Jeremias
Jeremiah was a priest, a native of Anathoth, a priestly city in the tribe of Benjamin: and was sanctified from his mother's womb, to be a prophet of God; which office he began to execute when he was yet a child in age. He was in his whole life, according to the signification of his name, Great before the Lord; and a special figure of Jesus Christ, in the persecutions he underwent for discharging his duty; in his charity for his persecutors; and in the violent death he suffered at their hands: it being an ancient tradition of the Hebrews, that he was stoned to death by the remnant of the Jews who had retired into Egypt.
The time, and the calling, of Jeremiah: his prophetical visions. God encourages him.
God expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude and infidelity.
God invites the rebel Jews to return to him, with a promise to receive them: he foretells the conversion of the Gentiles.
And admonition to sincere repentance, and circumcision of the heart, with threats of grievous punishment to those that persist in sin.
The judgments of God shall fall upon the Jews for their manifold sins.
The evils that threaten Jerusalem. She is invited to return, and walk in the good way, and not to rely on sacrifices without obedience.
The temple of God shall not protect a sinful people, without a sincere conversion. The Lord will not receive the prayers of the prophet for them: because they are obstinate in their sins.
Other evils that shall fall upon the Jews for their impenitence.
The prophet laments the miseries of his people: and their sins, which are the cause of them. He exhorts them to repentance.
Neither stars nor idols are to be feared, but the great Creator of all things. The chastisement of Jerusalem for her sins.
The prophet proclaims the covenant of God: and denounces evils to the obstinate transgressors of it. The conspiracy of the Jews against him, a figure of their conspiracy against Christ.
The prosperity of the wicked shall be but for a short time. The desolation of the Jews for their sins. Their return from their captivity.
Under the figure of a linen girdle is foretold the destruction of the Jews. Their obstinacy in sin brings all miseries upon them.
A grievous famine: and the prophet's prayer on that occasion. Evils denounced to false prophets. The prophet mourns for his people.
God is determined to punish the Jews for their sins. The prophet's complaint, and God's promise to him.
The prophet is forbid to marry. The Jews shall be utterly ruined for their idolatry: but shall at length be released from their captivity, and the Gentiles shall be converted.
For their obstinacy in sin the Jews shall be led captive. He is cursed that trusteth in flesh. God alone searcheth the heart, giving to every one as he deserves. The prophet prayeth to be delivered from his enemies, and preacheth up the observance of the sabbath.
As the clay in the hand of the potter, so is Israel in God's hand. He pardoneth penitents, and punisheth the obstinate. They conspire against Jeremiah, for which he denounceth to them the miseries that hang over them.
Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, the prophet foresheweth the desolation of the Jews for their sins.
The prophet is persecuted: he denounces captivity to his persecutors, and bemoans himself.
The prophet's answer to the messengers of Sedecias, when Jerusalem was besieged.
An exhortation both to king and people to return of God. The sentence of God upon Joachaz, Joakim, and Jechonias.
God reproves evil governors; and promises to send good pastors; and Christ himself the prince of the pastors. He inveighs against false prophets preaching without being sent.
Under the type of good and bad figs, he foretells the restoration of the Jews that had been carried away captive with Jechonias, and the desolation of those that were left behind.
The prophet foretells the seventy years captivity; after that the destruction of Babylon, and other nations.
The prophet is apprehended and accused by the priests: but discharged by the princes.
The prophet sends chains to divers kings, signifying that they must bend their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon. The vessels of the temple shall not be brought back till all the rest are carried away.
The false prophecy of Hananias: he dies that same year, as Jeremiah foretold.
Jeremiah writeth to the captives in Babylon, exhorting them to be easy there, and not to hearken to false prophets. That they shall be delivered after seventy years. But those that remain in Jerusalem shall perish by the sword, famine, and pestilence. And that Achab, Sedecias, and Semeias, false prophets, shall die miserably.
God will deliver his people from their captivity: Christ shall be their king: and his church shall be glorious for ever.
The restoration of Israel. Rachel shall cease from morning. The new covenant. The church shall never fail.
Jeremiah by God's commandment purchases a field of his kinsman: and prophesies the return of the people out of captivity: and the everlasting covenant God will make with his church.
God promises reduction from captivity, and other blessings: especially the coming of Christ, whose reign in his church shall be glorious and perpetual.
The prophet foretells that Sedecias shall fall into the hands of Nabuchodonosor: God's sentence upon the princes and people that had broken his covenant.
The obedience of the Rechabites condemns the disobedience of the Jews. The reward of the Rechabites.
Jeremiah sends Baruch to read his prophecies in the temple; the book is brought to king Joakim, who burns it. The prophet denounces his judgment, and causes Baruch to write a new copy.
Jeremiah prophesies that the Chaldeans, who had departed from Jerusalem, would return and burn the city. He is cast into prison. His conference with Sedecias.
The prophet at the instance of the great men is cast into a filthy dungeon: he is drawn out by Abdemelech, and has another conference with the king.
After two years' siege Jerusalem is taken. Sedecias is carried before Nabuchodonosor, who kills his sons in his sight, and then puts out his eyes. Jeremiah is set at liberty.
Jeremiah remains with Godolias the governor; who receives all the Jews that resort to him.
Godolias is slain: the Jews that were with him are apprehensive of the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah assures the remnant of the people, that if they will stay in Juda, they shall be safe; but if they go down into Egypt, they shall perish.
The Jews, contrary to the orders of God by the prophet, go into Egypt, carrying Jeremiah with them. He foretells the devastation of that land by the king of Babylon.
The prophet's admonition to the Jews in Egypt against idolatry is not regarded: he denounces to them their destruction.
The prophet comforts Baruch in his affliction.
A prophecy against Egypt. The Jews shall return from captivity.
A prophecy of the desolation of the Philistines, of Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, and Ascalon.
A prophecy of the desolation of Moab for their pride: but their captivity shall at last be released.
The like desolation of Ammon, of Idumea, of the Syrians, of the Agarenes, and of the Elamites.
Babylon, which hath afflicted the Israelites, after their restoration, shall be utterly destroyed.
The miseries that shall fall upon Babylon from the Medes: the destruction of her idols.
A recapitulation of the reign of Sedecias, and the destruction of Jerusalem. The number of the captives.