A17728:166
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,…
Two and twenty lectures upon the five first chapters of Jeremiah With prayers annexed, at the end of every lecture: by Master John Calvin. Which being faithfully collected form him as he uttered them in Latin, in the schools of Geneva, were afterwards translated into French: and now newly turned out of French, into English, with a table at the end, containing the sum and scope of every lecture.Tvvo and tvventie lectures vpon the fiue first chapters of Ieremiah With prayers annexed, at the end of euery lecture: by Master Iohn Caluin. Which being faithfully collected form him as hee vttered them in Latine, in the schooles of Geneua, were afterwards translated into French: and now newly turned out of French, into English, with a table at the end, containing the summe and scope of euery lecture.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Nathanael Newbery, 1620
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
He saith afterwards, those which kept the Low. The Hebrew word signifies, to hold, and comprehend: it also signifies sometimes, to run. And thus it may admit two expositions in this place: either that the Priests held; that §1is to say, understood the Law; or rather, that they had it §2in their custody: neither will it suit well to say, that they suppressed, or kept the Law hidden, in regard the Lord speaks here to them first, by way of concession or yielding so much unto them: but afterwards he also shows, even by this, that they were so much the more wicked, in that they became utterly careless of their duties. He saith then, Those which had the custody of the Law: not that he meant they kept the Law of God in truth, nor as if they kept it by them of any pure zeal; but only in regard of an outward profession of it. For they would needs be held the keepers of the Law, as having the heavenly doctrine thereof closed up within their breast, like unto an hidden treasure;1 in regard the people were to seek counsel at their lips, as being the organs and instruments of the holy Ghost. Thus then, for as much as they bragged of the knowledge of the Law, and that they were the keepers of it: therefore the Prophet bitterly inveighs against them, because they knew not God. And it seems that Saint Paul draws that which he saith in Rom. 2.20.21.22. from this place, Thou which understandest the form of ⟨p. 66⟩the Law, Thou that preachest another should not commit adultery, committest thou adultery? condemnest thou Idolatry, & yet committest thou sacrilege? For thou observest the law, thou approvest it, thou gloriest in God; thou hast knowledge and understanding. In which words St. Paul discovers the wickedness of hypocrites; for they are the more worthy to be detested, by how much the more they are swollen with pride and vain-glory; and yet in the mean while profane the sacred name of God, whilst they thus brag; we are preachers and teachers of it, and are (as it were) his Prophets. We see now that this which he puts here in the second place, belongs chiefly to the Priests; who are therefore called the guardians of the Law, because it was committed unto them by right of their ordination,