A Christian Plea, Treatise 1 · Chapter 3 · Objection 4 · Exegesis 2
Touching Ier. 3.8.
The next Scripture here cited by them, is Ier. 3.8. where Ieremie the Prophet writeth thus,Ier. 3, 6, 7, 8. The Lord ſaid alſo unto me in the dayes of Ioſiah the King, Haſt thou ſeen that vvhichwhich backſliding Iſraell hath done? She is gone up upon everie high mountaine, and under every green tree, and there hath played the Harlot. And I ſaid after ſhee had done all theſe things: Turne thou unto me: but ſhe turned not, and her trecherous ſiſter Iudah ſaw it. And I ſaw, when for all the cauſes vvhereby backſliding Iſraell committed adulterie, I had put her avvay, and giuen her a bill of divorce: yet her tretcherous ſiſter Iudah feared not, but went and played the harlot alſo. Jer. 3, 6, 7, 8. Where note theſe things: 1. That the Prophet ſpake this in the dayes of Joſiah, (as is ſaid expreſſely, ver. 6.) at which time Iſrael vvas now caried avvay captiue out of their owne land into Aſſyria, ſome while before Ioſiahs dayes, viz. in the ſixt yeere of Hezekiah, &c. 2 King. 18.9 — 12. with 17 chap. So as this place is not to the point of the queſtion in hand: which is concerning the eſtate of Iſraell, from Ieroboams time, all the while they abode in the land.
2. And what conſequence is there in this, to ſay, Iſrael was put away, & had a bill of divorce, in Ioſiahs time, therefore it was ſo dealt vvith, in Jeroboams time; when as Ioſiah was about tvvo hundred yeeres after Ieroboam? As if one should ſay,*2 King. 24, 20, and 25, chap. Iudah vvas caryed captiue unto Babylon out of the Lords land and preſence, in Zedekiahs time, therefore they were ſo dealt with in Rehoboams time, whereas Zedekiah the ſonne of Ioſiah vvas aboue two hundred yeeres after Rehoboam.
3. Nay this is directly againſt themſelues. For ſeeing they were not put away, nor had a byll of divorce, ſo long as they dwelt in the Lords land of Canaan; therefore their caſe vvas, and is otherwiſe to be eſteemed, all that time, then as theſe men in their prejudicate conceit, for more colour …f their errors, vvould beare us in hand.
4. By this place alſo compared vvith†Hoſ. 9, 3.15, 17. 2 Kin. 13, 23. other places of the Prophets) …ay appeare that by the byll of divorce, giuen unto them, is meant, the put…ng of them out of the land of Canaan; (as out of the Lords houſe and preſence) and delivering them unto the Kings of Aſſyria to be caryed thither. To which purpoſe may be obſerved, how a woman divorced or put avvay, is termed; one that is caſt out, or thruſt forth, to wit, out of her husbands houſe. Ezec. 44, 22. Thus*Baſting. Cōment. in Catechiſ. queſt. 85. at the ende thereof. ſome alſo think that excommunicates who are caſt out of the church, and ſo out of the houſe of God, may after a ſort be ſaid (for the time of their ſo abiding) to hauehave a bil of divorce. And all knovv, that ſuch are to be accounted members of the church (though in ſinne) al the while their cauſe is a pleading, til they be proceeded withall, and caſt out of the church: & that then alſo they are not to be eſteemed, as put out of the covenant of the Lord: but from his houſe & familie, till they repent: ſo as upon repentance they may and ought to be received againe into the Lords houſe, and admitted to the churches communion, as before. And this, without any nevv baptizing of them again: which yet should be, if they had bē put out of the covenant of the Lord. For baptiſme is the ſigne of our entrance thereinto, and the Lords ſeale of his ſo receiving & admitting of us: as circumciſion vvas to the Iewes of old. Likevviſe vvhen Iudah was caſt ou- of the land, and caryed away captiue to Babylon (as God ſaid to Ieremie, concerning them,”Ier. 15, 1 Caſt them out of my ſight, and let them goe forth) and then after ſeuenty yeeres,‡Ier. 29, 10. Ezr. 1, 1. &c. according to Ieremies prophecie alſo returned again into the land: they were not circumciſed anevv: neyther had the Lord put them out of his covenant; though they had broken the Lords covenant themſelues, and were therefore thus chaſtiſed by him. According as Ieremie in another place faith expreſſely,“Jer. 51, 5. Iſrael hath not ben *Forſakē as a widovv.forſaken nor Iudah of his God, of the Lord of hoſtes: though their land was filled with ſin againſt the Holy one of Iſraell. Ier. 51.5. Which is the more to be obſerved, conſidering the time vvhen Ieremie propheſied (here ſpoken of before) and the ſundry things that here hee ſpeaketh, both of Iudah and Iſraell. Jer. 50, 4, 5, 17, 18, 19, 20, 33, 34. and 51, 5, 19. with 10, 16. and 3, 6 — 25. Which being duly conſidered, vvill meet with divers erroneous opinions that are conceived hereabout: and vvill shew that the Lord vvas ſo far himſelf from breaking his covenant vvith them on his part, as ſtill from time to time he called them to repentance, by his Prophets and by his corrections and chaſtiſements, and euen in this very thing (when at the laſt he put thē out of his land) avenged the quarrell of his covenant upon them: as he had long before threatned by Moſes againſt them. Lev. 26, 25.
5. Moreover in the‡Ier. 3, 3. ſame verſe (heere cited by themſelues, Ieremie …heweth, that when for all the cauſes whereby backſliding Iſrael committed adulterie, the Lord had put her away, and giuen her a bill of divorce: yet her trecherous ſiſter Iudah feared not, but played the harlot alſo: ſo ſpeaking of the idolatries of Iudah, …ery often and particularly, both in this chapter, and throughout his prophecy: As vvhen he ſaith that”Jer. 3, 3. ſhe had an vvhores forehead, and refuſed to be aſhamed: Yea that*ver. 11. the Lord ſaid unto him, concerning her expreſſely, The backſliding Iſraell hath iuſtified her ſelf more then tretcherous Iudah. Of vvhom alſo he teſtifieth, that they forſook the Lord, and burnt incenſe to other Gods, & worſhipped the works of their owne hands. Jer. 1, 15, 16. and 2, 13, 18. Saying to a ſtock, Thou art my Father; and to a ſtone, Thou haſt brought me forth. v. 28. And according to the number of thy cityes, are thy Gods, O Iudah. ver. 29. Yea in the cityes of Iudah, and in the ſtreets of Ieruſalem, the children gather vvood, and the Fathers kindle the fire, & the vvomen knead their dough to make cakes to the Queene of heauen, & to povvre out drink offrings to other Gods, that they may provoke the Lord to anger. Ier. 7, 17, 18. and 44, 15 — 19. They hauehave forſaken me (ſaith the Lord) and hauehave eſtraunged this place, and hauehave burnt incenſe in it unto other Gods, vvhom neyther they nor their fathers hauehave knowen, nor the Kings of Iudah, and hauehave filled this place with the blood of innocents: They hauehave built alſo the high, places of Baal, to burne their ſonnes vvith fire for burnt offrings unto Baal, vvhichwhich I commanded not, nor ſpake it, neyther came it into my mynd. Jer. 19, 4, 5. A conſpiracie is found among the men of Iudah, & among the inhabitants of Ieruſalem: They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, vvhichwhich refuſed to heare my vvords: and the… went after other Gods to ſerue them: the houſe of Iſraell, and the houſe of Iudah hauehave broken my covenant which I made vvith their fathers Jer. 11, 9, 10. Shall vve novv therefore ſay of Judah, (as theſe men doe … Iſraell) that the Lord vvas not their God, nor they his people; that th… Lord brake the covenant on his part alſo vvith them; that circumciſio… and the other ordinances of God reteyned in Iudah, vvere not the Lord ſignes, nor his ſeales of the forgiuenes of ſinne, but that they were in their uſe o… them, falſe and deceitfull: and no better then the ordinances of vvorſhip had among the heathen. Then the Prophet‘Jer. 1, 1, 2, 3, 16. & 2, 2, 28. Ieremie himſelf, and“Zeph. 1, …, 4. &c. Zephani… vvho propheſied at the ſame time, againſt their corruptions;*Eſa. 1, 1, 11, 29 and 2, 6, 8. and 57, 3, 4, 5. Eſay all and†Mic. 1, 1, 5, 9, 13. & 5, 13, 14. and 6, 16. Micah, who prophecied before againſt their idolatries; and all th… ”Eſa. 8, 16, 17, 18. and 66, 5. Jer. 26, 17-20. and 35, 2. and 36, 4, 12, 19. and 40, 5, 6 and 51, 59, 61.godly that vvere with them in thoſe dayes members of that church had not the Lords ſigne of circumciſion, nor his ſeale of forgiuenes e… ſinnes, and of life eternall, nor any other ordinances of God, but ſuch a… in their uſe vvere falſe and deceitfull: and no better then the abomina… ons of the heathen. Let him that readeth conſider, hovv ungodly and erroneous theſe opinions and aſſertions are.
6. And obſerue alſo, how they shuffle together both Scriptures an… matters, that are cleane differing one from another, touching the poi… in queſtion. The other Scripture, which here they cited before, our o… 2 Chro. 15, 3. vvas ſpoken‡2 Chr. 15 1, 2. 1 Chr 3, 10. in Aſaes time, who was the”2 Chron. 12, 16. and 14, 1. third king frō R… hoboam (in‘2 Ch…on. 10 chap. … 1 Kin. 12. vvhoſe dayes the diviſion was made by Ieroboam) af… which time,*2 Kin. 17 & 18, 9, 10, 11.12. Iſraell had no bill of divorce, nor was put avvay, of a lo… time, but abode in the land about two hundred yeeres after: as appeareth plainly by the hiſtorie. But this Scripture vvhichwhich they joyne vvith… …ut of Jer. 3.8. was ſpoken in‡Ier. 3, 6. Joſiahs time, the”1 Chr. 3, 10, 14. fifteenth King from Re…oboam aforeſaid: who raigned‘1 Kin. 14.21 — 2 Kin. 22, 1. about three hundred yeere after him. At vvhichwhich time Iſraell vvas put out of the land of Canaan, and caryed away into Aſſyria (a“Amo. ….17. polluted land:) and ſo had the bill of divorce here …poken off. (Which fell out*2 Kin. 18 10, 11. in the ſixt yere of Hezekiahs raigne, as I no…ed before:) Which times and caſes therefore, how far they differ one frō another (& ſo from the point in hand) vvho is there that cannot obſerue?
7. Finally, here might further be conſidered, how in this chapter alſo, the Lord biddeth Ieremie†Ier. 3, 12, 13, 14. goe and proclaime theſe words toward the North, and …ay, Returne thou backſliding Iſraell, ſaith the Lord, and I vvill not cauſe myne anger to fall upon you: for I am mercifull; ſaith the Lord, & I will not keep anger for ever: OnelyOnly acknovvledge thyne iniquitie that thou haſt tranſgreſſed againſt the Lord thy God, and haſt ſcattered thy waies to the ſtraungers under everie green tree, and ye hauehave not obeyed my voyce, ſaith the Lord: Turne, O backſliding children, ſaith the Lord, for I am maried unto you: and I will take you one of a city, & two of a family, and I vvill bring you to Zion. Ier. 3, 12, 13, 14. Where divers things about the points in queſtiō might be obſerved, if I would ſtand thereon. As namely: Firſt, that the Lord here biddeth the Prophet Ieremie, Goe and proclaime theſe words tovvards the North, that is, towards”2 King. 17, 6. Aſſyria & the land of the Medes, vvhither Iſraell was now caried away out of the Land of Canaan. 2. Secondly, that he should call them to repentance, ſaying, Return thou back ſliding Iſraell, ſaith the Lord, &c. and ſo promiſe them mercy in the name of the Lord, ſaying, I vvil not cauſe myne anger to fall upon you, &c. which sheweth that the Lord had not dealt with them as they deſerved, …ut could yet make his anger fall more upon them, if he vvere not merci…ll and one that kept not anger for ever: And that he dealt otherwiſe herein then a man doth vvith his vvife, vvhom he putteth avvay, and ſhe becomes another mans: as he shewed before in‡Ier. 3, 1. this chapter. Thirdly, that he ſaith here to Iſraell, OnelyOnly acknowledge thine iniquitie that thou haſt tranſgreſſed againſt the Lord …y God, &c. as in the other chapter before“Ier. 2, 2, 19. he ſaid to Iudah: Thyne owne wickedneſſe ſhall correct thee, and thy back ſlidings ſhall reproue thee: know therefore and ſee, that it is an evil thing & bitter, that thou haſt forſaken the Lord thy God. &c. where thoſe words, the Lord thy God, *Gen. 17, …are words of the covenāt.
Fourthly and ſpecially, that he ſaith, Turne O back ſliding Iſraell, ſaith the …ord, for I am maried unto you, &c. ‡Piſcator, Calvin. &cWhich mariage the beſt writers upon this …ace, expound alſo of the Lords covenant of grace. 5. And finally, that …e Lord vvould take them, one of a city, and two of a familie, and bring them to Zi…, &c. So teaching (as”Calvin in Jer. 3, 14. one vvell noteth upon this place) that in their …irning to God, they should not ſtay one for another; and that though …e body of the people should remain obſtinate, yet if a few returned to …e Lord, he would be readie to receiue them. Which sheweth the ſtabi…tie and eternitie of the Lords covenant: as he ſpake to Abraham, both …r him, and his ſeed, in their generations: Gen. 17, 7. And that the Lord …membreth and performeth his covenant, if but a few be made partakers of that grace: as Paul alſo shevveth, Rom. … may … vviſe teach us, in our comming to the Lord, and yeelding obedience to his vvord, not to depend upon the multitude, nor to ſtand looking and wayting one for another, but readily to follow the Lords calling; as in another caſe, Chriſt ſpake unto Peter. Joh. 21, 20, 21, 22. Theſe and other like things might here be obſerved. But they are not the things that I purpoſe to inſiſt upon, becauſe this point cōcerneth the caſe of Iſrael, being now put out of the land of Canaan, and caried away into Aſſyria: vvhereas our queſtion is of the eſtate of Iſraell, in their defection, from the time of Ieroboam that ſet up the calues, and ſo forvvard, vvhiles yet they were not put away, but remained in the land of Cannaan. By which all may ſee, that this Scripture here cited by them, is vainly alledged, being not to the purpoſe and queſtion in controverſie.
Yet notwithſtanding having this occaſion, I think it not amiſſe about this matter here to annexe two things further to be conſidered off: the one concerning Iſraell, the other concerning Iudah. As touching Iſrael, that whereas they were now put out of Canaan, & caried avvay into Aſſyria, and placed in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, & in the cities of the Medes, as is recorded, 2 King. 17, 6. there is particular and expreſſe mention (among the places whither they were caried) of the cities of the Medes. Wherevvith if we compare the Acts of the Apoſtles, we shal find alſo particular mention, hovv when the holy Ghoſt came upon the Apoſtles at the feaſt of Pentecoſt, after Chriſts aſcenſion, and they ſpake with toungues to the Ievves that were novv at Ieruſalem, of all nations under heauen, to every one in their ovvne toungue; that among the reſt, there were alſo Medes, Act. 2, 9. Which is the more to be obſerved, firſt becauſe this is one of the places before mentioned, vvhither Iſraell was caried avvay by the king of Aſſyria, vvhen God put them out of his land. 2 Kin. 17, 6. Secondly, becauſe Peter now ſpeaking unto theſe with the reſt, ſaith unto them as to the reſt, the promiſe is made unto you, and to your children, &c. Act. 2, 9 — 39. like as alſo upon another occaſion, ſtraightway after ſpeaking to the Iewes in the Temple, he ſaith unto them, Ye are the children of the Prophets, and of the covenant which God made vvith our Fathers, ſaying unto Abraham: And in thy ſeed ſhall all the kinreds of the earth be bleſsed. VntoUnto you firſt, God having raiſed up his ſonne Jeſus, ſent him to bleſſe you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Act. 3, 25, 26. Thus shevving that God ſtill remembred and regarded his covenant tovvard them, and how the grace and benefit thereof vvas extended unto them in Chriſt. Now whereas it is ſaid, there vvere dvvelling at Ieruſalem, Ievves, devout men, out of every nation under heauen: Act. 2.5. leaſt any should underſtand it onelyonly of ſuch as had their ſeated abode & dwelling there, as the word othervvhere is uſed: M. Beza therefore noteth here,†…z. … Act. 2.…. that in this place the dwellers ſeem generally to be ſaid any ſtrangers that were at this time at Ieruſalem: ſo as it may comprehend, not onelyonly the ſtrangers that had their ſeated dwelling there, but ſuch alſo as for ſtudie or learning of religiō ſojourned there for a time, and thoſe moreover that out of ſundry nations came thither to …e feaſt. For novv it vvas the feaſt of Pentecoſt, Act. 2, 1. To which pur…oſe alſo may be obſerved, how the Arabik tranſlation here hath it thus: …ow there vvere men abiding in the holy place (that is in Ieruſalem) that feared …od, Jewes, and of al people that vvere under heauen. Act. 2, 5. as alſo that the text …ayth, they all heard them speak, every man in his owne tongue, wherein they vvere …orne. Act. 2, 8 — 11. among vvhom were the Medes, as is aforeſaid. Act. 2, 9.
As touching Iudah, the Prophet Ieremie and the hiſtorie shevv how …ey alſo for their idolatrie, backſliding, & other ſinnes, were caſt out of …e Lords ſight and preſence, when they vvere caried into captivitie out of the …nd of Canaan, Jer. 15, 1, 2. 2 King. 24, 20. and 25 chap. And Eſay ſpeaking of Gods favour after his punishing of them ſaith, Thou ſhalt forget the ſhame of …y youth (the opprobry ſuffred of the Egyptians, when they kept thee in …ard bondage) and ſhalt not any more remember the reproach of thy vvidowhood vvhichwhich thou undergoes in the ſervitude and captivitie of Babylon.) For …y maker is (or, will be) thy huſband, the Lord of Hoſts is his name, and thy redeemer …e Holy one of Iſraell, the God of the whole earth ſhall he be called. For the Lord hath …lled (or will call) thee as a woman forſaken, and grieved in spirit, & a wife of youth, vvhen thou vvaſt refuſed, ſaith thy God. For a ſmall moment hauehave I forſaken thee, but with great mercyes vvil I gather thee. &c. Eſa. 54, 4 — 7. And againe he ſaith: Thou …alt no more be termed, Forſaken, neyther ſhall thy land any more be termed, Deſo…te: but thou ſhalt be called, Hephzi-bah (my delight is in her) and thy land, …eulah (maried:) for the Lord deliteth in thee, and thy land ſhalbe maried. For as a …ung man marieth a virgin, ſo ſhall *As a lād becoming deſtitute of her inhabitants, may be ſaid to be a widow: ſo again a land replenished vvith her inhabitants may be ſaid to be maried.thy ſonnes marry thee: and as the bridegrome re…yceth over the bride, ſo ſhall thy God rejoyce over thee. Eſa. 62, 4, 5. Where note, …ovv Iudah, being caried into captivitie, and shut up in exile for a tyme, … ſaid, to be caſt out of Gods ſight, and counted a vvidovv, refuſed, forſaken, deſo…te, unmaried, &c. As Shemajah the Prophet, ſaid of old to Rehoboam and …e Princes of Iudah, vvhen they forſook the lavv of the Lord, Thus ſaith …e Lord, ye hauehave forſaken (or left) me: and therefore hauehave I alſo forſaken (or left) …u in the hand of Shishak, king of Egypt. 2 Chron. 12, 1, 5. & as Zechariah likewiſe, when vvrath came upon Iudah and Ieruſalem, becauſe they ſerved …oues & idols, ſaid unto them, Why tranſgreſſe ye the commandements of the Lord, …at ye cannot proſper? becauſe ye hauehave forſaken the Lord, he hath alſo forſaken you. 2 Chron. 24, 17 — 20. By vvhichwhich Scriptures compared together, we may learne hovv to underſtand, thoſe ſpeaches, of being a Widovv, refuſed, forſaken, caſt out of Gods ſight, &c. in regard of their being put out of the land of Canaan, giuen up into their enemies hand, caried into captivitie, deteyned in exile, and ſo expoſed to manifold calamities, juſtly inflicted and …ought upon them, for their idolatrie & other tranſgreſſions. For otherwiſe it is true, which is alſo ſaid by Ieremiah the Prophet, that Iſraell hath …t ben forſaken (as a vvidow) nor Iudah of his God, of the Lord of hoſtes: though …eir land was filled vvith vvaſting from the Holy one of Iſraell. Ier. 51, 5. So in one …ſpect they were forſaken, and bare the reproach of vvidowhood, when for …eir ſinnes God put them out of his land, and delivered them into the …ands of their enemies, to be their captiues and exiles: and in another reſpect they vvere not forſaken as a vvidovv of the Lord, vvho yet remembred his gracious covenant, to shevv them mercy accordingly. And thus both are true, being rightly underſtood.
Which Ezechiell alſo maketh plaine in his prophecie, Ch. 16, and 20, & 23. Some particulars whereof (becauſe they giuegive great light about the eſtate of Iſraell and Iudah, and Gods dealing with them) I will therefore here ſet dovvne:Ezec. 23, 1 2, 3, 4, &c. yet vvishing the Reader to peruſe the whole Chapters, and to obſerue them well. The vvord of the Lord (ſaith Ezechiell, when he prophecied againſt the Iewes that yet remayned in the Land, in the time of king Zedechiah) came unto me, ſaying: Sonne of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: And they committed whoredome in Egypt, they committed whoredome in their youth: there were their breſts preſſed, and there they bruiſed the teats of their virginitie. And the names of them vvere†Iſraell. Aholah the elder, &”Iudah. Aholibah her ſiſter: & they vvere mine, and they bare ſonnes and daughters: thus were their names, Samaria is*That is, her owne tent. Aholah, and Ieruſalem‡That is, my tent in her. Aholibah. And Aholah played the harlot“Hebr. VnderUnder me. As Num. 5, 19, 20. vvhen she was mine, and she doted on her lovers, on the Aſſyrians her neighbours, &c. Neyther left shee her whoredomes brought frō Egypt, &c. Wherefore I hauehave delivered her into the hand of her Lovers, into the hand of the Aſſyrians, upon whom she doted, &c. Ezec. 23, 1 — 10 And when her ſiſter*Iudah. v. 22. Aholibah ſaw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate louelove then she, and in her vvhoredomes more then her ſiſter in her whoredomes. She doted upon the Aſſyrians her neighbours, &c. The I ſaw that she was defiled, that they took both one way: and that she increaſed her whoredomes, &c. then my mynd was alienated from her, like as my mynd was alienated from her ſiſter. Yet she multiplied her whoredomes, &c. Therefore, O Aholibah, thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold, I vvill raiſe up thy lovers againſt thee, from vvhom thy mynd is alienated and I vvill bring them againſt thee on everie ſide; the Babylonians & al… the Chaldeans, Pekod, & Shoah, & Koa, & al the Aſſyrians with thē. &c. And I will ſet my jelouſie againſt thee,v. 25. M. Junius calleth this a divorce in his Commentar. on Ezech. 23.25.28. v. 30. & they shall deale furiouſly with thee; they shall take avvay thy noſe and thyne eares, & thy remnant shal fall by the ſword: they shall take thy ſonnes and thy daughters, and thy reſidue shall be devoured by the fire: they shall alſo ſtrip thee out of thy clothes, & take away thy faire Iewels, &c. For thus ſaith the Lord God, I wil deliver thee into the hand of them vvhom thou hateſt, &c. and the… shall deale vvith thee hatefully, and shall take avvay all thy labour, and shall leaue thee naked and bare, and the nakednes of thy vvhoredome shall be diſcovered, both thy levvdnes and thy vvhoredomes. I will doe theſe things unto thee, becauſe thou haſt gone a whoring after the Heathen,v. 31. v. 35. becauſe thou art polluted with their idols. Thou haſt vvalked in the vvay of thy ſiſter, therefore vvill I giuegive her cup into thy hand. &c. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, Becauſe thou haſt forgotten me, & caſt me behinde thy back, therefore beare thou alſo thy levvdnes, & thy whoredomes.v. 36. The Lord ſaid moreover unto me, Sonne of man, wilt thou†Or plead for, defend, excuſe, &c. judge …udge Aholah and Aholibah? yea declare unto them their abominati…s: that they hauehave committed adulterie,v. 37. v. 38. and blood is in their hands, & …ith their idols hauehave they committed adulterie, & hauehave alſo cauſed their …onnes, whom they bare unto me, to paſſe for them through the fire to …evoure them. Moreover this they hauehave done unto me, they hauehave defiled …y Sanctuarie in the ſame day, & hauehave profaned my Sabbaths, &c. Then …id I unto her that vvas old in adulteries,v. 43. Wil they now commit vvhore…omes vvith her, and she with them. Yet they vvent in unto her, as they …oe in unto a woman that playeth the harlot:v. 44. v. 45. ſo went they in unto Aho…h and unto Aholibah the levvd vvomen. And the righteous men, they …hall judge them after the maner of adultereſſes, and after the maner of vvomen that shed blood, becauſe they are adultereſſes, and blood is in …heir hands. For thus ſaith the Lord God,v. 46. I vvill bring a companie upon …em, & will giuegive them to be removed & ſpoyled, &c. Eze. 23, 11 — 47, &c. …itherto Ezekiel the Prophet. Where novv againe I might aske of theſe …en, whether they think of Judah in this eſtate, as they doe of Iſraell, that …e Lord was not the God of Iudah, nor they his church and people; that the covenant novv was broken as well on the Lords part, as on theirs; …nd that circumciſion reteyned among them, was not the Lords ſigne & …oly inſtitution, but a lying ſigne, a curſed and deteſtable ſacrament, falſe and deceitfull in their uſe, and no better then the heathens ſuperſtiti…ns, &c. But I will leaue theſe things to be pondered by the diſcreet Rea…er: and vvill not ſtill mention and inferre them, as I might almoſt upon every verſe.
Alſo in the 20 chap. of Ezechiell (vvhen certain of the Elders of Iſraell came to the Prophet,Ezech. 20. to inquire of the Lord, &c.) after declaration of the Iewes former idolatries and rebellions.*ver. 5. in Egypt;†ver 10. in the vvildernes; and in … the land of Canaan:“ver. 27. the Lord then ſpeaketh thus unto them‡ver. 33. v. 35. As I liue …th the Lord God, Surely vvith a mightie hand, and with a ſtretched out …me, and vvith furie powred out, vvill I rule over you, &c. And I vvill …ring you into the wildernes of the people, and there vvill I plead vvith …u face to face. Like as I pleaded in the wildernes of the land of Egypt,v. 36. v. 37. v. 38. ſo vvil I plead vvith you, ſaith the Lord God. And I wil cauſe you to paſſe under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant. And I vvill purge out from among you the rebels, and them that tranſgreſſe againſt me: I vvill bring them forth out of the countrey vvhere they ſo…urne, and they shall not enter into the land of Iſraell, and ye shal know that I am the Lord. As for you, O houſe of Iſrael,v. 39. thus ſaith the Lord …od, Goe ye, ſerue ye everie one his idols, and hereafter alſo, if ye vvill not hearken unto me: but pollute ye myne holy Name no more with your gifts, and with your Idols. &c. Ezech. 20, 1 — 39. &c.
And in the 16 chap. the ſame Prophet alſo vvriteth thus.Ezec. 16. ver. 1. v. 2. v. 3. The word of the …rd came unto me ſaying: Sonne of man, cauſe Jeruſalem to know her abominations, & …, Thus ſaith the Lord God unto Ieruſalem; Thy birth and thy nativi… is of the land of Canaan, thy father vvas an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.v. 4. And as for thy nativitie in the day that thou waſt borne, thy navel vvas not cut, neither waſt thou washed in water to ſupple thee, &c. And ſo the Prophet proceeding, sheweth firſt†v. 3, 4, 5. the miſerable eſtate of Jeruſalem in the Ievves themſelues, together vvith*v. 1 — 14 Gods ſpecial louelove declared unto them; and then“ver. 15. &c. "her abominable vvhoredome & other finnes, matching‡v. 44, 45. her mother, and exceeding”v. r. 46, &c. her ſiſters, Sodome and Samaria, together vvith†v. 36-58. her heavy judgment thereupon: and ſo finally in the end maketh this concluſion, ſaying:*Eze. 16. ver. 59. Thus ſaith the Lord God, I wil euen deale with thee as thou haſt done, vvhichwhich haſt deſpiſed the oath in breaking the covenant. Nevertheleſſe I vvill remember my Covenant vvith thee in the dayes of thy youth, & I vvill eſtablish unto thee an everlaſting covenant. Then thou shalt remember thy vvaies and be ashamed, vvhen thou shalt receiue thy ſiſters, thine elder and thy younger, and I vvill giuegive them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy Covenant. And I vvill eſtablish my covenant vvith thee, and thou shalt knovv that I am the Lord: That thou mayeſt remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more: becauſe of thy shame, vvhen I am pacified toward thee, for al that thou haſt done, ſaith the Lord God. Ezec. 16 chap. And hitherto of theſe things in Ezechiell the Prophet: of vvhichwhich ſort he hath many the like.
Pſa. 74, & 79, & 80. &c.Wherevvith alſo agreeth that which is vvritten in divers of the Pſalmes hereabout. And namely, in the 89 Pſalme, vvhichwhich (as ſome other of the Pſalmes) treateth of the time and eſtate of the Ievves in the captivitie of Babylon. Where*Pſal. 89. the Prophet ſpeaking of the ſtability of Gods covenant and promiſe made unto David, and of the eternity of his ſeed and kingdome; and therevvithall annexing a denunciation of judgment upon the tranſgreſſours of the covenant: the Pſalme then (ſpeaking in the perſon of the Lord) ſings it thus:†Pſal. 89.28 — 34. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore and my covenant ſhal ſtand faſt vvith him. His ſeed alſo vvil I make to endure for ever and his throne as the dayes of heauen. If his children forſake my Lavv, and vvalk in my judgements: If they “Hebr. profane.break my Statutes and keep not my Commandements. Then vvill I viſit their tranſgreſſion with the rod, and their iniquitie vvith ſtripes. Nevertheleſſe my loving kindnes vvill I not utterly take from him: nor ſuffer my faithful… to faile. My covenant vvill I not “Hebr. profane.break; nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lippes. &c. Pſal. 89, 28 — 34. &c.
Now how plainly theſe Scriptures lead us, to obſerue a double conſideratiō of the Iewes & people of God, in caſes of apoſtaſie (as I hauehave”Advert. p. 59. 60. 61. &c. other where in ſome particulars noted heretofore) One in reſpect of thēſelues another in reſpect of the Lord: One, in reſpect of the covenāt which the… ſinfully break on their part; another, in reſpect of the covenant which the Lord faythfully keepeth on his part: One, in reſpect of the covenant … vvorks; another, in reſpect of the covenant of grace: One, in reſpect o… the truths & favours of God ſtill enjoyed among thē; another in reſpect of their tranſgreſſions & mixture of their ovvn inventions & profanat… ons vvithall, &c. I wil not here further proſecute, but leaue it to the conſideratiō & judgment of others: Wishing al ſuch as hauehave oppoſed or ha… …rejudice hereabout, novv carefully to obſerue and regard theſe things; …eaſt othervviſe they runne into errour upon errour more and more, de…eiving and being deceived, and ſo receiue from the Lord a juſt recom…ence of their obſtinacie and oppoſition.
Hovv alſo ſome of the Scriptures aforeſaid, may vvithall hauehave reference to the calling againe of the Iewes (now to come) I vvill not here …nter to ſpeak thereof: but will keep to the queſtion in hand, concerning …he eſtate of Iſraell in defection, from Ieroboams time & forvvard, ſo long …s God let them remain in his land, the land of Canaan, the land of promiſe, &c. All which time both Iſrael and Iudah were ſtil by the Prophets …alled and accounted the people of the Lord, and hauehave ſuch dueties required of them, ſuch reproofs and exhortations giuen them, and ſuch …hings done for them and concerning them, as belong particularly to ſuch as are the church and covenanted people of God. As I hauehave by ſun…ry inſtances here before shewed out of the Prophets & hiſtorie of the …cripture: which I need not againe to repeat.P. 58. &c. And hitherto concerning …er. 3, 8.