Lectures on Jeremiah, Table of contents
THE SVMME AND ORDER OF SVCH THINGS as are handled by the Author, in his Lectures on the former Chapters of Ieremiah his propheſie.
The figures in the margin, poynt to the Chapters, and verſes: the reſidue, to the page or pages, where the things themſelues are to be found.
The firſt Lecture.
THe first thing noted in this Lecture, is the time when Ieremiah began to execute his propheticall office: namely, in the thirteenth yere of Ioſiah his raigne, ouer the kingdome of Iudah. page 2.
In the next place is noted, how long he continued to execute his charge: to wit, vntill the Iewes were carried away captiue into Babylon; which is thought to be for the ſpace of fortie yeeres together. p. 3. See verſ. 3. of this Chapter.
Whence is alſo noted his inuincible conſtancy: firſt, if regard be had to the meſſage on which he was ſent: ſecondly, to the parties vntounto whom it was ſent. ibid. for which ſee verſe 18. of this Chapter.
The ſumme of his meſſage, was to declare to the Iewes, that the time of Gods laſt vengeance was now at hand; becauſe they had too long abuſed his patience, and long forbearance of them. p. 5.
The Prophet by birth, is ſaid to be the ſonne of Hilkiah one, Chap. 1 Verſ. 1 of the Prieſts which were in Anathoth. p. 7.
And therefore that his office ſuted well to his perſon: whereas Iſaiah was called from the Court, to be a Prophet; and Amos from the heard. p. 8.
Verſ. 2 He ranne not before he was ſent. p. 9. 10.
It is probable that Amon was rather Ioſiah his legall, than naturall father. ibid.
Verſ. 3 The note on this verſe hath been obſerued before, in p. 3.
Verſ. 4 His words, mentioned in verſ. 1.2. are heere ſaid to bee to be the Lords words. p. 11.
Verſ. 5 Hee was by Gods ſecret decree, created a man, that hee might be a Prophet to the nations. p. 12.
Verſ. 6 He heere ſhewes how loth he was to be imployed in the office of teaching. p. 13.
The ſecond Lecture.
Verſ. 7 God oppoſeth his command, against his modeſt excuſing of himſelfe; thereby giuing him ſufficient warrant to vndertake this charge, notwithſtanding all his inſufficiencies. p. 16.
Verſ. 8 Arming him yet further againſt his immoderate feare; promiſing him therewith, his preſence to accompany him, and his protection ouer him, p. 18.
Verſ. 9 To which he yet adds, a viſible ſigne, the better to confirme his faith heerein. p. 19.
Verſ. 10 Heere is ſhewed, that Gods word in the mouth of his ſeruants; is of ſoueraigne authority. p. 21. 22.
A two fold vſe of the word, viz. to root vp, and to plant; and why the words are ſo placed. p. 23.
Verſ. 11 Gods word, and the effect therof, goe euer together, though to vsus it doth not alwayes appeare ſo.
Verſ. 12 Which is ſignified by Ieremiahs viſion of the rod of an Almond tree: and thererefore verſ. 10. and 11. muſt bee conſidered both together. p. 27.
The third Lecture.
Verſ. 13 The nation of the Iewes compared to a ſeething pot. p. 3.
Verſ. 14 The firſt puniſhment threatned to be inflicted vponupon them was, that the Chaldeans ſhould make ſuch an inroade vponupon Verſ. 15 them, as that they ſhould pitch their tents euen before the gates of Ieruſalem. p. 34.
Verſ. 16 Heere is ſhewed what cauſes moued the Lord to bring ſo ſharpe a iudgement vponupon them: firſt, they forſooke the true God: ſecondly, they worſhipped falſe Gods; euen the workes of their owne hands. p. 37. 38.
Which iudgement (let them take it as they would) the Prophet: Verſ. 17 muſt with all readineſſe denounce againſt them for ſo much is implied, when the Lord bids him, Truſſe vp his loynes. &c. p. 39.
And lest he ſhould ſlacken his duty, the Lord armeth him againe the ſecond time, againſt immoderate feare: adding thereto a ſeuere threat, if he ſhould deciſt, viz. that he would ſurely be auenged on him. p. 40. 41.
The fourth Lecture.
Contrariwiſe, if in the ſtrength of the Lord, hee went on Verſ. 18 cheerfully in doing his meſſage; God promiſeth ſo to fortifie him, that he ſhould become inuincible; albeit Kings, Princes, Prieſts, and people, ſhould plot together to oppoſe him. p. 43. Verſ. 19 44. 45. 46.
The maine cauſe why God ſent his Prophet to reclaime Chap. 2 Verſ. 1 them (if it might be) is heere ſaid to be that free mercy and louelove, which at the firſt it pleaſed him to manifeſt towards Verſ. 2 them. p. 51. 52.
Here are recited many fruits flowing from this mercy and Verſ. 3 louelove of God towards them, the rather to aggrauate their diſloyalty, and vnthankfulneſſe. p. 54. 55.
Now becauſe their reuolt from God was cauſeleſſe, as on Verſ. 4.5. his part, and altogether bootleſſe to them; the Lord prefixeth to this accuſation, a ſolemne preface, commanding them to giuegive him audience. p. 56. 57. See verſ. 8. and 11.
The fifth Lecture.
Taxing them for not ſeeking to him in their extremities, Verſ. 6 who notwithſtanding had done ſo great things for them: but carried themſelues aloof… from them, as if he had neuer done ought, either for them, or for their fathers before thē. p. 59. 60.
Now the better to ſet forth Gods prouident care ouer them, together with their ingratitude for the ſame, heere is a deſcription of the wilderneſſe, through which hee miraculouſly led them. p. 61.
Where he not onelyonly preſerued and fed them, for many yeres, Verſ. 7 but brought them afterwards into a land flowing with milke and honey; but like fooliſh people and vnwiſe, they turned his grace into wantonneſſe. p. 62. 63.
Verſ. 8 Now their ſinne of not asking after the Lord, mentioned verſ. 6. was not to be charged vponupon the common people alone; but the Prophet ſhewes, that euen their leaders and teachers were deeply guilty of the ſame crime with them. p. 64.
Not onelyonly ſo, but that therewithall they reuerenced dumbe Idols, more than the liuing God; albeit by experience they found, that they honoured ſuch gods as could giuegive them nothing.Deut. 29.26. p. 67.68. See verſ. 5.
Verſ. 9 For which they muſt make their reckoning, to be called to their anſwere. p. 69.70.
Verſ. 10 Here the Lord compares them with people of forrain countreys; Verſ. 11 ſhewing that thoſe poore idolaters, kept themſelues cloſer to the ſeruice of their Idols, than the Iewes did to the ſeruice of the true God; who yet was their glory. And thus they changed him for a thing of nothing. p. 72.73. See verſ. 5. and 8.
The ſixth Lecture.
Verſ. 12 Heere the Prophet, as one out of hope to benefit his nation by ought he could ſay, turnes him to the inſenſible and guiltleſſe creatures, as if it had been eaſier for him to ſmite them with amzement for their diſorders, than the ſinners themſelues, who were guilty indeed. This verſe therefore muſt bee ioyned to the former, as the concluſion thereof. p. 75.76.
Verſ. 13 Two euills the people are heere taxed with; the one ſauouring of inconſtancy; the other of folly: of inconſtancy, in forſaking God, the fountaine of all their welfare: of folly, in changing him, for ſuch helpers, as could affoord them no helpe. p. 76. 77.
Verſ. 14 It is a thing iuſtly to be wondred at, when a free people, by their ſinnes; hauehave brought themſelues into the ſtate of bondmen. p. 79.
Verſ. 15 We often cauſe our enemies (by reaſon of our ſinnes) rather to reſemble ſauage beaſts in ſpoyling vsus, than men: when God in his iuſtice giues vsus vp for a prey vntounto their teeth. p. 81.
Yea, ſinne cauſeth God to ſet, not onelyonly our enemies vponupon Verſ. 16 vsus; but turnes from vsus the hearts of our neereſt confederates alſo. p. 81. 82.
If ye aske for what ſinne this iudgement befell the Iewes? Verſ. 17 It was for the ſinne of Apoſtaſie, in falling away from the Lord their God, who had done more for them than all the world beſides. p. 82. 83.
Neuer looke therefore for comfort from friends, when God Verſ. 18 is at odds with vsus. p. 85.
Rather than wicked rebels ſhall want a fury to vexe them, Verſ. 19 God will make their owne con…e… to …e in ſtead of a racke vntounto them. p. 88.
The ſeuenth Lecture.
God cannot … that men ſhould turne his grace into wantonneſſe. p. 93. 94. Verſ. 20
God had planted the Iewes as a vine of choyce, and there-therefore Verſ. 21 expected choyce fruits from them: but in ſtead of bringing … pleaſant grapes, they yeelded him onelyonly wild grapes. p 96.
In regard wherof their guiltineſſe was growne to be of ſuch Verſ. 22 a double dye, that all the excuſes they could alleage for themſelues, were not able to waſh it off. p. 98.
And yet their impudency being ſuch, as for all that, to plead Verſ. 23 not guilty: the Prophet is faine (vnderunder two ſimilitudes) to poynt them out to the very fact: ſhewing how they committed ſinne with greedineſſe. p. 100.
But in the middle of their race, God at length gaue Verſ. 24 them their load, by laying afflictions vponupon them. p. 102. 103.
The eighth Lecture.
But for all this they could not be kept in, no not by reprehenſions, Verſ. 25 nor corrections; but ſtill would be running from vnderunder Gods protection, to ſhroud themſelues vnderunder the wing of ſtrangers. p. 105.
Thus their reuolt is manifeſted by God himſelfe, to their Verſ. 26 ſhame; what euer they could alleage to the contrary. p. 109. 110.
Yea, he conuicteth them out of their owne words and deeds, Verſ. 27 prouing that they gaue that honour to falſe gods, which belonged to the true God. p. 111.
Verſ. 28 And therefore ſends them ouer to ſeeke helpe from them in their troubles, ſeeing they had vnworthily reiected him: teſtifying that they might hauehave found more ſufficiency of helpe in him, who was but one; than in all the multiplicity of their Idoll gods. p. 114.
Verſ. 29 He henceforth commands them ſilence therefore, ſeeing their reuolt was too apparant. p. 115.
Verſ. 30 Yea, albeit to words, he had added blowes, and that vponupon their young men; yet all was in vaine: beſides, they had cruelly put the Prophets to death,See verſ. 34. which God had ſent among them to a farre better end. p. 116. 117. 118.
The ninth Lecture.
Verſ. 31 God had ill deſerued thus to be dealt withall by them: he therefore bids them to conſider what a God hee had been to them, the rather to humble them. p. 121. 122. 123.
Verſ. 32 And yet for all this, they minded him nothing ſo much, as girles doe their toyes and trinkets. p. 123. 124.
Verſ. 33 Now hauing abandoned God, their firſt and beſt husband, they ſtudied how to make themſelues amiable in the eyes of ſtrangers; which coſt, they might well hauehave ſpared, and their paines alſo, had they been content quietly to hauehave dwelled vnderunder the protection of the Almighty. p. 126.
Verſ. 34 Heere he layeth innocent blood againe to their charge, as in verſ. 30. ſhewing, that they killed not the Prophets priuily, as theeues doe true men; but that the ſignes thereof were to be ſeene in eueryevery place, yea vponupon the hems of their garments. p. 127. 128.
Verſ. 35 And yet like audacious hypocrites, being chalenged for their villanies, they both faced it out, as if they had been the onelyonly innocent creatures; telling the Lord, that if hee would but withdraw his terrours a little from them, they would find defences enough to anſwere all theſe accuſations. p. 130.
Verſ. 36 But they were not to imagine thus to ſteale away in the darke; becauſe God would for all theſe things bring them to iudgement. p. 134. 135.
The tenth Lecture.
That which is noted before in verſ. 18. may ſhew the ſumme Verſ. 37 of this 36. verſe. p. 135.
That which to their thinking would prooue matter of reliefe and ſuccour vntounto them, ſhould be turned into cauſe of ſhame and confuſion vntounto them.
The Lord in theſe verſes prooues once more, whether hee Chap. 3 Verſ. 1 could ouercome the Iewes diſloyalty, with kindneſſe, or no. p. 140.
For proofe of which diſloyalty, he requires but their owne Verſ. 2 teſtimony: prouided, that they would therein deale plainly, and honeſtly. p. 144.
And if they refuſed to doe it, they needed but the very Verſ. 3 heauens ouer their heads to conuince them thereof, whilest they yeelded them no more raine to refreſh the earth in the appointed ſeaſons, than if they had been made altogether of braſſe. p. 146.
The eleuenth Lecture.
And yet whilest the heauens might ſeeme to be mercileſſe, Verſ. 4 it was not ſo with the Almighty: for euen in the middest of their puniſhments inflicted vponupon them for their ſinnes, he ſeekes to allure them to repentance. p. 148.
But were they allured? No, they ſtifly reſiſted, both in Verſ. 5 word and deed. p. 150.
Though Ioſias were a good Prince, and was exceeding Verſ. 6 carefull to reforme matters that were amiſſe, both in Church and Common-wealth: yet euen then, the ten Tribes gaue themſelues to ſuperſtitions and Idolatries. p. 152.
And yet then, God ſought alſo by his lenity, to draw Verſ. 7 theſe to repentance; but little to the purpoſe: for they were reſolued to continue in their wicked courſes ſtill. p. 154.
God was therefore conſtrained, when he ſaw ſhe would needs Verſ. 8 play the harlot, to giuegive her a bill of diuorce, and ſend her away, p. 155.
But this was ſo far from fearing Iudah (for whoſe cauſe the ten tribes are here brought in, vnderunder the ſimilitude of an adulterous wife) that contrariwiſe ſhe is ſaid to be fearleſſe. p. 156.
Verſ. 9 Yea contrariwiſe, by the lightneſſe of her whoredomes, ſhe defiled the land; that is, he euen made it guilty, by her idolatry. p. 157.
Verſ. 10 And if in the dayes of good King Ioſias, they made any ſhew of conuerting vntounto God, yet (in reſpect of the multitude) all was but from the teeth outward, and meerly in hypocriſie. p. 158.
Verſ. 11 Therefore the Prophet concludes, that if compariſon ſhould now be made, betweene Iudah, and Iſrael; that Iſrael (of the two) would prooue herſelfe leſſe guilty: firſt, in regard the Iewes had among them the Temple, the ſacrifices (wherof they gloried not a little) and therefore as they had better meanes; ſo they ſhould in the ſecond place, hauehave giuen good example to the other. Laſtly, they ſhould hauehave become wiſe, by ſeeing their brethren ſo ſharply puniſhed for their Idolatry (as it were) euen before their eyes. p. 159.
The twelfth Lecture.
Verſ. 12 Now God ſeeming to hauehave beſtowed labour in vaine vponupon Iudah; he turnes his ſpeech from them, to the poore ſcattered ten Tribes, offering them mercy, if yet they would conuert: and leſt they might obiect their owne vnworthineſſe; against that, God oppoſeth one argument which might ſerue in ſtead of a million, to induce them to beleeue, to wit, an argument taken euen from his owne gracious nature: Returne thou backſliding Iſrael. Why? For I am mercifull, ſaith he. p. 162. 163.
Verſ. 13 OnelyOnly they were to acknowledge their inquity. For he that hideth his ſinne ſhall not proſper. And leſt they might ſay, they were to ſeeke how to frame their inditement againſt themſelues: God, to preuent that excuſe, frames it for them, putting the words (as it were) into their mouthes; adding in the end, the cauſe of all: to wit, they refuſed to heare thoſe wholeſome inſtructions, which God tendred them out of his word. p. 64. 65. 66.
Verſ. 14 But becauſe poore ſinners are not eaſily brought to beleeue, that God meanes as he ſpeakes, when he offers them mercy: he exhorts them the ſecond time, to returne vntounto him vponupon this ground. viz. that ſowſoeuer they had ſhewed themſelues as a diſloyall wife towards him: yet he retained the affection of a louing husband towards them; and would be ready to accept them againe into his fauour, though but one out of a City, or but two out of a Tribe ſhould come vntounto him. p. 168. 169. 170.
And would be ready to ſhew a token of his eſpeciall fauour Verſ. 15 vponupon them; namely, in giuing them Paſtors after his owne heart, which ſhould breake vntounto them the bread of life. p. 171. 172.
And thus, after God and they ſhould be at one againe, then Verſ. 16 would he cauſe both the houſes of Iudah and Iſrael, to become one alſo: ſo as all cauſes of emulation and debates being done away, they ſhould (like brethren) hold the band of vnity, and amity one with another. p. 173. 174.
Which expoſition is here confirmed, with the cauſe thereof Verſ. 17 rendred, in regard God would correct that ſubbornneſſe of heart, after which formerly both of them had walked. p. 175.
The thirteenth Lecture.
For Gods wrath being now appeaſed; after both houſes Verſ. 18 had been thus ſeuerely chaſtiſed, he would cauſe them like brethren, to returne out of the land of their captiuity (as it were hand in hand) into the land of their natiuity. p. 178. 179.
But what ſhould be the meanes to effect this? God would Verſ. 19 giuegive them the ſpirit of prayer, by which they ſhould cry vntounto him, Abba, Father.
And this; not for any merits of theirs, for by their ſinnes Verſ. 20 they had deſerued the contrary: therefore they were to acknowledge that God did it freely, and for his owne mercy ſake. And thus the Prophet once againe ſeekes to awaken the Iewes, by the example of the Iſraelites. p. 181.
Bringing them in lamenting, whilest the Iewes lay ſecurely Verſ. 21 ſnorting in their impenitency. p. 182. 183.
Here God is brought in, as a father relenting towards a Verſ. 22 graceleſſe ſonne: and the Iſraelites repenting towards their good father. p. 184. 185.
Verſ. 23 And withall confeſſing their folly and errour, which they could not ſee before: to wit, that whereas the helpe of one God had been alwayes ſufficient for them in all extremities; yet, as if he had been too weake to ſaue them, they thought it the ſafer way to truſt to a multitude of Gods. p. 185. 186.
Verſ. 24 The odiouſneſſe of which ſinne they might well diſcerne, in ſeeing how their fathers had ſmarted for it; in that as a conſumption, it deuoured both them and theirs. p. 186.
Verſ. 25 Themſelues alſo being heires of their fathers iniquities, tasted in like manner with them of the ſame puniſhments, from their youth, in regard both of them, had done wickedly againſt God, euen from their youth. p. 187. 188.
The fourteenth Lecture.
Chap. 4 Verſ. 1 Iſrael hath oft been ſummoned to conuert: but lest ſhee ſhould pleaſe her ſelfe in a fained, or halfe conuerſion; the Lord wiſheth her in this place, to fall to it in good earnest. p. 190. 191.
Verſ. 2 The truth of which their conuerſion he wiſheth them to teſtifie, by vſing the name of God reuerently and vprightly, in all the parts of his worſhip and ſeruice. p. 192. 193.
Shewing, that if they had taken this courſe, they might eueryevery way hauehave been mirrours of Gods mercies: but the contrary, was the cauſe of Gods curſes vponupon themſelues; which alſo kept off the Heathens from comming in, to partake with them in the worſhip of the true God; who had promiſed, that in Abrahams ſeed, all the nations of the earth ſhould be bleſſed. p. 194. 195.
Verſ. 3 Now becauſe their ſinnes had of old taken deepe rooting within them, he vſeth a ſimilitude, vnderunder which he tels them, it is vnpoſſible they ſhould euer become fruitfull, vnleſſe they ſuffered the word of God (as a plough) to rend vp the fallow ground of their hearts; that ſo theſe vices (which for the hurt they did, he compares to thornes) might be rooted vp. p. 196. 197.
Verſ. 4 And that they might the rather be brought vntounto it, he puts the Iewes in mind of the Sacrament of Circumciſion, wherein they gloried ſo much; wiſhing them not to reſt in the bare and outward ceremony only, but to ſhew foorth the effect thereof; firſt in their inward man, and then in their whole conuerſation. p. 198.
And this he bids them doe without delay: for if they deferred their repentance, it would bee the next way to haſten the wrath of God to breake forth vponupon them as fier; which being once inflamed, will not eaſily be quenched. p. 200.
For if it be once kindled, all defences wherein they truſted, Verſ. 5. 6. ſhould turne into ſmoke and vanity. p. 201.
The fifteenth Lecture,
That he might yet ſtrike the greater terrour into them, he Verſ. 7 tels them, not that their enemie ſhall come; but that he is come forth, as a Lion hungry after his prey, to deuour them. p. 203.
And therefore it is high time for them now, vnleſſe they Verſ. 8 meane indeed to periſh, to humble themſelues: for otherwiſe, they hauehave not man, but God alſo an enemy against them. p. 204. 205.
Now leſt the Prophet might be thought to affright them Verſ. 9 with bug-beares, he tels them that God his iudgements ſhall touch them to the quicke, when King, Princes, and Prophets, (who might thinke to be priuiledged) ſhould ſtand aſtoniſhed at it. p. 206. 207.
So as by the effects they ſhould diſcerne, whether it had Verſ. 10 been better for them to hauehave beleeued Gods true Prophets, who alwayes told them the truth, than to truſt in the flatteries of the falſe prophets; which in the end, deceiue them that truſt therein. p. 208. 209.
They muſt not thinke therefore that hee will correct them now, as in times paſt, for their amendment; but rather to Verſ. 11. 12 looke by ſome violent iudgements, to be ſwept from off the face of the earth. p. 210. 211.
Neither muſt they thinke God will be long in effecting it; Verſ. 13 though it may be, they muſt feele it, before they will beleeue it. p. 112. 113
Yet leſt they might thinke their caſe vtterly deſperate, God Verſ. 14 offers them conditions of peace, vponupon condition of their vnfained repentance. p. 212. 213.
The Sixteenth Lecture.
Verſ. 15 But for as much as he ſaw little hope of their amendment, he goes on with threatning their ruine, euen as if it had been already at their doores, to ſeaze vponupon them p. 217. 218.
Verſ. 16 And therefore ſeeing them for all this, ſtill hardened in their ſinnes, the Prophet turnes his ſpeech from them, as hauing loſt all his labour, and bids the Gentiles take notice of the deſtruction which was to come vponupon Ieruſalem, in as much as her inhabitants for their ſtupidity and ſtubbernneſſe, were vnworthy to heare any more thereof. p. 219.
Telling them, that howſoeuer the enemy ſeeemed farre off, yet their cry might (after a ſort) be heard into the Cities of Iudah. p. 120.
Verſ. 17 Who ſhall ſo incompaſſe them round about; that there will be no eſcaping for them: and lest they might thinke the Lotd too ſeuere in dealing thus with them, he renders the reaſon therof in the latter member of the verſe. p. 221.
Verſ. 18 And therefore diſcharging himſelfe of dealing iniuriouſly with them, hee layes the fault wholly vponupon their owne deſarts: as if he ſhould ſay, your ſinnes hauehave been ſo hainous againſt me, that I could not vſe you otherwiſe: and if your chaſtiſement proue bitter, and piercing; you may thanke your ſelues. p. 222.
Verſ. 19 But the Prophet ſeeing them ſenſeleſſe, notwithſtanding the miſery and danger, which ſhould befall them, ſhewes, that himſelfe had ſuch a liuely apprehenſion thereof within his owne bowels, that he was to ſeeke (as it were) of fit words to expreſſe it withall. p. 223. 224. 225.
Verſ. 20 For the decree was gone forth; and henceforth they must know, that miſeries ſhall befall them one in the necke of another: in ſo much that the end of one, ſhall be but the beginning of another, euen to their vtter vaſtation, and that ere they be aware. p. 226. 227.
Verſ. 21 But being dull of hearing; the Prophet giues them to vnderſtand, that after the banner of the enemie ſhall be diſplayed, and the trumpet begin to ſound an alarme to the battell, they muſt expect no truce. p. 228.
And if they would know for what cauſe all theſe euils Verſ. 22 ſhould befall them; they need but looke into themſelues, and there they might ſee, it was no more than they had deſerued. p. 229. 230.
The ſeuenteenth Lecture.
Here vnderunder foure viſions (containing ſundry figures) the Verſ. 23 Prophet (beeauſe they ſhould not deceiue themſelues) ſignifies, Verſ. 24 that howſoeuer they might thinke they were ſecure, notwithſtanding Verſ. 25 all his threatnings, in regard of their preſent Verſ. 26 proſperous condition: yet the time was come, wherin the Lord (as it were with another deluge, would ſweepe them all from off the land. p. 232. 233. 234. 235. 236.
And leſt he ſhould not be belieued, he brings in the Lord Verſ. 27 himſelfe ſetting his ſeale (as it were) to that he had deliuered. Verſ. 28 p. 237. 238.
Now after ſinners come once to be purſued of God in his Verſ. 29 anger, they can find no place they thinke, in which they can be ſecure enough. p. 243.
No not when they hauehave added thereto all the policies, which Verſ. 30 the art or wit of man can deuiſe. p. 245.
For when all is done, anguiſh will ouertake them, ere they Verſ. 31 be aware. p. 148.
The eighteenth Lecture.
That God might be iust when he ſpeakes, and pure when Chap. 5 Verſ. 1 he iudgeth: hee offers himſelfe to be tried (as it were) by a verduit, whether he hath kept an euen courſe, in inflicting chaſtiſements vponupon the Iewes. p. 250. 251.
But becauſe none was able to controll his iudgements, he Verſ. 2 ſhewes he inflicted no more vponupon them, then they deſerued; in regard that vnderunder pretence of religion, they tooke his name in vaine. p. 25…. 254.
For they could not ſo diſguiſe themſelues with their hypocriticall Verſ. 3 ſhewes, but God was able to diſcerne them well enough. p. 256.
Adding thereto a complaint, that they would not take knowledge of the hand that ſmote them, but were ſo hardened in their ſinne, that no corrections could amend them. p. 258. 259. 260.
The nineteenth Lecture.
Verſ. 4 Here the Prophet taking (as it were) a ſuruey of his nation, Verſ. 5 finds all ſorts, high and low, alike infected, with affected and groſſe ignorance of God, and of obſtinate rebellion againſt him. p. 263. 264. 265.
Verſ. 6 God had no reaſon to ſpare them then, any longer; but ſeeing they had multiplied their ſinnes againſt him; he would ſend in multitudes of enemies, of Lion-like diſpoſitions, to make hauocke of them. p. 266. 267.
Verſ. 7 God here taxeth the Iewes of three crimes: the two first, reſpects the breach of the firſt, & third commandement of the Verſ. 8 firſt Table. p. 268. 269. 270. The latter, the breach of the ſeuenth, and that after a moſt groſſe & brutiſh maner. p. 272.
Verſ. 9 And therfore as in verſ. 7. ſo here, he falles to debate the caſe with them; making themſelues iudges of the equity of his dealing towards them: whether in regard of the ſharpneſſe of his reprehenſions, or of his iudgements threatened to enſue; if the firſt tooke no place. p. 273. 274.
The twentieth Lecture.
Verſ. 10 But as if he had ſpoken to deafe eares, he turnes his ſpeech from them, to the Caldeans: and the better to awaken them out of their drowſineſſe, he appoints the Chaldeans to ſcale the wals of Ieruſalem; and neuer to leaue battering of them, till the City were laid wast. p. 275. 276.
Verſ. 11 The reaſon is added: both the houſes of Iudah and Iſrael, are charged by Gods owne teſtimony, to hauehave plaid the reuolters againſt him. p. 278.
Verſ. 12 For in plaine tearmes they affirmed, that though the Lord by Ieremiah, had threatened them thus ſharply, yet they ſhould ſpeed well enough for all that. p. 279. 280.
Verſ. 13 And therefore concluded, that if any went to the walles, it muſt be Ieremiah himſelfe; as for his words againſt them, they ſhould paſſe away with the wind, without taking any effect at all. p. 281. 282.
Which intolerable pride of theirs, in inſulting ouer the word Verſ. 14 of the Lord, in the mouth of his Prophet, he could no longer endure: and therfore as one taking his part againſt them, denounceth, that the words of his mouth, which they eſteemed as wind, ſhould become after to conſume them, euen as the ſtubble. p. 283. 284. 285.
Which metaphor of fier and ſtubble, is here in plain termes Verſ. 15 explained. p. 286. 287
The one and twentieth Lecture.
Heere vnderunder another metaphor he ſhewes how the enemy Verſ. 16 ſhall deuoure all. p. 288. 289.
The which he layes foorth in the particulars: ſhewing how Verſ. 17 it ſhall reach to their defenced Cities, and ſo to the perſons euen of their ſonnes and daughters; as alſo to their ſuſtenance, and ſubſtance. p. 289.
And yet the Lord tels them, they muſt expect no truce; becauſe Verſ. 18 his wrath was not turned away from them, but ſhould be ſtretched forth ſtill. p. 290, 291.
And if they would needs hauehave him to giuegive them an account Verſ. 19 of handling them thus ſeuerely; he ſhapes them a ready anſwere to their demand. p. 292, 293. 294.
But leſt hee might bee thought to affright them with Verſ. 20 words onelyonly; he ſhewes his words ſhall be no leſſe effectuall, than if the enemy had already ſounded an alarme to the battell. p. 295.
Which they could not be ignorant of, but that they were become Verſ. 21 meerly ſenſeleſſe, and hartleſſe. p. 295. 296.
Now leſt they ſhould make their replies; God conuinceth Verſ. 22 them by a compariſon taken from the boyſterous Sea, which is ready to be calmed at his onelyonly becke and command: but ſuch was their rebellion, that nothing would daunt them. p. 297. 298.
Heere the doctrine of the ſimilitude formerly mentioned, is Verſ. 23 applied home to the Iewes. p. 299. 300.
And though God came nearer to them by his benefits, in Verſ. 24 giuing them the former and the latter raine: yet all was one; they remained inſenſible and vngratefull ſtill; they could not conceiue ſo much as a thought tending to thankefulnes. 300. Verſ. 25 301. 302.
The two and twentieth Lecture.
Therefore if they found God to reſtraine his benefits from Verſ. 26 ſuch, as reſtrained their thankes from him: they were not to thinke it ſtrange. They might thanke themſelues for it. p. 304. 305.
For their wickedneſſes were growne ſo apparant, that the Verſ. 27 very fact it ſelfe conuinced them thereof; to their very faces. p. 305. 306.
Shewing, that Fowlers cages are not commonly more repleniſhed with birds, than their houſes were filled with the Verſ. 28 booties they had filſhed from the poore, by their craft and ſubtilties. p. 307.
Neither was this to be found among the common ſort: but among the Iudges and Magiſtrates: who becauſe they were Verſ. 29 growne great by their oppreſſions, neglected the cauſe of the poore and fatherleſſe in iudgement. p. 309.
To which purpoſe he takes vp his ſpeech againe, vſed verſ. 9 which ſhewes, that the Iewes were growne to be ſo hardened in Verſ. 30 ſinne, that God muſt at once auenge himſelfe vponupon them, vnleſſe he ſhould ceaſe to be the iuſt Iudge of the world. p. 310.
Verſ. 31 As before he had taxed them in the Magiſtracy: ſo now by way of admiration at ſo horrible an impiety, he taxeth them in the Miniſtery, both Prieſts and Prophets; in that by their flatteries and lies, they made the people their prey: who yet were willing enough (for their parts) to be ſo abuſed by them. p. 311. 312. 313.
Concluding the whole with this; that ſeeing there was ſuch diſorder among all ſorts, both high and low; therefore they must in the end, looke for a miſerable downefall. p. 314. 315.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Calvin, Lectures on Jeremiah (1620)