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 second thing to be observed is, that he comprehendeth ¹all impiety and the whole breach of the first table, under this one sin of unlawful swearing: and as in the former Verse, he had comprised all the sins of omission, under the want of knowledge as being the fountain of all the rest, and the internal root from which they spring; so here he comprehendeth all sins of commission under this one of abusing Gods holy name, which is an external sin of the tongue. First, because it is an undoubted sign & an inseparable companion of all manner of wickedness; for he that maketh no conscience of blaspheming Gods holy name, by either false, or vain and idle oaths, he maketh conscience of no sin, but would (if he might with as little disgrace and danger do it) commit all manner of impiety; he that will not be restrained by Gods fear, love, mercy, goodness, and the manifold benefits which he hath received of him, from vain swearing, whereby he receiveth no profit, but loss, even the loss of Gods favour, the assurance of salvation, of a good conscience, and of reputation amongst those that fear God; nor any pleasure, unless he take (like the Devil himself) a hellish pleasure in acting sin, and despiting God; nor hath thereby any credit, but rather is branded with the black mark of a profane person; he that will contemptuously trample under feet the precious body and blood of Jesus ⟨p. 91⟩Christ, which he spared not to give for our redemption, and so irreligiously scorn the greatest benefit that ever the Lord bestowed upon us, it is not to be doubted, but that this man what show soever he maketh, is a profane person: who when he is allured by the baits of the world, riches, honours, and pleasures, will not stick to commit any manner of wickedness, seeing he is ready to commit this horrible sin of blaspheming gods name, being induced thereunto without any respect of the least good.

The second thing to be obserued is, that he comprehendeth ¹all impietie and the whole breach of the first table, vnder this one sin of vnlawfull swearing: and as in the former Verse, he had comprised all the sinnes of omission, vnder the want of knowledge as being the fountaine of all the rest, and the internall root from which they spring; so here he comprehendeth all sinnes of commission vnder this one of abusing Gods holy name, which is an external sin of the tongue. First, because it is an vndoubted signe & an inseperable companion of all manner of wickednesse; for hee that maketh no conscience of blaspeming Gods holy name, by eyther false, or vaine and idle oathes, he maketh conscience of no sinne, but would (if he might with as little disgrace and danger doe it) commit all manner of impietie; hee that will not be restrained by Gods feare, loue, mercy, goodnesse, and the manifold benefits which he hath receiued of him, from vaine swearing, whereby he receiueth no profit, but losse, euen the losse of Gods fauour, the assurance of saluation, of a good conscience, and of reputation amongst those that feare God; nor any pleasure, vnlesse he take (like the Diuell himselfe) a hellish pleasure in acting sinne, and despiting God; nor hath thereby any credit, but rather is branded with the black marke of a prophane person; hee that will contemptuously trample vnder feete the precious body and bloud of Jesus