A17728:422
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.
namely, the circumcision of the heart. In a word, the Prophet teacheth that here, which Paul hath more clearly expounded in Rom. 2.29. to wit, that the letter is nothing before God; but he requires the spirit. For by these words Paul means, that the outward sign is nothing, unless the inward truth thereof be added thereunto: for the circumcision of the letter with Saint Paul, signifies as much as the outward ceremony: as amongst us we may call it the ⟨p. 199⟩literal Baptism,1 when neither faith nor repentance goes with it. But the spirit, or spiritual circumcision, is, when a man denies himself, and is renewed: in a word, that true and unfeigned conversion of the heart unto God, 2whereof the Prophet here speaks. And Moses also toucheth the same, Deut. 10.16. for there he shows how the Jews much deceived themselves, if they thought to satisfy God with the bare circumcision of the flesh: therefore saith he, circumcise the fore-skin of your hearts. 3I grant in another place he shows, that this is Gods peculiar work: but howsoever God circumciseth the heart, yet it is not in vain that men are exhorted to circumcise themselves spiritually: which also we may now say of Baptism. For when Saint Paul exhorts the faithful to the fear of God,4 and to holiness of life, he brings in Baptism therewithal: and yet it is certain that men attribute not that to themselves, which God signifies unto us by the sign of Baptism. But his meaning is,5 we should ask of God the grace of his holy spirit, that the outward sign become not unprofitable unto us, by wanting the inward truth thereof. Thus then, when the Prophet commands the Israelites to take away the fore-skin of their hearts; it is all one as if he had said unto them, I see you are but too liberal in preferring ceremonies, and the outward service; but what avails all this, unless the integrity of the heart go before?