A77979:574
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 18
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.
Their Rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
The word that is translated Rulers, it is [Greek or Hebrew] her shields, that is, their protectors, so the word in the Hebrew signifies. And there is a very special note to be learned from hence, it is this, That Magistrates and Rulers they should be the shields of the people where they live, for their defence; 1And so in Scripture phrase they are called, Psalm, 47.9. The Princes of the people are gathered together, the shields of the earth belong unto God; That is, the Governors and Rulers of the earth (so I find Interpreters ⟨p. 220⟩carry it) they belong unto God:2 they are in Gods stead, and they govern in Gods Name. Rulers, Governors are to be the shields of the people, for they are to bear off all dangers; Al dangers that may come upon the people they are to be willing to put themselves forward to bear them off.3 Have not our Worthies in Parliament shown themselves to be shields in this thing? Have not they put themselves next us and our dangers, next us and our harms? And do you not think if the Adversary prevail they will first swallow up them, I mean those of them that are faithful? Whereas those that were before in Parliament when they looked upon it as an honour to be Parliament men and there was no danger, Oh they were brave Parliament men then, and they made brave speeches, but when they saw things come to be hot and that there were darts shot against the people, and that they must be the shields to keep off the hurt of those darts from the people, away they go; they love to be brave golden shields, enamelled shields fit for no service, but when it came to service away they go. We are therefore to honour these that still stay, and though they are not perhaps so brave and gilded as those, yet they are proved to be shields of good metal that will not break, but will keep off the darts that are shot against the people. And indeed Rulers and Governors should be men of good metal, willing to bear off much hardship from the people; And they should not think to be honoured only but they should take their honour as a burden also. Use. We are not therefore to think upon our Rulers as too much honoured, Oh consider of their danger together with their honour. So for the Governors in Armies, it is true they have pay more than others, but if they be faithful they hazard their lives more than others, and they are the shields of the people.