The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The like puissance and virtue of Gods Word working in a multitude,¹ is to be read in the Prophet Jeremiah; who perceiving the time of Gods vengeance to draw nigh, and the City of Jerusalem to be besieged, boldly crieth out in his open Sermon, saying, He that remaineth in this City shall die, ²either by sword, by hunger, or by pestilence. But he that shall go forth to the Chaldeans, shall live, and shall find his soul for a prey. This might have appeared a deceivable, seditious and ungodly Sermon, to command subjects to depart from the obedience and defence of their native Prince, rich Citizens and valiant soldiers from their possessions and strong Holds, and to will them to render themselves, without all manner of resistance, into the hands of strangers, being their enemies. What carnal man would not have judged the persuasions of the Prophet most foolish and false? And yet in the hearts of such as God had elected and appointed to life, so effectually wrought this Sermon, that a great number of Jerusalem left their King, their City, riches and friends, and obeyed the Prophets counsel: for so may be espied by the answer of Zedechias the King, when Jeremiah counselled him, That he should render himself into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, ³he saith, I fear these Jews, that are fled to the Chaldeans, lest perchance they give me into their hands.

The like puissance and vertue of Gods Word working in a multitude,¹ is to be read in the Prophet Ieremiah; who perceiving the time of Gods vengeance to draw nigh, and the City of Ierusalem to be besieged, boldly cryeth out in his open Sermon, saying, He that remaineth in this Citie shall die, ²either by sword, by hunger, or by pestilence. But he that shall go forth to the Caldeans, shall live, and shall finde his soul for a prey. This might have appeared a deceivable, seditious and ungodly Sermon, to command subjects to depart from the obedience and defence of their native Prince, rich Citizens and valiant souldiers from their possessions and strong Holds, and to will them to render themselves, without all manner of resistance, into the hands of strangers, being their enemies. What carnall man would not have judged the perswasions of the Prophet most foolish and false? And yet in the hearts of such as God had elected and appointed to life, so effectually wrought this Sermon, that a great number of Ierusalem left their King, their City, riches and friends, and obeyed the Prophets counsell: for so may be espied by the answer of Zedechias the King, when Ieremiah counselled him, That he should render himself into the hands of Nebuchadonoser,