A17728:395
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.
Now the Prophet exhorts the Israelites to repentance, that by their example he might provoke the Jews to do the like. I grant the poor captives might indeed gather some fruit from this doctrine: but in regard Jeremiah was after a peculiar manner sent to the Jews, questionless he chiefly bent his endeavours that way; as we said before. God here shows then, that he is ready to be reconciled with the Israelites, 1albeit they have grievously offended: and afterwards, he brings in the Israelites themselves with their answer; Behold we come unto thee, &c. or, we will come: For there is greater likelihood that the Prophet speaks here of that conversion of the ten Tribes, which should afterward be effected. Here is a kind of dialogue then, 2between God, and the Israelites. God of his mere grace calls them to repentance, saying, Return ye rebellious children. In the next place he promiseth to play the part of a good physician, in healing all their diseases. I (saith he) will heal your transgressions: that is, I will blot out all your sins, and will absolve you from all your offences. See here what office §1God performs on his part. First, he summons the Israelites §2to repentance, and then promiseth them pardon; telling them that the remedy is ready at hand, if they harden not their hearts against this call. On the other side, the Israelites for their parts answer, Behold we will come unto thee. Now in this place the Prophet taxeth the obstinacy of the Jews, when he saith, the Israelites shall not harden their necks, after God hath once graciously called them home to himself, but will rather show themselves flexible and ready to yield obedience to his voice. I grant this was not accomplished in respect of the general, after they had leave to return; only some few of them were thus affected; who preferred Gods honour, ⟨p. 185⟩before their own private commodities. I say there were very few, even of these: neither is it any great marvel. For it is not without cause God said before, that albeit there came but one out of a City,3 or but two out of a Tribe, yet for all that he would readily receive them; although others in the mean while should remain hardened in their obstinate courses.