Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Jeremiah · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
Ver. 1. AT the ſame time] i. e. In the beginning of Zedekiah's raign, as before, was this word uttered. Or rather, in thoſe latter times forementioned, chap. 30.24. after the return from Babylon, but eſpecially in the dayes of the Meſſiah. The modern Jews vainly apply it to the coming of their Meſſiah, quem tantis etiamnum ululatibus expoſcunt, whom they yet expect, but to no purpoſe.
Ver. 2. The people that were left of the ſword] Of Pharaoh's ſword, who purſued them:Fieri dicitur quod tentatur aut intenditur. and though he ſmote them not, becauſe the Lord kept him off, yet he is ſaid to have done it: like as Balac afterwards aroſe and fought againſt Iſrael, Joſh. 24.9. he had a mind ſo to have done, but that he was over-awed: he did not indeed becauſe he durſt not.
When I went to bring him to reſt] i. e. To the land of Canaan, after ſo long trouble and travel. I effected that then, though it were held improbable, or impoſſible: ſo I will do this promiſed reduction of my people from Babylon.
Indaeorum quiritantium verba. Zeg.Ver. 3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me] This ſeemeth to be the peoples objection: You tell us what was done of old: but theſe are ancient things, and little pertaining to us, who are now under a heavy captivity; jam refrixit & obſoleta videtur Dei beneficentia. Hereunto is anſwered
Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love] I am one and the ſame: I am Jehovah that change not, whatever thou mayſt think of me, becauſe I ſeem angry at thy miſdoings.
Therefore with loving kindneſſe have I drawn thee] Or, Therefore will I draw out loving kindneſſe toward thee, as Pſal. 36.10. See the Note there.
Ver. 4. Again I will build thee] See chap. 34.18.
Thou ſhalt he adorned with thy tabrets] All ſhall be haile and merry with thee as heretofore: yea thou ſhalt have ſpiritual joy, which is res ſevera, ſevere and ſolid; ſuch as doth not only ſmooth the brow, but fill the breaſt.
Ver. 5. Thou ſhalt yet plant vines] Profunda pax erit: nemo te perterre faciat. Thou ſhalt have plenty, peace and ſecurity.
The planters ſhall plant them, and ſhall eat them as common things] i. e. Shall have Gods good leave and liking ſo to do. Heb. Shall profane them, i. e. not abuſe them but uſe them freely, even to an honeſt affluence: See Levit. 19.23. with the Note.
Ver. 6. The watchmen upon the mount Ephraim] Such as are ſet to keep thoſe vineyards, ver. 5.
Shall cry Ariſe ye, and let us go up to Zion] As the ten tribes firſt made defection, ſo ſhall they be forwardeſt in the Reformation. England was the like alate.
Ver. 7. Shout among the chief of the Nations] Heb. neigh unto the heads of the Nations ut illa vobis adhinniant, & pariter in Chriſti fide jubilent, that they may joyn joyes with you, and help to make up the quire.
Publiſh ye, and praiſe ye, and ſay, O Lord ſave] The Saints have never ſo much matter of praiſe, but that they may at the ſame time find cauſe enough to pray for more mercy, Pſal. 18.3.
Ver. 8. Behold I will bring them] Here's a preſent anſwer to ſuch a Prayer: and this promiſe hath its performance chiefly in the Kingdom of Chriſt, who will not ſuffer the leaſt or the weakeſt of his to miſcarry. See Eſa. 35.5, 6.
Ver. 9. They ſhall come with weeping] Prae gandio, inquit, flebunt, they ſhall weep for joy: having firſt ſoaked themſelves in godly ſorrow by the ſpirit of grace and of ſupplications (or deprecations) poured upon them, Zach. 12.10. being ſollicitous about their ſalvation.
And I will make them to walk by the rivers of waters] Heb. To the brooks of waters, i. e. to the holy ordinances, as Pſal. 23.3.
For I am a Father to Iſrael] I do all of free-grace.
Ephraim is my firſt-born] And therefore higher then the Kings of the earth, Pſal. 89.27.
Ver. 10. Hear the Word of the Lord O ye Nations] Hear and bear witneſſe of the gracious promiſes that I make to my people: for I would have them noted and noticed.
Ver. 11. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob] Redemption is a voluminous mercy, an accumulative bleſſing.
From the hand of him that was ſtronger then he] ſc. The Chaldean: but eſpecially from Satan, Matth. 12.29. Joh. 12.31.
Ver. 12. Therefore they ſhall come and ſing in the height of Zion] i. e. In the Temple ſhall they celebrate that ſingular mercy, in the Congregation of the faithful.
And ſhall flow together] i. e. Flock together by troops and caravans: flock thither by ſholes.
To the goodneſſe of the Lord] Or, to the goods of the Lord, ſuch as here inſtanced, wheat, wine and oyl; whereby alſo better things are figured: a confluence of inward and outward mercies is here aſſured the Saints.
And their ſoul ſhall be as a watered garden] Where every good thing comes forward amain: mens foecundata est rore coeleſti. See Iſa. 58.11.
And they ſhall not ſorrow any more at all] As thoſe do who have not this contented godlineſſe, but ſerve divers luſts, to their great vexation.
Ver. 13. And make them rejoyce from their ſorrow] Or, after their ſorrow. I will turn all their ſadneſſe into gladneſſe, their ſighing into ſinging, their tears into triumphs, &c.
Ver. 14. And I will ſatiate the ſoul of the Prieſts with fatneſſe] i. e. Provide liberally for my Miniſters, Iſa. 66.21. they and theirs ſhall be well maintained. Terms taken from the good and fat parts of the Sacrifices, which were allotted for the Prieſts.
Ver. 15. A voice was heard in Ramah] It was once, when the poor captives were carried that way to Babylon, the mothers bitterly bewayling their Luctuoſam foecunditatem. It was alſo another time, when Herod barbarouſly butchered the babes of Bethlehem, Mat. 2.16, 17, 18. But now the caſe is altered, joy is reſtored, &c.
Rachel weeping for her children] Elegans Proſopopeja See the Notes on Mat. 2.18.
Ver. 16. Refrain thy voice from weeping] Take up in time O Rachel, and the reſt: God comforteth the abject, 2 Cor. 7.6. he reſtoreth comfort to his mourners, Iſa. 57.18.
Ver. 17. And there is hope in the end] Or, for thy poſterity. Tribulation cauſeth patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; lively hope, ſuch as maketh not aſhamed, is not diſappointed. Spes in fundo. God can recompenſe his peoples patience and obedience, in their heires and executours.
Ver. 18. I have ſurely heard Ephraim bemoaning himſelf] Heb. hearing I have heard; his moans and laments have rung in mine eares: So Hoſ. 14 8. I have heard him and obſerved him. This is Gods ſpeech concerning the Chriſtian Church of the Jews: for in this Sermon we may eaſily obſerve a frequent change of perſons, tanquam in opere Dramatico, as in an Interlude.
Thou haſt chaſtiſed me, and I was chaſtiſed] i. e. I was chaſtiſed to good purpoſe, taught my duty, as Pſal. 94.12. See there.
Turn thou me] Give me the whole turn, that I be not as an untamed ſturdy Heifer, or as a cake half baked.
Ver. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented] After that I had turned ſhort again upon my ſelf, as thoſe Penitents, 1 King. 8.47. as Manaſſeh, the Publican, Luke 18. and that Prodigal, Luke 15.17.
And after that I was inſtructed] Poſt quam oſtenſum fuerit mihi, Tremel. In gloſſ. marginal. Homer hath it oft foreign, he ſmot on his thigh. Tully hath the like, lib. 3. Tuſcul.After that I knew my ſelf, or rather was made known to my ſelf, ſc. by mine afflictions ſanctified: for Schola crucis, ſchola lucis: Afflictions are thoſe pillulae lucis, that ſerve notably to clear the ſouls eye-ſight.
I ſmot upon my thigh] Sicut mulierculae in puerperio facere ſolent, ſaith Luther: as travelling women uſe to do. Tis a token of greateſt grief. See Ezek. 21.12.
I was aſhamed, yea even confounded] Abaſhed and abaſed to the utmoſt: my ſorrow was deep and downright.
Becauſe I did bear the reproach of my youth] i. e. The brunt and burthen of my reproachful practiſes in my youth. See Job 13.26. Pſal. 25.7.
Ver. 20. Is Ephraim a dear ſon? Is he a pleaſant childe?] q. d. Ey ſure is he: and never more dear and pleaſant then when thus beblubberd: like as ſome faces appear moſt oriently beautiful when they are moſt inſtampt with ſorrow. Heb. Is he a childe of delight? q. d. He may ſeem to be otherwiſe by my hard dealing with him: but ſo he is aſſuredly; Behold he whom thou loveſt is ſick, Joh. 11.
For ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill] Or ſo oft as I ſpeak of him, I am mindful ſtill of him. See Iſa. 49.14, 16.
Therefore my bowels are troubled for him] Perſtrepunt viſcera mea, My bowels work, as that mothers did toward her childe, 1 Kings 3.26. as Croeſus his dumb ſons did,foreign. Herod. when ſeeing a fellow ready to kill his Father, he burſt out into Kill not King Croeſus. See Hoſ. 11.8. with the Notes.
Ver. 21. Set thee up way-markes] Statue tibi ſtatuas Mercuriales. q. d. I will ſurely bring thee back by the ſame way thou wenteſt hence into captivity: therefore take good notice of the way now, that thou maieſt know it again another time. This God ſaith to quicken their faith, and to aſcertain them of his love and ſavour: which is not like the winter-Sun, which caſteth a goodly countenance when it ſhineth, but giveth little heat and comfort, &c. We muſt alſo ſet up way-markes, obſerve how we fell from the Lord, repent and do our firſt works.
Set thine heart towards the high-way] This is done ſaith Auſtin, when God is ſought for Gods ſake: ſed vix diligitur Jeſus propter Jeſum, ſaith the ſame Father, but this is rearely done.
Ver. 22. How long wilt thou go about?] Hunting after humane helps, and (refuſing to ſet thy heart on the right ſtraight way, ver. 21.) fetch a compaſſe, to thy loſſe of time and labour?
O thou backſliding daughter] Who waſt whilom O virgin of Iſrael, ver. 21.
For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth] Or, will create: he is even about it.
Sicut hoſtis circundat hoſtem.A woman ſhall compaſſe a man] i. e. Say ſome, the Jewes (who are now looked upon as weak women, and may ſay Imbelles damae, quid niſi turba ſumus?) ſhall compaſſe about, and conquer the Chaldees thoſe men of might. Or, as others ſenſe it, The Church Chriſtian, how weak ſoever at firſt it may ſeem, and inconſiderable, yet ſhall be able, by the confeſſion of her faith, to reſiſt her moſt potent perſecutours, and by faith to overcome them, 1 Joh. 5.4. as ſhe did in the Apoſtles, Act. 4. & 5. in the noble army of Martyrs, and Confeſſours. The text is generally underſtood of Chriſts wonderful conception in the womb of his Virgin-mother.
Ver. 23. Thus ſaith the Lord of hoſts] Et haec pertinent ad regnum Chriſti propriiſſime, Theſe words alſo to the end of the Chapter, do moſt properly pertain to the Kingdom of Chriſt, ſaith Oecolamp.
As yet] Or, Yet again, as ver. 5.
The Lord bleſſe thee] This prayer is daily made for the Church, by all her children.
Ver. 24. Husbandmen and thoſe that go out with flocks] Agricola & pecuarii: the Citizens of the Church ſhall be plaine-hearted and profitable perſons, living together in amity, and not jarring, as husbandmen and ſhepheards oft doe; Cain and Abel for inſtance.
Ver. 25. For I have ſatiated the weary ſoul] Or, I will ſatiate, fill them with my fulneſſe, ſo that they ſhall have enough for their own, and not emulate others. A good man ſhall be ſatisfied from himſelf, Prov. 14.14. as knowing within himſelf that (whatever he hath here, little or much) he hath in heaven a better and more enduring ſubſtance, Heb. 10.34.
Ver. 26. Ʋpon this I awaked] Out of my prophetike dream.
And my ſleep was ſweet unto me] i. e. The promiſes (Chriſt in the promiſes) were ſweet unto me: and I was as much refreſhed therewith, as with ſound ſleep after hard toile or travel.
Ver. 27. I will ſow the houſe of Iſrael] I will repeople the country: and raiſe up many believers to Chriſt.
Ver. 28. Like as I have watched over them] I have been ſedulous and aſſiduous.
To pluck up and break down, &c.] See chap. 1.10, 11. & 10.12. & 18.7.
So I will watch] I will make them a plentiful amends.
Ver. 29. In thoſe dayes they ſhall ſay no more] There ſhall be terſius de operibus Dei judicium, a righter judgement paſſed upon Gods proceedings. See of this by-word, Ezek. 18.2.
Ver. 30. But every one ſhall dye for his own iniquity] i. e. Every unbeliever ſhall: neither ſhall the Goſpel ſave him.
Ver. 31. I will make a new Covenant] The ſame for ſubſtance with the former made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moſes, and the Iſraelites in the Wilderneſſe: but new in reſpect of the form thereof, the manner of diſpenſing it, viz. more clearly, freely, effectually and ſpiritually now under the Goſpel, then in thoſe dayes of yore when they ſaw the Face of God only in that dark glaſſe of the ceremonies: whereas we with open face, &c. 2 Cor. 3.18.
Ver. 32. Not according to the Covenant] Not ſo, but a great deal better in regard of larger meaſures of the Spirit now poured out upon all fleſh: together with the efficacy thereof in the hearts of Gods Covenanters, who have a duplicate of Gods Law written within them, ver. 33. Lex jubet, gratia javat: hence it is an everlaſting Covenant, and the fruits of it are ſure mercies, compaſſions that fail not, as is here ſet forth.
Ver. 33. I will put my Law in their inward parts] This the Apoſtle calleth the law in their minds oppſed to the law of their members, Rom. 7.23. for the natural man is inverſus decalogus, he is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. But God putteth into the hearts of his people the counterpant of his holy Law: he ſtamps as it were a decalogue upon their ſpirits, he puts into them an inward aptneſſe, anſwering the Law of God without, as the lead anſwereth the mould, wax the ſeal, as tally anſwereth tally, or as indenture indenture.
And I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people] This promiſe is divini mellis alveare, as One calleth it, The hive of heavenly hony.
Ver. 34. And they ſhall teach no more every man his Neighbour] Deeſt coactie, Oecolamp.non deerit cohortatio. Men ſhall learn with much leſſe adoe, becauſe taught of God, and lively illightened by his Holy Spirit: & quando Chriſtus magiſter, quam cito diſcitur quod docetur? ſaith Aguſtine, when Chriſt becomes a mans Teacher, he muſt needs be a forwardly Scholar. Some make this to be the ſenſe of the words, that in Goſpel-times the truths of Chriſt and the knowledge of the Son of God ſhould be ſo evident, that men might get more of themſelves without a teacher, then with one in the legal adminiſtrations: as Paul alſo ſheweth 2 Cor. 3. Not that men ſhould have no need of teaching at all in thoſe times: for the beſt know but in part, and muſt daily grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Pet. 3.18.
For they ſhall all know me] All mine Eleſh ſhall know me in ſome competent meaſure: know the Principles, Heb. 6.1, 2. and go on unto perfection: ib.
For I will forgive their iniquities] In heaven, and in their own conſciences alſo, Zach. 3.4. provided that they put this and the like promiſes in ſuit, by their prayers, Mal. 6.11. Auguſtine, Mr. Perkins, and Arch-biſhop Ʋſher expired with crying for mercy and forgiveneſſe.
Ver. 35. Thus ſaith the Lord, which giveth the Sun. &c.] For their better ſecurity and ſetlement; he borroweth a compariſon from the ſureſt things, Sun, Sea, &c.
Which divideth the ſea, when the waves thereof roar] Or who when I trouble the the ſea, the waves thereof roar, but cannot paſſe their bound which I have ſet them. See Iſa. 51.15.
Ver. 36. If theſe ordinances depart from before we] If they alter their conſtant courſe.
Then ſhall the ſeed of Iſrael ceaſe] Then ſhall the faithful fail, and rhe Iſraelitiſh nation be utterly aboliſhed.
Ver. 37. If heaven above can be meaſured] By man: for God meaſureth it with his ſpan, Iſa. 40.12.
And the foundations of the earth be ſearched out] If any man can dig or dive to the Center.
Ver. 38. That the City ſhould be built to the Lord] Jeruſalem ſhall be reedified, the Church eternally reeſtabliſhed by Chriſt.
From the tower of Hananeel] Neh. 3.1. & 12.39. Zach. 14.10.
Ʋnto the gate of the corner] 2 Kings 14.13. Zach. 14.10.
Ver. 39. Ʋpon the hill Garth] Verſus collem ſcabioſi, toward the hill of the ſcabby, ſo Tremellius rendereth it: and Junius thinks it was ſo called becauſe thither they uſed to ſend their Lepers and Lazars. At Geneva, in times of Popery there they had a in void place certain cottages ſet up whereunto they ſent their Lepers, wherewith that City then abounded, through the horrible filthineſſe that was there in thoſe dayes committed. But from the year 1535. wherein they embraced the purity of the Goſpel, there hath been not above one Leper ſeen in that City: So reſtifieth Matthaeus Cottherius in his expoſition of the Revelation printed at Sedan in France Anno 1625.
And ſhall compaſſe about to Goath] Alias Golgotha, as ſome think: but theſe places here mentioned, as alſo thoſe, Zach. 8. & 14. as they were known to the Ancients, ſo to us at this day they are unknown. Travellers tell us that Jeruſalem is now a poor obſcure place, governed by a Turkiſh Sanzak; and that Golgotha or Calvary is in the very midſt of the town.
Ver. 40. And the whole valley of the dead bodies] Of Rephaim ſay ſome. of Tophet ſay others: See on ver. 39.
Shall be holy unto the Lord] So is the holy Catholike Church, the new Jeruſalem which is above eſpecially.
It ſhall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever] This cannot be applyed to the earthly Jeruſalem, which was plucked up and thrown down by the Romans once and again: but eſpecially by Aelius Adrianus the Emperour, who laid the whole Country waſte almoſt, drove the Jews utterly out of it, ſet a Sow of white marble over the chief gate of Jeruſalem in reproach of their Religion, and called the City by his own name Aelia, commanding the Jews not once to look towards it from any tower or hill. It muſt be therefore meant of tht Church, which cannot be ruinated.