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,…

God here shows how insupportable this pride of theirs is unto him, when they contemned his Prophets, ⟨p. 283⟩by whose ministry he only will be heard. For albeit Jesus Christ had not at all pronounced this sentence, He that hears you, hears me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth me, Luk. 10.16. yet had this been a perpetual law, in regard God from the beginning, meant that his servants should be no less obeyed, than if he himself had in his own person descended down from heaven. And therefore the Jews offered as much violence to God, as oft as they contemned his Prophets, as if they had presumed to have spit in his own face. God now shows then in what detestation he hath this their folly and madness; in that they profited nothing by the labours of his messengers.

GOd heere shewes how insupportable this pride of theirs is vnto him, when they contemned his Prophets, ⟨p. 283⟩by whose ministery he onely will be heard. For albeit Iesus Christ had not at all pronounced this sentence, He that heares you, heares me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth me, Luk. 10.16. yet had this been a perpetuall law, in regard God from the beginning, meant that his seruants should be no lesse obeyed, than if he himselfe had in his owne person descended downe from heauen. And therefore the Iewes offered as much violence to God, as oft as they contemned his Prophets, as if they had presumed to haue spit in his owne face. God now shewes then in what detestation hee hath this their folly and madnesse; in that they profited nothing by the labours of his messengers.

Wherefore thus saith the Lord of hosts. Jeremiah useth this preface the better to awaken the Jews. For if in omitting these words, Thus saith the Lord: he had begun thus, Because you have pronounced this word, behold, God will make his words in my mouth as fire: his doctrine would have been received, but by way of contempt. But now putting the name of God in the first place, neither yet that simply; but adorns him with this title, and calls him, the Lord of hosts, therein magnifying his power, to terrify them the more: doubtless this must needs touch the Jews to the quick. he saith then, thus saith the Lord of hosts; namely, because you have pronounced this word. He often changeth the persons here, but it is that the doctrine which he brings, might have the more efficacy. He might as well have said in the third person, Because they have spoken thus, behold, I will put my words in thy mouth. But he speaks one while to the people, and then again directs his speech to his servant Jeremiah. He saith then, you cannot deny but you have spoken thus: that is, you have thus scorned me with your disdainful speeches, as if my Prophets whom I sent, had buzzed but an empty sound of words in your ears, or had fed you with fables. Behold (saith he) I will put my words in thy mouth as fire,