After the first part of this dolorous complaint, the Prophet declareth the protestation of the people, saying, nevertheless, only in thee shall we remember thy name (others read it, Put we will remember thee only and thy name) But in the Hebrew there is no Conjunction copulative in that sentence. The mind of the Prophet is plain, to wit, that not withstanding the long sustained affliction, the people of ⟨image 14⟩God declined not to a false and vain religion, but remembered God that sometime appeared to them in his merciful presence, which albeit then they saw not, yet would they still remember his name, that is, they would call to mind the doctrine and promise which sometimes they hard, albeit in their prosperity, they did not sufficiently glorify God, who so mercifully ruled in the midst of them. The temptation no doubt of the whole Israelites was great in those days. They were carried captives from the land of Canaan, which was to them the gage & pledge of Gods favour towards them. For it was the inheritance that God promised to Abraham & to his seed for ever. The league & covenant of Gods protection appeared to have been broken. They lamentably complain that they saw not their accustomed ⟨p. 8⟩signs of Gods merciful presence. The true prophets were few, & the abominations used in Babylon were exceeding many. And so it might have appeared to them, that in vain it was, that they were called the posterity of Abraham, or that ever they had received law or form of right religion from god. That we may the better feel it in our selves, the temptation, I say, was even such, as if God should utterly destroy all order & policy that this day is within his church, that the true preaching of the word should be suppressed. The right use of sacraments abolished, Idolatry & papistical abomination erected up again. And therewith, that our bodies should be taken prisoners by Turks or other manifest enemies of God & of all Godliness▪ Such I say was their temptation. How notable then is this their confession that in bondage ⟨image 15⟩they make, to wit, that they will remember God only, albeit he hath appeared to turn his face from them, they will remember his name, and will call to mind the deliverance promised.
After the first part of this dolorous complaynt, the Prophete declareth the protestation of the people, saying, neuerthelesse, onely in thee shall we remember thy name (others reade it, Put wee wyll remember thee onelye and thy name) But in the Hebrew there is no Coniunction copulatiue in that sentence. The minde of the Prophete is playne, to wit, that not withstanding the long sustayned affliction, the people of ⟨image 14⟩God declyned not to a false and vayne religion, but remembred God that sometime appeared to them in his mercifull presence, which albeit then they saw not, yet would they still remēber his name, that is, they would cal to minde the doctrine and promise which sōetimes they hard, albeit in their prosperity, they did not sufficiently glorifie God, who so mercifully ruled in the midst of them. The temptation no doubt of the whole Isralites was gret in those dayes. They were caryed captiues from the land of Canaan, which was to thē the gage & pledge of Gods fauour towardes thē. For it was the inheritaunce that God promised to Abrahā & to his seede for euer. The league & couenant of Gods protection appeared to haue beene broken. They lamentably cōplayne that they sawe not their accustomed ⟨p. 8⟩signes of Gods merciful presēce. The true prophets were fewe, & the abhominatiōs vsed in Babylon were exceding many. And so it might haue apered to thē, that in vayne it was, that they were called the posteritie of Abrahā, or that euer they had receyued law or form of right religion frō god. That we may the better fele it in our selues, the temptatiō, I say, was euē such, as if God shuld vtterly destroy al order & policy that this day is withī his church, that the true preaching of the worde should be suppressed. The right vse of sacramēts abolished, Idolatry & papistical abhomination erected vp again. And therwith, that our bodies should be takē prisoners by Turks or other manifest enimies of God & of al Godlynesse▪ Such I say was their temptatiō. How notable then is this their cōfessiō that in bōdage ⟨image 15⟩they make, to wit, that they wil remember God onely, albeit he hath appeared to turne his face from them, they will remember hys name, and will cal to minde the deliuerance promised.
