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…

And thus you see how much truth faileth in our days, both in the Church and common wealth; which may be ¹unto us a just cause of fear, that the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of this land: the like also may be said of mercy, whether we understand thereby, benignity and compassion, or beneficence, consisting in the actions of charity and christianity. In respect of the first, we may well acknowledge, that this is the iron age of the world, wherein the most part of men are cruel, hard hearted destitute of all pity and compassion, and quite senseless in the feeling of their neighbours miseries, for who almost is touched with such a fellow-feeling of other mens calamities, as becometh those who profess themselves members of the same body? who is ready to mourn with those that mourn, or to be a co-partner in another mans grief, if he be not also partaker in his misery? who being well clothed feeleth cold, when he seeth another's nakedness? who abounding in wealth, compassionateth another's want? who enjoying liberty, is touched with the sense of that wretchedness which others feel that are imprisoned? who living in health, groaneth at another's sickness, or who living in security, is touched with fear when he seeth his neighbours dangers? and yet we boast our selves to be members of Christ Jesus, and ⟨p. 73⟩fellow members one with another, though we be destitute of all compassion and fellow feeling.

And thus you see how much truth faileth in our dayes, both in the Church and common wealth; which may bee ¹vnto vs a just cause of feare, that the Lord hath a controuersie with the inhabitants of this land: the like also may be said of mercy, whether we vnderstand therby, benignity and compassion, or beneficence, consisting in the actions of charitie and christianitie. In respect of the first, wee may vvell acknowledge, that this is the iron age of the world, wherein the most part of men are cruell, hard harted destitute of all pittie and compassion, and quite senselesse in the feeling of their neighbours miseries, for who almost is touched with such a fellow-feeling of other mens calamities, as becōmeth those who professe themselues members of the same bodie? who is ready to mourne with those that mourne, or to bee a co-partner in another mans griefe, if hee bee not also partaker in his miserie? who being well clothed feeleth colde, when hee seeth anothers nakednesse? who abounding in wealth, compassionateth anothers want? who injoying libertie, is touched with the sense of that wretchednesse which others feele that are imprisoned? who liuing in health, groneth at anothers sicknesse, or who liuing in securitie, is touched with feare when hee seeth his neighbours daungers? and yet we boast our selues to bee members of Christ Iesus, and