A17728:619
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.
That which I said before, appears now plainly; to wit, that the Prophet yet mitigates not that tartness and sharpness which he used in the former threatenings: but handles the Jews according to their obstinacy and rebellion, in regard he saw they were incorrigible. And the holy Ghost also gave him to understand, that there should be such great obstinacy in them, that till they were utterly dashed to pieces (as it were) they would not bow their neck to receive the yoke. He also here allegeth the cause; lest they should fall to pleading with God; which hypocrites are wont to do, as oft as God begins to correct them a little severely; for then they murmur against him; then they complain of him, and must needs know the causes (forsooth) wherefore he handles them so roughly, as if they deserved no such matter. Because the hypocrites then, had these things in their mouths; the Prophet here prevents them, It shall come to pass (saith he) when you have said; He speaks to the Jews, in the person of God: and by and by returns Gods speech to himself: When you then, shall have said, wherefore hath the Lord our God done all these things? He here attributes that to these hypocrites, which always went currant amongst them, as oft as they were summoned before Gods judgement seat. For they are as forward in pleading their cause, as if they only were wronged: and, as if God being summoned before them, to yield them an account: they were able to convince him either of cruelty, or of over great severity. We see then how the Prophet deciphers out this desperate people to the life, who could neither be brought into any good order, nor yet to acknowledge their fault: but stood out against God with brazen foreheads, as in the rest of the Prophets we have seen,1 but especially in the first chapter of Malachi. For there the Prophet often repeats this ⟨p. 293⟩cry of the people, wherein? wherein? what means this? So our Prophet here in like manner, when they shall have said (saith he) wherefore hath the Lord done all these things unto us? As if they, forsooth, were guiltless.2 For men of reprobate minds, as they have skill to wipe their mouths, with the harlot,3 after they have committed their abominations: so can they also set a bold face on the matter, and ask reasons of God, why he chastiseth them.