A77979:373
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 13
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.
Let a faithful Minister come into a Congregation and take pains, so that the people may see and be convinced that he takes pains, and expound the Scripture unto them, they will begin to confess we get more by this than by all the reading of prayers all this while, and this is more painful to the Minister. ⟨p. 147⟩They would I say be convinced of this if they had teaching. This was Jehoshaphat's way, and Oh how happy were it if we took the same course? But there is one thing more observable it is said in this 7. chapter that Jehoshaphat took away the high places; but in Chap. 20. ver. 33.1 it is said he took them not away; but how is it? It is put upon the people, the text saith, The high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not prepared their heart unto the God of the•• fathers. The people were the cause. Now for the reconciling of these two places, it seems Jehoshaphat did what lay in him, In chap. 17. therefore God accounts it as being done for his part, but because when he had done what he could yet the people were so stubborn and stout and would not yield to the command of the King, therefore in this 20. Chapter it is all laid upon the people; As if God should say, they were not taken away because the people had not prepared their hearts, but as for Jehoshaphat he did what lay in him for the taking them away. God will accept of the intention of Governors, Let them do what they can in it and if it be not done the fault will lie where the cause is. You may see by this that people may hinder the work of Reformation much, their hearts were not prepared, that is, they were not fit to receive such instructions as were sent unto them. And truly in England many people are not yet prepared to receive the work of Reformation. We never read (that is observable too) of any difficulty of any of the Kings either of Judah or Israel to bring in any false worship, observe it in all the stories of the Kings or Chronicles when there was any King that would bring in any false worship there was never any difficulty in it;2 But when good Kings did seek to bring in true worship and to cast out false, it was too difficult a work for them. Thus mens hearts do cleave more to false worship than they do to true.