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,…

Vers. 6. And the Lord said to me in the days of King Josiah, what hath this lewd, or disdainful Israel done? others translate, This rebel: she is gone upon every high mountain, and under every green tree, and there hath she played the harlot. 7 And after she had done all these things, I said, Return unto me. Others translate in the third person, She will return, and she returned not, as her rebellious sister Judah saw. 8 And I saw that for all this, for all these occasions, or causes; to wit, that rebellious Israel had played the harlot; I forsook her: I put her away, and gave her the bill of ber divorce: and yet her disloyal sister Judah feared not, but she went also and played the harlot.

Vers. 6. And the Lord said to me in the dayes of King Iosias, what hath this lewd, or disdainfull Israel done? others translate, This rebell: shee is gone vpon euery high mountaine, and vnder euery greene tree, and there hath she played the harlot. 7 And after she had done all these things, I said, Returne vnto me. Others translate in the third person, Shee will returne, and she returned not, as her rebellious sister Iudah saw. 8 And I saw that for all this, for all these occasions, or causes; to wit, that rebellious Israel had played the harlot; I forsooke her: I put her away, and gaue her the bill of ber diuorce: and yet her disloyall sister Iudah feared not, but shee went also and played the harlot.

Here the Prophet begins a new speech: for he recites that which God had given him in charge; and withal notes the time; to wit, whilst Josiah reigned. Now it is well known, that in his days the land was purged from all sorts of superstitions. For this good King endeavoured to restore Gods pure worship, and to abolish all the filthy corruptions wherewith the Temple, and religion it self had been wholly infected and defiled. He therefore manfully employed himself in this business; neither is it to be doubted, but as touching the outward face of things, ⟨p. 152⟩religion and piety then seemed to flourish: yet shall we see how in the greater part of the people, hypocrisy and counterfeit holiness bear a great sway: which often falls out, when the heads and governors of countries desire to maintain the purity of Gods worship, and to purge out the corruptions that have crept in. For ye shall ever see some which carry a fair show for a time; and yet in the mean while, will not stick to continue still in their obstinacy against God. This was then the state of the Commons. Which we are diligently to observe: because it might be thought that Jeremiah carried himself somewhat too harshly towards his nation: for reformation was in every mans mouth: as the greater part of those at this day, who at the beginning of reformation, made goodly shows of their readiness to embrace the doctrine of the Gospel: and yet after they had renounced all popish superstitions, now willingly content themselves with a slight reformation, wherein they glory. But in the mean while they shift off Christs yoke, and cannot endure to be subject to the discipline of the Church. In a word, they could wish that all order and policy were overthrown. And yet for all this, as oft as they are taxed for their sins, they are ready to cover themselves with this fair pretext of reformation. And doubtless Jeremiah had even such in his time to deal withal. This is the cause why he expressly notes, that he had this commission in the days of Josiah: to wit, even then whilst the King bent himself to set up Gods worship in the purity of it; and whilst none durst contradict it: for during this time we may perceive, that God was called upon with one consent, without any outward superstitions.