Jeremiah 5

Jeremiah 5:1

A Man] an hyperbolicall terme, to shew that good men were brought to a very small number. Or that they hid themselves for fear of the persecutions of the wicked multitude,Psal. 12. 1.

Jeremiah 5:2

Though they say] that is to say, all their outward profession of serving me, understood by the act of swearing, is false and feigned, Jeremiah 4:2.

Jeremiah 5:4

Therefore I said] that is to say, I Jeremiah thought that this rebellion was but onely amongst the base common sort of people who were ignorant of Gods Law.

Jeremiah 5:5

Broken the] they have cast off all manner of respect, subjection, and obedience to the Law of God.

Jeremiah 5:6

A lion] that is to say, They have been and shall be destroyed by mighty and furious enemies A wolse] see Hb. 1. 8. Zephaniah 3:3. Some think he means the ordinary sorts of wolves which run in the evening, and are most hungry at that time. Others will have it to bee another kinde of beast more subtill and ravenous then a wolfe, called by Authors, Hiena. Others translate it, The wolfe of the deserts.

Jeremiah 5:7

Adultery] namely, corporall adultery, and spirituall also, by idolatry.

Jeremiah 5:10

Goe ye up] as much as to say, O Babylonians, destroy ye Jerusalem and the walls thereof Herbattlements] the Hebrew word signifieth, the young succours that grow out about a plant, and by similitude here may be understood the counterscarfes, bastions, towers, and other things belonging to a city wall, which is the chiefe stem or stock of a strong hold.

Jeremiah 5:12

It is not he] the Italian, he is not; that is to say, all that is spoken of his providence, justice, &c. is not so: and have also doubted of his being, for Atheisme groweth in a man by degrees.

Jeremiah 5:13

The Prophets] words of prophane scoffers and contemners of Gods servants, 2 Chronicles 36:16. that is to say, all their threatnings shall come to nothing, for there is no divinity that speaks by them Thus shall it] that is to say, we will use them like false prophets as they are.

Jeremiah 5:14

I will make] that is to say, thy ministery shall be employed in threatnings and curses, and not in declaring grace and peace unto them; and thy prophecies shall be verified by a most infallible and severe execution.

Jeremiah 5:15

A mighty nation] that is to say, a fierce and rough nation.

Jeremiah 5:21

And see not] that is to say, they make no use of their sight, or they doe extinguish and smother up the light which they received from me.

Jeremiah 5:22

Willye not] will you be more unbridled and untamed in breaking my commands, then the furious element of the Sea i, which keepeth it selfe within the bounds which I have set it?

Jeremiah 5:24

That giveth] from whom proceed all good things which we enjoy, and that holdeth the order of nature in his hands, which he may suffer to go on, or interrupt it, according as men shall shew themselves worthy or unworthy of receiving the aforesaid good things.

Jeremiah 5:27

As a cage] namely, the bird-catchers cage Of deceit] namely, of ill gotten riches.

Jeremiah 5:28

They overpasse the deeds of the wicked] the Italian, they have past over some evil chances; that is to say, through my favour they have escaped great dangers and misfortunes.

Jeremiah 5:31

By their means] that is to say, strengthning themselves by the league which they have made with these false prophets in their tyranny and ambition; and whereas true Prophets were to reprove and amend the defects of the Priests, these false prophets have confirmed them in their abuses and usurpations.