After that the City of Jerusalem was burnt and destroyed, the King led away prisoner,1 his sons and chief Nobles slain, and the whole vengeance of God poured out upon the disobedient; yet there was left a remnant in the Land, to make use of and possess the same, who called upon the Prophet Jeremiah, to know concerning them the will and pleasure of God, Whether they should remain still in the Land of Judea, as was appointed and permitted by the Chaldeans, Or if they should depart and fly into Egypt: To certify them of this their duty, they desire the Prophet to pray unto God for them: Who condescending and granting their Petition, promised to keep back nothing from them, which the Lord God should open unto him.2 And they in like manner taking God to record and witness, made a solemn Vow, To obey whatsoever the Lord should answer unto him. But when the Prophet, by the inspiration of the Spirit of God, and assured revelation and knowledge of his Will, commanded them to remain still in the Land that they were in, promising them, if they so would do, That God would there plant them; and that he would repent of all the plagues that he had brought upon them; and that he would be with them, to deliver them from the hands of the King of Babylon. But contrariwise, if they would not obey the voice of the Lord, but would against his Commandment go to Egypt, thinking that there they should live in rest and abundance, without any fear of War, and penury of victual, then the very plagues which they feared, should come upon them, and take them: For (saith the Prophet) it shall come to pass, That all men that obstinately will go to Egypt, there to remain, shall die, either by sword, ⟨p. 67⟩by hunger or pestilence: But when the Prophet of God had declared unto them this plain sentence and will of God, I pray you, what was their answer? The text declared it, saying, Thou speakest a lie, neither hath the Lord our God sent thee unto us, 3commanding that we should not go into Egypt, but Baruch the son of Neriah provoketh thee against us, that he may give us into the power of the Chaldees, that they might kill us, and lead us prisoners into Babylon: And thus they refused the counsel of God, and followed their own fantasies.
After that the City of Ierusalem was burnt and destroyed, the King led away prisoner,1 his sons and chief Nobles slain, and the whole vengeance of God poured out upon the disobedient; yet there was left a remnant in the Land, to make use of and possesse the same, who called upon the Prophet Ieremiah, to know concerning them the will and pleasure of God, Whether they should remain still in the Land of Iudea, as was appointed and permitted by the Caldeans, Or if they should depart and flie into Egypt: To certifie them of this their duty, they desire the Prophet to pray unto God for them: Who condescending and granting their Petition, promised to keep back nothing from them, which the Lord God should open unto him.2 And they in like manner taking God to record and witnesse, made a solemn Vow, To obey whatsoever the Lord should answer unto him. But when the Prophet, by the inspiration of the Spirit of God, and assured revelation and knowledge of his Will, commanded them to remain still in the Land that they were in, promising them, if they so would do, That God would there plant them; and that he would repent of all the plagues that he had brought upon them; and that he would be with them, to deliver them from the hands of the King of Babylon. But contrariwise, if they would not obey the voyce of the Lord, but would against his Commandment go to Egypt, thinking that there they should live in rest and aboundance, without any fear of Warre, and penury of victuall, then the very plagues which they feared, should come upon them, and take them: For (saith the Prophet) it shall come to passe, That all men that obstinately will go to Egypt, there to remain, shall die, either by sword, ⟨p. 67⟩by hunger or pestilence: But when the Prophet of God had declared unto them this plain sentence and will of God, I pray you, what was their answer? The text declared it, saying, Thou speakest a lie, neither hath the Lord our God sent thee unto us, 3commanding that we should not go into Egppt, but Baruch the sonne of Neriah provoketh thee against us, that he may give us into the power of the Caldees, that they might kill us, and lead us prisoners into Babylon: And thus they refused the counsell of God, and followed their owne fantasies.
- 1Jerem. 42.
- 2Read the Text, Jer 42.Reade the Text, Jer 42.
- 3Jerem. 43.
