1Now the Prophet enters upon a new argument; for he lets the people alone, which made no use neither of admonitions nor threatenings whatsoever, in regard they were become maliciously desperate: and turns him towards the posterity to come, to signify to those which should be humbled under the cross, that they should not be left comfortless in the end; no, not in their deepest distresses. It is very likely that this prophecy was written by him,2 when the time of the captivity drew near, that after his death he might not leave the Church behind him overwhelmed with grievous calamities, without hope of restoration. Now albeit that to the same end he hath before mingled threatenings and terrors with his prophecies,3 yet it seems he had a principal regard to those that then lived: but all that which follows hereafter, toucheth the estate of the Church to come, which was restored long after the Prophets death. For he will now set down a perpetual doctrine, which is not to be restrained to any particular time, seeing he discourseth both of the beginning and progress of Christs Kingdom. Of so much the greater importance therefore ought this prophecy to be unto us, by how much the more it belongs particularly unto us for our use. For albeit we may evidently discern in the former prophecies,4 that the doctrine therein contained, is proper unto us as well as to the Jews; yet in regard he now leaves the Jews that then lived, and speaks to their successors, and indeed to all the faithful to the worlds end, it seems indeed that the doctrines following are more peculiar unto us. The Lord meant therefore to awaken the hearts of the faithful by this exhortation, lest they should faint under so many calamities. First then he speaks to the Jews, which soon after were to be led away captives into §1miserable servitude, where they should be deprived both of the sacrifices and Prophets, and left destitute of all consolation, had not the Lord bin pleased to have relieved them by the comfortable doctrines of these prophecies ensuing. In the second place he directs his speech to the whole Kingdom of §2Christ, which should succeed them soon after, to the end they might then take heart unto them, when in all likelihood they might seem in the eyes of the world to be utterly forlorn.
1NOw the Prophet enters vpon a new argumēt; for he lets the people alone, which made no vse neither of admonitions nor threatnings whatsoeuer, in regard they were become maliciously desperate: and turnes him towards the posteritie to come, to signifie to those which should bee humbled vnder the crosse, that they should not be left comfortlesse in the end; no, not in their deepest distresses. It is very likely that this prophecie was written by him,2 when the time of the captiuitie drew neere, that after his death he might not leaue the Church behind him ouerwhelmed with greeuous calamities, without hope of restauration. Now albeit that to the same end hee hath before mingled threatnings and terrors with his prophecies,3 yet it seemes hee had a principall regard to those that then liued: but all that which followes hereafter, toucheth the estate of the Church to come, which was restored long after the Prophets death. For he will now set downe a perpetuall doctrine, which is not to bee restrained to any particular time, seeing hee discourseth both of the beginning and progresse of Christs Kingdome. Of so much the greater importance therefore ought this prophecie to bee vnto vs, by how much the more it belongs particularly vnto vs for our vse. For albeit wee may euidently discerne in the former prophecies,4 that the doctrine therein contained, is proper vnto vs as well as to the Iewes; yet in regard he now leaues the Iewes that then liued, and speakes to their successors, and indeede to all the faithfull to the worlds end, it seemes indeede that the doctrines following are more peculiar vnto vs. The Lord meant therefore to awaken the hearts of the faithfull by this exhortation, lest they should faint vnder so many calamities. First then he speakes to the Iewes, which soone after were to be led away captiues into §1miserable seruitude, where they should be depriued both of the sacrifices and Prophets, and left destitute of all consolation, had not the Lord bin pleased to haue releeued them by the comfortable doctrines of these prophecies ensuing. In the second place he directs his speech to the whole Kingdome of §2Christ, which should succeed them soone after, to the end they might then take heart vnto them, when in all likelihood they might seeme in the eies of the world to be vtterlie forlorne.
- 1The occasion of this prophecie.
- 2The time when this prophecie was written.
- 3The prophecies that went before, respected those that then presently lived: these that follow, the estate of the Church to come.The prophecies that wēt before, respected those that then presently liued: these that follow, the estate of the Church to come.
- 4Why the prophecies following, ought to be more highly esteemed of us then the ormer.Why the prophecies following, ought to be more highly esteemed of vs then the ormer.
