The Original Prefaces
TO THE EXPOSITION
ON
THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS.
TO THE RE.DER.
You have these lectures as they were taken from me in preaching. I perused the notes, but I could not bring the style to the succmctness that I desired, except I had written all over again, for which I had no time; my perusal was but cursory, therefore many things have slipt me: you have them as I preached them, without any considerable alteration. I had thought to have been far briefer, but meeting with so many things almost in every lecture so nearly concerning present times, caused me to go something beyond an expository way. In the remaining part of the prophecy, if God gives life to go through it, I shall keep myself more closely to exposition. What here you have, take it as you find it; what good you meet with, receive it in. This will be the encouragement of
Thy friend in Christ,
J. B.
TO THE EXPOSITION
ON THE
FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH, AND SEVENTH CHAPTERS.
TO THE READER.
Readee, AVe here present thee with a continuation of Expositions and Observations upon other four chapters of the prophet Hosea, delivered by that worthy man, now with God. Himself in his life-time published the three first chapters: these, now made public, were compiled out of the manuscripts which himself under his own hand left, which, being short, have been filled up and enlarged out of the best copies of sermon notes taken from his own mouth. We must not undertake for all imperfections or mistakes that haply may be found, though a diligent and a skilful hand had the collecting of them. We only give letters of credence to them, that they are genuinely the author’s, and that they are singularly worthy of all acceptation, especially by such readers as have their thoughts exercised in observing the ways of God’s proceedings in and towards the nations of the world where his name is called. One great piece of his dispensations under the Old Testament, was that towards the ten tribes, who remain in captivity to this day, and who were set up (as their predecessors in the wilderness) as types of God’s dealing in like cases with us under the New Testament, 1 Cor. x.; Rev. vii.; as we may see in the instance of the Eastern and Grecian churches that have groaned under the Mahometan tjTannies and oppressions, of whom the ten tribes may seem to be the liveliest pattern, as the condition of the saints in the AVestem European churches under the pope was exemplified in the captivity of Babylon, which befell the other two tribes. Yet so as, both in sins and punishment, the one and the other are general examples unto us, “upon whom the ends of the world are come,” in which God acts over with a quick and swift motion, as being the last act, what was done more slowly under the Old. The worthy author was one of the most accurate spectators in b vl THE ORIGL.L PREFACES.
his time, that with a curious and searching eye beheld what God was a doing in the world. He was as one of those “wise men that knew the times,” (as it is said of Ahasuerus’s seven counsellors, Esth. i. 13,) and skilled tliercin not, as they, in a human or political way, but as the transactions in the world do relate unto God, who governs this world by the rules and precedents in his word. He was one of those who, as the psalmist speaks, Psal. cxi., had pleasure to seek out the great works of the Lord, and to parallel those in these times with those of old under the Old Testament; and unto that end, in the entrance to these alterations in our times, he pitched upon the explication of this prophecy, which the studious reader will with much delight read over, when he shall observe how he made application all along to the dispensations of that time in which he preached them. The I-ord bless them to them of this nation, for which they were principally intended.
THOMAS GOODWIN,
S’iDRACH SIMPSON,
WILLIAM GREENHILL,
WILLIAM BRIDGE,
JOHN YATES,
WILLIAM ADDERLY.
TO THE EXPOSITION
EIGHTH, NINTH, AND TENTH CHAPTERS.
TO THE READER.
Wii.T we have by way of preface set before the edition of the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters, may sufficiently 8er’e for a premise to these eighth, ninth, and tenth chapters, as holding forth the use and scope of the whole prophecy, and the authors intentions in his comment thereon: so as we shall only need now to give letters of credence before the world, to the passing of these, as the best and most authentic notes that could any way be obtained, both as the extracts of the best notes of sermons taken from his mouth, and chiefly his ovni writings, which were more brief. Expect shortly the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth chapters from the same hand. We commit them, and the reader, to the blessing of God.
THOMAS GOOD^VIN,
SYDKACH SIMPSON,
WILLIAM GREENHILL,
WILLIAM BRIDGE,
JOHN YATES,
WLLLLAM ADDERLY.
TO THE EXPOSITION
OM TUB
ELEVENTH, TWELFTH, AND THIRTEENTH CHAPTERS.
TO THE READER.
God, who alone is perfect in himself, has retained this prerogative to himself, that his work should be perfect (as Moses speaks); and, as another holy one hath it, doth all his pleasure. Paul, though in whatever he was to commit to writing (in matters sacred) had«infallibility of assistance, yet perfected not all he intended: “These things we will do, if God permit,” said he to the Hebrews, Ileb. vi. But we no where find extant any evidence, that he accomplished what he there intended, namely, a full, methodical discourse upon those first principles and foundations of religion, which that speech had reference unto. It is no wonder then, that if such a kind of imperfection accompanied the works of so great a master-builder, it attend those who build on this foundation, and are not privileged (a< yet he was) from building hay and stubble.
THE OKIGINAL PREFACES. Tii
This sort of incompleteness hath befallen the works of this worthy author, in respect to the finishing of this prophecy, which he intended, and had performed; wherein yet to the church of God there shall be no loss, there being no thoughts nor notions suggested to any man, which, though for the present they die with him, but the same Spirit who is the inspirer of all, doth bring to light in some one or other servant of God, in his own time.
What a treasury of thoughts seemed to be lost and to die with the Saviour of the world, which he had not, could ;iot then utter! which yet the Spirit, that filled him without measure, distributed amongst the apostles that came after him, according to the measure of the gift of Christ in each. There is no beam of Divine light has shone into any man’s heart, that shall finally and for ever be put under a bushel, but in the end shall be set up, to give light to the whole house.
The purpose of this preface is, to consign the passport through the world of these last notes of the author upon this prophecy, namely, the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth chapters; and to assure the reader, that they are the best and most genuine that can be expected, being collected out of those under his hand, all along, and the best copies of those that took them from his mouth; and to subjoin this hearty prayer, for a blessing from Heaven on these, and the rest of these our brother’s kbours that are published, that his works may follow him, and he receive (at the latter day) a full reward, even according to the fruit of his doings.
THOMAS GOODWIN, WILLIAM BRIDGE,
WILLIAM GREENIIILL, JOHN YATES,
SYDRACH SIMPSON, WILLIAM ADDERLY.
POSTSCRIPT BY THE SUPERVISOR
THE LAST SER:M0N BY BURROUGHS.
The author was prevented by several providences from preaching the foregoing sermon for some months together, insomuch as himself wondered what purpose God had in it; till at last God visited him by sickness, whereof he fell asleep in the Lord: his disease was thought to be infection, but without any sore, yea, and (as the gentlewoman his wife has related) without any spots or tokens of the plague; there was only a black settling of blood on one side of his back, which she supposed might have arisen from a fall from a horse, which he had met with not long before. This is mentioned by occasion of some contrary reports concerning his death. About the time of his immediate dissolution, he lifted up his eyes, and was heard to speak these words, “I come, I come, I come:” and so gave up the ghost.
It had been much to be wished that the author had been more concise and brief in some amplifications, which, though all exceedingly useful, yet have deprived us of his preaching and completing both the former sermon, and the rest of the prophecy. But God was pleased (for our sin no doubt) to deprive us of that mediator-like instrument between the divided godly parties of this nation, and of the further mind of the Holy Ghost which he had revealed to this his servant, touching the scope and use of this prophecy in these days.
God took him away in the strength of his parts and graces, that he might not lose in the reputation of his ministry or piety, as some have before their death.
Also, though we cannot afiii’m, as one of Josiah, that he was taken away lest the evil of the time should have wrought upon his temper; yet we may say, as another doth, he was “taken away from the evil to come,” Isa. lvii. 1.
Moreover, it is not an unuseful note, that the Preface to the Tigurine Bible hath, whereof the inference is, That whilst in some weighty point we labour for great exactness and preparation, we are either disabled by our diligence, or prevented by our tardiness and delay; whereas moderate preparation seasonably applied might be more usefid to the cluu-ch, than such exactness so deferred. Which is not spoken to reflect any thing on our reverend author, but to admonish others.
Now among other arguments (good reader) to commend this excellent piece, this is one. That it has been brought to thy hand thrqugh several elements, having been in danger, part of it to be rotted in the earth where it was buried ;■ part of it to be consumed in the fire wherewith much of the town where it was flamed; * part of it to be lost in by-holes where it was hidden in the midst of enemies. Make special use therefore of what is come (as it were) through fire unto thee for that end. And if thou find that fruit the super-isor did in preparing it for thee, thou wilt not repent thy pains or penny. Farewell.
* Tlic original was with the supervisor in Colchester when besieged, and much of the town burnt.
THE OlilGLN.-VL PREFACES.
TO THE EXPOSITION BY BISHOP REYNOLDS,
OS
THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER.
TO THE HEADER.
CiiuisTlAN” reader, understanding that my sermon, which was preaclicd three years since before the Honourable y louse of Commons, on the day of their solemn humiliation, was to be reprinted, I thought fit to peruse, transcribe, and enlarge six other sermons, in which I had, at mine own charge in the country, on the ensuing fast days, briefly explained and ajjplied that whole chapter, (a portion only whereof was in the first handled,) and to send them forth together with it to the public: which I was the rather induced to do for these two reasons: 1. Because it has pleased God in his righteous and holy providence to make me, by a long infirmity, unserviceable to his church in the principal work of the ministry, the preaching of the gospel (which is no small grief unto me). So that there remained no other means whereby my life might, in regard of my function, be useful to the church, and comfortable to myself, than by inverting the words of the psalmist, and as he made his “tongue the pen of a ready writer,” Psal. xlv. 1, so to make my pen the tongue of an unready speaker. 2. I considered the seasonableness and suitableness of these meditations to the condition of the sad and disconsolate times wherein we live, very like those which our prophet threatened the ten tribes withal throughout this whole prophecy, unto which this last chapter is a kind of use, and a most solemn exhortation, pressing upon all wise and prudent men such duties of humiliation and repentance, as might turn threats into promises, and recover again the mercies which by then- sins they had forfeited and forsaken: which being restored to them according to their petition, they are here likewise further instructed in what manner to return unto God the praises due to his great name. And these two duties of humiliation and thanksgiving, are the most solemn duties to which in these times of judgments and mercies, so variously interwoven together, the Lord so frequently calls us.
Places of Scripture I have, for brevity sake, for the most part, only quoted and referred thee to, without transcribing all the words, and have usually put many parallel places together, because by that means they do not only strengthen the doctrine whereto they belong, but mutually give light one to another.
The L3rd make us all in this our day so wise and prudent, as to undei-stand the righteous ways of our God towards us; that we may not stumble at them, but walk in them, and be taught by them to wait u])on him in the way of his judgments, and to fix the desires of our soul upon his name as our great refuge, and upon his righteousness as our great business, Isa. xxvi. S, 9: till he shall be pleased, by the dew of his grace, to revive us as the corn, to make us grow as the vine, and to let the scent of all his ordinances be over all our land, as the smell and as the wine of Lebanon.
It will be an abundant return to my poor and weak endeavours, if I may have that room in thy prayers which the apostle Paul desired to have in the prayers of the Ephesians, “That utterance may be given unto me, that I may open ray mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,” Eph. vi. 19.
The Lord sanctify all the ways of his providence towards us, that when we are chastened we may be taught, and may be greater gainers by the voice of his rod than we are sufferers by the stripes.