A77979:112
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the prophesy of Hosea· Being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhill London. By Jeremiah Burroughs. Being the fifth book, published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simson William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of the prophesy of Hosea· Being first delivered in several lectures at Michaels Cornhil London. By Jeremiah Burroughs. Being the fifth book, published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simson William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed for Peter Cole, 1650
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN EXPOSITION Of the PROPHESY of HOSEA. › Chapter 4 › Verse 1
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 second part followeth. [God declareth.] A suit first is entered against such a man, when the Court day comes, there is calling for a declaration, the Lawyer declares: God doth so, and the Prophet is Gods Lawyer, and here are three Articles put in thi• declaration, Because there is no Truth, no Mercy, no knowledge of God in the land.
The second part followeth. [God declareth.] A sute first is entred against such a man, when the Court day comes, there is calling for a declaration, the Lawyer declares: God doth so, and the Prophet is Gods Lawyer, and here are three Articles put in thi• declaration, Because there is no Truth, no Mercy, no knowledg of God in the land.
First in general, that there is a declaration, take these two useful notes from thence.
First, God contendeth not with a people without a cause. How many are there that strive and contend one with another without any cause at all! they vex and rage, contend and sue and great controversies there are, but if we come to examine the cause we can find nothing at all; great dull is raised but whence is it? if we look to the bottom and examine wherefore it is, we can see just nothing, they themselves know no cause, they can give no rational account of all their pleading, one against another. As David said to Elijah his eldest brother, 1 Sam. 17.29. when Elijah came and wrangled with him, saith David, What have I now done? is there not a cause? Eliahs spirit was up through his envy, chiding and wrangling with David; but what have I done saith David, have not I cause for what I did! Thus many have their spirits up, chiding and wrangling, but examine the cause, and they can show none at all. How many are there of bitter spirits, who even go about like mad-dogs, snarling at every one, even at those they know not, with whom they had never any thing to do, yet cry out against them, railing upon them every where! Ask them, do you know the man? can you prove any hurt against him? The truth is they know him not, they are not able to make good what they say, only there is a general noise of such and such men that they do thus and thus, and so they bite and snail, and rage against them, but when all comes to all they know no cause. Such and such men they say disturb the Kingdom and trouble the people, a great deal of cry but little wool, the foundations of the earth are out of order, but what hath the righteous done? You would think when you hear such railings and cryings out against such and such men, that they were the most monstrous men upon the earth, but examine what it is that they have done, there is nothing. God doth not so with you, God never contendeth with man but for a just cause.