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1 Though men have rejected them. Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt, unto this day, I have even sent unto you all my servants the Prophets daily, rising up early, and sending them, yet they hear∣kened not unto mee, nor inclined their eare, but
hardened their neck; they did worse then their fathers. Therefore thou shalt speake all these words unto them, but they will not hearken un∣to thee: thou shalt also call unto them, but they will not answer thee. Jerem. 7. 25, 26, 27.
2 Though they have mocked at them. The Jewes, though they slighted the importunity of the Prophets, in speaking to them so of∣ten, and laying Line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little, Isa. 28. 10; insomuch that at length they tooke up these words for a Proverb* 1.2, to sport with: (even as they did, The burden of the Lord. Jer. 23. 38.) yet notwithstanding this importunity, it was continued to them, to the ensnaring of them, and for an occasion of falling. But the word of the Lord was unto them, precept upon precept, Line upon line* 1.3; line upon line: here a little and there a little: that they might goe and fall backward, and be broken, and snared and takena 1.4 vers. 13.
3 Though it be certaine, they will not hearken to them. You shall say unto him (saith God to Moses, when he sent him to Pha∣raoh) Let us goe we beseech thee, three daies journey, &c. Exod 3. 18. & yet he addes v. 19. I am sure that the King of Egypt will not let you goe, &c. See Ezek. 3. 11. But that they will kill the messenger. Behold I send unto you Prophets and wise men, and Scribes, and some of them, ye shall kill and crucifie, &c. That up∣on you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth Mat. 23, 34, Luk: 11. 49. 50.
4 Though it be certaine they cannot be the better for them. Ʋnto them that are with∣out, all these things are done in parables, that seeing they may see, and not perceive, &c. Mark. 4. 11, 12.
5 Though God himselfe harden their hearts against them. And the Lord said unto Moses: when thou goest to returne into Egypt, see that thou doe all those wonders before Pha∣raoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people goe, Exod: 4. 21. See Ch. 7, 4. Ch. 9. 12. See Isa: 6. 9, 10. Continuing the meanes of grace, to such as profit not by them, heaps up wrath & coales, and aggravates condemnation more then any thing: and therefore their case is exceeding miserable, to whom they are thus continued.
See also Harden∣ing and Ignorance
And ther∣fore the Pa∣raphrast translates, ver. 11. be∣cause with a scoffing tongue they moc∣ked at the Prophets, &c. but the Apostle otherwise, 1 Cor. 14. 21.
Epiphan. advers. haer. l. 1. Tom. 2. (where he speakes of the abominable abuse of the Hebrew words Kau lacau by the Nicolaitans, related by Hierome) trans∣lates the first words singularly, affliction upon affliction: but the others with Hierome, hope upon hope: expect a little, expect a little. In which sense the words are most likely to be ••eered; because the Prophets were still warning; but (through God's mercy) nothing came to passe. And the Chaldee Paraphrast, as well as can be, ex∣pounds this translation thus, They shall hope for redemption at such time, when I will bring upon them tribulation.
Eirher b•• the Babylonian, or by the Roman army, Saith Hierome.