John Trapp on Jeremiah 45

CHAP. XLV.

Ver. 1. THe word that Jeremiah the Prophet ſpake unto Baruch] It is thought that Jeremiah preached his laſt when he prophecyed in the foregoing Chapter the deſtruction of Pharaoh Hophra, and together with him of the Jewes that were found in Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar. He ſeemed to them to ſpeak ſtones (as the proverb hath it) and therefore they ſtoned him to death as Epiphanius, and others report.Lapides loquitur. This word that he ſpake to Baruch belongeth to chap. 36. and ſhould have been annexed unto it in a natural order; as appeareth both by the date and by the matter. Baruch had with much pains and patience, firſt written out Jeremiah's Prophecies, and then read them to the people, and afterwards to the Princes. For this piece of work he expected, belike, ſome good piece of preferment (as the Apoſtles alſo did, for their forſaking all, and following Chriſt. Mat. 18.19.20. &c. Thus fleſh will ſhew it ſelf in the beſt, and in many things we offend all.) But inſtead of any ſuch thing, Baruch, together with his Maſter Jeremy, was ſought for to be ſlaughtered: and beſides he meets with here a contrary Prophecy, wherby, before he is comforted, he is ſharply reproved. 1. For a daſtardly deſpondency of mind, becauſe his riſing expectation, it ſeems, was fruſtrated: 2. For a vain ambitious ſelf-ſeeking, which was not hid from God.

Ver. 2. Thus ſaith the Lord the God of Iſrael unto thee O Baruch] Whom he knoweth by name, and for whom he hath in ſtore an ample recompence of reward: for never yet did any one do or ſuffer ought for Gods ſake, that complained of an hard bargain.

Ver. 3. Thou didſt ſay] i. e. Thou didſt think, like a poor puſillanimous creature as thou art. But Jeremy could pitty him in this infirmity, becauſe it had ſometime been his own caſe, chap. 15. and may befal the beſt. Pray for me, I ſay pray for me, ſaid Father Latimer; for ſometimes I am ſo fearfull and fainthearted, that I could even run into a mouſe-hole.

For the Lord hath added grief to my ſorrow] So we do oft complain, non quia dura ſed quia moll[illegible: 1 letter]s patimur, without cauſe, through feeble-mindedneſſe. And when we ſpeak of our croſſes, we are eloquent oft beyond truth: we add, we multiply, we riſe in our diſcourſe, as here.

Ver. 4. Behold that which I have built, &c.] A Metaphor, as is before noted, ab architectura & agricultura. I am turning all upſide-down, and wouldeſt thou only go free and untoucht of the common calamity? Tis no whit likely, thou muſt ſhare with the reſt.

Ver. 5. And ſeekeſt thou great things for thy ſelf?] This is, ſaith One, as if a man ſhould haue his houſe on fire, and inſtead of ſeeking to quench his houſe, ſhould go and trim up his chambers: or as if when the ſhip is ſinking, he ſhould ſeek to inrich his cabbin.

Seek them not] For what ſo great felicity canſt thou fancy to thy ſelf in things ſo fading, as the caſe now ſtands eſpecially?

But thy life will I give thee for a prey] Which, in theſe killing and dying times, in ſuch dear years of time, is no ſmall mercy.