The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

After the first part of this dolorous complaint, the Prophet declareth the Protestation of the people, saying, Nevertheless in thee shall we remember thy Name: (others read it, But we will remember thee only, and thy Name:) But in the Hebrew there is no Conjunction Copulative in that sentence. The mind of the Prophet is plain, to wit, That notwithstanding the long sustained affliction, the people of God declined not to a false and vain Religion, but remembered God, that sometime appeared to them in his merciful presence; which albeit then they saw not, yet would they still remember his Name, that is, They would call to mind the Doctrine and Promise which at sometimes they heard, albeit in their prosperity they did not sufficiently glorify God, who so mercifully ruled in the midst of them. The temptation, no doubt, of the Israelites, was great in those days: They were carried captives from the Land of Canaan, which was to them the gage and pledge of Gods favour towards them; for it was the inheritance that God promised to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. The League and Covenant of Gods Protection, appeared to have been broken: They lamentably complain, That they saw not their accustomed signs of Gods merciful presence; The true Prophets were few, and the abominations used in Babylon were exceeding many: And so it might have appeared to them, That in vain it was, that they were called the Posterity of Abraham, or that ever they had received the Law, or Form of right Religion from God. That we may the better feel it in our selves, the temptation, I say, was even such, as if God should utterly destroy all Order and Policy that this day is within his Church, that the ⟨p. 102⟩true preaching of the Word should be suppressed, The right use of Sacraments abolished, Idolatry and Papistical abomination erected up again; And therewith, That our bodies should be taken prisoners by Turks or other manifest enemies of God, and of all godliness. Such, I say, was their temptation; How notable, then is this their confession, that in bondage they make, to wit, That they will remember God only, albeit, he hath appeared to turn his face from them, They will remember his name, and will call to mind the deliverance promised.

After the first part of this dolorous complaint, the Prophet declareth the Protestation of the people, saying, Neverthelesse in thee shall we remember thy Name: (others reade it, But we will remember thee onely, and thy Name:) But in the Hebrew there is no Conjunction Copulative in that sentence. The minde of the Prophet is plaine, to wit, That notwithstanding the long sustained affliction, the people of God declined not to a false and vain Religion, but remembred God, that sometime appeared to them in his mercifull presence; which albeit then they saw not, yet would they still remember his Name, that is, They would call to minde the Doctrine and Promise which at sometimes they heard, albeit in their prosperity they did not sufficiently glorifie God, who so mercifully ruled in the midst of them. The temptation, no doubt, of the Israelites, was great in those dayes: They were carried captives from the Land of Canaan, which was to them the gage and pledge of Gods favour towards them; for it was the inheritance that God promised to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. The League and Covenant of Gods Protection, appeared to have been broken: They lamentably complain, That they saw not their accustomed signes of Gods mercifull presence; The true Prophets were few, and the abominations used in Babylon were exceeding many: And so it might have appeared to them, That in vain it was, that they were called the Posterity of Abraham, or that ever they had received the Law, or Forme of right Religion from God. That we may the better feel it in our selves, the temptation, I say, was even such, as if God should utterly destroy all Order and Policie that this day is within his Church, that the