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,…

Here the Prophet in sum,¹ explains that which he meant to say, as touching those four visions which we have formerly handled. He denounceth then, as in the person of God, that there shall be a marvellous, yea, a most horrible desolation, throughout the whole land of Judea. The land (saith he) shall be utterly desolate: or, there shall be a desolation throughout the land. Some expound that which follows, as if he somewhat allayed the tartness and sharpness of his speech. And according to their opinion, there should be a correction here, which should (as it were) give some relief unto the faithful, who hoped, and waited to obtain some grace and mercy, that they might not be utterly out of heart. And to say the truth, if God should only threaten, without adding some exception; it were able to swallow up with fear and dread, an hundred worlds. That the faithful then might not in such wise be over-whelmed with fear, as not to have their recourse to Gods mercy; it is often added by way of correction, that God will not utterly consume the earth. The word which the Prophet here useth sometime signifies, perfection, but in many other places, it signifies consumption: for the verb signifies, to perfect, and consume. And there is the same reason for both: and yet it seems these words should be one contrary to another. Notwithstanding that which is consumed, may properly be called perfect, because it always brings to an end. If