wolde not beleue but toke Jeremy and led him vnto the rulers And the rulers being angry with Jeremy beit him thrusted him into presone at Jonathan the scrybs house for this man was the leiftenant of the presone And so was Jeremy let downe into a depe dongē and there layed in stockis a longe ceason Then sente kinge Zedechias called him forth to him asking him secretely at home in his house sayng Thinkest thou y t this besegynge of this cyte now in doing is done of the Lorde And Jeremy answerde ye adding also y t thou shalt be delyuerde into the handis of the kinge of Babylon And ouer this Jeremy sayd vnto kinge Zedechias What haue I offended ether the or thy seruantis or this peple that ye haue thus caste me into presone Where be your Prophetis that tolde you the kinge of Babylon shuld not come agenst you nor yet once in to this lande Now therfore herken my lorde the kinge hear my peticion I beseche your fauour that ye commande me no more to be led agen to the howse of Jonathan the scrybe leste I there dye Then kinge Zedechias commanded Jeremy the Prophete to be shutte but in y e fore entry of the presone and to be geuen him euery daye a lytel cake of brede withe oute any other soden or rosted mete till al the brede in the cyte were consumed Then ther laye Jeremy in the entre of the presone ¶ The .xxxviii. Chapiter THen Saphathias sone of Mathan Godolias sone of Phashur Juchal sone of Salamie and Passhur sone of Malechy the rulers vnderstonding Jeremyes sermōs spoken vnto the peple in this sence Thus saith the Lorde who so euer shal abyde styll in this cyte shal dye ether w t swerde or honger or pestelence But whoso go forthe vnto y e Caldes shal lyue saue thēselfe fynding their lyfe as a proye For thus sayd the Lorde This cyte shal be geuen vp in to the handis of the kinge of Babylon whiche shal take it Wherfore these rulers sayd vnto the kinge let this man be put to dethe we praye you For by this meanes he bothe slacketh the handis of the soudyers and discourageth the men now redy to fyght lefte in this cyte discorageth al the peple whyle he precheth siche maner sermons For he nether seketh peace for the peple but rather dethe Than answerde kinge Zedechias Lo he is in your handis for your kinge may not denye you any siche thinge Then toke they Jeremy caste him into the dongē of Malchy the sone of Hamalech whiche before was in the fore entrye of y e preson And they lete downe Jeremy w t ropes into a dongen wher was no water but myer And Jeremy was rolled set faste in the myer And when Abdemeleche y e Ethyope a gelded man offycer in y e kingis house herde that they had caste Jeremy into this doungen he wente frō the kingis place spake to the kinge whiche then chaunced to sit in iugemēt in Beniamyns gate these wordis Lorde my kinge it is not rightwysely done y t these men haue done to Jeremy y e Prophete in that they haue caste him in to this dongen for he shal storue in this same place for honger sith ther is no brede lefte in y e cyte Then the kinge bode this Addemelech thethiope sayng Take w e the frō hēce at thy plesure xxx men pluck vp the Prophete Jeremy from oute of the dongen ere he dye Then toke Abdemelech these men with him and wente to Hamalechis house where vnder an aumbry he gote olde clowtis and raggis and lete them downe to Jeremy with cordis into the dongen And Abdemelech y e Ethiope called to Jeremy bidding him put these rotē clowtis vnder his arme holis betwene the rope and his bodye And Jeremy so did and then they lifted hem vp and drewe him oute of the dongen and then he abode still in the fore entrye of the presone Thā sent kinge Zedechias and called the Prophete Jeremy before him vnto the thyrde warde whiche was by the house of y e Lorde And y e kinge sayd to Jeremy I will aske the a thinge so y t thou hydest nothing fro me And Jeremy answerde Zedechias If I tel it the thow wylt suerly slay me And if I geue y e coūsel thou shalt not here me Then kinge Zedechias made an othe secretly to Jeremy in these wordis As verely as the Lorde lyueth euen he whiche hathe made vs these soules I swere that I wyl not slaye the nether wyl I delyuer the into the handis of these men that thirste for thy lyfe Than sayd Jeremy vnto Zedechas Euē thus saith the lorde God of powers y e God of Israel If thou go forthe at once with oute any stoppe yelding thy selfe vnto the princes of the kinge of Babylon thou shalt saue thy lyfe this cyte shal not be brente vp w t fyer thou shalt be salfe w t al thy house But if thou wilt not fle to y e kinge of Babylons prynces this cyte shal be geuen vp into y e handis of y e Caldes which shal set fyer on it And thou thy selfe shalt not escape their handis Thā sayd Zedechias to Jeremy I fere these iwes which ar fled al redy to y e Caldes lest I be betrayd into their hādis and they laught me to scorne Jeremy answerde they shalnot betraye y e. Beleue I praye y e the voice of the Lorde which I tell the thou shalt be wel ynoughe and haue thy lyfe But if thou refusest vtterly to go for the euē this thing hathe y e Lorde shewed me Lo al y e women lefte in y e kingis house of Juda shal go forthe to y e princes of the kinge of Babylon For they are persuaded y e thou ar deceyued in y t thou trustest so miche y e men whiche haue ruled the. They in whom thou didist put al thy truste haue set thy fete faste in y e myer to leue y e be hynde Wherfore al thy wyues with their chyldern wyl fle to the Caldes and thou shalt not escape their handis For thou shalt be takē captyue in y e kīge of Babylons hādis thy cyte brēt vp Thē sayd Zedechias vnto Jeremy Let nomā knowe these thingis thou shalt not dye But if y e rulers perceyue y t I haue comoned w t y e so come to y e sayng Tell vs we praye the what wordis thou haddist w t the kinge hid nothing frō vs we wilnot slaye y e asking what the kinge sayd to the thou shalt answer thez I made my supplicacion vnto him sithe I am thus caste awaye prayng the kinge that I might nomore be ledde agen to Jonathas his house leste I there dye Then came the rulers to Jeremy asking him he tolde them al as the king had commanded him Whom as sone as he had thus answerde they
be caste forthe oh Moab for thy deceyte done agenst Israel ye shal leue your cytes and dwel in rockes oh Moabits be lyke doues nestelinge in their hole mouthes We herde of Moabs pryde he was al to prowde his pryde his stoughtnes his arrogaÌ„cy his highe lokis were knowne wel ynoughe vnto me saith the Lorde But for al his pryde yet might not his power bringe a boute his enforcementis accordinge vnto his arrogaunte furye Wherfore I shal yeloute vpon Moab and crye Moab as lowde as I can so that the dwellers at the bryk wallis shal here bewayle him And euen with lyke lamentacion as I bewayle the Oh Jazer shal I lament the oh vyneyarde Sibema Thy branches wente ouer the sea but the branches of Jezer reched but to the sea But into thy haruest and grape gatheringe shal this destroyer breke in violently Joye gladnes shal be taken awaye frome Charmelus fro the lande of Moab as it is now gone from Charmelus Ther shal nomore swete wynes come vnder the presse nor the caller to the grape gatheringe shal nomore trede in the wyne presse nother shal ther be any more callers at al which before tyme called wer herde from Hesebon to Eleale and Jahaz whose voyce was herde also from Zoar vnto Horonaim that wealy bullok of .iii. yere olde ye the waters of Nimrim shal be desolate to I shal make a vacacion in Moab saith the Lorde from any more offeringe in highe placis and from sensing their goddis Wherfore for Moabs sake my herte morneth lyke an heuy crowde for they shal be brought into very fewe and yet shal these fewe perisshe to Euery hed shal be shauen of and euery berde clipped euery hande bownde and al their loynes gyrte with sacken Vpon al y e house roofis of Moab and in al hir stretis there shal be way singe and moorninge For I shal alto breke Moab as it were a vyle vessel saith y e Lorde Se how he fereth and howifeth se how his prowd necke is smyten downe how is he now ashamed Moab shal be a laughing stocke and an ensample to al that ar aboute him For thus saith the Lorde Beholde his enymye shal fle to him lyke an egle stretche forthe his wyngis ouer Moab Then shal his wallis be taken and his towers of defence occupyed Than shal the hertis of Moabs valeaunt waryers he lyke a womans herte trauelinge of chylde And Moab shal be so scatered that they be nomore any peple because they extolled themselfe agenste the Lorde Fere shal be vnto the oh Moab and both pitte and snare to saith y e Lorde For he that shal escape feere or perel shal fall into the pitte and he that shal happen to crepe out of the pitte shal be taken in snare For I shal bringe vpon Moab euen the hower of their visitacion saith the lorde And they that shal haue strength to flee shal runne into the fyer of Hesebon For oute of Hesebon shal come a gret fyer and flame shal fle oute of Sihon and deuower both nose noddle and crowne of the stoute prowde peple of Moab Wo be to y e Moab for thou shalt be vndone oh peple of Chamos And thy sonnes and daughters shal be led awaye into captiuite But I shal se that Moab shal come a gene here aftir at their tyme saith the Lorde Hitherto is it prophecyed of the plage and vengeaunce to be taken of Moab ¶ The .xlix. Chapiter UNto the chyldern of Ammon thus saith y e lorde Is Israel chyldlesse or wante he an hayer But wherfore then dothe your Melchon occupye and sitte in Gad and the peple of Melchon inhabite y e cyte of Gad For this cause lo the tyme shal come saith y e Lorde that I wil blowup to batail in Babbath the cheif cyte of the chylderne of Ammon Lahel shal be desolate and hir villages brente vp And y e chyldern of Isarel shal possesse them which before kept Israel vnder saith the Lorde Let Hesebon howise for it shal be vtterly subueâ—ted Let the towns of â—abbath cry oute and gyrde themselues with sak let them wayle wanderinge al oute their hedges For Moloch shal be caryed awaye captiue bothe his preistis and princes with him Wherfore trustest in thy streames whiche flowe in vayne oh fyerce daughter thinkinge thy selfe so suer for thy tresure that noman may come to the Beholde I shal caste a fere vpon the vpon al y t ar aboute the saith y e lorde god of powrs And ye shal be scatred euery man froÌ„ other y e non may bringe y e men fleing togither agen But aftir this I shal restore the captiuite of the chyldern of Ammon Thus spake the Lorde of powrs vnto Idumea Is ther no wysdome lefte in Theman ar these men destitute al counsel Is their wysdome turned in to naught Fle turne your backis Crepe downe into valis ther to dwel oh citzens of Dedan For I shal bringe vpon them the destruccion of Esau euen the daye of their visitacion If grape gathers had come to the they shulde not haue lefte y e one grape If theues had come vpon the in the night they shulde haue robbed y e at their plesure But I shal make bare Esau and so shewe his secretis that they cannot be hid His sede shal be destroyd bothe his brotherne borderers to and himselfe shalnot be lefte a lyue Thou shalt leue thy fatherles chyldern behynde the but I shal kepe them and thy wydews shal truste in me For thus said the Lorde Lo they that were thought vnworthy to drinke of the cup dranke it firste of al shuldst thou then go quyte as innocent Thou shalt not go quyte as innocent but drinke as wel as other For I swere by my nowe selfe saith the Lorde that Bosra shal be turned into desolacion obprobry contempte and excecracion al hir cytes shal be a perpetual wildernes For I herde verely of the Lorde a messengre sente vnto the gentylis sayng Be ye gatherid togither and come forth agenst hir Ryse vp to bataile For lo I shal make the right smal amonge the gentilis coÌ„temned amonge men Thy nowe arrogancy and audacite of thy hyghe mynde hathe vndone y e because thou contendidst to inhabit the holes of the rokis of stone to reche vp vnto the hill toppis But albeit thy neste were as hyghe as the egles yet shal I plucke y e downe oute of it saith the Lorde And Idumea shal be desolate to All that passe forby hyr shal wounder and hysse vpon al hir miserable calamites Euen as Sodom Gomor and their cytes aboute them were subuerted saith y e lorde so shal noman inhabit Idumea nor yet any mortall man dwel in hir Beholde as the lyon cometh vp frome the grene wodes of Jordane vnto the fresshe plentuouse pastures of Ethan euen so shal I thrust-forth hir
thingis lyuinge man hath the moste disceaightful harte vnable to be serehed who then shal knowe it euen I the lorde bothe ensercher of herte espyerout of raynes to rewarde euery man aftir his owne wayes and according to the frute of his counsellis He maketh him a neste but hatcheth no eggis that gatherth goodis wrongefully In the middis of his lyfe he muste leaue them and laste of all be fownde a fole But thou Lorde who le seate is moste noblest highest and aunciaunt which dwellest in the place of our holy reste thou arte the hope of Israel All that forsake the ar confounded All bakflyders from the ar writen in the erthe not in heuen For they sorsake the Lorde euen y e well of euerlasting waters Heale me Lorde I shal be holl Saue me Lorde I shal be salfe for thou arte my prayse For lo these men saye vnto me Where is the worde of y e Lorde let it comeforth I praye y e Whiles I me selfe was now leading the flok in thy pathes I constrayned noman violently nor yet coueted I any mannis dethe as thou wel knowest But my wordes were right in thy sight oh lorde Be not fearful vnto me for thou arte he in whō I hope whā any perelis present Let my persuers be confounded let not me be confoūded Let thē be afrayde not me be afrayde Thou shalt bringe a troublouse tyme vpō thē destroye thē with a great destrucciō Forthermore thus sayd the Lorde vnto me Go stāde in y e. gate of y e peple for whose cause y e kinges of Juda come yn oute in al y e gatis of Jerusalem sayng vnto thē Hear y e worde of the Lorde ye kinges of Juda with all Juda all the cytesens of Jerusalem which passe thorow these gatis Thus cōmandeth the Lorde Take hede to your selues leste ye take vp your burdens in y e Sabbat daye to bringe them in thorowe these gatis Nether karye ye oute of your houses any burdēs in y e Sabbat daye Nor do you any worke but sauntifye y e Sabbat daye as I cōmaunded your fathers albeit they obayed me not nor gaue eare but rather hardened their stiffe neckes to th entent they wolde not be reclaymed receyue my disciplyne But you if ye will hearme saith y e Lorde not carye in your burdens thorow y e gatis of this cyte in y e Sabbat daye doing in it no werke than shal y e kingis princes of this cyte which shal sit vpō y e seat of Dauid go thorow these gatis karyed in charietis vpon horse bothe they their princes al Juda with their cytesens shal passe thorow them this cyte shal abyde for euer And men shal come from the cytes of Juda and from the felde of Jerusalem and the lande of Beniamin from the playnes and mountayns from the wildernes bringing brente sacrifices and beastis slayne to be offred vp encense offeringe vp prayse and thankis in the house of the Lorde But if ye obaye me not I shal sanctifye the sabbat daye so that ye shal take vp no burden to bringe it in thorow these gatis of Jerusalem in the Sabbat daye I shal set the gatis on fyer which shal deuower the houses of Jerusalem so that it maye not be 〈◊〉 ¶ The .xviii. Chapiter THe sermon of the Lorde shewed vnto Jeremye saying Aryse go downe into the potters house that I myght there certyfye the more of my mynde And whā I came vnto the potters house I fownde him making his worke vpō a whele And that vessel which he ofayned out of claye broke vnder y e hādis of this potter which then his mynde changed made a nother vessel therof as it semed him beste for his purpose And here thā the Lorde spake vnto me May not Jeuen as this potter do vnto you o house of Israel saith the Lorde Lo ye be in my hande oh house of Israel euen as the claye is in the hande of the potter Anon as I haue determined to pluck vp by the rotes to destroye to cut awaye any nacion or kingdom and if y t same nacion wil returne from their malice vpon which I begane nowe to take my counsel by and by it repenteth me of y e plage which I determyned to caste vpon thē And agen and as I am purposed to buylde and to plante any nacion or kingdom the same folke wil do euyl in my sight and not hear my voyce by and by it repēteth me of that goodnes wherby I purposed to edyfye and to encrese thē Wherfore I praye the tell all Juda and euery cytesen of Jerusalem Thus saith the Lorde Beholde I am deuysing a plage and will conspire agenste you Turne ye therfore euery man from his owne euyl wayes both do thinke well But here shal they saye ▪ Let these wordis passe for as for vs we will walke aftir our owne mynde and we wil euery man do aftir the luste of our owne herte Wherfore thus sayd the Lorde Enquyre I praye ye among the gentyles if any man hath committed any siche lyke abominacions as hath Israel y e virgen done and that so greuously May the snowe that lyeth melting vpon y e rockis of Libanus fayle the feldis Or the vaynes of springes euē from the botome be so takē awaye that they flowe nomore forthe to water and to make plentuouse And yet my peple hath forgoten me In somich that they brenne offer vnto vayne Idols in folowing their owne wayes ar fwarued and wandred frō the lawful comen waye ar gone a waye by an vntroden priuate pathe For the which thinge they haue geuen vp their lande into a perpetual desolaciō and outehissinge So that euery man passinge thorowe may be woundresly astonned and shake his head I shal therfore scater them in the sight of their enymes with a contrary skorching este wynde And whan their destruccion is at hande I shal turne my backe to them and not my face And than they sayde Come and let vs go and conspire agenste Jeremye We be the Priestis to whom the lawe is committed that it perisshe not And ye be the elders endewed with wysedome We be the Prophetes that neuer ar withoute the worde of the Lorde Let vs I saye than go and kutoute his tonge that we be nomore cōstrayned to hear his sermons Attende vnto me Oh Lorde and heare the noyse of my aduersares Is not euil for good reqcquyted me while they digge this pitte for me Remember how I stode before the to speke the best for them and to turne thy wrathe from thē Nowe therfore betake their chyldern into honger and caste them agenste the violence of swerde Let their wyues be chyldelesse and housbandlesse their housbandis put to dethe and the yongemen slayne with swerde in batayle Let oute cryes aryse frō their houses theues breaking yn vpō
caste you of saith y e lorde And I shal viset both prophete prieste and the peple whiche vse this worde the burden of the Lorde I shal viset both him and his house Also thus shal ye saye to eche other What thinge answerth the Lorde or what commandethe the Lorde but as for the burden of the Lorde shal ye name nomore For euery mannis owne worde muste be his burdeÌ„ because he hath peruerted the wordis of the lyuinge god euen of the Lorde of powers whiche is our god Thus shal euery man saye vnto their Prophetis What hath the Lorde answerde the or what saith the Lorde But as for the burden of the Lorde ye shal not once name it Wherfore thus spake the Lorde Because ye haue taken into an vse this worde The burden of the Lorde albeit I sente vnto you forbidding to once saye the burdeÌ„ of the Lorde beholde I shal suerly reken you to be euen my burden But I shal caste you of with this cite also which I gaue you and your fathers I shal caste you oute of my sight and lade you with perpetual obprobrie shame which shal neuer be forgoten ¶ The .xxiiii. Chapiter THe Lorde shewed me this vision Lo ther stode two panyers ful of figges before y e temple of y e Lorde aftir that Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon had led awaye captiue Jechonias the sone of Joachim kinge of Juda the princes of Juda smythes and craftsmen from Jerusalem and had brought them to Babylon The one panyer conteyned very good figges euen siche as ar wonte to be firste rype and the tother panyer conteyned as euil figges whiche might not be eaten forbitternes Than the Lorde spake vnto me Vvhat seiste thou I eremy And I answerde Figges do I se of which some be very good and some be as badde so that noman maye eat thez Agene The worde of y e Lorde came to me on this maner Thus saith y e Lorde god of Israel As thou knowest the good figges eueÌ„ so shal I knowe the men translated from Juda whom I sente forthe from this place into the lande of Chalde for their profite and set my eyes vpon them for y e beste For I shall bringe them agene vnto this lande and edifye them not destroye them I shal roote them and not plucke them vp And I shal geue them an herte to knowe me that I am the Lorde Thei shal be my peple and I their god for thei shal turne to me with al their hertes And as thou knowst the euil figges which for their sowernes maye not be eaten euen so saith the Lorde shal I set Zedechias the kinge of Juda hir rulers the reste that remayne in this lande them also that dwel in Egypte I shal set them I saye to be vexed and scourged in euery region of y e erthe to be had in obprobrye into a prouerbe into a fable and shame in euery place whither I shal scater them And I shal sende amonge them swerde honger pestelence til I haue consumed them from the lande which I gaue them and their fathers ¶ The argument of this Chap. Aâ—ermone geuen vnto Jeremie vpon al the peple of Juda the fourth yere of Joachim the sone of Josias kinge of Juda which was the firste yete of Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon Vvhich sermon Jeremie the Prophete preched vnto al the peple of Juda and before al the cytesens of Jerusalem sayng on this maner ¶ The .xxv. Chapitre FRom the thirtente yere of Josias the sone of Amon kinge of Juda vnto this daye which is nowe .xxiii. yere the worde of the Lorde was committed vnto me which I spake vnto you rysing in tyme and constantly warning you but ye obayed it not Albeit the Lorde hath sent vnto you al his seruantis euen his Prophetes erly rysing and swyftely sending yet ye obayed not nor once inclined your eares to lysten Thus verely he sayd Turne ye agene euery man from his owne euil waye and fro your euil thoughtis and ye shal inhabit the lande which the Lorde gaue you and your fathers frome age to age And go not your wayes aftir strange goddis to serue them and to fall downe before them Anger me not with the workis of your owne handis and I shal not scourge you But ye herde me not saith the Lorde for ye angred me with the workis of your handis but not vnpunesshed Wherfor thus sayd the Lorde of powers Because ye herde not my wordis therfore beholde I shal sende and call vpon you all the nacions of the northe saith the Lorde euen that same Nebuchadrezer also kinge of Babylon my seruante and shal bringe them vpon this lande vpoÌ„ the inhabitours therof and vpon al these nacions rownde a boute and shal vtterly destroye them I shal bringe them into a deserte into an hissing and perpetual desolacion And I shal take from them the voyce of gladnes and solace the voyce of the brydegrome and spouse the voyce of men oynted and hanged ful of swete fresshe flowers to bere the lightis And al this lande shal be turned into a deserte wildernes And they shal serue the forsayd nacions and the kynge of Babylon .lxx. yearis And whan these lxx yearis be fulfilled I shal also viset y e wikednes of that kinge of Babylon and of his peple saith the Lorde and that same lande also of the Caldeis and bringe theÌ„ togither into a perpetual wildernes And I shal bringe vpon that lande al my wordis which I haue decreed agenst it eueÌ„ al that be writen in this boke whiche Jeremy prophecied agenst al the gentiles For euen they to shal be bond seruants to many nacions and grete kinges For I shal rewarde them aftir their sinnes and workis of their owne handis Thus therfore spake the Lorde God of Israel vnto me Take this cuppe of the wyne of wrathe of my hande that thou maist geue to drinke therof al nacions vnto whoÌ„ I shal sende the which once dronken might be plucked into furye and madnes the swerde coming vpon which I shal sende amoÌ„ge them Than toke I the cuppe of the Lordis hande to geue drynke to al the nacions vnto whoÌ„ the Lorde sente me But firste of al I gaue euen Jerusalem hirselfe and the cites of Juda hir kinges princes to drinke therof to bringe them into a deserte and wyldernes into an hissinge execrable curse euen as we see vnto this daye ye I gaue al nacions indifferently to drinke therof as Pharao kinge of Egypte his seruantis and his rulers with al his peple al the kingis of Ausitidis al y e kinges of the lande of the Palestines Ascalon Gazam AccaroneÌ„ with al the lefte cites of Aschote the Idumes Moabites and the sonnes of Ammon al the kinges of Tyri and Sidon the kinges of the eylandis beyende the sea Dedan Thema Buz and the clipt headid Ismasitis Al the kinges of Araby al the kingis
one with a nother that dwel in the deserte al the kingis of Zimri al the kingis of Elam al the kingis of Mede al the kinges of the north este both nighe and farre euery one with his borderer and al the kingdoms of the erthe which ar vpon the face of the rownde worlde And let kinge Sesach drinke with thē to And thou shalt saye vnto thē This is the Lorde of powers euen y e God of Israel his plesure and commandement Drinke and be dronken runne to gither that ye might fal neuer to ryse agene ye and that by the swerde which I shal sende amonge you And if they refuse to take the cuppe of thy hande to drinke than shalt thou saye vnto them Thus threateneth you the Lorde of powers ye shal drinke it suerly For so I begin to scourge the cite named aftir my nowne name and shal I let you than escape vnpuneshed Verely ye shal not go quyte For I now cal for a swerde to come vpon al the inhabitours of therthe saith y e Lorde of powrs Wherfore se that thou preache them al these sermōs and tel thē The Lorde shal thondre from aboue and shal crye a lowde frō his holy habitaciō He shal thonder with grete noyse frō his kingis haule The lowde noyse lyke the grape gatherers shal come before vpon al thin habitours of therthe and the sowne shal be brought vnto the vttermost costes of therthe For the Lorde wil sitte in iugement vpon the naciōs declare him self the iuge of al maner men liuing to betake the vngodly vnto the swerde saith the Lorde For thus saith the Lorde of powers Beholde a miserable calamite shal go thorowe the gentyles one aftir another and a grete whirlewinde shal be stered vp from diuerse costes of therthe y e swerde shal krepe thorowe with slaughter in that daye from one coste of therthe to the tother Noman shal be moorned for non gatherde vp noman buried but lyke donge shal they lye vpon y e face of therthe Howle oute oh ye pastours crye bespriene your selue with asshes oh ye rāmes leaders of the flocke for y e tyme of your slaughter downe tredinge is fulfilled ye shal faldowne togither lyke costely byral vessels made to cōtayne daintes There shal be no waye to fle for the pastours for the rammes of the flocke shal not escape Than shal the pastours crye oute the rāmes of the flocke shal howle For the Lorde shal waste consume their pastures And their best feldis shal lye dead with out noyse for the furye of the Lordis wrathe They shal forsake their foldes weping and roringe lyke lyons For their lande shal be desolate for his indignacion and furiouse wrathe ¶ The .xxvi. Chapiter IN the begininge of the raigne of Joachim sonne of Josias kinge of Juda this worde was shewed of the Lorde Thus saith the Lorde Stonde in the fore courte of the temple and speke vnto al the cites of Juda whiche come to y e house of the Lorde to do their worshipe Speke al the sermōs which I commande the. And be ware thou takest not awaye one worde y t if thus paraduenture yet they maye obaye and returne euery man from his owne wiked waye y t it might for thinke me of y e plages which I had ordened for them for their owne maliciouse myndes coūsels And thou shalt saye I tel the vnto them Thus saith the Lorde If ye obaye me not to walke in my lawes which I haue geuen you hearing the sermons of my seruants the Prophetis whom I sende vnto you erly rysinge yet stil sending If you I saye obaye not I shal make this same house like vnto Sylo and euen thissame cite shal I caste into a contumeliouse curse to be aborred of al the nacions of the erthe And the Priestis and Leuits with al the peple herde Jeremy preching these sermons in the house of the Lorde Wherfore whan Jeremy had made an ende of al that the Lorde commanded him to preche vnto the peple the Priestis Prophetis and al the peple did set holde vpon him and toke him saing Thou muste dye Wherfore prechedst thou as thoughe the Lorde had cōmanded the that it shuld hapen vnto this house as it did once to Sylo and that this cite shulde be destroyed that noman shulde inhabit it And whan al the peple were gathered to gither in the temple aboute Jeremye the rumour of this mater came vnto the chefe rulers of Juda which a non camvp from the kinges palace vnto the house of the Lorde sate downe to gither before the newe dore of the temple Than came the Priestis and Prophetis vnto the rulers and to al the peple saynge these wordis This man is giltye dethe for he preched agenst this cite as he ye haue herde with your eares Than sayd Jeremye vnto al the rulers to al the peple these wordes The Lorde sente me to preche agenste this house and this cyte al that ye haue herde Nowe therfore amende your lyuinge your thoughtis and obaye the voice of your Lorde God and than it shal forthinke the Lorde God of thafflicciō whiche he hath decreed agenste you And as for me lo I am in your handis do with me what semeth to you right good But yet this one thinge I assuer you that if ye kill me ye shal make your selues this cite and the citesens therof gilty my innocent blode For this I ensuer you the Lorde hath sente me to you to preache into your eares al these sermons Than sayd the Princes and all the peple vnto the Priestis and Prophetis ye can fynde no cause of dethe in this man sith he preched vnto vs in the name of our Lorde Also the elders of the lande rose vp to gither sayng vnto the hole company of the peple on this maner Micheas Morastith was a Prophete in the dayes of Ezechias kinge of Juda and this Micheas sayd to al the folke of Juda. Thus saith the Lorde of powers Zion shal be ploughed vp lyke a felde and Jerusalem shal be turned into an heape of stones And the hill where the house of y e Lorde standeth into an highe wode And yet notwithstandinge this sermone did nether Ezechias kinge of Juda nor yet the comen peple go once aboute to slaye him But did they not rather reuerently feare the Lorde and prayd him to turne a waye his wrathe Wher vpon it forthinked him of the plage which he had decreed vpon them And shal we nowe committe so grete a cryme agenste our selues But yet was there a nother that preached constantly in the name of the Lorde called Vrias the sone of Semee of Cariathiearim which preched agenst this cite and lande in al poyntis euen aftir the sermons of Jeremye And kinge Joachim with al the grete men and rulers herde his sermons wher vpon the kinge sought to kil him But whan Vrias herde of
which bringeth his worde to passe the Lorde which accomplessheth his thoughtis and purposes euen he whose name is the Lorde Thou cryedst vnto me and I answerde the aud I expowned the great and highe thinges which were vnknowne vnto you Thus I saye saith the Lorde God of Israel as concerninge the houses of this cyte the kingis houses of Juda to be thronedowne with ordinaunce and weapen the caldes now coming vpon to wonne it fillinge these houses with mennis caryons whom I shal smyte in my wrath furye my face turned awaye fro this cyte for the multitude of their malice Lo I shal close vp their woundes heale them I shal open them the tresure of peace and faithfulnes And I shal suerly bryng ageyne Juda and Israel and restore them as they were before And I shal pourge them frome al heir wykednes committed agenst me and parden al their synnes done so spyght fully agenst me wherby I shal get me a blessed glad name into my prayse and glorye amonge al the nacioÌ„s of therthe whiche shal hear of al my goodnes shewed vpon them For they shal feare and be astoned to se howe great goodnes and peace I shal bestow on them so louingly Also thus saith y e Lorde And ageyne there shal be herde in this place whiche ye saye also shal be turned into a wildernes so that nether man nor beast shal be in it and in the cyte of Juda withoute Jerusalem whiche also shal be desolate so that nother man nor beast inhabit them ther shal be herde I saye y e voyce of men makinge myrthe ioye solace euen the voyce of the brydegrome w t his spouse the voyce of men singinge Magnifye ye the Lorde of powers for right good is the Lorde whose mercy endureth for euer Ther shal be herde the voyce of men knowleging God with giftis in the Lordis house For I shal restore y e captiuite of this lande into their olde state saith the Lorde Thus saith the Lorde of powers Ther shal be ageyn in this region nowe desolate man and beste and in al hir cytes in the cytes of the mountayns of the playnes in the deserte herdemeÌ„nis lodges kepinge their flockes In the lande of Beniamin in the felde of Jerusalem in the cytes of Juda the flockes shal be noumbred agene vnder the handis of y e teller saith the Lorde Beholde the dayes shal come saith the Lorde that I shal performe this goodnes whiche I haue promysed to the house of Israel Juda. In these dayes in that tyme I shal bringforthe y t rightuouse budde of Dauid which shal do equyte rightuousnes vpon the erthe In these dayes Juda shal be made salfe Jerusalem shaldwel suerly And he shal be called in hir euen thus The Lorde our rightwisnes For euen thus promyseth God The sead of Dauid shalnot be withoute a man to sitte in the kinges seat of the house of Israel The preistis also the Leuites shal not lak a man to offer before me sacrifices to burne the sacrifice ministringe offeringe the slayne offeraunces euery daye Also the worde of the Lorde was shewed to Jeremye on this maner If it be possible my couenant to be broken which I haue smyten with the daye night so that nother y e daye nor y e night folowe not in their tyme so is it impossible my couenaunt to be voyde whiche I haue made w t Dauid my seruant so not to haue a sonne raigninge in his seat And euen lykewyse shalnot my seruice lake Leuite and Preiste For as the starres of heuen cannot be nowbred nor the sea sandes mesured euen so shal I encrease the sead of my seruant Dauid my Leuites and ministres Ouer this yet came the worde of y e Lorde ageyn to Jeremy thus Vnderstandest thou not what this peple saith Ther be two kynredis say they whom y e Lorde hath chosen and euen these same bothe hath he caste awaye for to this is my peple brought that they beleue themselues neuer to come in togither withe the gentyles wherfore thus saith y e Lorde If I haue not smitten a bargeÌ„ with y e day night If I haue not geuen lawes to y e heuen erthe the sead of Jacob Dauid my seruant now shal I caste awaye so that I receyue not of his ysswe to be princes ouer the sead of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. For I shal repayer their fall and be merciful vnto them ¶ The .xxxiiii. Chapiter THe sermone which was shewed of y e Lorde vnto Jeremy whan Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon with al his hoste gatherd from al y e regions of his lande that were vnder his impery and al his peple made bataile agenste Jerusalem hir cytes borderinge aboute hir one this maner Thus commandeth the Corde God of Israel Go and speke to Zedechias kinge of Juda tel him Thus saith the Lorde Lo I shal betake this cyte into the hande of the kinge of Babylon whiche shal set fyer vpon it thou thy selfe shalt not escape his hande but be led captiue delyuerde into his power Thy eyen shal beholde the present face of y e kinge of Babylon he shal speke vnto the mouthe to mouthe than shalt thou come to Babylon But yet hear the worde of the Lorde Zedechias kinge of Juda Thus y e Lorde telleth the. That thou shalt not be slayne with swerde but thou shalt dye in peace For they shal burne y e in the fyer as they brente thy fathers y e kinges thy predicessours And shal geue the thy moorning tuwne sayng Ah Master For this counsel haue I taken saith the Lorde And the Prophete Jeremy spake vnto Zedechie kinge of Juda al these sermoÌ„s at Jerusalem whan the kinge of Babylons hoste layd sege to Jerusalem and to al the other cytes of Juda that were lefte as to lachis and Azecham whiche yet remayned of y e sironge defensed cytes of Juda. The sermone whiche y e Lorde shâ—â—wed to y e Prophete Jeremye aftir y t Zedechias had made a lawe w t al the peple of Jerusalem that lybertye fredome shuld be proclaymed so that euery man shuld let fre go his bonde seruaÌ„t y t were hebrewes both man wâ—man no iewe to suffre his brother to be his bondeman And al y e rulers w t the hole peple y t moued this bargen consented that euery man shulde let go free both bonde man and woman and nomore to be lordis ouer them And agreyng to this lawe they obayed consented sending them for the fre But aftir warde they repented them and plucked their bonde men mayde seruantis home ageyn whom they had let go free called them ageyn into bondage For the which cause y e worde of the lorde was shewed froÌ„ him vnto Jeremy thus Thus saith y e lorde god of Israel I made a couenaunt with your fathers whaÌ„ I led theÌ„
the Lorde in the mean tyme euen from a farre And let Jerusalem come into your minde For we shamed to here of y e obbraydes very shame made vs to hyde our faces to se y e aleants come vnto the holy house of y e Lorde Wherfor lo the tyme shal come saith the Lorde that I shal viset the grauen images of Babylon that they shal rore lyke beastis falling downe thorowout al y e region If Babylon be extolled vnto heuen ye defende hir power whithe neuer so highe autorite yet shal I sende hir destroyers saith y e Lorde A noyse ful of coÌ„psaynte of Babylon grete destruccion shal be herde frome the londe of Calde when the Lorde shal destroye hir and shal caste oute of hir her prowde rufflyng wherby they haue swelled be blowne vp lyke y e waues of the maigne sea made so grete crackis withe their wordis For ther shal come vnto hir eueÌ„ Babylon I meaÌ„ destroyers whiche shal take hir baseauÌ„t men breke their bowes For the Lorde is redy to recquyte them and the Lorde shal rewarde them aboundantly Also I shal make droÌ„ken saithe the Lorde hir Prynces wysemen rulers hir myghty men that they shal slepe continually neuer to a wake saith the kynge whose name is the Lorde of powers Thus saith the Lorde of powwers That meruelous thicke wall of Babylon shal be vndermyned ouerthrone and hir prowd highe gates shal be breÌ„te And what so euer those gentyles and peple haue wroght with so grete and wery laboure it shal perysshe and be brent vp The commandement that Jeremy y e Prophete commaunded Sarie sone of Nerie sone of Mahasie when he shulde go with Zedechias kinge of Juda vnto Babylon the fowerth yere of his raigne This Sarias was cheife tresurere Jeremy wrote al y e calamite that shuld happen vnto Babylon in a boke that is to witte al these sermons whiche ar wryteÌ„ agenste Babylon And then he bode Sarie When thou comest to Babylon se thou redest al these sermons sayng Lorde thou haste decreed vpon this place vtterly thus to destroye it that noman inhabit it nether man nor beast but to be desolate for euer And wheÌ„ thou hast all redde y e hole boke thou shalt taye a stonne to it caste it into the middis of Euphrates sainge Euen thus shal Babylon synke awaye and be weryed synking dowe vnder the burden of thaffliccions which I shal laye vpon hir that she shal neuermore ryse agayne Hitherto ar continewed the sermons of Jeremye ¶ The .lii. Chapiter ZEdechias was xxi yere olde when he began to raygne and raigned in Jerusalem xi yeres his mothers name was Hamital daughter of Jeremy of Lobna And he did euil euen in the eyes of the Lorde and that in al poyntis as did Joachim because the Lorde was angrye with Jerusalein Juda vntil he had caste them oute of his syght Zedechias fill from the kynge of Babylon wherfore in the ix yere of his raigne the x daye of the x moneth Nebuchadrezar kynge of Babylon cam with al his hoste vnto Jerusalem beseged it bulwerkis droueÌ„ rownaboute it And the besege of the cyte enduered vnto the xi yere of kinge Zedechias And y e ix daye of the iiii moneth the cyte was so famesshed that there was no foode for y e peple of that lande Then did all the men of armes brekeforthe and fled from y e cyte be nyght comingforth by the waye to the gate of the two wallis thorow y e kinges orteyarde the Caldes compassinge the cyte rownde aboute yet wente they their wayes towerde the playnes Then persued the hoste of the Caldes and toke the kinge Zedechias in y e felde of Jericho wheÌ„ al his hoste was now scatred awaye from him And when he was taken they led him to Redlatham vnto the kinge of Babylon in y e lande of Hemath Where he gaue iugemeÌ„t vpon him And the kinge of Babylon slewe Zedechias sones before his eyeÌ„ slewe also the rulers of Juda in Reblathâ— And theÌ„ he put oute Zedechias eyes and dowâ—de his fete togither and broght him to Babylon and put him in custodye or presone tyl he dyed The x daye of the v moneth the xix yere of the raigne of Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon came ther Nebuzaradan chiefe ouer his hoste deputye for the kinge vnto Jerusalem did set fyer on the house of the Lorde on the kinges palace on al y e houses in Jerusalem and so brente vp al the goodly and grete houses Morouer al the hoste of y e Caldes ther being vndyr this cheif capitayne threwdowne the wall is rownd aboute Jerusalem And the raskel of the peple there lefte in the cyte siche as fled to the kinge of Babylon withe the multitude of the artificers left behynde Nebuzaradan tharcheiften ouer y e hoste caried a waye with him But the pore peple of the lande Nabuzaradan cheif capitayn left behynde still to plante and kepe y e bynes and to tyll the feldis The brasen pilers that were in the house of the Lorde with their fete and the grete brason lauer in the house of the Lorde the Caldes broke in pieses and caried awaye all the metall of theÌ„ vnto Babylon The kalderns tonges knyues sprynkles spones and al the brason vessels wherwith they ministred they toke all awaye water pottes shippes wheryn they put sense taÌ„kerdis basons candelstickis morters cuppes of whiche some wer al of golde and some syluer the cheif capitayn toke awaye w t him The waight of bothe the pilers of but one of the lauers of the xii brason oxen that bore vp the sokets or fete whiche kyng Solomon made for the house of the Lorde the waight I saye of the metal of al these Iwels and vessels was aboue mesure For one piler was xviii cubits highe and the rope that went aboute it was xii cubitis and it was fower fyngers rownd aboute and vpon y e toppe of this rope was ther staÌ„derds of brasse of whiche eche was v cubitis highe ouer these toppestonderds was ther a kel or nette closinge rownd aboute the pome granets and al was of brasse Aftir this maner wer bothe the pillers facioned and garnesshed with pome granets of which ther wer â—â—cvi al hanging as it were in the ayer closen vnder this kell This Nebuzaradan the cheif capitayn toke Sarias the cheif Preist and Zephoniam the preiste next vnder him and the iii kepers of the bestrye And oute of y e cyte he toke a gelded man which was master of the kinges garde and vii men that wher the kinges seruaÌ„ts which were fownde in y e cite And at laste he toke awaye the cheif scrybe whose offyce was to byll the peple into the hoste with lx other men whiche were of the peple of the lande and fownde in the cyte These I saye this Nebuzaradan the archeiften toke awaye And caried