A17728:653
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.
Vers. 28. They are waxen fat, for the word here used comes of one that signifies oil, they are anointed with fat (saith he): If we will render it properly after the Latins, they shine, or are white: he alludes to fat men that are well fed, whose skin is fair, and shining, yea they overpass, or, albeit they over-pass, the words of the wicked, that is to say, the iniquities of the wicked, they judge not the cause of the fatherless, and prosper; and judge not the judgement of the poor.
Vers. 28. They are waxen fat, for the word heere vsed comes of one that signifies oyle, they are annoynted with fat (saith he): If we will render it properly after the Latines, they shine, or are white: he alludes to fat men that are well fed, whose skin is faire, and shining, yea they ouerpasse, or, albeit they ouer-passe, the words of the wicked, that is to say, the iniquities of the wicked, they iudge not the cause of the fatherlesse, and prosper; and iudge not the iudgement of the poore.
Here the Prophet taxeth those who were the highest in dignity above the rest, who also carried a great sway among them, in regard of their wealth: moreover, they meant to be so privileged, that no man should dare to control them, because they (forsooth) were the governors of the people. Before, he spake in general terms: but now he directs his speech to such as were most eminent above the people; to wit, to the Kings council, to the Priests, Judges, and to all such as were in authority. He saith then, they were swollen with fatness, ⟨p. 309⟩and shined, albeit they overpassed, &c. We see how he confirms that which he touched briefly before: for they shrouded themselves in such wise under pretext of their riches, that none might compel them to render an account of their life; and therefore by way of yielding them so much, he saith, I grant indeed you are shining, and glister as if you were all of gold. But whence comes this glistering? Whence comes this goodly show wherewith you dazzle the eyes of the simple? You shine and are fat, you have over-passed the words of the wicked: that is, the ways, enterprises, and counsels of the wicked. In a word; he signifies, that this nothing availed wicked men, that with a look, they were able to terrify the whole world, that they were in credit and estimation, and were reverenced in respect of their wealth: to be short, that they were feared of all. The Prophet yields them their honours, their riches, their goodly shows, their fame, their reputation, greatness, dignities, and whatsoever else: in the mean while, you (saith he) have overpassed the ways and acts of the wicked. For in the next place he reproves them, because they judged not judgement. Whence we see that the Prophet speaks not of the Commons, or of private persons; but of set purpose taxeth the Kings Council, and the Judges of the land. They judge not judgement, saith he, that it to say, They are utterly careless of equity and uprightness: but thefts, and wrongs, went unpunished, and had their full swing.