Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Jeremiah · Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV.
Ver. 1. THe Word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord] The eighteenth Sermon, ordine tamen arbitario non naturali: delivered divers years before the former: and here placed, not in its proper order, but as it pleaſed him that collected them into this Book.
Ver. 2. Go unto the houſe of the Rechabites] So called of one Rechab, the Father of Jonadab, who was famous for his Piety in Jehu's dayes, 2 Kings 10.15. three hundred years at leaſt before this Prophecy of Jeremy. They were of the poſterity of Jethro Moſes Father-in-Law; and lived up and down in the land upon their employments, weaned from the world and exerciſing themſelves in the Law of God: See 1 Chron. 2.55. Where they are called the families of the Scribes that dwelt at Jabez, as being men learned in the Laws of God. Of them came the Eſſenes, a ſtudious and abſtemious Sect among the Jews, and they might better then thoſe Donatiſts, have taken to themſelves the title of Apotactici, ſo called from their renouncing the world.
And give them wine to drink] Heb. make them drink wine, i. e. ſet it before them; and then leave them to their own liberty.
Ver. 3. Then I took Jaazaniah] Whether actually, or in viſion only, it skilleth not: but the former way probably.
Ver. 4. And I brought them into the houſe of the Lord] That it might be made a publike buſineſſe: and ſo the better work upon all that ſhould hear of it.
The ſon of Igdaliah a man of God] A Prieſt and Prophet or Teacher of the people: So in the new Teſtament others are called Gods children, his ſervants, and his people: but Miniſters only are called Gods men, 1 Tim. 6.11. & 2 Tim. 3.17.
Which was by the chamber of the Princes] Or of the Prefects of the Temple, that were next under the High-Prieſts.
Ver. 5. Drink ye wine] Twas a double temptation unto them. 1. To have pots and cups of wine ſet befor them. 2. To be bid drinke it by a Prophet, and at Prophets chamber. But they were reſolved, in obedience to their Father Jonadab, to forbear. Yet if Jeremy had ſaid, Thus ſaith the Lord, Drink wine, they ought to have done it: but this he did not.
Ver. 6. We will not drink wine] This they were reſolved on: not becauſe they were perſwaded as Mahomets followers are, that in every grape there dwelt a devil: but becauſe Jonadab the ſon of Rechab their Progenitour, 2 Kings 10.15, had, two or three hundred years before, charged them to forbear; not thereby to eſtabliſh any new arbitrary ſervice or any rule of greater perfection of life (as the Papiſts miſalledge it in favour of Monkery and other will-worſhips and ſuperſtitious obſervances) but only as a civil ordinance,Hae leges vita potius erant honeſtatis quam ſalutis animae. about things external, the foundation whereof is laid in the word, which commendeth modeſty, humility, ſobriety, heavenly-mindedneſſe, &c.
Ver. 7. Neither ſhall ye build houſe] But be content and dwell in tents, as the ancient Patriarches were, and as your Anceſtours in Midian: removing from place to place, after the manner of the old Nomades: ſo ſhall ye be the better prepared for a change in the ſtate, which this good old man might foreſee and foreſignify to his Nephews: enjoyning them therefore to follow their ſhipeherdy only, as men leſſe addicted to the world, and bent for heaven.
That ye may live many dayes in the land] Whileſt ye obey my charge. Long life is promiſed to children that obey their Parents.
Where ye be ſtrangers] The Rechabites were originally Midianites: but Jethro, of whom they came, was a famour proſelite to the Church: his ſon Hobab a guide to Gods people in the wilderneſſe, and his poſterity imped and incorporated into the body of Gods people, Judg. 1.16. Nevertheleſſe they counted and called themſelves ſtrangers, alienigenae, as thoſe that looked for a better country above. See Heb. 11.9.
Ver. 8. Thus have we obeyed the voyce of Jonadab] Obedience to Parents, in things not unlawful, is very commendable. Ariſtotle ſaith,foreign. Ar. Rhet. it is not good for a man to diſſent from the Gods, from his Father, and from his Teacher. We read of a King of Poland who carried the picture of his Father in a plate of gold about his neck: and when he was going about any great buſineſſe, he would kiſſe that picture, and ſay, God grant I may obſerve my Fathers charge, and do nothing unworthy of him, &c.
We, our wives, our ſons and our daughters] As themſelves were obedient to their Father, ſo had they their children obedient to them: whereas ill children are puniſhed in their poſterity.Fullers holy State. One complained that never Father had ſo undutiful a child as he had: yes (ſaid his ſon, with leſſe grace then truth) my Grand-father had.
Ver. 9. Nor to build houſes, &c.] Jonadab, being a prudent and withal a mortified man, might foreſee that the Iſraelites, being ſo wicked a people, could not long continue. He knew alſo that wine was oft an occaſion of drunkenneſs; trading in the world, of earthlimindedneſs; fair houſes, of lothneſs to leave the world: Haec ſunt quae nos invitos faciunt mori, as that Emperour once ſaid of ſtately buildings. He therefore, for a quiet life, and for their ſouls health, forbad them the uſe of theſe lawful things: and they accordingly forbare them.
Ver. 10. But we have dwelt in tents] And fed much upon whitemeats, (as did Heber the Kenite who was one of them, Judg. 4.) living in abſtinence and bodily labour, that we might be free to divine contemplations.
Ver. 11. Come and let us go to Jeruſalem] So then it was lawful for them to diſpenſe with thoſe their obſervances, in that inevitable neceſſity; like as alſo they might have drunk wine, rather then have periſhed. But what can be reaſonably pleaded for that man of ſin, who taketh upon him to diſpenſe with Gods holy law,Bellarm. lib. 4. de Pontif. Rom. and de injuſtitia facere juſtitiam, ex nihilo aliquid, ex virtute vitium, to make righteouſneſſe of unrighteouſneſſe, vice of vertue, ſomething of nothing?
So we dwell at Jeruſalem] But better they had kept out, and held to their old courſe: for ſo they might have eſcaped ſome way.
Ver. 12. Then came the Word of the Lord] Then, after this famous example of obedience thus propoſed; an excellent way of teaching ſurely. Reaſon ſhould rule, and therefore lodgeth in the braine: but when reaſon cannot perſwade, example will.
Ver. 13. Will ye not receive inſtruction, to hearken to my Words?] Quae eſt illa portentoſa pertinacia? what a ſtrange ſtiffeneſs and obſtinacy in you is this? am not I to be better eſteemed and obeyed by you, then Jonadab is by the Rechabites?
Ver. 14. The words of Jonadab—not to drink wine are performed] So are the words of Mahomet to like purpoſe, to this day, by the Turks: ſo are the commands of the Popiſh Padres to their young Novices, though it be to make a voyage to China or Peru, Per varios caſm, per tot diſcriminarerum.
For unto this day they drink none] Neither dwell in houſes as you do and may do, eating of the fat, and drinking of the ſweet without reſtraint, ſo that you keep within the bounds of ſobriety. I command you nothing, but what in reaſon ſhould be done for a worldly good, as well as for a ſpiritual.
Riſing early and ſpeaking] I began betimes with you: my Law I gave you in Horeb, eight or nine hundred years ſince; and from that time to this, I have conſtantly and inſtantly called upon you by my meſſengers for obedience: whereas it is not yet full three hundred years ſince Jonadab left this charge with his Rechabites; and dying, left none to ſee it fulfilled, or to reprove them for their neglects.
Ver. 15. I have ſent unto you all my ſervants the Prophets] But all to no purpoſe. See on ver. 14.
Saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way And was this ſo great a matter, to part with that which profiteth you nothing, yea which undoubtedly will undo you?
And go not after other gods] For wherein can they beſtead you?
And ye ſhall dwell in the land] This was more then ever Jonadab could promiſe, or promiſing perform to his Nephews.
But ye have not enclined your ear] See chap. 7.24, 26. and 11.8. and 17.23, and 34.14.
Ver. 16. Becauſe the ſons of Jonadab] This was a lively way of confuting their contumacy: far more convincing then that of the heathens not changing their gods, or the beaſts knowing their owners, the birds their ſeaſons.
But this people have not hearkened unto me] Whereas if I be a Father, where is mine honour? and if a Maſter, where is mine obedience? Mal. 1.6. See the Notes there.
Ver. 17. Behold I will bring upon Judah] Aut poenitendum aut pereundum. Men muſt either repent, or periſh; obey Gods Law, or bear the penalty; no remedy, Heb. 2.2. 2 Theſ. 1.8.
Ver. 18. Becauſe ye have obeyed the Commandement] Obedience to Parents hath an ample recompence of reward: as that which is good and acceptable before God and men, 1 Tim. 5.4.
Ver. 19. Jonadab the ſon of Rechab ſhall not want a man to ſtand before me for ever] i. e. To be beloved by me, and to be in ſpecial favour with me, lifting up pure hands in all places of their abode. Captive they were carried among the Jews: but they returned alſo again with them, (as appeareth 1 Chron. 2. ſub finem) erantque Deo cordi & curae, and they were dear to God.