A17728:287
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. 35. And thou saidest, that is, Notwithstanding: for this word and, is taken here for nevertheless: Surely, in the Hebrew it is For, but it notes out a boasting, full of impudency; in regard the Jews were grown so ma•• pert, and shameless withal, that they durst justify their innocency. Surely I am clean: that is, I am innocent; only let his wrath be far from me. Behold, I will judge thee, or enter into judgement with thee, because thou hast said, I have not sinned.
Vers. 35. And thou saidest, that is, Notwithstanding: for this word and, is taken heere for neuerthelesse: Surely, in the Hebrew it is For, but it notes out a boasting, full of impudency; in regard the Iewes were growne so ma•• pert, and shamelesse withall, that they durst iustifie their innocency. Surely I am cleane: that is, I am innocent; onely let his wrath be farre from me. Behold, I will iudge thee, or enter into iudgement with thee, because thou hast said, I haue not sinned.
The Prophet here shows how the Jews were grown so shameless, that it was impossible, by any admonitions whatsoever, to bring them to any blushing ⟨p. 130⟩or moderate course. Albeit then they were like adulterous women, and ran like harlots into every place, to get some reward: and although they also had slain the Prophets, and holy servants of God; yet, as if they had been no way culpable, they bragged (forsooth) of their innocency. Nevertheless then, you have said, that is to say, How darest thou pretend thou art any way innocent, seeing thou art convinced, not only by surmises or conjectures, but by so manifest and apparent demonstrations? Moreover, the Prophet shows, that the estate and condition of the Jews, was utterly desperate, seeing they would no more be admonished: nay on the contrary, they were grown so obstinate, that they durst vaunt of their innocency. Thou hast said: (note that he still speaks in the singular number, as to a wife) Thou hast notwithstanding said, Surely I am clean. See how hypocrites not only labour with divers masks, to excuse themselves; but more than that, are so bold, as to advance themselves, and hover in the air, as if by their confident pride they would scale even the very heavens. As if they had said, Who dare challenge us? Lo how hypocrites come in, loftily advancing themselves, in despiting and setting light by the servants of God, thinking by their great cracks to put them to silence. Now he condemns the Jews of the like arrogancy; because albeit they were manifestly convinced, yet they feared not to affirm that they were altogether innocent.