A17728:595
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.
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, 1(here he speaks to the Prophet) and this people shall be ⟨p. 284⟩the wood; and the fire shall devour them. God compares his word to fire: 2not as in other places, nor for the same end: but there is a special cause of this similitude here, to wit, that the words of the Prophets should consume the people, as the fire consumes dry wood, or stubble. The word of God is elsewhere termed burning, or flaming, in regard it inflames the hearts of men; and because it purgeth out, and consumes away their drossiness. But the question here, is neither of the utility which the word brings with it, nor of the fruit which the faithful reap from it. For God simply denounceth, that the Prophets doctrine shall be the ruin of the people: and therefore he expressly saith, I will put my words in thy mouth, as a fire. Had he only said, Behold, my words shall be as the fire, and this people as the stubble; this had not been clear enough. But in regard the Jews had now accustomed themselves to disdainful scoffings: And (I pray you) what are these Prophets?