That we must not blesse our selues in our harmlesnes.
Secondly, out of the order which the Prophet useth in 1reprehending the peoples sins, we may observe that he first convinceth them of their sins against their neighbours, and then of their sins committed against God: and this method is usual in the Scriptures, which the holy Ghost observeth: first, that he may beat down the pride and vain boasting of hypocrites, who are ready to brag of their knowledge, faith, love of God, and other hidden graces, though they be destitute of the love of their brethren, and barren of good works. And therefore he bringeth such as these, who make a golden show of spiritual and inward graces, in respect of God, to the true touchstone of outward obedience, and the external works of charity and mercy towards their brethren; to the end that if they will not abide this trial, it may appear, that though they make never so glittering a show of spiritual and hidden graces yet they are nothing but