A17728:225
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. 21. And I planted thee as a vine of choice; noble, or exquisite: for so much, the Hebrew word signifies, wholly of faithful plants, or approved seed; and how art thou then turned unto me, into the plants of a strange, or wild vine.
Vers. 21. And I planted thee as a vine of choyce; noble, or exquisite: for so much, the Hebrew word signifies, wholly of faithfull plants, or approoued seed; and how art thou then turned vnto me, into the plants of a strange, or wild vine.
God here confirms that he said in the former sentence: for there he condemned the Israelites, because they ran riot after their superstitions, notwithstanding God had redeemed them to another end; namely, that they should suffer themselves to be governed by his hand. I (saith he then) have planted thee a choice vine: that is to say, when I redeemed thee from out of thine enemies hands, I licensed thee not to prostitute and give over thy self to all abominations. For I planted thee as a vine of choice. This similitude is well enough known, and we often meet with it: for God in many places compares his ⟨p. 96⟩Church to a vine: generally he terms it his heritage, or possession: but in regard the vine is more excellent than all other possessions (for they have been wont to prefer it before meadow ground, or that which is tilled) So then because the vine is the most noble and choice inheritance; therefore God, to show how greatly he esteemed his Church; when he mentions it, he gives it rather the name of a vine, than of a meadow or field. So in this place, I have not redeemed thee out of Egypt, ever after to become careless of thee: but my meaning was that thou shouldest take root and that thou shouldest be to me as a precious inheritance; even as a vine whose branches are all natural. I planted thee then for an excellent vine, to bring me forth fruit: yea (saith he) for a whole faithful seed: that is to say, for this purpose I planted thee, that thou shouldest bring forth acceptable and pleasant fruit. Yet note by the way, that God hath here respect, not to the nature of the people of whom he thus speaks; but to his free grace. For the people naturally were never true and faithful plants,