Commentary Upon Lamentations, Title page – To the reader
A COMMENTARIE VPONUPON THE LAMENTATIONS OF IEREMY:
VVherein are contained; first, the method and order of eueryevery Chapter layd open in seuerall Tables; then, a literall interpretation of the text out of the Hebrew, with a Paraphrasticall exposition of the sense thereof: Afterward, a collection of diuers doctrines, gathered sometimes out of a whole verse in generall, or from the coherence of the text; and sometimes out of the particular words of the same; with examples, now and then, shewing how the same doctrines hauehave bin verified in experience; Moreouer, the reason or proofe of eueryevery doctrine; and lastly, the particular vses, that are to be made of them, for the edification of the Church of God.
Ierem. 13. 22.
And if thou say in thine heart, wherefore come these things vponupon me? for the multitude of thine iniquities, are thy skirts discouered, and thy heeles made bare.
AT LONDON, Printed by the Widdow Orwin, for Thomas Man, dwelling in Pater Noster row, at the signe of the Talbot. 1593.
To the Christian Reader, grace, merciemercy, and peace from God the father, and from our Lord Iesus Christ.
IT is, and hath been long time a question more enquired into vponupon occasion, thē soundly weyed for the good of Gods Church, whether there be any moe waies of right handling the Scriptures then one? and if there bee, which is the best thereof? The solution whereunto (as appeareth by the infinite varietie of preaching among vsus Englishmen more then in all the Churches of God besides) hath been, that there are indeed diuers manners of preaching, which may all be profitably vsed for the edification of the bodie of Christ. But if the practise of many be well weyed, it will easily appeare (supposing that there be diuers) that we hauehave been very carelesse to enquire after the best and to vse it. For, whilest some giuegive themselues, vponupon the least occasion, to enter into a common place of Diuinitie, and to handle it most largely (which is the right way in Catechising and laying the foundations of Religion) and others labour to shewe themselues learned in the tongues, and humaine Artes, or of great reading in diuine and heathen writers, we see that the people is brought either into such amazednesse, as they thinke that any thing may be made of the Scriptures, or to such an vnsetlednesse in iudgement, as they rather hunt after varietie of teachers for their straunge manner of preaching, then for sound instruction for their owne edification. How this sore may bee cured, I will not take vponupon me precisely to say, for it is easier rightly to espie a fault, then to shew the way to amend it, and it may be that there is not one, but diuers causes of this enormitie, some whereof are growne to such vlcers, as may not without danger be touched. OnelyOnly I will be bold to say some thing to the questiō propoūded before, not so much striuing whether there be diuers kinds of teaching, as labouring to shew such away as must needes be the best and most profitable. First therefore we are to know that the end wherefore Christ Iesus when he ascended into heauen, and leading captiuitie captiue gaue guifts vntounto men, was for the edification of the bodie of Christ, Eph. 4. 12. that is, to build vp Gods people in the true knowledge of his holy word, and so to confirme them in the faith, and reforme them in their liues. Now to the end that this may be done, I suppose eueryevery one will confesse first, that the workman whom God hath fitted to this great worke, must be that scribe taught vntounto the kingdome of heauen, which is like vntounto the housholder that bringeth out of his treasurie things both old and new, Matth 13. 52. that is, furnished with al kinds of knowledge meet to expresse Gods will to his people in most effectuall manner: Then it cannot be denied that, seeing it is onelyonly the word of God that can perswade the conscience, the first thing that is to be done in the right teaching of the same to Gods people, must needes be, the cleere and euident deliuerance of the sense of the text in hand; that out of the same, as from a fountaine that runneth cleerly, all that he is further to deliuer may be seene to be deriued. Secondly, seeing what soeuer was written aforetime was written for our learning, Rom. 15. 4. it must needes be that eueryevery sentence of the holy Scripture containeth in it (at least) one generall doctrine; and therefore the sense being once vnderstood, the next thing that is to be considered, is, the collecting of the same out of the text, in such plaine and manifest manner, as must needes be acknowledged in the conscience of the hearers to be so; which being enlarged by the examples and testimonies of the Scriptures, and manifested by the force of reason grounded vponupon the same, must needes take such roote in the consciences of the hearers, as they shall either bee throughly perswaded of the trueth of it (if it be rightly and effectually handled) or leaue such a print therein as shall conuince the same. Thirdly, seeing the generall doctrine is like vntounto goodly meat set vponupon the table before young children, which needeth to be carued vntounto them, that eueryevery one may hauehave his portion in due season, Mat. 24. 45. Therefore is the right vse to be propounded vntounto them of the same doctrine, that it may appeare how it is profitable, either for all Christians in general, or for certaine special ones in particular. This is that which the Apostle meaneth when he saith, that the whole scripture is profitable to teach, (that is, to learne doctrine out of it, and not onelyonly so, but also) to improue, (that is, to confute all errors contrary to wholsome doctrine) to correct, (that is, to reproue the mishehauiours of them that walke disorderedly) To instruct in righteousnes, (that is, to direct Gods people in all the wayes of godlinesse) 2. Tim. 3. 16. yea and to arme vsus with patience and comfort in all kindes of trouble, Rom. 15. 4. This course being taken by the Preacher shall not onelyonly free him from the slaunder of running out of his text, but also be so profitable for the hearer, as experience shall prooue this kind of teaching to bee such as is not iustly to be excepted against. But is not this (will some say) a great iniurie offered vntounto others that preach after another fashton, and a straightning of the giftes of Gods spirit which are diuers, to some thus, and to others thus, and yet by the same spirite wrought to the edification of the Church of Christ? I answere, first, as concerning men, let them be assured that they hauehave awarrant out of the word, and aperswasion in their hearts, that the care of Gods glory and desire of edifiyng his people did lead them to their maner that they vse, and then is all this nothing against thē, but directly for them. Secondly, the commēding of one kind of teaching as most profitable, doth no way bound the spirit of God further then it hath pleased the Lord to limite himself by the rules of his own word. I confesse that God giueth vntounto diuers men diuers measures, and to some to excell in one thing, and to some in others, for one hath an excellent dexteritie in interpreting the text; another can in speciall manner gather doctrines; another exceedeth in application, but let it be considered that all these are branches of that method hitherto commended vntounto vsus: so that, whosoeuer is endued with speciall ability and facilitie in one of these, must labour also to performe the other aright, and not to account it a course different from his owne, further then that one doth his duetie in greater measure, and in a higher degree then another. Yet would I not so be vnderstood, as though I did affirme it of necessitie to gather eueryevery doctrine at all times that the text may afforde, or out of eueryevery doctrine to deriue both matter of reproofe, correction, instruction, patience, and comfort. For albe it I doe not doubt but that the word of God, being, as God himselfe is, infinitely rich euen in eueryevery sentence for eueryevery branch of edification: yet seeing the deuiding of the worde of God aright, is the wisdome of the wise steward to dispence the same in due season, it belongeth to the teacher to see what is most meete & expedient that way, who shall often discerne apparant necessitie to stand vpō one, when there is as euident reason to omit, or, at least, not to vrge or enlarge the other: and therefore as it is a sure groūd for the hearer to learne to discerne of and chuse his teacher by his abilitie and dexteritie in expounding the text, and gathering the doctrines out of the same; so is it hardly within his power to iudge either of his choyse of doctrines or of the vse and application that he maketh (so that he vse none but that which is found and agreeable to the text) sauing so farre as concerneth his owne edification in particular. This I am sure of (for I hauehave seene it in continuall experience) that the want of this way in the teacher is the cause that he often thinketh his text so barren, as hee is glad to runne into bywayes to fill vp his time, and so maketh his labour as water spilt vponupon a stone that neuer profiteth any, and the want of power to see who handle the word of God aright, and grace to vse their ministerie ordinarilie, is the cause, not onelyonly of the gadding of the multitude (where they may easily come to varietie of teachers) but also of the rents and distractions that so many fall vsually into; for if they had been seasoned with that heauēly teaching which the ordinarie ministerie of him that deuideth the word of GOD aright, doth afforde, not onelyonly their iudgements would hauehave been better informed to discerne the spirit of error when it is tendred vntounto them, but also this wandering and confused kind of teaching that many do vse, would hauehave seemed vnsauorie vntounto them.
But my purpose is not, either to set downe any directions for the preacher, or to prescribe a course for the hearer, saue onelyonly to shew, and that briefly, such a way as is proued by experience to bee most comfortable for the minister, seeing his labour thereby to be blessed, and not to be in vaine, and most profitable to the hearer, who shall thereby attaine to the greatest measure of knowledge and soundnes of iudgement. Now (because examples are the most easie way of teaching) I with the comfortable assistance of another brother, (who when this booke commeth to his hands may see his share in the trauaile therof) hauing occasion to goe thorough the two first chapters of these Lamentations, and the most parte of the third, perceiued that the method and matter might be not altogether vnprofitable vntounto others: and therefore I reuiewed the chiefe notes that we had collected from the larger discourse therof, and adding thereunto the other two chapters hauehave set the whole downe in such manner as thou seest. The particulars, I confesse, as they bee set downe, are farre more briefe then when they were spoken, and more short then is meete to be vsed many publike ministerie, or expected by any indifferent auditorie (for why should I trouble the Reader with large discourses in that which may as wel be expressed in short sentences?) seeing I hauehave laboured to abridge rather then to enlarge any thing, which will be as profitable to the Reader of any tolerable vnderstanding, as if eueryevery thing were amplified to the vttermost. For as to a Musitian that hath so much skill as to knowe the concords and rules of descant, it is as good a direction to hauehave the ground, as if he had eueryevery seuerall poynt pricked out vntounto him, seeing hee is inured with the manner of deuision vponupon eueryevery poynt according as it falleth out in the ground: so to him that is any thing well qualified either with the gift of teaching, beeing a minister, or of hearing with iudgement and discretion being a priuate person, this short handling of these chapters may be as plaine a direction vntounto him as if eueryevery poynt were amply enlarged.
To conclude, that thou mayst the better perceiue and reape profit by this present exposition, vnderstand that in al things I hauehave laboured for breuitie: and therfore it may peraduenture seem somwhat obscure, especially seeing how the doctrines are gathered out of the text is seldome set downe; yet for the better direction therin I hauehave expressed in another character the words, or at least some part therof with &c. out of which it doth arise. I am somwhat more plentifull in the two first chapters, then in the rest; partly because the same things did often occurre, and that now and then in the selfe same wordes; and partly that it may appeare what varietie and abundance of matter is contayned in the holy scriptures; and yet where the greatest plenty is expressed, I hauehave not set downe all the doctrines that my selfe could hauehave collected, much lesse that which the text in it selfe contayned: for who can draw that fountain drie, which is bottomlesse? this I doe therefore say, that eueryevery man, who either hath the calling to teach the word of God vntounto his people, or prepareth himselfe to be furnished thereunto, when the Lord of the vineyarde shall set him on work may be prouoked and allured to take paynes, and to pray for a blessing vponupon his labours that way, which he may hauehave good hope (vsing the meanes) to attaine vntounto, seeing so great riches be there to be obtayned, by the handes of all those that rightly digge therein. The Lord make vsus able and willing to trauaile with all carefulnes in that heauenly labour of searching out the vnspeakeable treasures of knowledge and wisdome that lye hidden in his blessed worde, and vouchsafe so to blesse vsus therein, as may be most to his glory, the good of his poore Church, and the endlesse comfort of our owne soules.