John Trapp on Jeremiah 10:1-3

CHAP. X.

Ver. 1. HEar ye the Word which the Lord ſpeaketh] Exordium ſimpliciſſimum, ſaith Junius. A very plain preface, calling for attention. 1. From the authority of the Speaker. 2. From the duty of the hearers.

O houſe of Iſrael] The ten Tribes long ſince captivated, and now directed what to do, ſay ſome. The Jews, ſay others; and in this former part of the chapter, thoſe of them that had been carried away to Babylon with Jeconiah.

Vide Selden. de diis Syris.Ver. 2. Learn not the way of the heathens] Their ſinful cuſtomes and irregular religions, (meer irreligions.)

And be not diſmayed at the ſignes of heaven] Which the blind heathens feared, and deified: and none did more then the Syrians, the Jews next neighbours. Of the vanity of judicial Aſtrology, ſee on Eſa. 47.13. He who feareth God needs not fear the ſtars: for All things are yours, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 3.21. Muleaſſes King of Tunis a great ſtar-gazer, fore-ſeeing by them, as he ſaid, the loſſe of his Kingdom and life together, left Africa, that he might ſhun that miſchief: but thereby he haſtened it, Anno 1544. God ſuffereth ſometimes ſuch fond predictions to fall out right upon men for a juſt puniſhment of their curioſity.

For the heathen are diſmayed at them] Therefore Gods people ſhould not; if it were for no other reaſon but that only: See Mat. 6.32. Let Papiſts obſerve this.

Caeremoniae populotum.Ver. 3. For the cuſtomes of the people are vain] Their rites confirmed by cuſtome; their imagery, for inſtance, a very magnum nihil; whether ye look to the Efficient, Matter, Form, or End of thoſe mawmets.

For one cutteth a tree out of the Forreſt] See Iſa. 40.2. and 44.12.—17. which laſt place Jeremy here ſeemeth to have imitated.