1This place is diversly expounded: but very few have attained the Prophets meaning. To the end we may have the sum briefly, we must note this conjunction, whereby the Lord in many places testifies, that his people are obliged and bound unto him: namely, that he is as it were our husband, and we his wife: for it is a spiritual marriage consecrated by his eternal word, and sealed up with the blood of Jesus Christ.2 As he then for his part receives us into his protection as his beloved wife, upon condition that we keep faith and loyalty towards him: so when we play false with him, he rejects us; and then it is rightly said, that he puts us away: even as if a husband should banish an adulterous wife his house. Now, because we could not easily conceive the reason why God should reject the Jews which were pressed under so many and great calamities, it was necessary she should here come to manifest the cause of this divorce. But for as much as we are ordinarily too eloquent in covering of our own faults, and strive to lay all the blame where we should not; that is to say, upon God himself: so the Jews also then murmured at their estate, as if the Lord had done them wrong so to reject them. Why so? Because they could not be brought to acknowledge that the promises were made uneffectual, and the covenant abolished by their lewd behaviour. At least they could not be drawn to make this confession, but with much ado: for they posted over their fault to their predecessors, as if they forsooth had borne the punishment of their offences. From thence proceeded those complaints recited by Ezekiel; Our fathers have eaten sower grapes, and our teeth are set on edge: Ezek. 18.2. Now because such proverbs at that time went currant among them, the Lord bids them bring forth that letter of divorce, by which they might justify their own innocency, and prove that God had unjustly put them away.
1THis place is diuerslie expounded: but very few haue attained ye Prophets meaning. To the end wee may haue the sum briefly, we must note this coniunction, whereby the Lord in manie places testifies, that his people are obliged and bound vnto him: namely, that he is as it were our husband, and we his wife: for it is a spirituall mariage consecrated by his eternall word, and sealed vp with the blood of Iesus Christ.2 As he then for his part receiues vs into his protection as his beloued wife, vpon condition that wee keepe faith and loyaltie towards him: so when we play false with him, he reiects vs; and then it is rightly said, that he puts vs away: euen as if a husband should banish an adulterous wife his house. Now, because wee could not easilie conceiue the reason why God should reiect the Iews which were pressed vnder so many and great calamities, it was necessarie she should here come to manifest the cause of this diuorce. But for as much as we are ordinarily too eloquent in couering of our owne faults, and striue to lay all the blame where we should not; that is to say, vpon God himselfe: so the Iewes also then murmured at their estate, as if the Lord had done them wrong so to reiect them. Why so? Because they could not bee brought to acknowledge that the promises were made vneffectual, and the couenant abolished by their leaud behauiour. At least they could not be drawne to make this confession, but with much adoe: for they posted ouer their fault to their predecessors, as if they forsooth had borne the punishmēt of their offences. From thence proceeded those complaints recited by Ezekiel; Our fathers haue eaten sower grapes, and our teeth are set on edge: Ezek. 18.2. Now because such prouerbs at that time went currant among them, the Lord bids them bring forth that letter of diuorce, by which they might iustifie their owne innocencie, and proue that God had vniustly put them away.
- 1The Lord proves the lawfulness of the Churches divorce, under two similitudes.The Lord proues the lawfulnes of the Churches diuorce, vnder two similitudes.
- 2Our spiritual marriage with God consecrated by his word, and sealed up by the blood of Christ.Our spiritual mariage with God consecrated by his word, and sealed vp by the blood of Christ.
