A17728:628
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.
1Here God shows the reason why he called this people foolish, and without heart. For it was a strange senselessness in them, that they feared not Gods presence, seeing the very dumb and insensible elements, subject themselves under his command. And above all, he proposeth the example of the sea: for no creature is so hideous and terrible as the sea, when it is tossed with tempests and waves. Why so? The whole world seems to be turned topsy turuey, when her waves arise with so great violence: who is it that hears or sees the same, that trembles not every joint of him:2 and yet the sea it self, which terrifies the most resolute man on earth; obeys God quietly. For let her floods be never so furious, yet do they grow calm and still, and keep within compass. But if you would know the manner how; truly it is a miracle; and therefore who can give a reason of it? For the sea we ⟨p. 297⟩know (as other elements are) is round: as the earth is round, so is the element of water; and so is the fire and air in like manner. Sith the form of this element then is round, let us see whether it be lower than the earth, or above it: but her lightness shows, that she is above the earth. Whence is it then,3 that the sea doth not forthwith overwhelm the whole earth? For she is liquid, and cannot stay in a place, unless she be restrained by some secret power & moving of God. It follows then, that the sea is shut up within her place, because it hath so pleased God: as Moses also shows in Genes. 1.9. Let the dry earth appear, saith God. For he there shows that the earth was covered with waters, so as not a fingers breadth thereof appeared, till God had gathered them into their place. Now this voice of God, albeit we hear it not with our ears, and that it sounds not in the air; yet doth the sea understand it well enough; because she is contained within her bounds. Put the case the sea should always be calm, yet should this work of God at all times be admirable, in regard men have some part of the earth dry, wherein they may inhabit. But when the tempest riseth, as I have said, and that it seems heaven and earth would go together: which of us trembles not at the viewing of such a spectacle. Then Gods power and out-stretched arm appears more manifestly, which thus composeth and quiets the boisterous sea. We now see the scope of the Prophets words.