Scriptures Opened and Cases of Conscience Resolved, Jeremiah · Passage 12:5
Jer. 12. 5.
If thou haſt run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canſt thou contend with horſes? and if in the land of peace wherein thou truſtedſt, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the ſwelling of Jordan?
Q What may the meaning of theſe words be?
A. 1. Some take them as ſpoken by Calvin.the Lord to his Prophet, to this end that the people might know by him what they were to ſuffer from their enemies, from whom though they had ſuffered much already, ſo that their Country was miſerably waſted, and their City impaired (which may be compared to running with the footmen) yet they muſt expect far heavier things, even an utter deſolation of their Country, deſtruction of their City and Temple, and carrying away of themſelves by the Chaldeans out of their own Land, (which may be compared to contending with horſes, becauſe they exceeded in ſtrength all former enemies. This Jeremy muſt let them know that they ſhould not deceive themſelves with a vain hope of Peace, but rather prepare for the higheſt troubles. Hereunto is adjoined the ſixth verſe, as ſhewing the Prophet himſelf what he ſhould ſtill ſuffer from his own Country-men, So that whereas Jeremy was an earneſt (though a modeſt) diſputer, ver. 1. theſe words may reſolve and reſtrain him; for ſo hath God appointed by reaſon of the wickedneſs and incorrigibleneſs of his People, that wicked men from without ſhall be proſperous in deſtroying them, Hab. 1. 12, 13. and wicked men within the Church ſhall vex and perſecute the godly Prophets and Party, and ſo haſten their own ruin, when in the mean-time, God will ſufficiently ſecure his own, not withſtanding all the treacheries of ungodly men. But,
2. Others carry the Compariſon thus: Junius Trem.in Judah there were two ſorts, 1. Footmen, that is, men (in compariſon) more ſlow and low, and weak in their oppoſition; and (as it is in the latter part of the verſe) ſuch as are like a land of peace not fortified, or formidable as Cities of War are, or like the waters of Siloah that run ſoftly, that is, are leſs violent. 2. Horſemen, that is, ſwift and ſwelling Perſecutors; both theſe made up an Army to fight againſt God and his Servants only; theſe latter obſerved no moderation, but were like Jordan when it riſeth up in his ſtrength, and overfloweth its banks and bounds; and like thoſe waters, Iſa. 8. 6. Whereas therefore Jeremy complained much of the men of Anathoth, and reaſoned the caſe with the righteous God, how men ſo evil in their way could be ſo proſperous in their condition; the Lord ſeems to tell him that he muſt not be over-tender, but rather expect greater oppoſition than wonder at this; if he be wearied by entring the liſts with Countrymen, men of lower place, and power, and ſpirits; how ſhall he hold it out to contend with the Court, with the Grandees there, with their miry Dungeons, and continual threats of death, and ſlanderous accuſations, as if no man more deſerved it? Jer. 7. 14. & 38. 4.
Now, though that deſcription of the Aſſyrian, Iſa. 8. 6. may ſeem to favour the former ſenſe (as alſo that Jer. 49. 19.) conſidering how like it is to the cloſe of this verſe, yet this latter is choſen by moſt as the moſt plain and proper means. And it is made the more probable by the Connexion of the ſixth verſe, with a for, mentioning the men of Anathoth, with whom weary Jeremy was now running; as alſo becauſe we find a like check given to the Prophets deſpondency, Jer. 15. 18, 19.
This is not without uſe to us; we are always apt to think that ſtill it will be better; whereas when God declares himſelf otherwiſe in his word, and the wickedneſs of a People diſcovers it ſelf to all the World, it will be our wiſdom to think that (probably) it will ſtill be worſe; that when God begins he will make an end, 1 Sam. 3. 12. and that the preſent troubles are but the beginning of ſorrows, Mat. 24. 8. Now if we cannot bear the beginnings, how ſhall we bear the proceedings? If when there is ſome peace for preſent, a mixture of trouble be intolerable to us, what ſhall we do in the overflowings of Jordan, and all-overwhelming publick inundations? If we cannot endure the fire in Nebuchadnezzars face, Dan. 3. 19. how ſhall we endure his Furnace?
Q. What help is there to look encreaſing troubles in the face, and to bear up when the Sea of this world is moſt boiſterous?
A. The ſame grounds of Chriſtian reſolution and conſolation will ſerve for ſupport in a greater as well as in a leſs affliction. That which Jeremy builds upon, Jer. 20. 11. is ſufficient to keep him in heart in the Court as well as in the Country, among the Horſmen as among the Footmen. What makes men take joyfully the ſpoiling of their goods (to wit, that they have a better and a more enduring ſubſtance in heaven, Heb. 10. 34.) that alſo will make them reſiſt to blood, Heb. 12. 4. for that brings them quickly to that inheritance. Leſs ſufferings for Religion (as ſcourging, Act. 5. 41.) will not be chearfully endured, but upon thoſe noble grounds, the Glory of God, 1 Pet. 3. 14. the name of Chriſt, the honour, 1 Pet. 4. 14. and reward of thoſe that ſuffer for Chriſt and Chriſtianity, Mat. 5. 11, 12. 2 Tim. 2. 12. And theſe things will make men endure any thing, as the ſcourged Apoſtles, Act. 5. 41. did the crueleſt deaths, Act. 12. 2. Joh. 16. 19. with Act. 5. 29.
And as concerning any outward affliction, if we do by Faith take in thoſe cordials, Heb. 12. 6, to 12. to wit, that it comes from the love of our Lord, ver. 6. from the hand of a Father, ſhewing we are Sons (ver. 7.) and not Baſtards. ver. 8. Yea from the Father of Spirits (as well as of, and more eſpecially and eminently of, than of our fleſh) who ſubjecteth us to his correction, that we may live (v. 9) and not be condemned with the world, 1 Cor. 11. 32. Yea, that it is for our profit here as being made thereby partakers of his holineſs, (v. 10.) And poſſeſt of the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs, (v. 11.) I ſay if things be believed, and withal that a reſt remains for the people of God, Heb. 4. 9. What will not be endured?
Not that all can endure alike, not but that a ſtronger Faith will bear great afflictions with greater fortitude, as Stephen, Act. 6. 8, 15. (and therefore we ſhould labour to get more and more degrees of Faith) but the weakeſt true Faith will bear all affliction, without an utter failing and falling from God; as theſe Scriptures ſhew, Luk. 22. 33. Rom. 14. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 5. Rev. 3. 8.