A77979:464
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 15
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.
From hence these Notes are to be observed.
First, We must not do as others do, especially in point of Obs. 1 Gods worship; we must not make the example of men, not of any sort of men, not of our brethren, not of those that profess Religion, not of those that prosper in the world, we must not make them an exemplar or rule in any thing; especially in the matters of Gods worship. Indeed the consideration how others sin against God should be so far from being an argument to draw us unto sin, as it ought to be the greatest argument to draw us from sin; Thus, every sin against God it is a striking at God.1 It's true if there be a common enemy come into a City or Town, every one desires to have a blow at him, and when men make this an argument for their sin because others do it, they deal with God as those in a Town would deal with a common enemy, that is thus, why such and such and such go on in such wicked ways, they strike at God, therefore let me strike at God too, when thou pleadest that argument and sayest because such and such do sin therefore I may sin, thou doest in effect as much as say such and such strike at God let me have a blow at him too. Is there any force in this argument? For ever take heed of pleading the example of others in ways of wickedness, and remember this one expression that thou doest in effect as if thou shouldst say, others about me they strike at God and I must have my blow at him too as well as they. In any sin we must take heed of example, but above all in matters of worship. Hence Deut. 12.30. Take heed to thy self that thou be not snared by following of ⟨p. 178⟩the Nations after that they be destroyed from before thee, and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these Nations serve their gods? even so will I d• likewise. Take heed saith God, thou dost not so much as enquire how these people serve their gods and say, I will do so likewise. God would not have us use that argument. Take heed therefore of pleading thus, other people do so and so and other Nations, why may not, we do as other Nations do? It is a very ill argument to plead example in matters of worship, I mean that worship that here Judah is forewarned of, that is, worship that is by institution, and above all things the examples of men are not to be followed in points of institution.