Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4, Title page – Errata
LECTVRES VPONUPON THE FOVRE FIRST CHAPTERS OF THE PROPHECIE OF HOSEA.
WHEREIN THE TEXT IS EXPOVNded and cleered, and ſuch profitable inſtructions obſerued, and applied, as naturally ariſe out of this holie Scripture, and are fit for theſe times.
By IOHN DOVVNAME Bacheler in Diuinitie, and Preacher of Gods word.
1. TIMOTH. 4. 16. Take heede vntounto thy ſelfe, and vntounto learning, continue therein; for in doing this thou ſhalt both ſaue thy ſelfe and them that heare thee.
AT LONDON, Imprinted by Felix Kyngston, for William Welby, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Pauls Churchyard at the ſigne of the Greyhound. 1608.
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD, IAMES, BY GODS PROVIdence Lord Biſhop of Bathe and Welles: I. D. wiſheth all grace, proſperitie, and true comfort in this life, and eternall happineſſe in the life to come.
THe booke of holy Scriptures (Right reuerēd father in God) is as the princely Prophet Dauid calleth it, Alanterne to our Pſal. 119.feete, and a light vntounto our pathes; and as the Apoſtle Peter termeth it, it is As a candle ſhining 2. Pet. 1. 19.in an obſcure place, which ſo illuminateth the eyes of our mindes, through the inward operation of Gods Spirit, that we are thereby enabled in this vale of darkeneſſe to make choice of the narrow path of righteouſnes, which conducteth vsus to Gods kingdome, and to decline from the bywaies of ſinne and error, which leade to deſtruction: yea it is a glorious and bright ſhining ſunne, which (as it is ſaid of Chriſt the author of this word) doth giuegive light vntounto them that ſit in darkneſſe and in the ſhadow Matth. 4. 2. Luk. 1. 79.of death, guiding their feete into the way of peace. But withall it is a certaine truth, that this heauenly light is in ſome places more reſplendent, in others more obſcure; this candle ſometimes ſhineth ſo clearely, that it giueth light to the whole houſhold, and ſometimes it burneth ſo dimly, that thoſe only diſcerne it, who hauehave better inſight, & approch neerer vntounto it by diligent ſtudie and meditation. This glorious ſun in ſome places ſhineth clearely, and euidently ſheweth it ſelfe by his owne light; but otherwhiles it is ſhadowed with the clouds of obſcuritie, and the foggie 2. Pet. 3. 16.miſtes of our ignorance, interpoſing betweene it and vsus, doe hide it from our ſight. The which (no doubt) the holy Ghoſt hath purpoſely affected, that neither the great eaſineſſe of holy writ might cauſe in any idle neglect, nor yet the inextricable difficultie might diſcourage any from reading of it; that neither the ſimple plainneſſe thereof might work in the wiſe and learned cauſe of comtempt, ſeeing in many places they might hauehave a fit ſubiect, whereupon they might exerciſe their greateſt learning and deepeſt iudgement; nor the obſcure profoundnes of it might make the ſimple deſpaire of receiuing any fruit by their ſtudies and labours, ſeeing a great part therof is ſo plaine and eaſie, that it is within the compaſſe of a childs capacitie. And finally, as hee hath prouided milke for babes, ſo alſo ſtronger meate for thoſe who are of riper age, that none who are inuited to this heauenly banquet might go away with emptie ſtomackes for want of conuenient food, whereby they ſhould be nouriſhed. Neuertheleſſe the Popiſh crew (who becauſe their works are euill, louelove the darknes of ignorance better then the light of Gods truth) take occaſion hereupon to declaime againſt the obſcuritie of the Scriptures; and to diſſwade all the common people from reading of them; and leſt the ſight of this heauenly food ſhould ſharpen their hungrie appetite, & work in them a deſire to feed vpō it, they carefully locke it frō thē, ouer whom they hauehave any authoritie, in the darke cloſet of an vnknowne tongue, that ſo being out of ſight, it may alſo be out of mind; and in ſtead hereof they feede them with their lying Legends, and with the poyſonous hemlocke of their owne traditions: pretending that out of their great care, they keepe the Scriptures from them, leſt they ſhould peruert them to their deſtruction, and abuſe them in their ignorance vntounto hereſies and errors. Wherein, what do they elſe, but like cruell nurſes, keepe from Gods children the milke of his word, whereby they ſhould bee nouriſhed, for feare leſt any thereof ſhould droppe vponupon their clothes? What doe they elſe, but like hard hearted ſtewards, depriue Gods familie of their allowance, and ſo ſtarue them to auoide ſurfeting? And what doe they by this their either fooliſh or malicious courſe, but quite extinguiſh the light of Gods truth, becauſe it doth not ſhine in all places with like cleareneſſe? But wee who profeſſe our ſelues children of the light, and true diſciples of the ſchoole of Chriſt, muſt be otherwiſe affected, continually praying, that though there be nothing but palpable darkneſſe in all the dominions of the Romiſh Pharaoh, yet this light may ſtill ſhine in our Goſhen, as long as the Sunne is in the firmament, and neuer be extinguiſhed. And ſeeing our heauenly ſchool-maſter, in his abundant merciemercy giueth vntounto vsus this booke of diuine knowledge, which alone is ſufficient to make vsus wiſe vntounto ſaluation, let vsus with the Prophet Dauid, take our chiefe delight in this holy learning, meditating therein day and night: and when wee finde our leſſon cleare to our vnderſtandings, let vsus labour to imprint it in our memories, by the holy vſe and practiſe which we make of it in our liues and conuerſations: where it is obſcure and difficult, let vsus endeuour to informe our iudgements in the true meaning thereof, by diligent ſtudie and meditation, comparing one Scripture with another, and clearing thoſe places which are hard and darke, by others which are more eaſie and perſpicuous. Neither doth this heauenly ſunne, when it is couered with clouds of obſcuritie, need any earthly meanes to cleare & reſtore it to his brightnes; ſeeing his owne heate and light is ſufficient to diſpell theſe foggie miſts, and the winde of Gods Spirit ſo driueth theſe darke clouds of ignorance from before the eie of our vnderſtanding, that we ſhal need no other helpe for our enlightning. But 1. Ioh. 2. 20. 27.as all thoſe who are ſchollers in Chriſts ſchoole, ought to ſpend their time in theſe holy exerciſes; ſo eſpecially the Miniſters of the Goſpell, who being placed (as it were) in the higheſt forme, are enioyned by God, not only to learne themſelues the leſſon of his holy and hidden myſteries, but alſo to reade a lecture Matth. 2. 7.of them, to thoſe who are in inferiour places, that they likewiſe may bee inlightned in the knowledge of Gods truth. The conſideration wherof hath moued me, whom the Lord hath called to this function, though far vnworthie (I ingenuouſly confeſſe) of ſuch high aduancement, to vndertake in conſcience of my calling, the expounding of a part of theſe holy Scriptures, namely, the Propheſie of Hoſea: which as it giueth place to none of the writings of the other Prophets in worth and excellencie; ſo in regard of the abſtruſe depth, and obſcure difficultie therof, it doth as much as any other ſtand in need of explanation. In handling whereof I hauehave chiefely endeuoured to cleare the text from all obſcuritie; and hauing laid open and diſcouered the hidden treaſures therein contained, to communicate and applie them to the inriching of all thoſe, who are willing to receiue them by their reading and meditation. The which my labours I deſired ſhould come forth into publike view vnderunder your Lordſhips patronage and protection, in reſpect of that great louelove which you hauehave ſhewed to learning and religion, euen from your tender youth. For howſoeuer you were deſcended of a noble houſe, and from parents of great worth and worſhip, yet you made choice of a ſchollers life, and of the profeſſion of a Miniſter of the Goſpell; which howſoeuer it is in it ſelfe a calling moſt honorable, and beſt repleniſhed with happie contentment; yet is it ſo contemned and vnderunder valued by the world & worldly men, that many, much your inferiours, both in birth and meanes, do thinke this profeſſion a great diſparagement to their ſtate and credit. The which alſo would hauehave diſcouraged you from entring into this calling, had you not with eyes ſpiritually illightned, beheld the inward dignitie and glorie thereof, through the ragged vaile of worldly contempt. And as your louelove to learning moued you to enter into this profeſſion, ſo the ſame louelove incited you to take ſuch extraordinary paines in your ſtudies, that I may truely ſay vponupon mine owne knowledge (being a poore member of that Colledge whereof you were once a chiefe ornament) that ſcarce any of the pooreſt ſchollers (who had no other meanes but learning to aduance either ſtate or credit) did goe before you in vnwearied paines and induſtrious labour. The which your diligent ſtudies the Lord ſo proſpered with his bleſſing, that the plentifull harueſt anſwered and ſurmounted the greateſt expectation which could bee had of ſuch an hopefull ſeede time; inſomuch that in the iudgement of the moſt iudicious Vniuerſity, you were thought fit for the greateſt honour, which it could yeeld vntounto any, before the ordinary time, which you preuented not onelyonly by nobleneſſe of birth, but alſo through ſufficiencie and deſert: and ſince, hauehave been thought the meeteſt by our Soueraigne King, who is beſt able to iudge of thoſe gifts wherein himſelfe excelleth, to bee his aſſiſtant in his moſt learned ſtudies; and after manifold experience of your great ſufficiencie, to be aduanced vntounto one of the chiefe preferments which our land affordeth to thoſe, whoſe gifts are of greateſt eminency; whereby you, who hauehave alwaies been a louer of learning, are now enabled to be a chiefe patrone of the learned. Of all which I now put you in minde, not in baſe flatterie, which the ſearcher of hearts knoweth my ſoule deteſteth, nor to angle your affection by caſting before you the bait of your owne praiſes; but rather to admoniſh you of your dutie towards God, which worldly proſperitie cauſeth vsus too often to forget; namely, that with your whole endeuour you ſeeke to honour him, who hath thus highly honoured you; and to imploy thoſe rich talents of learning, authoritie, honour and fauour with your Soueraigne, which your great maſter hath beſtowed on you, to the aduancement of Gods glorie, and the good of his Church, ouer a part whereof you are now made a ſteward and ouerſeer. Otherwiſe, howſoeuer theſe gifts may adorne you in this life, in the eyes of worldly men, yet they will not profit you in the life to come, but rather the greatneſſe of your receits will inlarge the bill of your accounts, in that great and laſt audit, which you muſt make in the preſence of God and his holy Angels. More eſpecially, I entreate your Lordſhip to labour, that in all places where you hauehave any authoritie and iuriſdiction, God may be glorified in the propagation of his truth, and in the diligent preaching of his Goſpell, which is the ſpirituall ſword and ſcepter of his kingdome, whereby hee raigneth and ruleth in the hearts of men; and to this end, that as much as in you lieth, you will endeauour to plant vnderunder you a godly, learned and faithfull miniſterie, who may inſtruct the people committed to their charge, in the true religion of Ieſus Chriſt; and to countenance and patronize them being placed, againſt wicked Atheiſts, prophane worldlings, and idolatrous Papiſts; that ſo vnderunder the ſhade of your protection, they may comfortablie perſiſt in the painfull worke of their miniſtrie, and be ſheltered from the ſcorching furie of all oppoſers. So ſhal the Lord inlarge his mercies more and more towards you, perpetuate vntounto you an honorable name and memorie amongſt his faithfull ſeruants in this life preſent, and crowne you with endleſſe glorie and immortalitie amongſt his holy Saints in the life to come.
Your Lordſhips in the Lord to be commanded, IOHN DOWNAME.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
CHriſtian Reader, although the world is alreadie ſo full of Bookes, that a man may ſpend his whole time in reading titles and inſcriptions; yet are there but few amongst this multitude in our Engliſh tongue, which containe ſound expoſitions of the bookes of holie Scriptures; which are appointed by God to be the obiect of our faith, and the rule and directorie of our life and manners. In conſideration whereof, as I did in the generall thinke, that no man can better ſpend his labours then in expounding and cleering theſe holie and hidden myſteries; ſo more particularly, that it ſhould be a profitable and acceptable labour, to explaine the Prophecie of Hoſea; which as it is exceeding obſcure, and not by any (that I know of) expounded in our tongue, ſo alſo when it is vnderſtood, moſt excellent, and of ſingular vſe for theſe times. And therefore relying my ſelfe vponupon Gods aſsiſtance, I hauehave vndertaken this hard taske, and by his bleſsing hauehave alreadie proceeded vntounto the fifth Chapter. In handling whereof, I hauehave chiefly laboured to cleere this Scripture from all obſcuritie; and then to informe the Readers iudgement, by ſuch inſtructions as naturally ariſe out of the text; and to reforme his affections, life and conuerſation, by making thereof vſe and application. The which my labours (I may truly ſay) I only intended for the benefit of mine owne priuate charge, and neuer thought of making them publike by the preſſe, till I had finiſhed the three firſt Chapters; when as being perſwaded by ſome of my friends to ſet them out, for the good of others, I began to reſolue vponupon this courſe, yet with a purpoſe not to diuulge any part till the whole were finiſhed. But he who is at the charge of printing this booke, herein ouerruled me, perſwading me to publiſh my readings vponupon theſe Chapters firſt, for a taſte of the reſt. VntoUnto which motion I hauehave condeſcended, with a purpoſe to take the like paines in thoſe Chapters which remaine, by the aſsiſtance of God, if I ſhall in the meane while perceiue that this part findeth good acceptation, and ſhall be thought profitable by thoſe who are of better iudgement, for the aduancement of Gods glorie, and good of his Church, which my deſire is ſhould be the maine end of all my labors. Which that I may the better performe, I intreate, that as I endeuour to benefit thee with my paines and ſtudies, ſo thou wilt aſsist mee with thy feruent prayers, for the helpe and direction of Gods holie Spirit in theſe my endeuours, who only can enable vsus to expound that, which was firſt preached and written by his diuine inſpiration.
Thine in the Lord, I. D.
Faults eſcaped.
Pag. 18. lin. 35. reade, fore-names. pag. 31. in marg. r. take vntounto thee. p. 32. l. 33. r. who was to be. p. 33. l. 2. r. Gods ſeuere. Ibid. l. 15. ſuch an holie and high calling. p. 35. l. 14. r. eate a roll p. 40. l. 36. r. turne vntounto him. p. 97. in 2. Alph. l. 13. r. foreign ibid. l. 14. r. foreign.