A17728:238
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.
AS Jeremiah likened the people before to a Dromedary; so here he compares them to a wild Ass. Thou art (saith he) a Dromedary, and a wild Ass. For if the wild Ass gathereth in, or snuffeth up the wind, according to the desire of her soul: that is to say, if with full breath she desireth, and gathereth in the wind by her occasion, or by her meeting at a venture (for hereby he meant to let us know, that in such kind of beasts there is neither discretion, nor any moderation at all.) after then they have gotten the wind in their snout, on which side soever they meet therewith; none can stay them, nor keep them back from pursuing their violent course. For whosoever ⟨p. 102⟩would bestow his labour to that end, should but labour in vain; until the time come in which he may find her in her month. By these words then, the Prophet gives us to understand, that the peoples fury was become altogether untameable, so as it was not possible to hold them in, by any means whatsoever; no more than the wild Ass can be restrained, or forget that natural restlessness which is in her; but especially after she hath once scented the wind. Indeed if she were shut up, peradventure the crib might somewhat prevail with her, from flinging thus furiously over the fields: but if she may freely take her course, over mountains, and through thickets, where she may gather and take in the wind, according to her souls desire; that is to say, after she may fetch her frisks to and fro, without any hinderance: this is the wind of occasion. For the Prophet calls that the wind of occasion, which falls out by chance: as if he should say, such beasts are ruled by no reason, neither keep they any measure. If any one of us would undertake a journey, he §1would first enquire how far he could travel on a day; for we not only flee weariness, but (as much as in us §2lies) we prevent it: moreover, having considered in himself what way to take, he adviseth with his host; and not content with that, he requires instructions touching that §3way which is most direct. But the case is otherwise with wild beasts, when they take their course: for after they have once set upon it, they neither direct their race towards Lyons, 1nor Lausanne, but fling up and down according as the toy takes them in the head: and their strength being well spent, yet cease they not still to hold on their course: