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…

The use of this doctrine serveth first, to refute the practise of the Papists, who use all means to extinguish the light of ¹knowledge, and to bring into those lands wherein they have any authority, more then Egyptian darkness, and barbarous ignorance. To which purpose they take away the preaching of the Gospel, the only ordinary means of begetting faith, yea they cannot endure that the people should enjoy the sun-shine of the scriptures, but interpose between it and their understanding, the dark cloud of an unknown tongue; they cannot abide that they should behold this radiant Pearl, & most precious diamond, which would send forth his bright rays in the darkest night of ignorance, but keep it close hidden and fast locked from them, under the lock of an unknown language, persuading the people that they may be most devout, when they are most ignorant, and that being destitute of any true faith of their own, they are notwithstanding in good case if they have only an implicit faith, whereby they believe as the Church believeth, though they know not what. But let all such know who have wilfully suffered themselves to be hoodwinked with ⟨p. 67⟩this thick veil of ignorance, that these Romish shavelings, do notably abuse the people to their perdition, seeing they take away knowledge, the root and foundation of all grace, virtue and obedience, and bring in ignorance the fountain of all error, sin and wickedness; and consequently make whole nations & countries liable to Gods judgements, because the knowledge of God and his true religion, is banished from amongst them.

The vse of this doctrine serueth first, to refute the practise of the Papists, who vse all meanes to extinguish the light of ¹knowledge, and to bring into those lands wherein they haue any authoritie, more then Aegyptian darknesse, and barbarous ignorance. To which purpose they take away the preaching of the Gospell, the onely ordinarie meanes of begetting faith, yea they cannot indure that the people should injoy the sun-shine of the scriptures, but interpose betweene it and their vnderstanding, the dark cloude of an vnknowne tongue; they cannot abide that they should behould this radient Pearle, & most precious diamond, which would send forth his bright rayes in the darkest night of ignorance, but keepe it close hidden and fast locked from them, vnder the locke of an vnknowne language, perswading the people that they may bee most deuout, vvhen they are most ignorant, and that being destitute of any true faith of their owne, they are notwithstanding in good case if they haue onely an implicite faith, vvhereby they beleeue as the Church beleeueth, though they know not what. But let all such know who haue wilfully suffered themselues to bee hudwinckt vvith