A17728:179
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.
This then is the Prophets meaning when he saith,1 Go to the isles of Chittim and send to Kedar. On the one side he here comprehends Greece; and on the other side the East: but it is by taking a part for the whole. For the Hebrews (as we have seen in Daniel) call the Greeks Chittim: although others are of opinion, that by this word the Macedonians are understood. But without all controversy, under this word, he comprehends all Greece; and not only the isles of the Mediterranium sea, but all Europe: so that this word extends it self to all these parts, to wit, to all France, and Spain. I grant that this word is sometime taken apart; but when it is taken generally, the Hebrews (as I have said) have been wont to speak of the French, Spaniards, Germans, and Grecians. Now in that they call the regions far remote from the sea, isles; it is because they had not much traffic with nations far off: so as they esteem all to be isles, which lie beyond the sea. And the Prophets also follow that phrase of speech, which was usually received of the vulgar sort. He commands them then to go to the isles, or to ⟨p. 72⟩the regions, as well Southward, as Northward. Secondly, he wills them on the contrary to send towards the East, and to consider the state thereof, as well into Arabia, as to India; to the Persians, and other regions. For under this word Kedar, he comprehends all the nations of the East: but he chiefly mentions Kedar, in regard they were a more barbarous people than any of the Medes or Persians, or such as were most renowned: which he doth of purpose to disgrace the Jews. Go then, or send through all the parts of the world, and see and consider diligently: see and send: as if he meant to say, The Jews are grown so senseless, that it is impossible to recover them with one word, or a bare admonition. This is the reason then why he exhorts them so carefully to enquire; notwithstanding the thing were more than apparent already. But (as I have said) this so diligent an enquiry, is not to be referred to the difficulty of the fact; but it is to convince the Jews, who were become so sottish and perverse, that albeit their own consciences convicted them of impiety, yet they ceased not for all that, to sooth themselves up still in their vices. He saith then, Truly, Go to the isles, and after, see if the like thing be done:
This then is the Prophets meaning when he saith,