The reconciler of the Bible

The Prophesie of JEREMIAH,

THe son of Hilkias the Priest, who pro∣phesied at Jerusalem, about the year of the world 3324. unto the captivity of Baby∣lon, which he foretold, and the desolation of the City and the Temple, and the time of the Jews captivity for 70. years. After the captivity he went into Egypt, and there he shewed to Idolaters the anger of God, and punish∣ments, with the destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians: he prophesied 34 years.

432. Jer. 3. 5. Will be reserve his anger for ever, will he keep it to the end? Matth. 25. 46. And those shall goe into everlasting destru∣ction.

The Prophet speaks in respect of those that are penitent, with whom God is not angry for ever; he chastneth them indeed with tem∣porall punishments. Christ speaks of obsti∣nately wicked men, of whom God is the severe judge, and he cals them the workers of iniquity.

433. Jer. 6. 10. Chap. 9. 26. All the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart. Rom. 11. 16. If the root be holy, so are the branches.

All] is taken here for the greatest part. The root of the Jews was holy by reason of the Covenant, because they were born from their Father who was in the Covenant, and so were they confederate with God, and separated from the prosane Gentiles.

434. Jer. 10. 23. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man to direct his steps. Mat. 23. 37. I would have gathered thy children to∣gether, and thou wouldest not.

In spirituall matters that concern his sal∣vation, a man can do nothing that is good. In politick and civill affaires he can indeed doe something, but more inclining to evill then to good.

435. Jer. 17. 5. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man. Rom. 10. 11. He that be∣lieveth in Christ shall not be confounded. Isai. 28. 16.

The Prophet speaks of bare mortall de∣ceitfull man in himself. The Apostle speaks of man subsisting in the person of the Son of God, in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt bodily.

436. Jer. 15. 1. If Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my minde could not be toward this peo∣ple. Mat. 18. 19. If two of you shall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they shall aske, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

In the former place the speach is hypothe∣ticall;

as if he should say, though they were amongst the living, and did stand before me, and would turne away my wrath from this people, yet would I not spare them. Christ in the latter promiseth temporall good things, upon condition of repentance.

437. Jer. 17. 10. Chap. 20. 12. I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins. 1 Cor. 2. 11. Who knowes what is in man, but the spirit of man which is in him?

God is not excluded from knowing what is in the heart; but Angels and men are, be they good or bad.

438. Jer. 22. 11. Thus saith the Lord touch∣ing Sellum the son of Josiah. 2 King. 23. 30. 2 Chron. 3. 6. The people of the land took the son of Josia, Joachaz and anointed him to be King.

Joachaz is called Sellum ironically, because as King Sellum, Israel was led captive into Egypt, so Joachaz shall not return from the Babylonish captivity.

439. Jer. 22. 30. Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childlesse, for no man of his seed shall prosper. Mat. 1. 12. Salathiel his son.

Jekonias died without children, Salathiel the son of Neri was from Nathan, the adopted son of Jekonias, and by succession, not his natu∣rall son.

440. Jer. 25. 1. The fourth year of Jehojakim the son of Josiah King of Judah, was the first year of Nabuchadonoztr King of Babylon. Dan. 1. 1. In the third year of Jehojakim King of Judals came Nabuchodonozor King of Babylon to Jerusalem.

That is in the end of the third year, and the beginning of the fourth year of Jehojakims reign.

441. Jer. 25. 11. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these Nations shall serve the King of Babylon 70 years. Act. 1. 7. It is not for you to know the times.

God by a Propheticall spirit revealed this to Jeremiah, and so comforted his people; but we must not curiously search to know the times contrary to Gods will, that is the mo∣ment of the day of Judgement, the destruction of the world, which the Father hath reserved in his own power.

442. Jer. 29. 11. I think toward you thoughts of peace and not of evill. Vers. 17. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I will send upon them the Famin.

God gives peace to penitent sinners; but punisheth sinners for their sins.

443. Jer. 31. 15. A voice was heard in Ra∣mah, lamentation and Rachel weeping. Mat. 2. 16. That was done at length in the killing of the children at Bethlehem.

The Prophets speak often in the present tense, or time past, of things which are to come, for the certainty of the Prophesie. So here he foreshews the lamentation of the Mo∣thers for the children thae were slain at Bethle∣hem by Herods command.

444. Jer. 31. 2. The Lord shall create a new thing on the earth. Eccl. 1. 10. There is no new thing under the sun.

New things are made by creation, so God

the Father created all things new, so we are a new creature in Christ; by sanctification, when we are regenerated by the holy Ghost; by change, so when Christ shall come all things shall be made new.

445. Jer. 31. 31. Beheld, the days come, saith the Lord, and I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Mat. 5. 17. I came not to destroy the Law.

God promised a new Covenant when Christ should come, yet such a one that should not differ from the former Covenant in substance, but sanctified by the Messias. The Doctrine of the Prophets and the Apostles was not changed by the coming of Christ, but remains an eternall Law of leading our life; the cere∣monies are abrogated according to their use, but their signification was more decla∣red by his coming, and illustrated, and the Prophesies had their complement in him.

446. Jer. 36. 30. Thus saith the Lord of Je∣hojakim King of Judah, he shall have none to sit upon the throne of David. 2 King. 24. 6. And his son Joakim reigned in his stead.

Joakim did not sit, that is, he had no fast seat in the Kingdome, for in the third month of his government, Sedechias was put by force, not by right, into his place by Nebu∣chodonozor.

447. Jer. 37. 14. Jeremie said, I fall not away to the Chaldeans. Chap. 21. 9. He that goeth out and fals to the Chaldeans shall live.

Jeremie taken in the gate defendeth his in∣nocency, that he fell not to the Caldeans, nor was a betrayer of his Country, but he said, that he would go into the land of Benjamin.

448. Jer. 52. 31. In the 37 year of the cap∣tivity of Jehojakim King of Judah, in the 12 month, in the 25 day of the month, Evilmerodach lifted up the head of Jehojakim King of Judah. 2 King. 25. 27. In the 37 year of the captivity of Jehojakim he he was lifted up in the 12 month, the 27 day.

On the 25 day Evilmerodach took counsell, to deliver Joakim out of prison, on the 27 day it was concluded and effected, all things being disposed well for his enlarge∣ment.

Notes

• Mat. 7.
• 1 Chron. 3. 19.