Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 3:4

4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father , thou art the guide of my youth .

Viz. That I have withholden showers; some refer this, 1. To the time to come, wilt thou not yet be wise; and for the [illegible: 1 letter]uture seek to me, having found all thy other ways successless, Isa. 9.13. chap. 8.14. 2. To the time present, how canst thou challenge me for my present severity, and continuing it towards thee, when thou still retainest thy filthiness, thy Whores forehead, ver. 3. Thou still continuest worshipping Idols, and yet fanciest thy self faithful to me. 3. To the time past, i. e. hast thou not all along pretended kindness to me, and as if thou hadst walked close with me, 2 King. 17.32, 33. Ezek ▪ 23.39.

Wilt thou not as a Child call upon me, whom thou hast thus greatly provoked, and own me as a Father, ver. 19. for such have I been to thee, Psal. 103.13. Mal. 1.6. and 3.17.

Either on whom I have depended, as being brought up by thee, or the submissive expression of a Wife seeking to be reconciled to her Husband, that God would be to her, as he had been in the dayes of her youth, such a case as is expressed, 1 Cor. 7.11. words of flattery usual with Hypocrites; Or rather, being Married to thee in thy youth, a Periphrasis for Husband, Prov. 2.17. which argues great tenderness towards her ver. 2. thus the tenderness of this relation is expressed, Mal. 2.14. and so God is said to espouse them to himself, Ezek. 16.8.