A17728:533
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.
IN this verse, as also in the rest following, God shows he is not over severe nor rigorous, albeit he denounceth such extreme calamities against his people. Because their wickedness was become utterly incurable, and therefore he had no other means but this left.1 For we know what he often testifies in the Scripture, namely, that he is patient, that he waits to see if sinners will come to repentance. Seeing God then every where extols his clemency, promising that he will show mercy to the most wicked, if they repent: for as much also as he freely prevents sinners, it should seem strange, that with so great severity he riseth up in anger against his Church. But we see what obstinacy and perverseness there is in the minds of the wicked: and therefore they fear not to make their complaints against God, and to call him to an account (as it were) before them: as if he dealt too rigorously with them. For this cause then, God now shows, that it was not his fault that the people were not pardoned: for as if ⟨p. 251⟩he should have said, though I would, yet they would not. I grant he speaks here after the manner of men:2 but thus (as I have said) he shows how he used all means possible to reclaim them, before he came to deal thus severely with them: And the words themselves also do very well express as much. Go (saith he) through the ways of Jerusalem, and behold I beseech you, know, enquire, in all the corners of the streets. Jeremiah might in one word have said, Find me but one man in the City, and I will willingly spare it. But God here permits the whole world (as it were with all possible care and diligence) to take a thorough view of of this holy city (for so forsooth she styled her self) Now here, as also in the verse following, he directs his speech against Jerusalem. He might as well have named all the rest of the neighbour Cities: but in regard the sanctity of the whole land seemed then to have its seat and residence in Jerusalem; therefore God doth of purpose turn his speech to this City, who yet retained some show of holiness, and far excelled all the rest. He saith then, enquire, view, and mark diligently, if there be a man. He here permits mortal men to be Judges: as if he should say, Come ye all hither. And if the Jews will make me odious, and if they will complain of too much rigour, as if I had dealt inhumanely with them: