Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Jeremiah · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Ver. 1. THey ſay] Vulgo dicitur, ſaith the Vulgar; Dicendo dicitur, ſay others. They ſay, and they ſay well, for they have good law for it, Deut. 24.4. But I am above law, ſaith God, and will deal with thee, not according to mine ordinary Rule, but according to my Prerogative. Thou ſhalt be a Paradox to the Bible: for I will do that in favour of thee, which I have inhibited others in like caſe to do, and that ſcarce any man would do, though there were no law to inhibit it, as one here Paraphraſeth.
Shall not the land be greatly polluted] Great ſins do greatly pollute; that of adultery eſpecially: for this is an hainous crime, yea it is an iniquity to be puniſhed by the Judges, Job. 31.11.
But thou hast plaid the harlot—yet return unto me] Haec eſt Dei clementia inſuperabilis; Gods mercy is matchleſs. No man, no God would ſhew mercy as he doth, Mic. 7.18. Mal. 3.7. Zach. 1.3. He followeth after thoſe that run from him, as the Sun-beams do the paſſenger that goeth from them; and as is ſweetly ſet forth by our Saviour in thoſe three Parables, of the loſt groat, the loſt ſheep, and the loſt ſonne, Luk. 15. Paul alloweth of Marke, 2 Tim. 4.11. (though before he had refuſed him, Act. 15.38.) and willeth others to entertain him, Coloſ. 4.10, 11. Let none deſpair that hath but a mind to return to God, from whom he hath deeply revolted. There is a natural Novatianiſme in the timorous conſcience of convinced ſinners, to doubt and queſtion pardon for ſins of Apoſtaſie, and falling after repentance. But this need not be, we ſee here. Pernicious was Ahitophels counſel to Abſolom, Go in to thy Fathers Concubines: this he judged ſuch an injury as David would never put up: yet return again to me ſaith the Lord, and all ſhall be well betwixt us.
Ver. 2. And ſee where thou haſt not been lien with] Pouring out thy ſpiritual whoredoms, as Papiſts now do with their Croſſes, Chappels, Pictures ſet up in all places.
In the wayes haſt thou ſat for them] For thy cuſtomers and copeſmates, like a common ſtrumpet. See Gen. 38.19. Ezek. 16.24, 25, 31.
As the Arabian in the wilderneſſe] As high-way-robbers wait for and way-lay paſſengers, making it thy trade.
Ver. 3. Therefore the ſhowrs have been withholden] Drought and dearth have inſued upon thy ſin. By ſhowrs here underſtand the former rain, called alſo the ſeeds rain, Eſay 20.23.
And there hath been no latter rain] That commonly came a little before harveſt, and was much deſired.
And thou hadſt a whores forehead] Quam pudet non eſſe impudentem, Aug.that can bluſh no more then a ſackbut. We have heard (ſaith a Reverend writer) of Virgins, which at firſt ſeemed modeſt, bluſhing at the motions of an honeſt love; who being once corrupt and debauched, have grown flexible to eaſie intreaties to unchaſtity, and from thence boldly laſcivious, ſo as to ſollicit others,Dr. Halls Remedy of Prophan. p. 179. ſo as to proſtitute themſelves to all comers, yea (as the Caſuists complain of ſome Spaniſh ſtews) to an unnatural filthineſs. The modeſt beginnings of ſin will make way for immodeſt proceeding. Let men take heed of that foreign i. e. inverecundia, ſhameleſneſs, that Caligula liked ſo well in himſelf: and that the heriticks called Effrontes profeſſed. 'Tis an hard thing to have a brazen face and a broken heart.
Ver. 4. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me] And is not this extream impudence? haſt thou a face thus to collogue? Hypocritis nihil impudentius: hypocrites are impudent flatterers: they would, if they could, cozen God of his heaven.
Thou art the guide of my youth] i. e. My dear husband, Prov. 2.17. Fair words are light-cheap, and may make fooles fain. But God is not to be ſo courted and complemented.
Ver. 5. Will he reſerve his anger for ever?] Will he not? Nah. 1.2. and is there not good reaſon he ſhould do ſo, ſo long as you ſpeak and do evil things as you can, obſtinately perſiſting in thy ſinful practiſes? He that repenteth with a contradiction (ſaith Tertullian) God will pardon him with a contradiction. Thou repenteſt, and yet continueſt in thy ſins. God will pardon thee, and yet ſend thee to bell: There's a pardon with a contradiction.
As thou couldeſt] i. e. To thine utmoſt. Nolunt ſolita peccare, ſaith Seneca of ſome: they ſtrive to out-ſin themſelves, and others.
Ver. 6. The Lord alſo ſaid unto me in the dayes of Joſiah] This is the beginning of a new Sermon, as moſt hold. Joſiah was a religious Prince, and a zealous reformer: and hypocriſie raigned exceedingly in his dayes, as we ſee here: and as holy Bradford in his letters complaineth, that it did likewiſe in King Edward the ſixths dayes (who was our Engliſh Joſiah) among the great ones eſpecially, who were very corrupt.
She is gone up upon every high mountain] ſc. Ever ſince Solomons mind began to be corrupted, 1 King. 11.4. and now ſhe ſmarteth for it: yet is not Judah warned by her example.
Ver. 7. And I ſaid after ſhe had done] Or, yet I ſaid: but I loſt my ſweet words upon her.
Ver. 8. And I ſaw] That which others could not ſo eaſily diſcern; viz. their hypocriſie and hollow-heartedneſſe, their incorrigibleneſſe alſo and refuſing to he warned by what had befallen their brethren. God looked that Iſraels corrections ſhould have been Jeruſalems inſtructions, and that by their laſhes ſhe ſhould have been leſſoned: which becauſe ſhe was not, he is highly diſpleaſed, and ſpeaks of it here in a very angry dialect.
Yet her treacherous ſiſter Judah feared not] But ſlighted the kindneſs of ſuch a caution, and deſpiſed the counſel that was written to her in her ſiſters blood.
But went and played the harlot alſo] Being therefore the worſe, becauſe ſhe ſhould have been the better of the two.
Ver. 9. And it came to paſſe through the lightneſſe of her whoredome] Or (better) through the vocalneſſe of it, the loudneſſe of her leudneſſe. Heb. The voyce or noiſe of her whoredome, the fame and bruit of it: for it is talked of far and near.
And committed adultery with ſtones and with ſtocks] Haec ferae omnia in coecum, erroneum, meretrioiumque Papatum apte hodie torqueri poſſunt: Do not Idolatrous Papiſts even the ſame?
Ver. 10. Hath not turned unto me with her whole heart] Joſiah did, but the people did not: as ſoon appeared, when in the next Kings raign they fell off as faſt as leaves do in Autumn. And ſo they did here, when Queen Mary ſet up Popery.
Ver. 11. The back ſliding Iſrael hath juſtified her ſelf] That is, ſhe is leſs guilty and faulty of the two: becauſe Judah ſinned againſt more means and mercies; and becauſe ſhe received not inſtruction by her ſiſters deſtruction; Therefore ſhall ſhe feel, what ſhe feared not at a diſtance: therefore ſhall ſhe taſte of Iſraels rod, becauſe ſhe would not hear it: ſhe that would not tremble at her ſiſters divorce, muſt her ſelf be divorced, and be judged as women that break wedlock, Ezek. 16.38. bearing her own ſhame for her ſins that ſhe had committed, more abominable then theirs, ver. 52.
Ver. 12. Go and proclaim theſe words toward the North] i. e, Toward Aſſyria and Media, into which Countries the ten tribes had been carryed captive. And although they cannot hear thee, yet in time this prophecy may be brought to their hearing: and the men of Judah, mean while, may be wrought upon thereby.
And I will not cauſe mine anger to fall upon you] Heb. I will not make my face to fall: I will not further frown upon you, or deal hardly with you.
I will not keep anger for ever] Heb. I will not keep for ever. There is nothing that a man is more ready to keep than his wrath. Therefore the Hebrews put keep, for keep wrath; ſo Pſal. 103.9. Levit. 19.18. See Ver. 5.
Ver. 13. Only acknowledge thine iniquity] Thus favour is promiſed to the ten captivated tribes, ſed per modulum unius poenitentiae, but upon condition of their true repentance:Facit peccator confitendo propitium, quem non facit negando neſcium. Aug. one part whereof is confeſſion of ſin, Prov. 28.13. Pſal. 32.4. When thy ſins and Gods wrath meeting in thy conſcience (ſaith one) make thee deadly ſick, then pour forth thy ſoul in confeſſion; and as it will eaſe thee (as vomiting uſeth to do) ſo alſo it will move God to pitty, and to give thee cordials and comforts to reſtore thee again.
Ver. 14. Turn, O backſliding children] See on Zach. 1.3.
For I am married unto you] And, as I hate putting away, Mal. 2.16. ſo I can receive to favour a wiſe that hath been diſloyal, ver. 1. and after a divorce.
And I will take you one of a City] i. e. Though but a few, as Iſa. 10.11, 12. and 17.6. and 24.3. all the reſt hardening their hearts by unbelief. This hath been principally fulfilled in the dayes of the Goſpel.
Ver. 15. And I will give you Paſtours according to my heart] God gives faithful Paſtours oft for the ſake of but a few that are there to be converted; & viliſſimus pagus eſt palatium eburneum, Luth. tom. 3. pag. 81. a.in quo eſt Paſtor & credentes aliqui, ſaith Luther: the pooreſt village is an Ivory Palace, if there be but in it a Paſtour and ſome few beleevers. Such Paſtours as God here promiſeth (and more largely deſcribeth, chap. 23. and Ezek. 34.) are ſpecial gifts of God: I will give you Paſtours. David, after he had diſcomfited the Amalekites, ſent gifts to his friends in Judah, 1 Sam. 30.26. Great Alexander, when he had prevailed at the river Granicum, and was now aſcended into the upper parts of Aſia, ſent back many gifts, to aſſure them of his love in Macedonia. The like doth God to his Church by ſending them Paſtours, with ſuch two adjuncts as are here. 1. Adherent, his own approbation. 2. Inherent, skill to teach the people. See Eph. 4.8. with the Notes.
Ver. 16. They ſhall ſay no more the Ark, &c.] When the Goſpel ſhall be preached,Paulus ea vocat ſtercora & rudera. the ancient ceremonies ſhall be aboliſhed. This was not ſo eaſily beleeved, and is therefore here again and again aſſured.
Ver. 17. They ſhall call Jeruſalem] i. e. The Church Chriſtian.
The throne of the Lord] The throne of glory, chap. 4.21. So Exod. 17.16. becauſe the hand upon the throne of the Lord, that is, ſay ſome, Amalecks hand upon the Church: which is elſewhere alſo called the Temple of God.
Neither ſhall they walk any more, &c.] i. e. Not at random, but by rule, Eph. 5.15. Heb. not any more after the ſight of their heart, i. e. as themſelves thought good, but as God directeth them.
Ver. 18. In that day ſhall the houſe of Judah walk with the houſe of Iſrael] All the Elect ſhall be reunited in Chriſt: unleſs we ſhall underſtand it of the laſt reduction of the Nation into one, Iſa. 11.13. Ezek. 37.16, 22. Hoſ. 1.11.
And they ſhall come together out of the land of the North] i. e. Out of the place of their captivity, whereby was figured our ſpiritual captivity, &c.
Ver. 19. But I ſaid, How ſhall I put thee among the children?] How, but by my free grace alone, ſith thou haſt ſo little deſerved it? the cauſes of our Adoption, ſee Eph. 1.5, 6.
And give thee a pleaſant land] The heavenly Canaan, which is here fitly called a land of deſire or delight, an heritage or poſſeſſion of goodlineſs, a land of the H…sts (or deſires) of the Nations.
And I ſaid, thou ſhalt call me My Father] And, My Father affectionately uttered, is an effectual prayer. As Pater I breviſſima quidem vex eſt, ſed omnia complectitur, ſaith Luther, i. e. Ah Father is but a little word, but very comprehenſive; it is ſuch a piece of eloquence, as far exceedeth the rowlings of Demoſthenes, Cicero or whatſoever moſt excellent Orator.
Ver. 20. Surely as a treacherous wife, &c.) This ye have done, but that's your preſent grief, and now you look upon your former diſloyalties with a lively hatred of them: holding that the time paſt of your life may ſuffice to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, &c. 1 Pet. 4.3.
Ver. 21. A voyce was heard upon the high places] Where they were wont to worſhip Idols, now they weep for their ſins, and pray for pardon.
For they have perverted their wayes] This is it that now draweth from them prayers and teares. See Chap. 31.18. Lam 5.14 Oi nalanu, chi chattanu. Wo worth us, that ever we thus ſinned. Some underſtand thoſe words, A voyce is heard, as ſhewing Gods readineſs to hear penitent ſinners ſo ſoon as they begin to turn to him, even before they ſpeak, as the Father of the Prodigal met him. &c.
Ver. 22. Return ye backſliding children] Give the whole turn, and not the half-turn only. So Act. 2.38. Peter ſaid to them that were already prickt at heart, Repent ye, even to a tranſmentation; and chap. 3.19. Repent ye, and be converted, that your ſins may be blotted out. Repent not only for ſin but from ſin too: be through in your repentance, ſet it be ſuch as ſhall never be repented of, 2 Cor. 7.10. It is not a ſlight ſorrow that will ſerve Apoſtates turn; it muſt be deep and down-right.
And I will heal your back ſlidings] Pardon your ſins, and heal your natures. I will love you freely, and cauſe your broken bones to rejoyce, Hoſ. 14.4. Iſa. 19.22. Oh ſweeteſt promiſe I what wonder then that their hard hearts were forthwith melted by it into ſuch a gracious compliance, as followeth.
Behold we come to thee] See Zach. 13.9. with the Note.
Ver. 23. Truly in vain is ſalvation hoped for from the hills] Heb. Truly in vain from the hills; the multitude; the mountaines; it is like to that, Hoſ. 14.3. Aſhur ſhall not ſave us—neither will we ſay any more to the works of our hands, Ye are our gods. See the Notes there.
Truely in the Lord our God] They truſt not God at all, that not alone.
Ver. 24. For ſhame hath devoured the labour of our Fathers] That ſhameful thing Baal hath done it, Chap. 11.13. Hoſ. 9.10. he hath even eaten up our cattle and our Children: of whom if any be left, yet there is nothing left for them: And this we now ſee (long and laſt) poenitentia ducti, & noſtro malo edocti, having bought our wit, and paid dear for our learning. And may not many ill husbands amongſt us ſay as much of their drunkenneſs and wantonneſs? See Prov. 5.9, 10, 11, 12. with the Notes.
Ver. 25 We lye down in our ſhame] We that once had a whores forehead, ver. 3. and ſeemed paſt grace, are now ſore aſhamed of former miſcarriages, yea our confuſion covereth us (as Pſal. 44.15.) becauſe we have ſinned againſt the Lord our God, we and our Fathers from our youth unto this day, and have not obeyed the voyce of our God. Lo here a dainty form and pattern of penitent confeſſion, ſuch as is ſure to find mercy. Haec ſanè omni tempore Chriſtiana eſt ſatisfactio, non meritoria aliqua Papiſtica atque nugivendula. Only we muſt not acknowledge ſin with dry eyes,Zegedia. but point every ſin with a teare, &c.