Yet a little while, Vers. 37 &c.] To the end we should not wax faint with endeavouring, he admonisheth us that the time ⟨p. 235⟩shall not be long. Now there is nothing more fit to put life and courage into us, if at any time we faint, than when hope is given us of a speedy and short issue. As if a Captain or great man of war should say to his soldiers, the end of the wars are near, if so be you fight lustily, even a little while: so the Apostle admonisheth us, that if we wax not weary, nor faint hearted, the Lord will come shortly, who will deliver us from all adversities. Now to the end the consolation might have the greater weight and authority, he allegeth the testimony of the Prophet Habakkuk, chap. 2.4. But in regard he followed the Greek translation, 1he strayeth somewhat from the words of the Prophet. First of all I will recite them as they stand in the text of the Prophet, and after we will confer them with that which the Apostle here recites. The Prophet having spoken of the horrible discomfiture of his nation, and being feared with his own prophecy, could not see what way in the world to take, but gets himself as it were out of this world, and betook himself to his watch tower. Now our watch tower is the word of god, by the which we are exalted up into heaven. Being thus got into his tower, he receives a commandment to write a new prophecy, by which the assurance of salvation might be brought to the faithful. Notwithstanding because men are naturally importunate, and so hasty in their affections, that they evermore think that God is too slow, what haste soever he maketh; for this cause he saith, that the promise shall come, and shall not tarry. 2Although he by and by adds, If it tarry; wait: thereby signifying, that that which God promiseth cannot come so quickly, but we always imagine it comes very late. As the ancient proverb among the Latins imports: to wit, when we desire a thing, even haste it self is slowness. It followeth afterward, Behold he that lifteth up himself, his soul shall not continue strong; but the just shall live by faith. By which words he testifies, that the unfaithful shall not remain firm and stable, let their forces and helps be never so many in which they trust:
Yet a little while, Vers. 37 &c.] To the ende wee should not waxe faint with endeauouring, hee admonisheth vs that the time ⟨p. 235⟩shall not be long. Now there is nothing more fit to put life and courage into vs, if at any time we faint, than when hope is giuen vs of a speedie and short issue. As if a Captaine or great man of warre should say to his souldiers, the ende of the warres are neere, if so be you fight lustely, euen a little while: so the Apostle admonisheth vs, that if we waxe not wearie, nor faint hearted, the Lord will come shortly, who will deliuer vs from all aduersities. Now to the ende the consolation might haue the greater waight and authoritie, he alleadgeth the testimonie of the Prophet Abacuk, chap. 2.4. But in regard he followed the Greeke translation, 1hee straieth somewhat from the words of the Prophet. First of all I will recite them as they stand in the text of the Prophet, and after we will conferre them with that which the Apostle here recites. The Prophet hauing spoken of the horrible discomfiture of his nation, and beeing feared with his owne prophesie, could not see what way in the world to take, but gets himselfe as it were out of this world, and betooke himselfe to his watch tower. Now our watch tower is the word of god, by the which we are exalted vp into heauen. Beeing thus got into his tower, he receiues a commandement to write a new prophesie, by which the assurance of saluation might be brought to the faithfull. Notwithstanding because men are naturally importunate, and so hastie in their affections, that they euermore thinke that God is too slowe, what haste soeuer hee maketh; for this cause hee saith, that the promise shall come, and shall not tarrie. 2Although he by and by addes, If it tarrie; waite: thereby signifying, that that which God promiseth cannot come so quickly, but we alwaies imagine it comes very late. As the auncient prouerb among the Latines imports: to wit, when we desire a thing, euen haste it selfe is slownesse. It followeth afterward, Behold he that lifteth vp himselfe, his soule shall not continue strong; but the iust shall liue by faith. By which words he testifies, that the vnfaithfull shall not remaine firme and stable, let their forces and helpes be neuer so many in which they trust:
- 1The text of Habakkuk expoū dead.The text of Abacuck expoū ded.
- 2Though God hasten never so fast for our deliverance, yet we always think him too long.Though God hasten neuer so fast for our deliuerance, yet we alwaies thinke him too long.
