Two and twenty lectures upon the five first chapters of Jeremiah With prayers annexed,…Tvvo and tvventie lectures vpon the fiue first chapters of Ieremiah With prayers annexed,…

Vers. 18. And I, behold I have set thee this day as a City of defence, or defenced; for an iron pillar, or stay, and for a wall of brass, against the whole land; against the Kings of Judah, against the Princes, against the Priests, and against the people of the land.

Vers. 18. And I, behold I haue set thee this day as a City of defence, or defenced; for an iron pillar, or stay, and for a wall of brasse, against the whole land; against the Kings of Iudah, against the Princes, against the Priests, and against the people of the land.

Here God furnisheth his servant with boldness: for it was necessary he should be endowed with courage, in respect of that fear whereof we spake in the former verse. For Jeremiah thought himself neither apt nor sufficient to undergo so heavy a burden: also, he had to deal with a perverse and rebellious generation; neither were they a few of them, for the whole multitude were already confirmed in the contempt of God, through an obstinate wickedness, full of impiety. In as much then as all care of true religion was gone, and that there was no reverence of the heavenly doctrine left among this people: Jeremiah distrusting his own strength, durst never have taken upon him a burden of such weight, had he not been sustained by the help and assistance of God. For this cause God now testifies, that he shall be as a City well fortified, and as an iron pillar: albeit the word stay, and bearing up, will be apt, and will also agree well enough, in regard it comes of another root, which signifies, to bear up, or stay: as also, because according to this sense the Prophet means, he shall be a pillar, not ⟨p. 44⟩only to be set up in some void place, but which shall bear up the wall or building. The sense is clear enough: for the Lord signifies, that his servant shall be invincible; so as whatsoever his enemies devised or plotted to the contrary, yet they should never prevail against him: as it is in the next verse.

HEre God furnisheth his seruant with boldnesse: for it was necessary hee should bee endowed with courage, in respect of that feare whereof wee spake in the former verse. For Ieremiah thought himselfe neither apt nor sufficient to vndergoe so heauie a burthen: also, he had to deale with a peruerse and rebellious generation; neither were they a few of them, for the whole multitude were already confirmed in the contempt of God, through an obstinate wickednesse, full of impiety. In as much then as all care of true religion was gone, and that there was no reuerence of the heauenly doctrine left among this people: Ieremiah distrusting his own strength, durst neuer haue taken vpō him a burthen of such waight, had he not been sustained by the helpe and assistance of God. For this cause God now testifies, that he shall be as a City well fortified, and as an iron pillar: albeit the word stay, and bearing vp, will be apt, and will also agree well enough, in regard it comes of another root, which signinifies, to beare vp, or stay: as also, because according to this sence the Prophet meanes, hee shall bee a pillar, not