Lectures vpon the foure first chapters of the prophecie of Hosea Wherein the text is exponded 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.

ANd so much concerning the third benefit which the Lord promiseth to the Church. The fourth followeth, which is peace, tranquillitie, and immunitie from dangers. Vers. 18. And in that day will I make a couenant for them, with [Vers. 18] the wilde beasts, and with the fowles of the heauen, and with that that creepeth vpon the earth; and I will breake the bow, and the sword, and the battell, out of the earth, and will make them to sleepe safely. In which words the Lord promiseth, that he wil so watch ouer his Church and people with his prouidence, that they shall haue securitie and peaceable rest, though they be compassed about with dangers and manifold euils; and amongst others he maketh choice of two, to signifie all the rest, namely, that he would deliuer them: first, from the bru∣tish rage and violence of vnreasonable creatures: and second∣ly, from the force and violence of men, who shall oppose a∣gainst them. The first is expressed in these words, I will make in that day a couenāt for them with the wilde beasts. Where the Lord sheweth, that when his people were conuerted and re∣conciled vnto him, he would not only bestow vpon them his benefits both spirituall and corporall, but also defend them from dangers, so that no euill should come vnto them: and particularly, he promiseth to protect them from vnreasona∣ble creatures, which are all referred to three sorts: first beasts, as Beares, Lions, Tigres, Wolues, &c. secondly, the fowles of heauen, by which hee vnderstandeth all rauenous and harmefull birds; thirdly creeping things, as serpents, canker wormes, locusts, caterpillers, and such like.

All which creatures before the fall were by Gods ap∣pointment vnder mans lordship and dominion, yeelding vn∣to him voluntarie and free obedience, but after by his sinne

and rebellion, man had made God his enemie, he lost his so∣ueraigntie, the creatures rebelling against him, who was a re∣bell to their great Lord and Creator, and pulling their necks out of the yoke of their subiection; and whereas before they peaceably obeyed him, now they were willing to bee the Lords readie instruments to inflict deserued punishments, and bring man to destruction; the water to drowne him, as it did the whole world; the fire to burne him, as it did Sodome; the aire to poyson and infect him, as in the time of the pestilence; the earth to swallow him, as it did Dathan and his followers; the beares to deuoure him, as they did the 42. children at the prayer of Elisha; the lions to destroy him, as they did the Samaritanes; Serpents to sting him, as they did the Israelites; yea euen the basest creatures haue both will & power enough when God giueth signe of battel, as frogs, caterpillers, lice, as we may see in the plagues of Egypt, and in the example of Herod deuoured by lice.

And therefore when the Lord mustereth and marshalleth vp together his armie of iudgements, wherewith he punish∣eth the rebellion and sin of man, cruell and noisome beasts are one choice band wherewith he assaulteth him, as appea∣reth Leuit. 26. 22. Ezech. 14. 15. But when as man in Christ is reconciled vnto God, then also the Lord beginneth to re∣store vnto him his dominion ouer the creatures, and maketh a couenant with them for man, that is, causeth them to be∣come harmelesse, so that they shall not be either willing or able to hurt any of his children. And this is that which the Lord promiseth to those that feare him, Psal. 91. 13. Ezech. 34. 25. So also Eliphaz speaketh notably to this purpose, Iob 5. 22. 23. Howsoeuer therefore Gods children are com∣passed about with dangers, yet they shall be safe vnder the shadow of his wings, Psal. 91. 1. 4. And in the middest of tur∣moyles and molestations, their soule shall dwell at ease, as it is Psal. 25. 13.

But it may be demanded how this promise is accompli∣shed, seeing the godly man hath these beasts in subiection no more then the wicked, and oftentimes they are alike hurtfull

and pernitious vnto both. I answere, first, that the Lord doth performe this promise as hee doth all other concerning worldly and temporall benefits and deliuerances, namely, not absolutely, but conditionally, so farre foorth as they will stand with his glorie and the good and saluation of his chil∣dren: and if at any time it fall out otherwise, then though he inflicteth vpon them the contrarie afflictions, troubles and dangers, yet hee sanctifieth them for the accomplishing of these maine ends, the furthering of his owne glorie and their saluation, so as they are not hurtful, but exceeding good and profitable vnto them. And thus the Lord performeth his promise of preseruing his children from bruite beasts and such like dangers, so that either they may be assured of deli∣uerance from them, which vsually the Lord granteth, as wee may see in the example of Daniel in the lions denne, and Paul whom the viper could not hurt; or otherwise if they be ouertaken of these dangers it is for their good, seeing all things, euen afflictions themselues, worke together for the best to Gods elect, Rom. 8. 28.

Secondly, wee are to know, that the Lord doth vsually in the old Testament, vnder the promises of temporall benefits and deliuerances, with which the people were best acquain∣ted, shadow out vnto them his spirituall grace and prote∣ction; and so here particularly he promiseth protection and deliuerance from brute and sauage beasts, with which the Israelites were much vexed and indangered, that by this be∣nefit which they could feelingly apprehend, he might leade them as it were by the hand, and bring them to a full assu∣rance of his protection and carefull prouidence, alwaies watching ouer them for their deliuerance out of all dangers, especially from the furie and malice of our spirituall ene∣mies, sinne, Satan, and the world, who neuer cease assaulting of Gods elect. 1. Pet. 5. 8.

Thirdly, this couenant of peace and harmelesnesse may be said to be made betweene all creatures and Gods chil∣dren, because after they are reconciled vnto God, and be∣come his sonnes by adoption and grace, then is their ancient

title and right of dominion and rule ouer all the creatures re∣nued, which was lost by the fall; into the possessiō of which right they enter in this life, but enioy it not in full perfection vntill y^e life to come; for the subiection of the creatures vnto vs dependeth vpon our subiection and obedience to God, and therefore because this is but begun and imperfect in this life, theirs also to vs is imperfect and but in part.

And this is the first part of our peace and securitie, which respecteth the brute creatures. Now because there is no grea∣ter enemie to man then man, according to the prouerbe, Ho∣mo homini lupus, therefore the Lord likewise promiseth his Church peace and securitie, in respect of those manifold dan∣gers which men might cause vnto them; And I will breake the bow and the sword, &c. Where vnder these instruments of warre, the sword and bow, we are to vnderstand warre it selfe; as though hee should say, I will not onely make peace be∣tweene my Church and the brute creatures, but also between men themselues, so that all warre, hatred and contention shal cease, and florishing peace and tranquillitie shall be esta∣blished vpon the earth. The like places vnto this wee haue, Esa. 2. 4. and 11. 6. 7. 8. 9. and 32. 17. 18.

Yea but the Church is not freed from warres, nay rather as soone as we professe our selues Gods seruants, we are sure to haue the world to bee our enemie, who bendeth all her force against Gods Saints, and laboureth both by secret trea∣son and by open force to bring them to destruction. And a∣gaine, our Sauiour hath taught vs, that he came not to bring peace but warre, euen betweene neerest friends; and that in these latter times we are especially to expect warres, vprores, and cōtentions; how therfore is this promise accomplished? I answere, it is performed either in respect of an outward and worldly, or an inward and spirituall peace. If wee vnderstand it in the first sense, then this promise of a worldly peace (be∣ing a temporarie benefit) is to be vnderstood with the con∣dition and limitation before prefixed, namely, of Gods glo∣rie and our spirituall good.

Secondly, God thus performeth his promise, not by free∣ing

them altogether from warres, but by defending and de∣liuering them in the day of battaile, so as the force and furie of their enemies shall not hurt them: and this is signified by the phrase here vsed, for hee doth not say that hee will take cleane away the bow, sword, and battaile, but that hee will breake them, that is, weaken, abate, and ouerrule their force and power, so as they who depend vpon him shall not bee destroyed by them.

Thirdly, this promise is accomplished among the faithfull themselues, which howsoeuer before their conuersion they are one to another as cruel and hurtful as lions, tigers, beares, yet after they ioyne themselues to Gods Church, they lay aside their malice and brutish nature, and performe all mu∣tuall duties of loue & Christian amitie, as appeareth Esa. 11. 6. But especially vnder the type of this outward peace, wee are to vnderstand that Euangelicall and spirituall peace, which is inwardly seated in the heart and conscience, after that we are assured of our reconciliation with God through Iesus Christ, which the Angel first proclaimed, Luk. 2. 14. and our Sauiour afterwards promised to all the faithfull, who are truly hum∣bled, and haue subiected themselues to beare his yoke of ho∣ly obedience, Matth. 11. 29. of which the Apostle also spea∣keth, Rom. 5. 1. and so often wisheth to the Churches vnto whom hee writeth. And this peace is twofold, peace with God, and the fruite thereof peace of conscience, with which whosoeuer are endued, they haue tranquillitie and Christian securitie in the midst of their worldly enemies, who though they rage neuer so furiously against them, yet they cannot disturbe this peace, much lesse take it from them, but in the middest of all garboyles and fierie afflictions, they may ioy∣fully triumph in this their peace with the Apostle, Rom. 8. 31. to the end of the chapter: If God be on our side, that mattreth it who oppose against vs? &c. So that this spirituall peace may well stand with our worldly troubles and persecutions, of which our Sauiour hath forewarned vs, and therefore he ioy∣neth them together: Ioh. 16. 33. In me yee shall haue peace, in the world yee shall haue affliction. So Ioh. 14. 27. Peace I leaue

with you, my peace I giue vnto you, not as the world giueth, giue I vnto you, &c. And the Prophet Dauid sheweth, that howso∣euer the bodies of those that feare the Lord are tossed and turmoiled, yet their soules shall dwell at ease, Psal. 25. 13.

And this is the peace both outward and inward, which is here promised to the faithful in the time of the Gospel; both which are but begun in this life and imperfect, as all other our gifts and graces are, which we haue receiued, and shal be fully perfected in the life to come. Now in the last place, hee setteth downe an effect of this peace, namely, that being protected from the danger of the brute creatures, and also of men who oppose against them, He wil cause them to sleep safe∣ly or securely. Whereby we are not to vnderstand, that the faithfull in the time of the Gospell, shal be slothful and care∣lesse, as though they were exempted from all danger; but that in the middest of all troubles and dangers, they shall be so comforted with the feeling of their inward peace, and so assured of Gods protection and prouidence watching ouer them, that they shall be freed from that terror and desperate feare, which wholly possesseth the wicked in the time of dan∣ger: and howsoeuer they carefully watch and ward, and di∣ligently prepare themselues to endure the assaults of their e∣nemies, in regard of their owne frailtie, and their great power and malice; yet not with any distempered and tumultuous passion, but so as in the middest of their feare they quietly sleepe, and peaceablie rest vnder the shadow of Gods pro∣tection. An example whereof we haue in Dauid, Psalm. 4. 8. I will lay me downe, and also sleepe in peace, because thou Lord only makest me dwell in safetie. So Peter, though hee were in prison, loaded with chaines, watched with souldiers, and de∣stinated euē the next day to the slaughter, yet in the middest of all these imminent dangers, resting vpon Gods proui∣dence, he also tooke his naturall rest and sleepe, so that the Angell that was sent to deliuer him, was faine to smite him on the side, that he might awaken him, Act. 12. And Paul and Silas being in the like danger, although they are not said to haue slept, yet they rested quietly and peaceablie vpon

Gods prouidence, spending the night not in mourning and weake lamentation, but in prayer, reioycing, and singing of Psalmes, Act. 16. 25.

And this is the meaning of these words. The instrustions [The Do∣ctrines.] which arise out of them for our owne vse, are these. First, we may obserue, what is the cause which hath depriued vs of the dominion, vse and benefit, which we had by creation, ouer and by all the creatures; namely our sins; for this priuiledge was granted vnto man, vpon the condition of his obedience vnto God, which because he obserued not, therefore he lost his rule and dominion, right and interest he had vnto them; so that what rule he hath ouer them, and vse of them, whilest he continueth in the state of disobedience, he enioyeth it not by any lawfull right, but by tyrannicall vsurpation, vnder which thraldome the creatures grone, earnestly desiring to be deliuered from it, Rom. 8. 22. So that howsoeuer in the creation, all the creatures were made for man, subiected vn∣to his gouernment, and appointed for his vse, and man only was made for God and his seruice; yet after man by his fall had disabled himself, so as he neither could nor would serue his Creator, the creatures were freed from the subiection and slauish vse of man; and in stead of seruing and obeying him, they are readie euery one in their place, to be the execu∣tioners of Gods iust iudgements, inflicted for his sinne and rebellion: like seruants who set themselues against their ma∣ster, when he traiterously setteth himselfe against his Prince, who is the chiefe Lord and Soueraigne ouer them all. When as therefore we heare of losses and spoiles by fire or water, of the hurt or death of men by the brute beasts, and serpents, of dearth and scarcitie caused by too much raine or drought, cankers, caterpillers and such like, all and euery of these are so many remembrancers to put vs in mind of our sinnes and rebellion against God, and so many monitors to warne vs, that we forsake our wicked courses, and turne to the Lord by vnfained repentance.

Secondly, wee heere learne, when man is restored to his right of ruling, and vsing the creatures, without sin in respect

of God, and tyrannie in respect of them, namely, when he is reconciled vnto God in Christ, & being adopted for his son in him, becommeth heire and lawfull owner of all the crea∣tures; for when the Lord hath renued his couenant with vs, then doth he also renue the couenant betweene vs and the creatures, which is set downe, Gen. 1. 28 29. The considera∣tion whereof should moue vs earnestly to labour after the assurance of our reconciliation with God, and our adopti∣on; for vntill then we haue no right vnto any of Gods crea∣tures, but theeuishly and tyrannically vsurpe vpon that which belongeth not vnto vs: and for this cause the blood of y^e creatures, which for our vse is spilled, the clothes which which we put on, the bread which we eat, yea and the verie stones and timber of our buildings crie loude in Gods eares for vengeance, and shall be sufficient matter (though we had no other sinnes) of inditements for our theft, at the great as∣sisses. Againe, vntill the Lord haue renued this couenant be∣tweene the creatures and vs, they are all our enemies, which are euer readie when God suffereth them, to reuenge the dishonor which by our sins we haue done to their Creator, and the iniurie and oppression which we haue offered vnto them; if we be at home, the fire threatneth vs, if abroad, the beasts, if God permit them, are readie to assault vs, the water is readie to drowne vs, the earth to swallow vs, the aire to in∣fect vs, yea as we walke in the streete, the tyles vpon the hou∣ses are readie to braine vs, in our gardens, snakes and ad∣ders are readie to sting vs, and at our tables, euery crumbe of bread is readie to choake vs: all which Gods creatures are readie to serue vs, and to offer vnto vs a safe and comfortable vse of them, when vpon our reconciliation with God, they are also reconciled vnto vs.

Thirdly, wee may here learne, what is the best meanes to obtaine and enioy a sound and well grounded peace with men, or at least entertaine a iust and safe warre, namely, by turning from our sinnes, and seeking earnestly reconciliati∣on with God in Christ; for the cause of inward rebellions, and outward inuasions, is our sins, which prouoke the Lord

to iust displeasure, and moue him to raise vp against vs, ene∣mies at home and broad, to the end they may execute his iust iudgements against vs. The way therfore to settle peace, and preuent warre, is to take away this cause, to wit, our sins by true repentance, and to labour that we may be at peace with God, and then he will giue vs peace with men, or at least a prosperous warre, wherin he will assist and protect vs against our enemies. Whereby it appeareth, that that peace which is grounded vpon worldly policies, and hath not this peace with God for the foundation thereof, howsoeuer it may last for a time, yet in the end it will proue rotten and vnsound. For example, some thinke it the best course to settle a peace by tolerating Poperie and idolatrie, some by vtter forsaking Gods true religion, and by conforming our selues to the world, both in profession and life; some by ioyning in neere leagues with neighbour Princes, and by many such other deuices: but seeing the Word plainly teacheth vs, that the only sure foundation of our peace, is our reconciliation with God, and holy obedience to his Commandements; how can wee hope to obtaine it by taking such courses, as will cause the Lord to be our enemie, and by transgressing his Com∣mandements, the breach whereof the Lord threatneth in so many places to punish with warre, and those innumerable miseries which do accompanie it? So Leuit. 26. 25. Deut. 28. 49. 50. 1. King. 8. 33. Ier. 5. 15. 19.

The vse which we are to make hereof, is, that when wee heare of our enemies preparations, we do in the first place consider, that our sinnes is the cause of this warre intended against vs; and therefore before we resolue vpon any other course for our defence, let vs repent of our sinnes, and labour to be at peace with God, and so he will change their minds, or vse their malice for their owne destruction.

Fourthly, we may here obserue, what is the chiefe cause of our peace and tranquillitie, namely, not our owne power and policie, or strength of neere adioyning friends, but the Lord himselfe; and therefore when we do enioy it, as wee haue done for many yeares, let vs ascribe the whole praise

and glorie vnto God who is the author thereof: and let vs make this vse of our great peace and tranquilitie, with more diligence to doe God seruice both priuately at home and publikely in the congregation, which is the chiefe end why the Lord hath giuen this peace vnto vs.

Lastly, we may here obserue a notable marke of those that are truly conuerted vnto God, & reconciled in Christ, name∣ly, when as with a Christian securitie we can rest vpon Gods prouidence and protection, after we haue attained vnto some assurance of the pardon of our sinnes, not onely when the world promiseth safetie, but also in the middest of troubles and dangers: for there is no such peace to the wicked, who howsoeuer they are bold and confident in their prosperitie, yet when they are ouertaken with any vnexpected danger, faint with feare, and are perplexed with a guiltie astonish∣ment; whereas they who are at peace with God haue the in∣ward peace of a good conscience, which maketh them (as the Wise man saith) confident as a lion, knowing that Gods prouidence watcheth ouer them, which will either deliuer them from danger and euill, or turne them to their euerla∣sting good.

Notes

• The expo∣sition.
• 2. King. 17. 25. Numb. 21. 6.
• Act. 12.
• Leuit. 26. 27. Ezech. 14▪ 15.
• Psal. 91. 13. Ezech. 34. 25.
• Iob. 5. 22. 23.
• Psal. 91. 1. 4.
• Psal. 25. 13.
• How y^e faith∣ful haue peace with the brute creatures.
• Dan. 6. Act. 28. 5.
• Rom. 8. 28.
• 1. Pet. 5. 8.
• Esa. 2 4 & 11. 6. 7. 32. 17. 18. How God per∣formeth the couenant of peace vnto the Church.
• Matth. 10. 34.
• Esa. 11. 6. The spirituall peace of the faithfull.
• Luk. 2. 14.
• Matth. 11. 29. Rom. 5. 1.
• Rom. 8. 31.
• Ioh. 16. 33. Ioh. 14. 27.
• Psalm. 25. 13.
• The securitie of the faithful.
• Psalm. 4. 8.
• Act. 12.
• Act. 16. 25.
• Sin depriued vs of the do∣minion and vse of the creatures.
• Rom. 8. 22.
• When our do∣minion ouer the creatures is restored.
• Gen. 1. 28. 29.
• Habac. 2. 11.
• The best meanes of ob∣taining a well grounded peace with men.
• Leuit. 26. 25. Deut. 28 49. 1. King. 8. 33. Jer. 5. 15. 19.
• The Lord is the chiefe au∣thor of our peace.
• Esa. 45. 7. 2. Chron. 14. 6.
• Christian se∣curitie a true note of our conuersion.
• Esa. 57. 21.
• Prou. 28. 1.