A77979:1531
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 6 › Verse 6
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.
VER. 6. For I desired Mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God, more than burnt offerings.
This being a great Scripture, having much of the mind of God in it, and much difficulty in the understanding of it.1 I read no further at this time. Here we have a reason of Gods severe expression in the former verse, where it was said that God had hewed them by his Prophets, and slew them by the words of his mouth. Why was God so severe against them? it was, because he would not be put off with their sacrifices, they bolstered up themselves with these, objecting against the Prophet when he pressed them to mercy and to the knowledge of God: Why, are not we abundant in serving of ⟨p. 599⟩God? burnt offerings are not neglected by us, and why should not we be accepted? No saith God, I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; never tell me of your sacrifices and burnt offerings, so long as there is no mercy among you; Therefore have I hewed them by my Prophets, & slain them by the words of my mouth; you are so glued unto these outward things, that I must hew you off from them. This sentence is most famous, quoted twice by Christ himself in the new Testament, which we do not find of any place again, which notes the eminency of it; the first time it is quoted you shall find in Mat. 9.13. and the second, in Mat. 12.7.