A77979:300
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 8
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.
What, is there such wickedness in the hearts of men as to rejoice in the sins of others for their own advantage?1 Oh how much more then should the Saints rejoice in the graces of God in others for Gods glory? In Ezek. 8.17.2 you have an expression that seems hard to be understood.3 God chargeth the people there as with other notorious evils so with this among the rest, that they did put the branch to their nose; In these words the people are charged with a most notorious wickedness, this may be often read and little understood what it is, I conceive the meaning to be this, It is a charge of this people for Idolatry, that they worshipped the Sun, or Vesta the goddess of the earth, either of both, because by them the sweet flowers and branches of trees came forth from the earth, they attributed the flourishing of trees and of the plants wholly unto the Sun whom they worshipped as a god,4 or unto Vesta whom they worshipped is a goddess, and when they worshipped either of those in the acknowledgement of the honour due to them, they took a branch and put to their nose, thereby showing their respect and their homage unto them as rejoicing in that good and sweet fruit that was caused by the Sun or by Vesta their god or goddess. So that God chargeth them here for so rejoicing in these creatures as to worship the Sun or the earth as the cause of it. To apply it to our purpose; As Idolaters because they looked upon the Sun or the earth as causes of such flourishing of plants and sweetness of branches and flowers, did put them to their nose and delighted in them and thereby showed their honouring of the Sun and of the earth;5 so should we take the graces of the Spirit of God in our brethren that are the fruits of the Sun of righteousness, for the Sun of righteousness causeth them to flourish in the hearts of our brethren, and we should put them to our nose, smell at them, account them fragrant and thereby do honour unto ⟨p. 109⟩