Lectures Upon Hosea 1-4, Lectures 2 · Part 4
ANd ſo much concerning the diuorce between the Lord and the Church of Iſrael. In the next place is the cauſe thereof expreſſed, to wit, the ſinne of the people; eſpeciallie their idolatrie and vnthankfulnnſſe; and afterwards the puniſhments due vntounto their ſinnes are threatned. The firſt is contained in theſe words: Verſ. 5. For their mother hath Verſ. 5 plaied the harlot; ſhe that conceiued them hath done ſhamefully: for ſhe ſaid, I will goe after my louers, that giuegive me my bread and my water, my wooll and my flaxe, mine oyle and my drinke. In which words are contained, firſt their idolatrie and ſpirituall Expoſition.whoredomes, and ſecondly their ingratitude. Their idolatrie is firſt plainely expreſſed, and afterwards aggrauated. It is expreſſed in theſe words: For their mother hath plaied the harlot. Where ſtill he continueth the allegorie, of marriage, adulterie and diuorce; ſhewing and proouing that there was iuſt cauſe why the mother was diuorced, and the children reiected, becauſe the mother had plaied the harlot, and ſo her children were an adulterous iſſue. Neither had ſhe only before or after committed whoredome, but euen in the generation of theſe her children ſhee had conceiued them of the ſeede of fornication; for otherwiſe howſoeuer ſhee was a harlot, yet her children ſhould hauehave been legitimate, and therefore vnlawfully diſinherited: but they were not onelie borne of an harlot, but alſo in adulterie, and therefore they were the children of fornication.
Now as they are rightly called baſtards, which are not begotten of the lawfull husband, but of the ſeed of a ſtranger: ſo the Lord in reſpect of the ſpirituall generation, accounteth them baſtards which hee hath not begotten by the immortall ſeede of his word, made powerfull by the inward 1. Pet. 1. 23.opperation of his Spirit. And therefore thoſe who are begotten vntounto the Church by falſe doctrines and lying ſpirits, and according to their birth are ſo brought vp, they are to be accounted the children of fornications.
But ſuch was the birth and bringing vp of theſe children, for their mother the Church of Iſrael, vnderunder the reigne of Ieroboam, the ſonne of Nebat, committed ſpiritual whoredom, when as forſaking the Lord, ſhee worſhipped the golden calues in Dan and Bethel; & whileſt ſhe plaied the harlot, the poſteritie which came of her were borne vntounto the idols, when as being brought vp in ignorance deſtitute of ye knowledge of God and his religion, they were inſtructed in falſe doctrine and idolatrie, and ſo became as groſſe idolaters as their predeceſſors. And therefore being in adulterous iſſue of an adulterous mother, both ſhe and they were iuſtly reiected.
And this was the firſt and chiefe ſinne for which the mother was diuorced, and the children diſinherited; namely, becauſe ſhe plaied the harlot, and the children were begotten in her adultery. Now this their ſinne is aggrauated; firſt by her ſhameleſſe filthineſſe therein ſhewed: and ſecondly, by her impudent and obſtinate reſolution to commit it. The firſt is expreſſed in theſe words; ſhe that conceiued them hath done ſhamefully. The Hebrew text hath it; Shee that conceiued them is affected or confounded with ſhame: whereby is not meant, that ſhe was ſhamefaſt or aſhamed of her ſinnes; for this agreeth not to the diſpoſition of an harlot, eſpecially to ſuch a ſhameleſſe harlot as this, whoſe fornications were in her face, and her adulteries betweene her breaſts, and who impudently profeſſed that ſhee would goe after her louers, but that ſhe had committed ſuch ſhamefull actions, and had liued ſo filthily and infamouſly, that ſhee had expoſed her ſelfe to all ſhame and reproch. The meaning therefore of theſe words is this, that ſhee had not fallen into her ſinnes of infirmity, or after ſhee was fallen, carried her ſelfe after any moderate manner, but that ſhe often committed theſe ſins, and defiled her ſelfe with ſo many kindes of idolatry and ſuperſtition, that ſhee was growne infamous, and iuſtly reproched of all who heard of or ſaw her abominable filthineſſe.
Now this hee proueth, and with all further aggrauateth the greatneſſe of her ſinne, by giuing a particular inſtance of her wickedneſſe, in theſe wordes; for ſhe ſaid, I will goe after my louers, &c. Whereas he ſaith that ſhe thus ſaid; he implieth that ſhee did not follow her louers and forſake the Lord through infirmitie, ignorance, or as one ouertaken at vnawares; but aduiſedly, wilfully, vponupon a deliberate and ſetled reſolution ſhee determined to doe it; and not onelyonly ſo, but in an impudent manner ſhe profeſſed, that renouncing God her lawfull husband, ſhe would follow her louers.
Where by her louers, we are to vnderſtand her idols and falſe gods, which are compared fitly vntounto louers: for as louers, that is adulterers, allure & intice mens wiues, to withdraw their hearts from their lawfull husbands, and to fixe it vponupon them; to breake their coniugall faith, and to commit whoredome by offering vntounto them gifts and pleaſures. So the ſpouſe of God is allured and inticed by idols, to forſake the Lord, and to ſet her heart vponupon them, and to violate her mariage ſaith by leauing his pure worſhip and ſeruice, and proſtituting her ſelfe to commit ſpirituall whoredome with them, when as they ſeeme to offer vntounto her as a reward, ſome profit or delight.
And this alſo appeareth in the reaſon which ſhe yeeldeth of her apoſtaſie, in the wordes following: that giuegive mee my bread and my water, my wooll and my flaxe, mine oyle and my drinke. In which words is alſo contained the exceeding great vnthankfulneſſe of the people in aſcribing all the benefits which they inioyed vntounto their idols and falſe gods, whereas the Lord alone was the author and fountaine of them. The which their ſinne was ſo much the more vnexcuſable, becauſe in the Law the Lord had promiſed all theſe gifts vntounto them, to the end that they ſhould expect them from him alone, & hauing receiued them, they ſhould aſcribe the whole praiſe vntounto him onelyonly of his owne gifts: Leuit. 26. 4, 5. Deut. Leuit. 26. 4, 5. Deut. 28. 2, 3.28. 2, 3, 4, 5, &c.
Now vnderunder theſe particulars here named, hee vnderſtandeth all kind of benefits neceſſarie either for their ſuſtenance and preſeruation, or for their pleaſure and delight. For by bread and water in the Scriptures is vſually ſignified all kind of meate and drinke, food and ſuſtenance, as appeareth, Exo. 34. 28. Deut. 23. 4. 1. King. 13. 17. Eſa. 3. 1. By wooll and Exod. 34. 28. Deut. 23. 4. 1. King. 13. 17. Eſa. 3. 1.flaxe is vnderſtood all kind of clothing, apparrell, and furniture made of them. By oyle and drinke is vnderſtood all their pleaſures and delicacies; for oyle in thoſe hot countries was vſed for pleaſure, ornament, ſmell, agilitie and ſtrength: and by drinke is meant not ordinarie drinke, for that hee comprehendeth vnderunder the name of water, but their drinkes which were moſt coſtly and delicate: and further the word here vſed is of the plurall number, and deriued from ſuch a roote, as ſignifieth to drinke abundantlie, whereby is vnderſtood their plentie of ſuch delicacies.
And ſo much for the meaning of theſe words. The inſtructions Sinne the cauſe of all puniſhment.which hence ariſe are theſe. Firſt, wee may obſerue what was the cauſe of all thoſe puniſhments before denounced both againſt the Church of Iſrael & her children, namelie their ſinnes, eſpecially their idolatrie and vnthankfulnes. For becauſe the mother plaied the harlot, and her children were begotten in her adulteries; and not onelyonly ſo, but alſo liked and approoued, imbraced and followed the whoredomes of their mother, therefore ioyning in ſin, they were ioyned in puniſhment. And indeede the ſinne of man is the cauſe of al the miſeries and euils which he ſuffereth, for God who is the chiefe goodneſſe, taketh his delight in doing good, and in multiplying his benefits vponupon his creatures, according to that, Pſalm. 145. 9. The Lord is good to all, and Pſal. 145. 9.his mercies are ouer all his workes; and that of Micah, Chap. 7. verſ. 18. He retaineth not his wrath for euer, becauſe merciemercy Mich 7. 18.pleaſeth him. Neither doth he puniſh but when mens ſinnes vrge his iuſtice, and draw vponupon themſelues his iudgements. Whence we learne, when we are puniſhed, not to murmure againſt God, nor to looke to inferiour meanes, but rather to examine our owne conſciences, and to ſearch out our ſins Pſalm. 51. 4.which are the cauſe thereof, that ſo we may cleare God and accuſe our ſelues. And likewiſe if we would hauehave the puniſhment remoued, we muſt not vſe euill meanes, for the euill of ſinne will not remooue the euill of puniſhment; nay rather it will redouble it, as being the chiefe cauſe thereof: but if we would hauehave our puniſhment taken away, let vsus firſt take away our ſinnes by vnfained repentance, for if the cauſe bee remoued, the effect will ceaſe.
Secondly, we here learne, that the Church doth onelyonly ſo The Church remaineth the ſpouſe of Chriſt onelyonly ſo long as ſhe keepeth her mariage faith.long remaine the ſpouſe of God as ſhe keepeth her mariage faith, louing and obeying, worſhipping and ſeruing him aloue: but if ſhe plaieth ye harlot, either by forſaking the true God and worſhipping idols, or by ſo worſhipping the true God as ſhe worſhippeth idols; that is, after an idolatrous maner, & not after the preſcript rule of his word, this cauſeth the Lord to diuorce her from him, and to ſtrip her of al his benenefits. So that it is not ſufficient for a Church, that ſhe hath been the ſpouſe of Chriſt, that ſhe hath plighted he faith vntounto him, and worſhipped him according to his word, vnleſſe ſhe perſeuere in her faithfulneſſe, louelove, and ſincere and pure obedience; for this was the eſtate of the Iſraelites who were diuorced for their apoſtaſie. So that the Church of Rome doth in vaine pretend her long continuance and ſucceſſion of Biſhops, to prooue her ſelfe to be the ſpouſe of Chriſt: ſeeing they hauehave made an apoſtaſie, breaking their faith, forſaking Gods pure worſhip, and imbracing their owne will-worſhippes and inuentions, worſhipping in ſtead of the true God, their breaden god, Saints, Angels, croſſes, crucifixes and images. And therefore hauing plaied the harlots, the mother together with the children, they were long agoe diuorced from God, and ſtripped of his ſpirituall benefits.
Thirdly, we may obſerue, that after men hauehave forſaken the No moderation in idolatrie and wil-worſhip.Lord and his pure worſhip, and giuen themſelues ouer to commit idolatrie, they can containe themſelues in no moderatiō, but behaue themſelues moſt ſhamefully, infinitly multiplying their ſuperſtitions, and kindes of idolatrie, according to the varietie of eueryevery mans inuention. An example wherof we hauehave in the old Egyptians, in the Gentiles, Rom. 1. In the Papiſts at this day, whoſe idolatries are manifold, and their ſuperſtitions innumerable: for they do not only make Idols, but they alſo worſhip them, by kneeling and praying vntounto them, offering vntounto them incenſe and oblations, conſecrating vntounto them Churches, going on pilgrimage, aſcribing vntounto them power to doe miracles and forgiue ſins. The conſideration whereof ſhould make vsus moſt carefully to auoid all wil-worſhip, and to reſtraine our ſelues vntounto that worſhip which God hath reuealed in his word.
Fourthly, wee may obſerue the impudencie of idolaters, The impudencie of idolaters.and their reſolued obſtinacie in their ſinnes: for they do not only fall of ignorance and infirmitie, nor content themſelues with their idolatries in ſecret committed, but like ſhameleſſe harlots they make a trade and open profeſſion of their ſins, not ſticking openly to ſay that they will follow their louers. An example whereof we hauehave in this place, as alſo in the Papiſts, who not only in ſecret, but alſo in their Churches, market places and open proceſſions beare about their Idols, and make open profeſſion of their idolatrie and apoſtaſie.
Fiftly, wee may here obſerue the palpable ignorance and The ignorāce and vnthankfulnes of idolaters.wilfull blindneſſe, the groſſe ingratitude, and carnall worldlineſſe of idolaters; their ignorant blindneſſe, in aſcribing their proſperitie and plentie vntounto their ſinne of worſhipping Idols, which is the cauſe of their miſerie, pouertie and nakedneſſe; their vnthankfulneſſe, in attributing the praiſe of all thoſe benefits which they enioy, through the free merciemercy and bountie of God, vntounto their louers, that is, their Idols and falſe gods, which are no cauſes of their bleſſings, but of their puniſhments; their carnall worldlineſſe, in that they make choice of their religion, not for the louelove of God and of his truth, but for worldly benefits, pleaſures and preferments. So the idolaters heere in their ignorance and vnthankfulneſſe aſcribe their riches and pleaſures to their louers, profeſſing that therefore they will follow them, becauſe they were benefited by them. Thus they aſcribed their deliuerance out of Egypt to the golden Calfe, Exod. 32. 4. and to their Calues in Dan and Bethel, 1. King. 12. 28. Thus the men of Iudah impudently Exod. 32. 4. 1. King. 12. 28.and ſtubbornely refuſed to heare the word of the Lord, by the mouth of Ieremie, and ſtifly affirmed that they would doe ſacrifice to the Queene of Heauen, becauſe whileſt they committed this idolatrie, they had plentie of victuals, and were well and felt none euill, &c. Iere. 44. 17. 18. Iere. 44. 17. 18.19. And thus many in theſe daies, through their groſſe ignorance and vnthankfulneſſe, approue and iuſtifie, like and liue in the idolatrous religion of the Papiſts, becauſe whileſt they worſhipped the Queene of Heauen, the Virgin Mary, and their Saints and Images, they had plentie of victuals, and all things good cheape. But as the Apoſtle ſaith of ſuch, Their end is damnation, whoſe god is their bellie, and whoſe glorie is to Phil. 3. 19.their ſhame, which minde earthly things, Philip. 3. 19. Thus alſo doe they offend, who aſcribe the benefits which they enioy, not to the free merciemercy and bountie of God, but to their owne wits, induſtrie and labour, ſacrificing to their owne nets, and burning incenſe vntounto their yearne, becauſe by them their portion is fat, and their meate plenteous, as the Prophet Habacuc ſpeaketh, Hab. 1. 16. But moſt grieuouſly of all in Hab. 1. 16.this reſpect doe the Papiſts offend, who rob and ſpoile the Lord of the praiſe of his gifts, by aſcribing almoſt eueryevery particular benefit which they enioy, to ſome Saint or Idoll, as the peculiar patrone, author, and preſeruer thereof, vntounto whom they pray and goe on pilgrimage, when they ſtand in need of any of theſe benefits, and vntounto whom they offer oblations and praiſes when they abound with them.
Laſtly, as it is the nature and diſpoſition of idolaters, out Idolaters approue their religion by their proſperitie.of their religion to ſeeke their gaine and profit, and accordingly to eſteeme that religion beſt and trueſt, whereby they may reape vntounto themſelues the greateſt harueſt of worldly benefit; ſo if they be put to the proouing and iuſtifying of their religion, the maine argument which they commonly vſe for this purpoſe, is their worldly proſperitie, and abundance of pleaſures, riches and preferments, thinking themſelues moſt approoued of God, and their religion moſt true when they moſt abound in theſe worldly things. This wee ſee in this place, in the example of the Iewes in the time of Ieremie, Iere. 44. 17. 18. And in the Papiſts at this day, who Iere. 44. 17.approue their religion, by the outward pompe and proſperitie of their Church, eſpecially of their Pope, Cardinals and Biſhops.