A17728:78
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. 11. And, that is to say, afterwards, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying; Jeremiah, what seest thou And I said, The staff of a watchman; or, of an Almond tree. 12 And the Lord said unto me, Thou hast seen aright; because I will watch, or hasten: word for word, I am watching upon my word: that is, to fulfil it.
Vers. 11. And, that is to say, afterwards, the word of the Lord came vnto me, saying; Ieremiah, what seest thou And I said, The staffe of a watchman; or, of an Almond tree. 12 And the Lord said vnto me, Thou hast seene aright; because I will watch, or hasten: word for word, I am watching vpon my word: that is, to fulfill it.
God in this place confirms that which he said before, as touching the power of his word. These two verses then must be taken here, as an exposition of the ⟨p. 26⟩former: for he teacheth no new thing here, but only confirms the former sentence; namely, that the Prophets neither speak in vain, nor fruitlessly, in regard they are furnished with a celestial power: as on the one side to build and plant; so on the other side, to destroy and pluck up, as we have alleged the text out of Saint Paul, 2. Cor. 2.15.16. where the true Teachers are armed with the same power. As also in the other place: We have (saith he) vengeance ready against all unbelievers,1 though they burst with pride; though by their loftiness they fray and scare all the world, yet have we the sword of the spirit ready drawn in our hands, to put them to flight, in regard the word of God hath in it self sufficient efficacy, to overthrow and bring to nought all rebels. God then continues on this sentence, when he saith, Jeremiah what seest thou? God had presented before him a staff, or a rod of an Almond tree (as some translate it) and the word indeed signifies so much; but in regard it comes of a verb which signifies To watch, or To hasten, we cannot properly translate it here an Almond tree. And yet I deny not but the Hebrew word signifies so much: though (as I have said) the word which signifies an Almond tree, comes of the verb which signifies To watch; and they think that this tree is so called, in regard it brings forth fruit sooner than all other trees. For the Almond trees flourish (as it is well enough known) even in winter, and in the middest of the greatest frosts. If we say then, I saw a rod, or a staff of an Almond tree, and that God answers, Thou hast seen aright, because I watch; then there will be no likeness in the words, neither will there be that grace of speech: besides, the sense also will be unapt. Of necessity therefore we must translate thus: Unless we will corrupt the text, and wrap up the Prophets meaning in ambiguities. I see a rod, or a staff, of a watchman. Put the case that an Almond tree were here noted; yet must the tree properly be called watching, if we respect the etymology of the word: and