A17728:172
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.
Vers. 9. Therefore will I yet contend, or plead with you saith the Lord, and will rebuke your children's children.
Vers. 9. Therefore will I yet contend, or plead with you saith the Lord, and will rebuke your childrens children.
That which is here added, is not of small consequence: for the Prophet gives them to understand, that if God in former times chastised the peoples treacheries and treasons; that himself notwithstanding as on his behalf remains just: as if he should say, Think not you ⟨p. 69⟩are rid of all your afflictions, albeit I have already severely scourged you and your fathers for your offences and rebellions. For you walking still in the same course, there being neither end nor measure in your sins; you may well think I will not depart from my right, but I will on the other side pursue you, your fathers, and your whole race, to the utmost. We have now the Prophets meaning. For it is an ordinary custom among hypocrites, shamelessly to shake of all fear, but then especially when the Lord hath once made them feel the rod. Why so? Because they imagine he will content himself to have punished their wickednesses once. But in the mean while they do not so much as dream that he corrects the sins of men but lightly, §1thereby to bring them to repentance; yea, and that albeit §2he be severe, yet he favours his blows, to the end he may §3still leave place for hope: also, that sinners in looking for pardon for their transgressions, might so much the more cheerfully return back again into the right way. Hypocrites never dream of this:1 but contrariwise they think God at the first blow displayeth his whole indignation and rigour, so as by means hereof they promise to themselves impunity for ever after. As for example, if God brings upon some country, or city, be it war, plague, or famine; whilst the smart lasts you shall see them terrified, & grieved: and the greater part whom God handles in this kind, will mourn, sigh, & lament: but God no sooner gives them any respite, but they shake their ears (as they say) and with the dog return unto their vomit; never calling to mind their faults formerly committed. Hypocrites therefore must of necessity be brought to understand (as we see Jeremiah here doth) that God so corrects mens sins, that he ceaseth not for all that to hold on his authority and right even to future times, when he sees men so refractary and headstrong, that they profit nothing by all the chastisements he inflicts upon them.