A17728:246
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 sentence of the Prophet is so concise and short, that the brevity of it, at the first blush, makes it seem difficult: but observe in a word, that he meant to say, it was impossible in any sort to correct this wild people, albeit God used all the means he could, by his servants the Prophets, to appease such a furious rage ⟨p. 105⟩wherewith they were carried away after their superstitions, and idols. God therefore in this first member shows what course he took with them: for all the exhortations and sermons of the Prophets, tended to no other end, but to keep the people quiet under Gods gracious protection. But he useth other terms: Keep back thy foot (saith he) from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst. For as soon as they perceived any danger towards, they ran now into Egypt, then into Assyria, as we have seen before.1 God here complains of this folly, in that they obeyed not the counsel he gave them, which was for their benefit and salvation. For if God had commanded them to have fled towards the East, or West: their replies would have been ready, The way is too long and tedious for us: but God only willed them to keep them quiet and still at home: what a fury was it then in them not to wait patiently for his succour, but to vex themselves, and that for nothing? Isaiah saith in a manner as much; but not in the very same words. For he expostulates the matter with them,2 that they refused no travel, albeit they might have been sustained by Gods immediate hand, without fetching such vagaries. We now have the Prophets meaning. For in the first place he shows, that the people were timely admonished; §1but they were so far fore-stalled with their perverse counsels, that they would give the Prophets no audience. This therefore was a vile ingratitude, in that they would not stay at home quietly, but rather chose to take any pains whatsoever, though it were utterly fruitless, This is your rest (saith Isa. 30.15.) but you would not. Who desires not peace, and to be at rest? All men will confess, it is one of the greatest benefits that can naturally be wished or desired: and yet the Prophet here affirms, the people esteemed it not. It must needs thereupon follow then, that they were become utterly senseless, in neglecting that, which every man naturally desires; which also is engraven (as it were) in every mans breast.