Ieremy the prophete, translated into Englisshe: by George Ioye: some tyme felowe of Peter College in Camebridge. The songe of Moses is added in the ende, to magnifye our Lorde for the fall of the Pharao, the bisshop of Rome

❧ These ar the actis and sermons of Jeremy the sonne of Helchie Priest / one of those that dwelt in Anathot / the region of Beniamin . Vnto whom the worde of the lorde was shewed . Firste in the dayes of Josias / sonne of Amon kinge of Juda / the .xiii. iiii . boke of kinges . capi . xxii yere of his raigne / and so duringe thorow the tyme of Joakim sonne of Josias king of Juda / vntil .xi. yeres of Zedechias the sonne of Josias king of Juda wer ended / whan Jerusalem was taken euen in the fifte moneth .

The worde of the Lorde was sente vnto me / speking thus .

¶ The fyrste Chapiter .

BEfore I fasshioned the in thy mothers wombe / I knew the : and before thow wer borne / I sanctified the : and ordined the to be a Prophete for the peple . Ah lorde God / thow knowst how rude I am of speche : for ful yonge & simple am I. And the Lorde answered me . Thinke not so : for thou shalt go preche vnto al that I shall sende the : & thou shalt speke what so euer I shal commande the : Feare not their faces / for I wil●● with the to dilyuer the / saith the lorde . And euen forth withal / the Lorde stretched forth his hande / and touched my mo●the : saing agene vnto me . Beholde I s●t my wordis fast in thy mouthe / so Jorden the this daye to be an o●erseer to viset both the peple & their kinges / to pl●cup by th● roots and to cast downe / to destroie and to scater / and that thou shuldst also edifye and plante . Eft sone aftir this / the Lorde spake to me on this maner / sayng : Jeremy / what fi●st thou ? And I sayd / I see the rodde of a waking watcher . Well ( sayd the lorde to me ) thou seist right well : for euen I shal watche and wait apon my purpose to finesshe it . Ouer this the lorde spake vnto me the seconde tyme sayng : What siest thou ? A seething potte quod I / do I see : & that euen from the northe as it were hitherwards loking . And the lorde sayd to me : Euen from the northe shal ther be powerd forth an heuy hea● of plages vpon all th inhabitours of this lande . For lo / I shal calup all the kinredis of the northest regions saith the Lorde / and they shal come : & eche of them shal sitte & iuge openly euen in these fore gates of Jerusalem / & in al the walles rownde about it / and thoroute al the cytes also of Juda / by whom I shal declare my vengeaunce vpon the gret and manifolde wikednes of these men which haue forsaken me / offering their giftis vnto strange goddis and worshipinge the workis of their own handis . Thou therfore gi●d vp thy raynes / aryse and go preche vnto them al thingis that I commande the : Fear not their faces / lest for thy f●inte faith and fere / I make them to preuaile . For lo / this daye do I sette the a stronge defensed cyte / a piler of yerne / and a brason wall agenst all this londe / agenst the kingis of Juda and hir rulers / agenst the priestes and peple of the lande : wherfore they shal fight agenst the : but it shal not lye in their powr to ouercome the : for I shal be with the ( saith the lorde ) to delyuer the.

¶ The seconde Chapiter .

THen was the worde of the lorde shewed vnto me / commanding me thus . Go and krye into the eares of Jerusalem / sayng . Thus saith the lorde . I cannot forget the / especially when I remembre my mercifull couenant with the / and agen the goodnes of thy yougthe . I cannot forget thy true loue in mariage / wherby thou folowed s●me thorow the deserte / a londe vnlaboured & vnsowne . Thou waste once an holy Israel before the lorde / euen the firste frutes of hys felde : so that whoso had denoured the they had displeased him : & mischefe shuld haue fallen vpon them / sayd the lorde . Hear ye therfore the worde of the lorde / bothe yow that be of the house of Jacob and all the familye of the house of Israel . Thus saith the lorde vnto you : What faute or fraude fownd your fathers in me / to go so farre backe frome / and to be made so vayne as to folowe lyes ? nether yet once to thinke / where haue we lefte the lorde / that led vs owt of the lande of Egypt / that brought vs thorow that desert / thorou a wylde lande harbourles / a terrible baron lande where we sawe but dethe / thorow a lande which no man passed by / and in the which noman dwelled . And when I had brought you vnto that fatte lande of Carmelus to take your plesure of hir frutes & commodites : you went your wayes and defyled my lande / & made myne heretage abominable . And euen the priestis / they do not once remembre me sayng : where is the lorde ? The lerned in the lawe / they know me not . And as for the pastours / they synne agenst me . The prophetes they preache al for Baal his profit / and ar gone aftir ydols wich cannot helpe them . Wherfore I am vtterly constrayned to contende in iugement bothe with you & your childerne saith the lorde . For go your wayes vnto the eylandis of Cethim / & beholde : sende into Cedar and consyder diligently whither ther be any siche thinge done ? ye / loke wh●ther the gentiles haue castou●e their goddis ? albeit in very dede / they be no goddis . But my peple hath castawaye their glory for an Idole that cannot help them . For this thinge therfore : Oh heauens / be ye astouned / be ye a frayd and meruellously amased saith the lorde . For two grete offences hath my peple committed . They haue forsaken me / euen the very lyuely fountayne of perpetual waters : and digged them vp pittis al to troden & broken which may holde no waters . Is Israel a bonde slaue / or rather the good mannis sonne of the house ? And wherfore then is he gon into a proie ? Wherfore rore they vpon him like lyons ? They haue brought their lande into a wildernes : Their cites ar so thron downe & brent / that no man may inhabit them . For th effeminat childerne of Memphes & Thanneos haue polluted the / euen vp vnto thy nek . Hapened it not thus vnto the for that thou forsokest the lorde thy god euen then whan he wolde haue directed the in the waye ? And now : what hast thou to do in the waye to Egypte ? To drinke trowbled waters ? Or what makest thou in the waye to Assyrye ? to drinke the waters of the floude ? Thy nowne malice shal reproue the : and thy nowne bakslydinge from God shal condemne the : that thou maist know and vnderstande how perniciouse & perelouse a thinge it is that thou hast forsaken the lorde thy God / dreding him nothing at al saith the lorde God of powrs : when euen from the beginning I broke of thy yoke and thy bondes / for that thou complaynedst and praydst me to make an ende of thy bondage . But for al this / yet thou stodest forth offring thy bodye to be abused vpon euery highe hil and vnder euery brode branched tree / Oh harlet : ye & that euen while I went aboute to plant the / that thou mightist haue ben altogither of that noble vyne stocke and of that faithful sede . How art thou this alienated fro me into so strange and barayn a vyneyarde oute of kinde ? In somiche as wasshe thou thy selue neuer so clene with * * Fullers erth . Nitro . And powder thy selue neuer somiche with * * O ●rias . Borith . yet art thou spotted with thy nowne wikednes in my sight saith the lorde God . Nether cannest thou saye : I am not so polluted / nether haue I gon● aftir goddis : For loke vpon thy nowne wayes in wodis & valeis / oh swif● Cam●l / & thou shalt se what thou hast done . Thou hast runne vnto these places lyke a sw●fte ast●ling drom●dary & with as fi●●ce a desier as the wylde asse●● wonte in wildernes for his plesure to brea●h himselfe . Who coude refrayne the ? who soeuer seke the oute shall fynde the euermore in thy menstrwe . When we forbode the these vngodly peins taking / saing : Go nomore bare fote to these Idole / kepe thy throte frome thirst . Thou answerdst vs saing / we wil not / we care not for these pains : for our loue is set vpon strange goddis / and euen them wil we folowe . But as the thefe is a shamed whan he is espyed : euen so be ye confounded oh house of Israel . Bothe the peple / yea their kinges & rulers / Prestis and prophetis al be ye ashamed and confounded . For they say their Pater noster vnto a stocke / and to a stone they saye : Thou art my mother : they haue turned me their backe & not their face . But in tyme of their trouble whan they shall saye : Aryse and helpe vs : I shal answer : Where ar thy goddis whom thow madest the ? Let them ryse & saue the in tyme of thy affliccion . For loke how many cites thou hast ( oh Juda ) so many goddis hast thou . Wherfore contende ye with me sith ye be al synners agenst me saith the lorde ? I smite your childern / but al in vayne : for they receyue not my disciplyne . your swerde deuowreth your prophetis like a deuouring ●●om . ye ar the peple of the lorde : loke therfore vpon his worde . Am I become a wildernes or a derke londe to Israel ? Wherfore than saith my peple / let vs fal from hym and come nomore at him ? Do the mayde forget hir cheife ornament or the wife hir goodly girdle ? And doth my peple forgete me so longe ? Wherfore settest thou forth & cōmēdest thy nown wayes to be so good as to fynde fauour for them : when euen thy selue hast stayned thy nowne wayes with sinne ? For vnder thy winges is ther founde the bloude of pore innocent soules : & that not in corners and holes onely : but openly in al these places . And yet darest thou saye : I am an innocent : wherfore his indignacion may not lyght vpon me . But beholde : I wil contende with the in iugement / because thou thinkest sayng : I am no synner . But how filthy a sinner shalt thou apere / when it shal be declared openly / how ofte thou hast returned & repeted thy nowne ways ? For thou shalt be ashamed as wel of egypt as of ●ssyrye . For thou shalt go hence with thy handis cowpled ouer thy head . For the lorde shal frustrate thy hope & confidence and f●l litel prosperite and conforte shalt thou fynde in them .

¶ The thirde Chapiter .

IT is thought comonly / that ( yf a man put away his wyfe / & she now go an marye hirselfe to a nother ) it wil be asked : shal he any more take hir agayn ? For is not this felde now defiled ? But thou hast playd the harlet with many an herdeman : nethelesse turne agayn to me saith the lorde . Lift vp thy eyes & loke vp vnto al these qua●ters aboute the / & se whither any place be vndefiled . Thou satest downe by the wayes wayting for them in the desert lyke a thefe / insomiche that th erthe was polluted with thy synnes & horedome . Herof ceased the smal raynes & ceasonable showers . Thou hast goten the an h●rsets forehed and cannest not be ashamed . O●els / euen nowe thou woldst haue called vnto me / sayng : Oh my father / thou art the goyde of my yougth / and wilt thou be turned fro me for euer ? wylt thou holde thy selfe frome al wayes ? But lo / thou bothe spekest and doist euel more and more . Also the Lorde sayd vnto me in the tyme of Josias the kinge : Seist thou not what Israel that bakslyder from God hath done ? Which went hir wayes vpon euery highe hil and vnder euery thicke tre and their playd the harlet ? Nethelesse whan she had committed al this / yet I sayd / turne the agene to me : and yet she turned not . And euen thyssame ens●mole hath her faithles syster Juda sene . That is to wete : Whan I had perfaitly beholden al th aduoutery of Israel that bakfaller / & had forsaken hir / geuing hir a bil of ●iuorse : yet wolde not Juda her vnfaithful sister feare me / but went awaye to / and playd the harlet : so that the fame of hir fornicacion is flone thorow al this lande and hath stayned it : for she hath committed aduoutry with stones & stockes . Nether is this her faithles sister Juda aftir al these warningis returned vnto me with al hir herte / but faynedly and falsely / saith the lorde . And yet agen sayd the Lorde to me . Israel that bakfaller fro me / is more iuste than is yet this vnfaithful Juda. Go thy waye therfore and preach this sermone towerd the northe / sayng . Be conuerted thou bakslyder Israel saith the lorde : for I shal not turne my face from you : for I am merciful saith the lorde / nether wil I abhorre the for euer / but receyue the agen on this condicyon that thou wilt acknowlege thy synne committed agenst the lorde thy god / and that thou hast diuided and offred thy selfe here and there running aftir strange goddis vnder euery thik tree : but my voyce thou wolost not hear saith the lorde . Be conuerted you rebel bakslyden childerne saith the lorde : and I wil ioyne in mariage with you . For I wil take one of you of the cyte / and two of the kinrede and lede you into Zion . And I shal geue you herdemen aftir my nowne minde which shal fede you with doctryne and wysedome . And whan you shall be encreased and multiplyed in the lande : than ( saith the lorde ) the arke of the lordis couenaunt shal no more be spoken of nor mynded / no mencion more shal be made therof : for it shal no more be visited nor honourd with oblacion . Then shal they cal Jerusalem the seat of the lorde / & al the gentiles shal be gathered vnto it for the name of the lorde which shal be geuen to Jerusalem . Nether shal they folow anymore the counsels of their own shrewed hertis . Than shall they that ar of the house of Juda go to the house of Israel / & come bothe to gither from the northe region vnto the lande which I gaue your fathers . I shewed the how I purchased the in to the nowmbre of my childern / and gaue the that desyerde lande so pleasaunt a possession & also that noble hoste of the gentiles : commanding the to calme father and not to fall backe frome to any other godds . But as the woman breketh hir promyse to hir housbonde / so hast thou broken promyse with me / Oh house of Israel saith the Lorde . Wherfore the noyse of the childern of Israel shal be herde al aboute wailing & weping because they haue defyled his wayes / and forgoten the lorde their god . Be conuerted you baksliden childern / and I shal heale your bakslydinges . Saye / lo we ar thyne / for thou art the lorde our god . Very liers ar the hil toppis with the pompe of the mountayns : Netheles in the lorde our god / very helth cometh to Israel . But shameful dedis deuoured both the labours of our fathers euen from their cradles and also their flockes / herdes / sonnes & daughthers . We shal sleape therfore in our owne confusion / and our igno●●●ye shal couer vs . Forboth we & our fathers be synners agenst our lorde god euen from our cradles vnto this daye / in that we obay● not the voice of our lorde god .

¶ The fourth Chapiter .

BVt Israel / if thou wilt turne to me / if thou wilt turne to me saith the lorde / and remoue al thy abominacions out of my sight / & be no more a runagate aftir false geddis : but swere . The Lorde raigneth / ye & that in truthe / in iugement & ●ightwisnes / saing : The gentylis mought be blessed in him / and prayse and thanke him : than thus saith the Lorde vnto al Juda & Jerusalem : you shal breke vp & tyll your lande / and sowe it not for thornes . Be circumcised in the lorde and take away the vncircuncision of your hertis al ye citesens of Juda and Jerusalem : lest my indignacion come forth lyke fyer & be kindled noman to quench it for your maliciouse counsels . Tel forth in Juda and Jerusalem / preache it sayng : Blow forth trompettis into the lande / fil it al with your noise sayng : Get ye togither and go into your stronge defensed cytes . Lifteup a sygne in Zion . Haste ye and tary not / for I shal bringeforth a plage & grete destruccion from the northe . For the haithen destroyer is let slippe and cometh forthe of his place lyke a lyon from his denne / to bringe thy londe into a desert / to smyte downe thy cytes that noman may inhabit them . Wherfore clothe your selues with sacke / moorn & howle . For the hotte indignacion of the lorde shal not be slaked from you . In this day saith the Lorde / the herte of the kinge and hertes of the rulers shal faynt and fall . The Preistis shal be a stonned & the Prophetis al amased . And I sayd : Ah lorde god / haste thou then deceyued this peple and Jerusalem / sayng : ye shal haue peace and now the swerde pearseth their lyues ? In that tyme it shal be sayd vnto this peple and to Jerusalem . There cometh an hot winde from the sowth plage by the waye of my peple / nether to win●w them nor to clense them . Aftir this / my vehement stronge winde shal come : and then shal I teache these men my iugements . For lo / he shal ascende lyke a cloude / & his chariets shal be lyke a stormye temreste / ye and his horsemen swifter than a●gels . Wo be vnto vs / for we ar vtterly destroyd . Washe thy herte from euil o Jerusalem / that thou maiste be saued . How longe shal thy deedly and pe●●ciouse thoughtis tarye with the ? For frome Dan and from the mounte Ephraim ther is haide a noyse that pronos●●kth and precheth dethe . Lo euen the gentyles geue warning and tel Jerusalem that ther come destroyers from a farre lande . They tel it also the cytes of Juda / warning them rownd aboute as do the watch men of the feldis : for they haue angred me saith the lorde . Thy counsels and thoughtes hare brought the these thingis . This is thy nown malice and rebellion which hath posseded thy herte . Then shalt thou crye / My bely my bely ●keth / my lyfe in my breste sorowth / my herte withyn me is tr●wbled : I cannot be stil. For my soule hathe herde the voyce of the trompet / and euen the dolorouse peal to deth and destruccion is now ronge / euen now al the lande perisheth . Sodenly shal my tabernacles be destroyed / & my cortayns in the twinkling of an eye .

How longe shal I se these cruel tokens and hear the voice of the trompet ?

These therfore shal come / because my peple hath despysed me and ar besydes their wittes . My childerne ar fools & without vnderstanding . They ar wittye to do euel but to do good they ar al witlesse . I beheld the erthe / and lo it is vayne and voyde . I loked vpon the heauens : and lo they haue not their light / I lifted vp my eyes to the mountayns / and lo they reeled lykely to fal / and al the hilles shoke . I loked aboute / and lo ther was noman lefte . Also al the foules of the ayer were flone awaye . I beholde / and lo Carmelus was become a deserte / al hir cytes thrōdowne of the lorde & of the fury of his wrathe . For thus sp●●●e the lorde . Al this lande shal be desolate . But yet shal I not vtterly make an ende of it . Wherfore waile erthe & moorne heuen aboue : for of this thinge which I haue thought and decreed / it shalnot re●ent me / nether wil I go from it . Euery cite shal fle at the noyse of the horsemen and bowmen . They shal runne into caues and wodes and clyme into rockes . Euery cyte shal be left a lone noman to inhabit them . Whan thou art thus destroied / what shalt thou do ? If thou clothest thy selue with purple / and deckest the with golden ornamentis / if thou payntest thy eye brews with starche / yet shalt thou garneshe thyselfe in vaine . For they that loued the hitherto / shal looth the and go aboute to quenche thy lyfe . For me thinketh I hear a voyce as it were of a woman traueling / of childe / or of one laboring in the trauel of hir firste childe : that is to saye the voice of the daughter of Zion moorning and complayning in hir selfe casting hir armes abrode sayng : Ah lasse for sorow / for my lyfe fayleth in me for the slayne .

¶ The fifte Chapiter .

GO loke vpon Jerusalem withe oute : & consyder it also withyn : & seke thorowt euery streate / whither ye can fynde any one man that ether dothe right or studieth for faith & trouth : & I shal spare them saith the Lorde . For albeit they saye . The lorde lyneth / yet is this their othe to deceyne / whan thy eyes ( o lorde ) loke for nothing so miche as for faith . For thou smittest them & yet they repented not . Thou correctedst to amende them : but they wolde not receyue thy disciplyne . They hardened their faces more then any stonne / & refused to turne to a better mynde . Wherupon I consydered withe my selfe thus / paraduenture they ar so poore that they cannot knowe the waye of the lorde & iugements of our god . I shal get me therfore vnto the grete estates & talke with them / if paraduenture yet these men may haue the knowlege of the waye of the lorde & the iugements of their god . But these men euen lyke al other haue broken the yoke & plucked in sondre their brydle raynes . Wherfore the lyon shal come from the wode and deuowre them . The wolfe at th euening shal destroye them . The leoparde shal lye awaite by their cytes to teare in peaces as many as come out frothence . For they haue heaped synne vpon syn / and their bakslydingis ar right greuouse . Tel me then what thing hast thou where fore I shuld be mercyful vnto the ? Thy childerne haue forsaken me / and swere by them that ar no goddis / whan euen I myselfe had bownde them to me by an othe : and yet ar they aduouterers haunting harlettis houses . They ar be come as fyerce in prodigiouse libidinouse luste as fatte stallaūdes / euery man neiathe at his neighbours wyfe . Shal I not be auenged vpon these thinges / saith the lorde ? And shuld not I take vengeaunce of what nacion so euer it be that is lyke vnto this ? Clyme vp to hir walles and thro them downe / tarye not . Cut of hir branches and battlemē●s for they belonge not to the lorde . For the house of Israel and Juda hath caste me awaye vnfaithfully / saith the Lorde / sayng : It is not he that is God . Nether shal there come siche affliccion vpon vs . Swerde and honger we shal not se. Wherfore these Prophetis shal go their wayes into the wynde . And he that shulde preache shall not come amonge them . Euen thus shal it be dealt with them . Wherfore thus speketh the lorde god of powrs . Sith ye speake this worde : Lo I shal turne my wordes whiche thou speakest with thy mouth into fyer / and this peple into wode / that it maye deuoure them . Beholde I shal bringe vpon you a nacion from a farre ( o house of Israel saith the lorde ) a stronge boystiouse nacion an olde nacion whose tongue thou shalt not knowe nor vnderstande what they saye . Their quyuers shal be thy present graue : for al they ar ful mightye . This nacion shal eatup thy corne & foode : they shal eat thy sonnes and daughters : they shal deuoure thy flockes & droues . They shal eatup thy vyneyardis & figges . And bete downe thy defensed cytes with swerde in whom thou trustedst moste cheifly : and yet thus than wil I not ceasse nor make an ende with you saith the lorde . And whan they shal saye : wherfore shal our lorde God do al this vnto vs ?

Thou shalt answer them . Because that lyke as ye haue forsaken me and serued strange gods in your owne lande : euen so shal ye serue strange gods stil in a strange lande . Shewe this to the house of Jacob / and preche it in Juda sayng : Hear ( I pray the ) this thing thou folesshe and hertlesse peple . ye haue eyes but yese not / and ears but ye heare not . Wil ye not dread me saith the lorde ? Wil ye not feare my face / which haue pinnedyn the sea with sandes : ye & that with this lawe to / that she shal neuer passe ouer them ? She maketh a face with grete vehemence / but yet she maye not : She swelleth vp into her highe waues / but yet she breaketh not her lawe . But this peple hath a faithles & rebellious herte . They are fallen backe and gone their wayes so farre / that they thinke not once in their hertes . Let vs yet feare the lorde our God whiche geueth vs rayne in tyme / and ceasonable showers for our profit / preseruing vs our corne according to the duwe order of the year . your own wikednesses haue turned these thinges from you . And your synnes haue depryued you this grete commodite . For in my peple ther ar fownde the vngodly which bende snares preuely / & waite to destroye men and to take them . And as the nette is ful of birdes / so ar their houses ful of goodis goten with dissaight . And hereof ryse their stoutenes & riches : hereof ar they magnifyed / made so fatte and ful of tresure . Also they haue offended me with the moste greuous crymes . They ministre not the lawe . The cause of the fatherlesse they expede it not . The pore mannis wronge / in iugement they delyuer not . Shal I not be auenged of these thingis saith the lorde ? And shulde I not take veneaunce of what so euer lyke vnto this ? Thingis to be woundred at and gretely to be fered ar nowe done in this lande . The Prophetis preche lyes / and the Preistis obaye and reioyse in them . And my peple haue grete plesure in these thinges . But what shal come of this at the laste ? Verely / euen this .

¶ The sixte Chapiter .

GEt ye forthe of Jerusalem / ye stronge sones of Beniamin . And blowup trompets ye men of Thecua : and let ther be a token lifted up vnto Bethacherem : for ther cometh a plage and grete destruccion from the northe . I shal make the daugther Zion lyke a fayer tender one / that the pastours with their flockes might come to hir to pitche their tentis rowndaboute behinde hyr / eche one to fede vpon men yildedup into their handis . But shal I be playne ? Bende ye ernestly to bataile agenst Jerusalem Aryse / and let vs go vp while it is yet middaye . But ahlasse the daye declyneth and the darke euening drawth faste vpon : nethelesse aryse / and let vs go vp euen in the night / and throdowne hir goodly stronge defenses . For thus commaundeth the lorde of powers . Cutdowne hir trees and rearup a bulwerke agenste Jerusalem . This is the cyte that muste be visited : for it is ful of violence and vniuste vexacion . As the cesterne kepeth & encreseth hir colde waters / euen so nouresheth this cyte hir malice . Thefte and iniury ar harde in hir . Sorowe & woundes ar euer in my sight . Be thou rather nourtred and amende o Jerusalem / leste I withdrawe my harte from the / and leue the desolate / no man to inhabit thy region . For thus saith the Lorde of powers . The reāmant of Israel shal be plucked awaye as men wer wonte to pyke of the grapes lefte aftyr the grape gathering . Turne thou thy hande therfore into the maunde lyke the grape gatherer . But vnto whome shal I speke and testifie myselfe that he wolde once hear ? Their eares ar so vncircumcised that they may not receyue my worde . For lo / the worde of the lorde is put of them in the place of obprobrye and shame / they set naught by it but reuyle it .

But Lorde I am so repleynesshed and laden with thy fury that I labour in great sufferaunce . Haue done at once therfore and power it forthe vpon the childerne in the stretis and also vpon the companye of the yongemen . For the man with his wyfe / and th oldeman withe the bederede shal be taken / and their houses shal be translated vnto oother / as wel their feldes as wyues . For I shal strechforth my hande vnto the dwellers of this lande saith the lorde : because that from the leest of them vnto the gretest euery man is geuen to couetousnes / and frome Prophete to preist euery one doeth dissaightfully and lyingly . But yet in the mean ceason / to put my peple oute of feare : they go aboute to heal their breache and destruccion with this lye / preaching peace peace / whan ther is no peace at al. Wherfore / they shal be ashamed because they haue committed abominacion : what sayd I ? Ashamed ? When they ar paste al shame & withe oute al feare . Wherfore they shal fall amonge the slayne / & in th article of my visitacion they shal come downe altogither saith the Lorde Thus saith the Lorde . Comeforth vnto the ways . Consyder and serchout the pathe euerlasting : that yet if this waye be good and right / ye mought walke theryn & fynde reste for yoursouls . But they saye / we wil not walke theryn . yet sayd the Lorde . And I shal set ouerseers ouer you : Gyue hede therfore / especially vnto the voyce of the trompet . But they saye / we wilnot geue hede . Wherfore / hear ye gentyles / and se ye folke gathrede togither what I haue ordined for them . And thou erthe hear also / I shal bringe a greuouse plage vpon this peple / euen the frute of their owne counsels . For they obayed not my wordis nor my lawe / but aborred them and casted them awaye . For what entent bringe ye encense fro Gaba ? and this good fragrante spyce from so farre contreys ? your offringis displease me / and your sacrifices delight me nothing at al. Wherfore thus saith the Lorde . Beholde I shal sende a ruyne emong this peple / and thershal fall the fathers with their sonnes / neighbours togither one with another shal perisshe . Also thus saith the lorde . Beholde a populose multitude shal come from the northe partes / and a grete nacion shal be steredup from the coostis of th erthe armed with bowe and bokeler / a nacion bothe boystuouse fyerce and mercylesse / their voice rorethe lyke the sea : they come ryding / eueryone wel apoynted & bente to fyght agenste the / oh daughter Zion . Here as sone as we shal hear of these tydingis / our handis shal be dissolued / anguisshe & heuynes shal holde vs as a woman traueling of chylde . We shal saye / let noman go forthe into the felde / noman go by the highewaye . For bothe swerde & the feare of our enymes shal occupye al places .

Girde the therfore with sak / oh daughter of my peple and sprinkle thyselfe with asshes : take the to moorning as it were for thy onely dere beloued sonne / & lamente as thou shuldste for them whom thou maist not leese with oute many a bitter teare : for in the twinkling of an eye / this destroyer shal be vpon you : whom I haue set vpon my peple as a tryeroute of metal to trye them & to disclose their wayes . For they ar forsakers of me and traytours . They honte aftyr filthy lucre / they ar brasse & yerne / for they hurte and destroye al. The blower of the fyer with the belows shal faynte / the leade shal fayle : the tryer oute of the syluer shal trye in vayne / for they ar worse then worthy to be melted . Wherfore they shal be called forboden and reproued syluer / for the Lorde shal refuse them .

¶ The .vii. Chapiter .

THis is the worde geuen vnto Jeremye from the Lorde sayng . Stande vp in the gates of the house of the lorde / & preache this sermone with a lowde voyce sayng . Hear the worde of the Lorde al ye that haunte these gates entring in to worship the Lorde . Thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . Amend your wayes & counsels / & I shal make you to inhabit this place . Put not your confidence in the wordes of lyers sayng . The temple of the Lorde / the temple of the Lorde / the temple of the Lorde is here . For if ye amende and redresse your ways & counsels / & do righte to euery man / if ye do no wronge to the stranger / to the fatherlesse and poredestitute / if ye shede no innocent blode in this place / if you folow not strange gods into your owne destruccion : I shal cause you to inhabit this place in the lande which I gaue your fathers from age to age . But lo / ye truste in deceaitful counsel & lying wordes which shal not profit you . For whan ye haue walked altogither in thefte / murder / adultery and periury : whan ye haue offred to Baal and folowed strange gods / ye and euen vnknown gods / then at laste ye come and stande before me in this house / which beareth my name / and ye saye / we be absolued / ye although we had committed al these abominacions .

Think ye that this house which beareth my name is made a denne of theues ? And these thinges ar not done preuely but openly in my presens / saith the Lorde . But go your wayes ( I praye you ) to my place in Silo / to the which I gaue my name some tyme / and beholde what I did to it for the malice of my peple Israel . Now therfore because ye haue committed al these dedis saith the Lorde . Notwithstanding yet I rose fulerly continually warninge you in tyme / I spake but ye wolde not hear / I called but ye wolde not answer / I shal do ( I saye ) therfore vnto this house to whom my name was geuen in which house also ye truste : I shal do ( I say ) to this place whiche I gaue you and your fathers euen as I did to Silo. And I shal caste you oute of my sight as I casted out al your brothern / euen al the sead of Erhraim . Nowe therfore praye thou not for this peple / nether bid prayer nor prayse for their sake / nor make no intercession to me . For in nowyse wil I heare the. Seist thou not what they do in the cites of Juda and without Jerusalem ? The childern gather stickes & their fathers set them on fyer . And their wyues strewe & sprinkle their flower to make fyne cakes for the quene of heuen . * * The ●one . Ouer this yet they offred to false gods to angre me / albeit ther is no siche affecte in me / saith the lorde / ought they not yet rather to be a shamed of their owne selues ? Wher fore thus saith the lorde God . Beholde my wrath & indignacion shal be powerdforth vpon this place / vpon man and beast / vpon the trees of the felde and vpon the frutes of th erthe : & it shal so brenne that noman may quenche it . Thus saith the lorde of powrs / the God of Israel / ye ioyne & heap togither your brente sacrifices with your slayne beastis to be offred / but eat you the flesshe your selfe / for as for me I spake nothing of these vnto your fathers : how miche lesse than was it my mynde / whan I brought the oute of the lande of Egypte to commande these ceremones of brente sacrifyces and oblacions as my chefe and firste precepts ? But this was the substance of my fyrste precepte . * * Ex de . x Hear & obaye my voice / and I shal be your god / and ye shal be my peple / this condicion added / that ye walke in all my wayes whiche I shal commande you for your helthe . But they obayed not nether gaue eare / but walked aftir the lustes and craftye counsels of their owne shrewd hertis / and became frowarde and nothing towarde / ye and that euen from the same daye that your fathers wente oute of Egypte vnto this daye . And I sente them my seruantis / al the Prophetis rysinge & busely warninge them in tyme / but they listened not to me / nor yet once enclined their ears : but hardened their prowde neckes and became farre worse than their fathers . And thou thyselfe now to / shalt also speke vnto them al these wordes : but they shalnot geue eare vnto the : thou shalt cal them / but they shal not answere . Wherfore thou shalt saye vnto them . This is the peple that hereth not the voice of their lorde god / nether receiueth his discipline . Faith is gone & banesshed from their mouthes . Therfore clipof the heares of thy heade & caste them a waye / take the to moorning thoroute al the londe . For the Lorde wilcaste awaye and scater the generacion with whom he is angre . The Childern of Juda haue done euil in my sight saith the Lorde . They haue setvp their owne abominacions in my house named aftir my name and so polluted it . And they haue builded an auter at Topheth which is the vale of Benhinnom to brenne their sonnes and daughters in the fyer / which thing I neuer commanded nor mynded . Wherfore behold the tyme shal come saith the lorde / whan it shal nomore be called Tophet or vale Benhinnom : but the vase of the slayne . For they shal be buryed in Tophet because they can get no nother place : and the carkases of this peple shal be meat for fowles of the ayer and for wylde beasts of the erthe / & ther shal be to noman to chaar them a waye . I shal make a vacacion of the voyce of gladnes and of the voyce of ioye / of the voyce of brydegrome and brydewyfe from the cites of Juda / and the region of Jerusalem . For the lande shal be lefte desolate with out inhabitours .

¶ The .viii. Chapiter .

AT this tyme saith the lorde : they shal bringe forth the bones of the kinges of Juda / and the bones of hir rulers / the bones of Preistis and Prophetis and of the cytesens of Jerusalem / oute of their sepulchres : and shal laye them abrode before the sone / mone and all the company of the starres / whom they loued / whom they serued / aftir whom they wente / whom they sought and worshipte . They shalnot be gatherdup nor buryed / but lye stil lyke a donghil aboue th erthe . And al that shal be lefte of this wiked generacion shal desyer rather to dye than to lyue . Whersoeuer they shal become as I shal scater them / they shal be but ( as ye wolde saye ) a left reamnant saith the lorde of powrs . Also this shalt thou saye vnto them . That thus saith the Lorde : Do men so fall that they neuer aryse vp agene ? Are they so auerted that they wil be neuer conuerted ? How is it than that this peple and Jerusalem be auerted so steifly for euer ?

Their stourdines encreaseth / they wilnot be conuerted . For I haue behelde them and herkened / but there is not one that once thinketh on this / not one repentith him of his synnes sayng / what haue I done ? Or wherfore haue I done thus ?

Euery one aftir that he was once auerted / he ranne fro me lyke an horse that runneth neaing into bataile . The storke knoweth hir apoynted tyme / the turtle / the fwalow / and the crane obserue the tyme of their forthefleing : but my peple know not the tyme of the vengeaunce of the lorde . How then hapeneth it that ye saye . It is we that ar the wyse / it is we that haue the lawe of the lorde ? se therfor they ar but very lyes which the false penne of the scrybe payntethe . Wherfore the wyse shal be ashamed / they shal be afrayd and be taken / for lo / they haue throne a waye the lorde . which gone / what wysdome than can ther remayn in them ? Wherfore I shal geue their wyues to strangers / and their feldes to their destroyers : for from the leste to the gretest al gape for fylthye lucre . Frome prophete to preest al ar lyers . But in the mean ceason they heal the breache & affliccion of my peple powdering it with this lye sayng : There shal be peace / there shal be peace / whan ther is none at all . Fygh for shame / they committe abominable and shameful dedes & ar past al shame . Wherfore they shall fall among the dede carkases and shal come downe togither in the daye of their visitacion saith the lorde . I shal cause them to be gathered vp and taken awaye saith the Lorde . Lyke as ther is not a grape lefte in the vyne / nor a figge on the figtre / and as leaues ar fallen a waye / euen so shal I cause them to be caryed awaye captiued while they be at their wittes ende saing : Come and let vs go into some stronge cytes / and let vs abyde there with sylence . For our Lorde God hath put vs to sylence and geuen vs to drynke water mengled with gall because we synned agenst him . We loked for peace / but there came no good : we taryed and waited for the tyme of helthe / but lo / al is syknes and trowble . Than shal the neaing and noyse of their horse be herde from Dan. At the noyse of their harnes and armed horse men al the region shal falldowne . For they shal inuade & deuoure this lande & what so euer is in it / bothe cytes & dwellers in them . And ouer this yet shal I sende into among them kokatrices and serpents whom they may not charme / and they shal stinge you saith the lorde . I am oppressed with sorowe / and heuynes holdeth my herte . For lo / the lowde voice of the daughter which is my peple shal be herde from a farre contrye / saing : Is not the Lorde in Zion ? Is not hir kinge in hir ? Wherevnto the Lorde shal answere . Wherfore haue they angred me with their karuen images and strange vanites ? Haruest is paste . Somer is done / & we ar yet miserable and vnhappye . I am sory for th affliccion of the daughter my peple / I am fallen into a swone . Is there no rosyne medicinable or triakle lefte in Galaad ? There is no phisicion there that maye restore the daughter my peple to hir helthe .

¶ The .ix. Chapiter .

UVho may minister water to my head / and plentuouse teares to my eyes / to wepe day and night for the murder of the daughter my peple ? Who will geue me some strange solytary cotage in the deserte / that I might ( my peple forsaken ) go from them ? For they be al aduouterers and the chirche of bakslyders .

They bende their tongues lyke a bowe to shoteforth lyes : but for the truthe / they may do nothinge in the worlde . For they procede from one mischefe to a nother & they holde not vpon me / saith the Lorde . Euery man muste be ware of oother / & no brother may truste a nother : for brother supplanteth brother / & neghbour deceaueth neghbour . Euery man mocketh his neghbour / and the trowthe they speke not . They haue accustomed their tonges to lye and take grete paynes to do mischefe . Thou haste set thy stole in the middes of desaight / and for to deceiue men / they forsoke my knowlege saith the lorde . Wherfore thus saith the lorde of powers . Beholde I shal seeth them oute / I shal melte and trye them . For what els shulde I do to my peple ?

Their tongues lyke sharpe arowes pearse with desaight . Withe their lippes they speke peace with their neghbour / but pr●●ely they set snares for him . Must I not then viset them for th●se thingis / saith the Lorde ? Or shulde my mynd● iuge that nacion innocent ( who so euer they be ) that is lyke vnto this ? Vppon the mountains therfore shall I take me to weping and moorning . And vpon the fayer playnes of the desert shal I begyn to lament● that they be thus brent vp / that noman passe thorow them / that their is not herde one worde of any possessour / and that the byrdes of the ayer with the beasts ar caryed and gone fro thence . And euen very Jerusalem shal I bringe into an heape of stones and dragons dennes . And the cytes of Juda shal I make desolate withoute any inhabitour . What mortal man is sowyse as to vnderstande these thingis ? or to whom hath the lorde tolde forth these by mouthe ? sayng : Wherfor perisshest o lande ? wherfore art thou so brentvp and made lyke a deserte / that noman maye passe thorow the ? Euen the lorde therfore him selfe tolde it them that forsoke his lawe which he gaue them / and yet they receyued it not / nor lyued aftir it : but folowed the craftynes of their owne shrewed hartis & went aftir goddes as their fathers taught them . Wherfore euen thus ( I tell you ) saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . Beholde I shal fede this peple with anxt / and geue them gall to drinke : I shal scater them into among the nacions / whom nether they nor their fathers knowe . I shal sende the swerde among them persecuting vntil I haue consumed them . Also thus sayd the Lorde of powers . Se that ye call mourners and sende for the wyse women to come spedely that they might singe our moorninge songes / that the teares might fall from our eyes / and water our chekis . For the lamentable voyce of Zion apereth yet stil / euen thus to be harde . How ar we destroyd ? How miserably ar we confounded ? we muste forsake our owne contrye / for our owne tabernacles cast vs forthe . But yet heare the worde of the lorde / o ye women / & let your eares hear the worde of his mouthe / that ye might teache your daughters / & eche of them their neghbours this lamentable moorning . Deth is clymen yn at our windows and hathe pearsed thorow our houses destroying our childerne before our dores and our younge ons in the streates . But tel thou them / that thus saith the lorde . Mennis carkases shal fall lyke donge vpon the face of the felde / and lyke grasse aftyr the sythe / noman to gather them vp . And tel them that he saith thus to . Let not the wyse glorye in his owne wysedome / nor the grete man in his power / nether the ryche in his riches . But he that will glorye / let him glory in this / that he hathe vnderstanding & knowleg of me / me . For it is I that am the Lorde / which do mercy / equyte and rightuousnes vpon th erthe . Wherfore in these thingis I delight chefely saith the Lorde . Beholde the tyme shal come saith the Lorde / that I wil viset euery circuncised nacion : as the Egypcion / the Iwe / the Idumey / Ammonites / Moabites / and the shauen Madianitis whiche dwell in the deserte . For all the gentyles haue their foreskynne vncircuncised / but al the ho●se of Israel haue their hartis vncircuncised .

¶ The .x. Chapiter .

HEre the sermone of the Lorde whiche he sendeth vnto you oh house of Israel / sayng thus . Be not lerned aftir the wayes of the gentyles / nether fear ye at the sygnes of the skye or heuen whiche the gentyles feare . For the rytes and lawes of the gentyles ar very vanite . They wil go cut downe a tre frome the wode and fasshion it withe the handis & axe of the artificer / than is it made gaye with golde or syluer / and fastened with hamers and naylis that it moue not nor go not a waye . It standeth as stiffe as the palme tre / it speketh not / it gothe not / but is borne onely . Be not a frayd of siche thingis : for they may do nether good nor harme . But vnto the ( oh Lorde ) none is lyke / thou ar grete / and grete is the name of thy power . * * 〈…〉 . Who ought not to feare the ? Or what kinge among al nacions ought not to obaye the ? For amonge al the wyse of the gentyles / and in al their kingdomes / none is lyke the. They ar al a lyke / vnlerned and vnwyse . All their crafte and coning is but vanite . Syluer is brought hither from Tharsis / and beten forth into thinne plates . And golde is brought from Ophir and beaten into the worke of the crafte man by the hande of the caster and cled with byse and purple . Siche is the worke of al their wittye men togither . But the Lorde is the very God / the lyuing God and kinge euerlasting . He being angrye the erthe trembleth : his indignacion no peple may beare . But as touchinge these Idols thus shal ye reporte by them . They ar goddes whiche made nether heuen nor erthe . They shal perisshe therfore as wel from th erthe as from these thingis which ar vnder this skye . But as concerning this our God / ye shal saye . He hath made the erthe by hys power / & finesshed the rownde worlde by his wysedome / and stretched forth the heuens by his vnderstanding / at his voyce miche water runneth togither in the ayer / clowdes ar lyfted vp from the extreme partes of th erthe . Psal. cxxxv● He turneth thonder into rayne / and ledeth forthe the wyndes out of their secrete places . Euery man is made a fole of his owne wisdome . Euery man may be ashamed that casteth an ymage . For it is but a vayne thinge that he so melteth and bloweth togither / & clene withoute lyfe . These vayne craftismen with their workis worthy to be skorned so fondely framed and ornowernde / shal perisshe al to gither in the tyme of their visitacion . Siche is not Jacobs lot / but it is he that hath fasshioned al thinges . And Israel is the met rodde of his heretage / whose name is the lorde of powers . Take away a non fro my sight thy filthenes which yet sittest in so stronge holdes . For thus saith the Lorde . Beholde I shal castoute th inhabitours of this lande / al at this tyme / and so vexe them that they nomore appere . Ah lasse / how greuouse is my affliccion ? how sorowful is my plage ? For I bear this heuines and reken it as my nowne . My tabernacle is destroied and al my lynes broken in sondre . My childerne ar gone fro me / and appere nomore . Now is ther noman to bende my tente / or rear vp my skinnes . For full folesshly haue the herdemen done in that they sought not the lorde : whervpon al their flockes also haue done vnwysely & be scatred awaye . Lo the rumour of the hoste is present / and a grete vprore cometh from the northe to turne the cytes of Juda into a wildernes and into dennes for dragons . I know verely ( Lorde ) that it lyeth not in mannis power to directe and rule his owne wayes / nor yet to make perfite his owne steapes and his goinge . Thou therfore ( Lorde ) shalt amende vs in equyte / & not in thy wrathe : leste thou bringe vs vnto naught . Powr forth rather thy wrath vpon the haithen that knowe the not / and vpon the generacions that cal not vpon thy name / and that namely for this cause / that they haue eatenvp / deuoured / and consumed Jacob / & extincte his brightnes .

¶ The .xi. Chapiter . ¶ Another sermon whiche the Lorde stered vp Jeremy to preache / sayng .

HEar ye the wordis of this his couenaunt / and speke vnto al Juda & to th inhabitours of Jerusalem . But thou namely shalt saye vnto them . Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel : Cursed be euery man that obaye not the wordis of this couenant which I commaunded your fathers what tyme I led them oute of the lande of Egypte frome that harde fornace and greuouse seruitute / sayng : Obaye my voice / and do aftyr that I commaunde you / and ye shal be my peple and I shal be your God / & kepe myne holy othe which I swore to your fathers / to geue them this lande flowing with mylke & honey / as ye may se it fulfilled vnto this daye . Here I answerde sayng : Oh Lorde it is trwe . And then the Lorde sayd to me agen . Preache thou al these wordis in the cites of Juda & ro●●●e about Jerusalem / sayng : Hear the wordis of the couenaunt that ye might fulfill them . For I certified your fathers / openly testifying vnto them from that tyme sence I brought them oute of the lande of Egypte vnto this daye warning them intyme saing . Lysten to my voice : & noman listened nor gaue eare / but folowed the croked thoughtis of their owne hertis . Wherfore I brought al the wordes of this couenant vpon them which I gaue them to fulfill & they fulfilled it not . Ouer this the lorde yet sayd to me . There is foūdoute a cōiuracion in all Juda & in the cytesens of Jerusalem . They ar returned vnto the synnes of their fore fathers whiche forsoke to heare my wordis . And euen so do these men folow strange goddis to worship them . The house of Israel and Juda hath made voyde my couenant which I smit with their fathers . Wherfore thus saith the Lorde . Beholde I shal bringe forth a plage vpon you / from whiche ye may no wayes escape . ye & whan ye shal crye to me / yet wil I not hear you . Then shal the cytes of Juda with the cytesens of Jerusalem go & crye vpon their goddis whom they worshipt / but in no maner wyse maye they helpe them in tyme of their miserable adfliccion . For loke how many cytes / so many gods hadst thou oh Juda / & acording to the nowmber of the streatis of Jerusalem / thou settedst vp shameful auters / auters vpon whom thou brēst thy offeringis euen vnto Baal . Thou therfore praye not for this peple / nether bid prayse nor prayer for them . For whan thou shalt cry to me I shal not hear them in their affliccion . Wherfor ( oh my best beloued Israel ) committest thou in my house so many synnes ? as thoughe the holy * * their beasts sacrificed & offred vp is called holy flesshe . flesshe might take awaye thy sinnes namely which haste so roioysed in thy nowne my schefe . The lorde named the / that goodly grene floureshing fruteful & fayer olyne : but now / the contrary fame wyde spred / he wil burne the in the fyer & destroye thy branches . For the lorde of powrs which planted the hath ordined a plage for the ( oh house of Israel & house of Juda ) for the euel that ye haue done prouoking him to wrathe with the worship done to Baal . These thinges oh lorde ( thou teaching me ) I vnderstode / when thou shewedst me their counsels : but I lyke a meke lombe was apoynted to be slayne / knowing nothing that they had taken their counsel thus agenst me : saying let vs corrupt his brede on the tree / & so banysshe him from the company of the lyuing that euen the very mencion of his name might be odiouse and loothsome .

Thou therfore / lorde of powrs / rightuouse iuge sercher oute of raynes and hertis : I beseche the that I might se vengeance taken on them . For vnto the I committe my cause . As concerning these thinges / thus spake the lorde vpon the cytesens of Anathot which sought to make an ende of me / sayng : Preache to vs nomore in the name of the lorde / except thou wilt dye in our handis . Thus ( I saye ) spake the lorde of powrs . Beholde / I shal viset you / your yonge men shal be slayne with swerde : and your sonnes and daughters shal dye for honger / so that none be lefte . For I shall bring a plage vpon the citesens of Anathot / and the daye of their visitacion .

¶ The .xii. Chapiter .

BVt thou Lorde art to rightuouse for me to reason with . Not withstanding yet I wolde talke with the of rightwisenes . * * or of thy depe iugements . How is it that the waye of the vngodly so prospereth and al vnshamefaced synners lyue in siche plesure ? Thou arte redy at their mouthes what so euer they aske / although thou be ful farre from their hertis . But thou Lorde / vnto whom I am knowne and perfitly sene / which also hast serched oute my herte / doist thou not fauour them to bringe them yn togither lyke fed ware apointed to the bochers stal consecrated vnto the daye of slaughter ? How longe shal this lande wayle and al the grasse of the felde be withred vp for the malice of hir inhabitours ? Beast and fowle ar gone / while these men yet saye . God thinketh not to make an ende of vs . And they obbrayded me sayng whan thou rannest but with footmen / thou wast tyred / and wilt thou than stryue to runne with horse ? Thou waste not suer in thy nowne peaceable countrye : how wilt thou then loke to endure in the proude ruffeling of Jordane ? For euen thy nowne bretherne and thy fathers familye altogither honted the forth folowing the with ●n oute crye ▪ For thou woldst not beleue them euen whan they tolde the for the best . Whom I answerde thus . I lefte my house in dede and gaue ouer my heretage / and put my lyfe ( whiche nothyng is to me more deare ) into the handis of my enymes / for my heretage was made to me as a lyon in the wode : It barked agenste me : wherfore I hate it . My heretage is to me as a paynted b●●de / but a gredy flocke of fowles houered ouer it round aboute . Go your wayes & begathred togither also ye beastis of the felde / & haste you to denoure it . The multitude of herdemen haue destroyed my vyneyarde / they haue troden downe my heretage / euen my moste pleasaunt heretage haue they brought into a desolate deserte and wasted it / which now wasted moorneth vpon me / ye althe hole lande is destroyde / and noman petyeth it or set it at herte . There shal come destroyers thorow althe wayes of the felde : for the swerde of the Lorde shal deuoure this lande from one ende to tother / and nothing lyuing shal haue reste . Men shal sowe whete / & reape thornes : they shal take fermes / but al in vayne : for ye shal be ashamed of your profite for the wrathe and indignacion of the Lorde . Also thus sayd the Lorde vpon al my neghbours which molested & layd handes vpon t heretage whiche I gaue to Israel my peple . I shal verely swepe them forthe / euen Israel shal I caste out of their lande / and the house of Juda shal I carye awaye to . But aftir that I haue plucked them vp by the rotes / I shal fauour them and be merciful vnto them / and bringe them agene euery man to his owne heretage and to his owne countrye . Also / it shal come thus to passe / that if the destroyers of my peple wil be enstructe and taught the wayes of my peple to swere be my name . The Lorde fyueth . As they taught my peple to swere be Baal / they shal be grieffed into among my peple . But if they wil not obaye / I shal caste oute sich maner of folke and destroye them / saith the Lorde .

¶ The .xiii. Chapiter

ALso thus saith the Lorde vnto me .

Go and bye the a brode synen girdle : and girde it aboute they raynes / but let it not come in any water . Than I gote me this girdle as the Lorde bad me and put it aboute my raynes . Aftyr this / the Lorde spake to me agene . Take the girdle which thou haste bought the / and put it aboute thy loynes / and ryse / and go thy waye to Euphrates and hyde it there in an hole of the rok . Then I wente and hid it as the Lorde commanded me . And it happened that longe aftir this / the lorde sayd vnto me . Aryse and haste the to Euphrates / and take oute thy girdle which I commanded to be there hid . Then I wente forth to Euphrates / and digged oute my girdle / and toke it awaye from the place where I-hid it . And lo the girdle was roten / so that it wolde serue to no vse . Then spake the Lorde to me these wordis . Thus saith the lorde . Euen aftir this maner fhal I destroye the pryde and gloriouse fame of Juda and Jerusalem with swerde . This peple is fulcursed & maliciouse . They wilnot hear my wordis / they folow the counsels of their owne hertes & the strange gods whom of they worshipt & fildowne before them : wherfore they shal be lyke this girdle which is profitable for nothing . For euen as the girdle cleueth to a mannis raynes / so had I glued to me al the house of Israel and all the house of Juda saith the Lorde / to be my peple to haue a grete name / to be honourable and cleare / but they obeyed me not . Thou shalt tel them therfore this ridel . Thus saith the lorde God of Israel . Euery wyne potte is filled with wyne . Here shal they anon answer . Can we not know this / that euery wyne pot maye be filled wyth wyne ? Than shalt thou tel them . Thus saith the lorde . Beholde I shal fil al th inhabitours of this lande and euen the kinges that sitte in the seate of Dauid / Priestes & Prophetes to / & al the citesens of Jerusalem with dronkenes / and thruste them downe to gyther / one neghbour vpon a nother / & the fathers vpon their childerne al vpon an heap saith the Lorde . I wil not forgeue nor spare / nor haue mercy / to th entente I wolde destroye them . Obaye / geue eare / & be not proude / for it is the Lorde that speketh . Geue ye therfore glorye to your lorde God before he withdrawe his light / and ere your fete stomble in derkenes at the hil . For than if ye loke for lyght he shal turne it into deadly derkenes . And if ye wilnot here this secrete monition / * * Or this prophecy my herte shal wepe with yn me for your stobourne pryde / I shal lament greuously / teares shal drope down fro my eyes / for the flocke of the Lorde shal be led awaye captyue . Tel the kinge the quene & the chefe rulers sayng : Homble your selues and sit downe : for the crowne of your beutye shal fal from your headis . The southe cites shal be shutvp & taken / and noman shal open them . Al Juda shal be led away captiue so that none be lefte . Lyftevp your eyes and beholde who cometh from the northe . They shal come vpon the lyke a wealy droue of beasts . Vnto whom then ( I praye the ) shalt thou make they mone whan they shal thus fall vpon the ? For they ar of thy nowne teaching into they nowne vtter destruccion . Shal not panges come than vpon the as on a woman traueling of chylde ? And if thou thinkest with thy selfe / wherfore come these vpon me ? For thy many folde synnes ( I tel the ) thy narse shal be shewed and thy bare thighes shal be sene . For euen as the Morin may change his skinne & the Leoparde his spottes / so maye you once accustomed & stayned with synne do good . I shal therfore disperse you lyke stubble tossed with the southe winde . This shal be thy lotte & thus shal I mesure the / saith the Lorde . In asmoche as ye haue forgoten me and trusted in deceauable thingis / I shal turne thy clothes ouer thy head : & shewe thy bare thighes / & thy preuye partes : thy adultery / thy wantone neainge / & cryme of fornicacion shal be shewed . For I haue sene thy abominacions in feldes & hilles . Wobe to the Jerusalem : for there is no hope aftyr this that euer thou wilt be made clene .

¶ The .xiiii. Chapiter .

The worde of the Lorde shewed vnto Jeremye vpon the famyn / drought / & dearth .

IVda shal moorn & hir gates shal be nomore haunted . The londe shal be neglect / & the kryīgout of Jerusalem shal fleforthe . The Masters shal sende their seruantes to fetche water / which whan they shal come to the pittes / shal fynde no water . But cary agene their vessels emptye . They shamed & cofounded / shal kouer their headis : for the erthe shal be roughe & harde / for that no rayne falleth vpon it . Also it shal yrke the ploughmen which also shal kouer their headis . The hynde fawning in the felde / shal leaue her fawne behynde hir for lak of grasse . The wylde asses shal stande in open oute places drawing in the winde * * or gaping for wynd● lyke dragons / their eys shrōken into their headis for lak of grasse . Verely our wykednes is welworthy this plage . But thou Lorde yet deal with vs according to thy name / al thoughe our bakslyd ingis & synnes be ful grete & many folde : for it is thou which art so loked & waited for : it is thou that art the helth & sauiour of Israel in tyme of tribulacion . Wherfor shuldst thou become a stranger in this lande & lyk a way fayrer to turnyn & tary but a night ? Wherfor shalt thou be as amased man so benoumed for al his strength / that he cannot saue vs ? Lorde thou art ours / and we ar called aftyr thy name / forsake vs not then . Here spake the Lorde as concerning this peple whose fete neuer ceased / but delighted euer more to wander hither & thither with the lordis so highe displesure / that he wolde nowe cal to mynde their wikednes & viset their sinnes : thus ( I say ) sayd the Lorde to me . Desyer nothinge that good is for this peple : For albeit they their selues faste / yet shal I not hear their prayers . If they offre brent sacrifices & slaye any other oblacion for me / yet wil I not accept them . For I wil waste them vp with swerde honger & pestelence . Then answerde I vnto these wordes . Ah Lorde God / beholde / the Prophetis tel them / ye shal not se the swerde / ye shal not suffre honger / but very peace & prosperite doutelesse shal the Lorde geue you in this place . Then sayd the Lorde to me . These Prophetis prophecye them lyes in my name . I neuer commaunded them I spake not to them / I neuer sent them : & yet they prophecye false visions / blynd prophecyes and vayne desaightis inuented of their owne hertis . Wherfore thus saith the Lorde vpon these Prophetis that thus prophecye in my name / & yet ar they not sente of me / affirming nether swerde nor honger to come vpon this lande . Siche Prophetes shal be consumed with swerde and honger . And this peple vnto whom they preache / shal be caste oute of Jerusalem / slayne with swerde and honger / no man to bury them : nether shal they onely suffer this / but their wyues / sonnes / & daughters to . For I shal powerforth their own mischefe agene vpon them . And euen thus shalt thou saye to them : I shal wepe daye & night neuer ceasing because the daughter of my peple shal be destroyed with greuouse adfliccion and made anende of with so grete a plage . For go I forth into the felde : lo / al shal be kouerd with the slayne with swerde : enter I into the cyte / I shal se al storuen for honger . But bothe Prophetis & Priestis shal be led a waye into vnknowne regions . Hast thou then ( sayd I ) vtterly cast a waye Juda / & aborrest thou Zion ? Or hast thou smiten vs with out a cause / so that ther be lefte in vs no hope of helthe / loking for peace while no good cometh / and for the tyme of cure / and lo ther cometh trouble more and more ? no verely . For we ( Lorde ) knolege our vngodlynes / and the wykednes of our fathers with which we haue offended the. Be thou not angrye for thy names sake : Fal not from thy mercye / forget not thy goodnes / remember the seat of thy glorye / and breke not couenaunt made with vs . Arther any amonge the goddis of the gentyles that can rayne ? Or do the clowdes geue vs showers ? But is it not thou rather Lorde our God / in whom we truste ? It is thou verely which doist al these thinges .

¶ The .xv. Chapiter .

ANd here the Lorde interrupted my prayer sayng . If Moses & Samuel shulde stande before me entreating / yet wolde I not bepeased or at one with this peple . Caste them oute of my sight that they were once gone . And if they aske the whother shal we go ? tel than : thus saith the Lorde : Some to the swerde / some to honger / some into captiuite . For I shal sende amonge them fower kinde of plages saith the Lorde : the swerde to slaye them / dogges to teare them in peses / fowles of th aier / & beastis of th erthe to deuoure & destroye them / & I shal make them to be vexed & euil entreated of al the kingdoms of th erthe / & that namely for Manasses the sonne of Ezechias kinge of Juda / euen for these thingis whiche he committed in Hierusalem . Who then shal pytye the oh Jerusalem ? who shal lamente the ? or who shal make intercession to purchase thy peace whan thou shalt be fallen fro me & slyden backe saithe the Lorde ? I shal therfore streche forthe my hande agenste the & destroyethe . It shal greue me to spare the. I shal wenowe the into the vttermoste partes of th erthe . I shal waste & destroye my peple because they wolde not returne from their owne wayes . I shal encrease me their wedowes aboue the sandis of the sea . I shal suerly bringe destroyers vpon the mothers of their yonge childerne euen at none dayes . I shal smyte them downe sodenly with enymye and feare . She shal be chyldelesse that was fruteful / she shal be sorowful & counfortles . The sonne shal fayle hyr euen at the midde daye / she being ashamed & sonken awaye for thought & heuynes . The reste of them I shal thro agenste their enymes swerde / saith the Lorde . Ah lasse that euer thou my mother conceyuedst me / a man borne to be agaynsayd contraryed & chyden with of al men . Which althoughe I nother lende nor borowe / yet am I spoken euil by of al men . And the Lorde answerde me . Is it not I that directe the for the best ? do not I helpe the in tyme of tribulacion ? Whan thou art in trouble euen among thy vtter enimes ? Dothe yern hurte yerne : or stele brought from the northe ? But your substance and tresure / shal I geue into their proye : not for any pryce : but for al your synnes which ye haue committed in al your costes . And I shal translate you with your enimye into a lande which ye knowe not : For the fyer which is kindled with my wrathe shal burne you vp . Than begane I agene to entreat / sayng : Thou Lorde knowest clerely al thingis / remembre me & defende me : delyuer me fro my persuers : let thy mercy preuente thy wrathe . For thou knowest that for thy sake I suffre this opprobrye . I fil vpon they wordes and de●owred them : they were ioye and gladnes vnto my herte . For it is thy name Lorde God of powrs that I cal vpon . I am not conuersant with scorners to deryde and to make a gaudye : but I dwel alone vnder the fere of thy hande / for thou haste filled me with bitternes . Shal my heuynes laste euer ? and my vncurable wounde shal it neuer be healed ? Wilt thou tosse me here and there lyke vnstable and violent waters ? Vnto this my complaynt the Lorde answerde . If thou turnest ageyn I shal restore the to my seruice . And whan thou shalt deuyde the preciouse from the vyle / thou shalt be as my nowne mouthe . They shal be turned to the / but beware thou turnest not awaye fro me vnto them . For I shal set the agenste this peple lyke a stronge brason wall . They shal fight therfore agenst the / but they shal not winne the.

For I wil be with the to saue and delyuer the saith the Lorde . For I shal delyuer the from the hande of the moste myscheuouse and take the oute of cruel handis .

¶ The .xvi. Chapiter .

THe worde of the Lorde was geuen me on this maner saing . Take no wyfe nor bringeforth no chyldern in this place . For thus saith the Lorde vpon the childerne borne in this place & vpon the motherne that bringe them forthe and fathers that begete them in this lande . They shal dye a full bitter and paynful dethe . They shal not be moorned for / nor buryed / but lye still vpon donghillis on t herte . They shal be consumed with swerde and honger / & their carions shal be meate for the fowles of the ayer and beastis of the erthe . Also thus spake the Lorde . Come not at their comen festis or at their comen moorningis and lamentacions . For I haue taken awaye my peace from this peple saith the Lorde / ye bothe my fauour & mercye . And bothe olde and yonge shal dye in this lande and not be buryd : ther shal noman clippe or shaue his head for them . They shal not viseteche other in tyme of moorning to coumfort than for the dead / nother drinke with eche other of the cuppe of consolacion to take awaye the heuines for their father and mother . Come not in their feste houses to sitdown with them at meat and drinke . For thus saith the Lorde of powrs / the God of Israel . Lo I shal take from this place ( your selues loking on & lyuing ) the voyce of ioy & mirth / the voice of brydegrome & spouse . Wherfore whan thou shalt shewe this peple al these wordis / and they shal aske the agene : wherfore hathe the Lorde decreed all these grete mischeues to fall vpon vs ? or what is our wykednes and sin that we committed agenst our Lorde God ? Thou shalt answer : Because your fathers haue forsaken me ( saith the Lorde ) and folowed strange gods whom they worshipt & fyll downe before / forsaking me & keping not my lawe . And you haue excedid th ungodlynes of your fathers in your owne sinnes : For euery one of you folowe the deuellishe thoughtis of his owne shrewd herte & obayeth me nothing at all . Wherfore I shal caste you oute of this lande into a lande vnknowne both to you & your fathers : & there shal ye serue strange gods daye and night : where I shal haue no compassion vpon you . Wherfore / beholde / the dayes ar come saith the Lorde / that it shal no more be sayd . The Lorde lyueth that brought the chyldern of Israel oute of the lande of Egypt : but it shal be sayd / the Lorde lyuethe whiche hath brought the chyldern of Israel oute of the northe easte lande / and from euery region whother I casted them forthe . For I shal bring them agene vnto their owne lande which I gaue their fathers . Beholde I shal sende them many fysshers / saith the Lorde / which shal ketche them vp : and aftir that I shal sende many honters to honte them oute of euery mountayne and hill / and also forthe of euery hole in the rockes . For my eyes ar bente vpon all their wayes / and they cannot be hidde fro my face / nor their sinnes kouerd fro my sighte . ye & that aftir I haue fully rewarded them for their iniquytes & sinnes wherwith they haue defyled my lande / that is to saye / for their abominable stinking Idols wherwith they replenesshed my heretage . Oh Lorde my strength / my might / & my refuge in tyme of tribulacion / yet shal the gentylis come to the from the costes of the erthe sayng . Suerly our fathers cleued to lyes / ful vayne ar Idols / and no profit is ther in them . For shuld a man make him goddis of them whom it is impossible to be goddis ? Wherfore / se I shal teache them nowe agayn saith the Lorde : & make my powr & strength known vnto them / so that they shal knowe that my name is * * the Lorde . Jehouah .

¶ The .xvii. Chapiter .

YOur syn ( o trybe of Juda ) muste be wryten with a penne of yerne / & grauen yn with an Adamantyne klaye into the table of your herte / & into the corners of your alters / that your chylderne shulde remembyr your alters / wodis / and thicke trees / hill toppes / mountayns and feldis . Wherfore I shal layeforthe al your substance & tresure to be a proye for your open crymes committed in hillis at images whom ye worshipt thorowt all your region . And ye shal also be blotted oute of your heretage which I gaue you . And I shal caste you vnder the bondage of your enymes in an vnknowne lande : for ye haue put fyer vnto my furye whiche shal burne euermore . These thing is saith the Lorde : Cursed be the man that trusteth in man / & maketh man his arme / whose harte gothe from the Lorde . For he shal be lyke the fearne that groweth in the deserte / neuer to se the goodnes to come / but shal abyde vpon the drye deserte / euen the salte barayn grownde inhabitable . But blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lorde / whose hope is the Lorde . Psal. i For he shal be lyke a tree planted by the waters putting downe hir rootes to drawe vp moystenes : which tre may abyde the heate whan it cometh / and shal flowresshe with grene leaues : & whan the drowght shal dryvp and waste al other frutes / yet this tre shal not fade nor ceasse from bringing forth hir frute .

Of al 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 the 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 the Lorde ? let it comeforth ( I praye the ) 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 whom I hope whan any perelis present . Let my persuers be confounded / & let not me be cofounded . Let them be afrayde & not me be afrayde . Thou shalt bringe a troublouse tyme vpon them / & destroye them with a great destruccion . Forthermore / thus sayd the Lorde vnto me . Go & stande in the gate of the peple / for whose cause the kinges of Juda come yn & oute / & in al the gatis of Jerusalem / sayng vnto them . Hear the worde of the Lorde ye kinges of Juda / with all Juda & all the cytesens of Jerusalem which passe thorow these gatis . Thus commandeth the Lorde . Take hede to your selues leste ye take vp your burdens in the Sabbat daye / to bringe them in thorowe these gatis . Nether karye ye oute of your houses any burdens in the Sabbat daye . Nor do you any worke / but sauntifye the Sabbat daye as I commaunded 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 the Lorde ) & not carye in your burdens thorow the gatis of this cyte in the Sabbat daye doing in it no werke / than shal the kingis & princes of this cyte / which shal sit vpon the 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 whan I came vnto the potters house : I fownde him making his worke vpon a whele . And that vessel which he ofayned out of claye broke vnder the handis of this potter : which then ( his mynde changed ) made a nother vessel therof as it semed him beste for his purpose . And here than 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 that same nacion wil returne from their malice / vpon which I begane nowe to take my counsel : by and by it repenteth me of the plage which I determyned to caste vpon them . 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 repenteth me of that goodnes wherby I purposed to edyfye and to encrese them . 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 the virgen done / and that so greuously . May the snowe that lyeth melting vpon the rockis of Libanus fayle the feldis ? Or the vaynes of springes euen from the botome be so taken 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 from 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 desolacion 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 constrayned 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 them . 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 from their houses / theues breaking yn vpon them vnwares : For they haue digged a pitte to take me / and layed a preuey snare for my fete . But thou knowst all their counsel bente to slaye me . Be not therfore merciful to their myschief / nether suffre thou their sinnes to be puttoute of thy sight : but let them fall gyltye conuicte before the. These thingis shalt thou do to them in tyme of thy furiouse indignacion .

¶ The .xix. Chapiter .

ALso thus sayd the Lorde to Jeremye . Go and bye the an erthen pitsherde : and bringe forth the elders of the peple and of the Priestis into the vale of * * Tophet Gehena al one . Ben hinnon which is withoute the gate where al the potsherdis be scatered And preache me there these sermons which I shal tell the. Thus ( I saye ) thou shalt preache . Hear the worde of the Lorde ye rulers of Juda and cytesens of Jerusalem . These thingis commaundeth the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . Beholde I shal bringe a scourge and affliccion vpon this place : which who soeuer heareth / a non his eares shal glowe : and that euen because they haue forsaken me / & defyled this place offering their brente sacrifices vnto straunge goddis : whom nother they theirselues / nor their fathers knowe / nor yet the kinges of Juda. And haue filled this place with the blode of innocentis . For they bylte Baal an auter to burne their childerne into asacrifice for Baal . Which thinge as for me / I neuer commanded nor spake of / nor neuer thought it . Wherfore / beholde / the tyme shal come ( saith the Lorde ) that this place be nomore called Thopheth or vale of Bēhinnon / but the vale of slaughter . For I shal slaye the senatours of Juda and Jerusalem in this place and smyte them downe with swerde in the sight of their emnes which seke their lyfe . And I shal geue their carions meat to the foules of the aier & bestis of the erthe . Also I shal make this cyte desolate and hilled at : so that euery man that passeth by it / may be a stonned & hysse vpon hir grete plage . And I shal cause them to eate their owne chylders flesshe : ye / and one shal eat a nother in the besege & distresse wheryn their emnes with sich as seke their lyues shal holde them harde / and thou shalt al to breake this pitsherd before these men which shal be there present with the / sayng vnto them . Thus saith the Lorde of powers . Euen thus shal I alto breake and destroy this peple & cyte / lyke as a potter breketh a vessel which can neuer more be repayrede . And in Thopheth shal they be buryed / because they haue no nother place to burye them in . Also thus shal I do to this place & to the inhabitours therof saith the Lorde / for I shal make the cyte lyke Thophet . For the houses of Jerusalem / & the houses of the kinges of Juda ar polluted euen as is this place Thophet / because that all the houses in whose parlers they burned incense vnto al the companey of the starres & planetis were pollated / & they with out any stoppe offred vnto straunge goddis . Aftir this / Jeremye came from Thophet whither the Lorde had sente him to prophecye and preche : and stode in the fore courte of the temple sayng vnto al the peple . Thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . Beholde I shal bringe vpon this cyte / & vpon al hir tow●es aboute / euery plage whiche I haue decreed to fall vpon it : be cause they haue so hardened their prowde neckes / that they wolde not obaye my monicions

¶ The .xx. Chapiter .

THan Pashur the Priest / sone of Immery / ouermost in the house of the Lorde : whan he herde Jeremy so constantly preching these thingis : he smitte Jeremy the Prophete / and cast him bownde into the stockes that stode in the ouer gate of Beniamin which was in the house of the Lorde . And the daye folowing Pashur brought forth Jeremye out of the stockis . And Jeremy sayd vnto him . The Lorde shal no nomore callthy name * * Pas●ur / is craf● glori●use vp ●ym●●er . Pa●●ur / is ●●ne shri●●ige in 〈◊〉 a kor●●er for ●●are Pashur / but Magur euery where . For thus saith the Lorde : Beholde I shal make the fearful / both to thy nowne selfe / and also to al thy frendis which shal fal vnder the swerde of their enmes before thy face . And I shal geue vp al Juda into the power of the kinge of Babylon / which shal kary a waye captyue to Babylon parte of them : & parte shal he slaye with swerde . Also lykewyse shal I geue vp al the riches of this cyte : al the noble actes and victoriouse labours / al the preciouse iwells & tresure of the kingis of Juda into the handis of their enymes / which shal bothe robbe them & kary them captiue to Babylon . And euen thou Pashur with all thy housholde shalt be ledawaye captiue to Babylon : and there shalt thou dye and be buryed / both thou and al that set any thing by the / vnto whom thou prechedst lyes . Lorde thou brekest me / but thou coūfortest me agene & makest me stronge . I am iested vpon & skorned euery daye of euery man / because that nowe I haue preached a longe tyme / inueinge agenst their wyked violence & tyranye / crying into their eares this desolacion . Whervpon they obrayded me of the worde of the Lorde / and turned it into my perpetual derision . Wherfore I thought many tymes / neuer more to mynde it / nor to preache in thy name . But yet the worde wrought in my herte and in my bones lyke a kindled fyer closed yn / which whan I laboured to represse / it passed my power / ye although yet I herde the haynous rebukis of many and suffered vniuste vexacions euen of my nowne singler acquaintance / euermore redy to fear me saying : Let him be taken / broughtforth / accused and trapped : so that if thus parauenture ( he cooled and broken ) and we seming to preuaile agenst him / myght be auenged on him . But the Lorde stode by me lyke a valeaunt knyght / which fighting for me / my persuers fil awaye hauinge no power ouer me . They were shamefully confounded for that they dealt folishly : whervpon they fill into perpetual obprobrye . Thou therfore Lorde of powers / the iuste tryer and sercheroute of the truthe / vnto whom herte & raynes ar not hid : let me se vengeance taken on them : for vnto the I committe my cause . Singe ye to the Lorde & prayse him : for he hath delyuered the lyfe of the poore from the cruel hande of the violent . Cursed be the daye that I was borne yn : the daye that my mother brought me forthe be neuer more spokenof . Cursed be the man that firste brought glad tydingis to my father / sayng : Thou hast a man chylde . The same thinge mought chaunse to that man / whiche chaunced once vpon the cytes ( which the Lorde with oute any stoppe subuerted hearing their pestilent fame with oute ceasse ) because I was not kylled as sone as I was borne : Sodo●e and Gomer . or that my mother was not made my graue / my concepcion holden backe in hir for euer . Wherfore was I brought forth of my mothers wombe ? Verely / because I shulde fele bothe labour & sorowe & so leadforth my lyfe in obprobrye

¶ The .xxi. Chapiter .

THe sermone of the Lorde shewed vnto Jeremye / whan Zedechias sente vnto him pashur the sone of Melchie and Zephony the Priest / sone of Maasy with this maner of commandement sayng : Aske counsel of the Lorde ( we praye the ) as touching vs ( for Nabuchadrezar kinge of Babylon laith sege vnto vs ) whither god paraduenture wyll do with vs aftir his meruelouse powr / and so turne this kinge from vs . Then Jeremy sayd vnto them . Thus shal ye answer Zedechye . Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel . Beholde I shal wringe the weapens oute of your handis / whiche ye holde to fyght agenste the kinge of Babylon & the Chaldeis fighting agenst you withoute at the wallis : & I shal bringe your weapens altogither into the middis of this cyte / and I my selfe shal fight agenste you with a stretched-forth hande and stronge arme / with indignacion furye and grete wrathe / and shal smyte the inhabitours of this cyte / so that bothe man & beast shal dye of a grete pestilence . And aftir this / saith the Lorde / I shal geue vp Zedechye kinge of Juda / both his seruauntis and the peple / with the resydew of this cyte / whom pestilence / swerde / and honger haue lefte / into the power of Nabuchadrezar kinge of Babylon / into the handis of their enmyes / euen into the handis of them that thirst for their lyfe / which shal smyte them with the edge of swerde / withoute alcōpassion / nether sparing / nor hauinge any mercy on them . And vnto this peple thou shalt saye . Thus saith the Lorde : Beholde I shal setforth before you the waye of lyfe and dethe . Whoso euer abideth in this cyte shal dye with swerde or honger or pestelence : but he that wil goforthe to go to the Chaldes that besege you / shal saue himselfe / and his lyfe shal be vnto him lyke a lukkely goten proye . For I haue bente my face agenste this cyte to scourge it / and not to do it good / saith the Lorde : that it might be geuen vp into the power of the kinge of Babylon to be brent . Also thou shalt saye to the kinges house of Juda. Hear the worde of the Lorde ye house of Dauid for thus saith the Lorde : Ministre rightwisnes withoute any delaye and delyuer the oppressed & spoyled from the power of the violent vexer before my furye comeforthe lyke fyer to burne / so that noman maye quenche it / for your mischeuous studyes . Beholde me here at hande euen amonge you which dwel here & there in wales in rockes / & playns saith the Lorde / which saye who shal make vs afrayd ? Or who can come to our holdis ? But I shal viset you acording to the merits of your studye saith the Lorde / and kindel a fyer thorowt your wodis to deuour al thingis rownde aboute you .

¶ The .xxii. Chapiter .

FOrthermore thus spake the Lorde . Go thy wayes downe into the kingis house of Juda : & there speke this sermone saynge : Heare the worde of the Lorde o kinge of Juda which sittest in the seat of Dauid . Hear ( I saye ) both thou / thy seruants & peple whiche iette so prowdely thorow these gatis . Thus commandeth the Lorde . Obserue equite and rightuousnes / & auenge the spoiled from the power of the wronge doer . The straunger / the fatherlesse / and wedewe / see thou moleste not / hurt / nor robbe : nother shede ye innocent blode in this place . And if ye obserue these thingis constantly : the kingis which shal sitte in the seat of Dauid / shal go thorow the gates of this house / and be caryed in charyets and vpon horse / both they / their seruants / and their peple . But if thou obseruest not these precepts : I swere by my nownselfe ( saith the Lorde ) that this house shal be desolate . For euen thus hath the Lorde spoken vpon the house of Juda. Thou arte the head euen as is Galaad in Libano : but if I bringe not the & thy cytes into a deserte / that they be not inhabited . * * neuer truste me . the forme of his othe in the scripture . For I shal apoynte forth / & sende into the a destroyer with is weapens to cutdowne thy chosen Cedres & caste them into the fyer . And whan any other nacion shal passe forby this cyte : one shal saye to another : wherfor hathe the Lorde done thus vnto this grete cite● Than it shal be answerde : euen because they forsoke & despysed the couenaunt of their lorde God / and fildowne & worshipt strange goddis . Wepe not for the dead / nor moorne yet not for him : but wepe sore for him now going a waye : For this man shal neuer come ageyn / nor yet se his owne natiue lande . For thus saith the Lorde vpon Sellum * * otherwyse called Joachas now led captyuein to Egypt the sone of Josias kinge of Juda raigning aftir Josias his father . He that is goneforth of this region / shal neuermore returne . For he shal dye in the same place / into whiche he is ledde captiue & neuermore se this lande . Wo be to him that buyldeth his house by iniurye and wronge & setteth vp his parlers and chaumbers by fraude and violence / which maketh his owne neighbour to serue him for naught / not geuinge him his rewarde for his labour . Thus thinketh he with himselfe . I wil buyld me a large house & costely chaumbres . He cutteth him forth windowes / beames and grounsels of Cedre & paynteth them with reade . Thinkest thou nowe to raigne / whan with thy cedre buyldingis thou prouokest me to enuye and to be auenged ? Did not thy father in his trwe and iuste labour eat & drinke & prospered wel ? Whiles he auenged the cause of the poore oppressed / he prospered wel : which thinge / whereof els sh●ld it hapen / but for the knowlege of me / saith the Lorde ? But thy eyes and thy herte ar al togither sette vpon couetousnes / to spillinnocēt blode / to do iniury and extorsion . Wherfore thus saith the Lorde vpon Joakim sone of Josias kinge of Juda. They shal not lament & mourne him with theis wonte lementable wordes . Ah my brother / oh my syster / nother with theis / Ah Lorde / oh noble kinge . But he shal be buryed lyke anasse / euen stinking caste withe oute the gatis of Jerusalem . Clyme vp into Libanus oh virgen and daughter Zion / and crye . In Basan also let thy voyce be herde / and crye oute from al the highe wayes : for al thy * * strange gods & ymages . louers ar perished . These thinges I gaue the warninge of / whan thou waste yet in welthy prosperite . But thou answerdst me sayng . I will not heare : this verely was thy maner euen from thy yougth / that thou woldest not obaye my voyce . All thy pastors shal be ruled and blown awaye of the winde / and thy louers shal be caryed awaye into captiuite : and than verely thou shalt be shamed and confounded for thy grete wykednes and malice / which yet dwellest in Libano & nestelest in the Cedres . How grete shal thy sorowful sighes be whan this ruyne shal fall vpon the lyke panges vpon the traueler of chylde ? Jechonias is called Joachin . As verely as I lyue ( saith the Lorde ) though Jechonias the sone of Joakim kinge of Juda be the signet whiche I weare on mi right hande : yet shal I pluk him of from hence : & betake the into the handis of them that seke thy lyfe / into the power of them whose face thou fearest / euem into the hande of Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon / & into the handis of the Caldes . And shal translate the and thy mother that bore the into a strange lande / where ye were not borne / but ye shal dye in it . And into this lande / whither ye shal so sore desyer to returne / shal ye neuer come agene . This man Jechonias / shal be plucked & torne in peses lyke a contemptible grauen image / which for al his costely aparel / yet pleaseth he noman wherfore he shal be baneshed / both he & his sead / & casteforth into an vnknowne lande . But oh erthe / erthe / erthe : hear the worde of the Lorde . Thus saith the Lorde . Bill me this man barain to be emonge the dishereted outelawes / for he shal neuer more prosper in al his lyfe : there shal none of his sead prosper / to sit * * Freely . in the seat roial of Dauid and to raigne * * Frely in Juda.

¶ The .xxiii. Chapiter .

UVo be the herdemen that destroye and scater my flocke / saith the Lorde . Wherfore this commaundement sendeth the Lorde God of Israel vnto the herdemen that shulde gouerne my peple . ye destroye and thrust oute my flocke / and ye loke not vpon them . Wherfore I shal loke vpon your wyked counsels & studyes ( saith the Lorde ) and gather the * * the gentils . resydew of my flocke from al the partes into which I had caste themforth / and restore them vnto my pasture / that they maye growe and be encreased . I shal set herdemen ouer them which shal fede them . They shal nomore be afrayde nor dreade / for they shal not perishe / saith the Lorde . Beholde the tyme shal come saith the Lorde / that I wil stere vp that rightuouse . Budde or braunche of Dauid to raigne and to execute his offyce prudently in restoring equite and rightwysnes in the erthe .

In his dayes Juda shal be saued and Israel shal dwel suer . And this is the name that men shal cal him by / euen the Lorde / our rightwysnes . Wherfore / lo the tyme shal come saith the Lorde / that men shal nomore swere . As verely as the Lorde lyuith whiche led the childern of Israel oute of the lande of Egypte / but as verely as the Lorde lyueth which hath ledforth and brought agene the sead of the house of Israel from the northe este lande : and from al the regions into whiche I had dispersed them / to dwel in their owne lande . Wo be to the Prophetis also . My herte is alto broken / al my bones ar shyured in sondre . I am lyke a dronken man troubled with wyne : for feare of the Lorde and his holy worde . For th erthe is ful of aduouterers / wherfore it is now come / that she being a cursed & aborred / shal waile : & hir plesante feldis of the deserte shal be withred vp : For the lyuinge of these men is euel / & their powr contrarye to the holy worde . Both Prophet and Prieste ar polluted and be filthy ipocrytes / and their maliciouse wykednes is espyed euen in my house saith the lorde . Wherfore their waye shal be slybery / and ful of stomblinge stones in derkenes at which they shal stomble and fall : for I shal bringe a plage vpon them / euen the day of their visitacion / saith the Lorde . The same foleshnes which I sawe amonge the Prophetis of Samarye wherby they preched for Baalis profite & decyued my peple of Israel : I haue now sene also amonge the prophetis of Jerusalem / euen filthy stinkinge aduoutery and licenciouse liberte to lye . Thei flater and ioyne handis with the moste mischeuouse men / to th entent that euery one of them shulde neuer returne from their wykednes Thei al with their cytesens ar vnto me lyke Sodome & the cytesens of Gomorre . Wherfore thus saith the Lorde of powers vpon the Prophetis . Beholde I shal fede them with wormewode and geue thez to drinke water mengled with gall . For oute of the Prophetis of Jerusalem ar brokenforth the contagious spottis of al ipocrysye into al the worlde . Wherfore thus warneth the Lorde of powers . Se that ye lysten not vnto the wordis of these prechers that preache vnto you : for thei deceyue you / speking the vision of their own hertis / and nothing of the mouthe of the Lorde . Thei tel them boldely which depyse me . The Lorde saith we shal haue prosperous peace : and thei tel al them that walke aftir the lustes of their owne hertis . There shal no plage come vpon you : for who stode in the counsel of the Lorde to heare and know his mynde ? Beholde / the whirlewynde of the Lorde / that is to saye his wrathe shal comeforthe and turne hirselfe with grete violence into the headis of the vngodly : Nether shal the lordis wrathe be returned vntil he hath acōpleshed and finesshed the set purpose of his herte . But in tyme to come ye shal vnderstande his counsel . I sent not these Prophetis ( saith the Lorde ) and yet they runne . I sayd nothinge to them ▪ and yet they preache and Prophecye . But had thei stode in * * Hy counsels & ●y wor●●s : & ●ot mē●s . my counsel and herde my wordis : thei had conuerted my peple from their euel wayes and euel thoughtis . Am I god whiche maye se but thingis onely at hande saith the Lorde / and not thingis al afarre ? Maye any man hyde himselfe so preuely that I se him not saith the Lorde ? Do not I fulfil both heuen and erthe saith the Lorde ? I haue herde verely what maner thinges the * * Pre●hers . Prophetis saye : which preche lyes vnder the cloke of my name saing . I dremed I dremed . How longe shal this steke in the Prophetis hertis to preche lyes ? & to preche the desaight of their owne myndis ? whose counsel is bente vpon this euen to deceyue my peple with their dremes whiche they tel euery man to drawe my name oute of memory / as their fathers forgote my name by processe of tyme bringingin * * The ●ope with 〈◊〉 his ●dols Baal . That Prophete which hath seene a dreme / wil preche but a dreame . But he vnto whom my worde is shewed / wil speke my worde euen of faithe . What shal chaffe do with wheate saith the Lorde ? Is not my worde lyke fyer saith the Lorde / and lyke a twybit cleauinge the rocke of stone ? wherfore beholde me now agenste the Prophetis saith the Lorde : whiche steale my worde from whom they liste . Beholde me nowe agenste the Prophetis saith the Lorde : whiche take vpon their tongues to saye / Thus saith the Lorde . Beholde me now agenste the prophetis / euen agenste their lyinge dreames saith the Lorde : & which dreames yet dare they mynde & speake / to deceyue my peple with their lyes & fayned miracles : whom I neuer sente / nor commanded them any thinge : whiche prophetis shal be ful grete hurte vnto this peple / saith the Lorde . Whan this peple / or prophete / or prieste / shal aske the sayng / what maner thinge is the burden of the Lorde ? Thou shalt saye vnto thez . What ? Askeyeme of the burden ? Euen yourselues be the burden . Wherfore I shal caste you of / saith the 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 burden / 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 burden 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 the temple of the 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 .

What 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 the Lorde came to me on this maner . Thus saith the Lorde god of Israel . As thou knowest the good figges / euen 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 the best . 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 the 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.

A●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 . Which 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 / & vpon 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 the wikednes of that kinge of Babylon and of his peple saith the Lorde / and that same lande also of the Caldeis / and bringe them togither into a perpetual wildernes . And I shal bringe vpon that lande al my wordis which I haue decreed agenst it / euen 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 whom I shal sende the / which once dronken / might be plucked into furye and madnes / the swerde coming vpon / which I shal sende amonge them . Than toke I the cuppe of the Lordis hande to geue drynke to al the nacions vnto whom 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 the kinges of the lande of the Palestines . Ascalon / Gazam / Accaronē 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 them to . And thou shalt saye vnto them . This is the Lorde of powers euen the 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 th erthe saith the Lorde of powrs . Wherfore se that thou preache them al these sermons : and tel them . The Lorde shal thondre from aboue / and shal crye a lowde from his holy habitacion . He shal thonder with grete noyse from his kingis haule . The lowde noyse lyke the grape gatherers shal come before vpon al thin habitours of th erthe : and the sowne shal be brought vnto the vttermost costes of th erthe . For the Lorde wil sitte in iugement vpon the nacions & 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 th erthe / & the swerde shal krepe thorowe with slaughter in that daye from one coste of th erthe to the tother . Noman shal be moorned for non gatherde vp / noman buried : but lyke donge shal they lye vpon the face of th erthe . Howle oute oh ye pastours & crye / bespriene your selue with asshes oh ye rammes & leaders of the flocke / for the tyme of your slaughter & downe tredinge is fulfilled : & ye shal faldowne togither lyke costely byral vessels made to contayne 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 rammes 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 the house of the Lorde to do their worshipe . Speke al the sermons which I commande the. And be ware thou takest not awaye one worde / that if thus paraduenture yet they maye obaye and returne euery man from his owne wiked waye that it might for thinke me of the plages which I had ordened for them for their owne maliciouse myndes & counsels . 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 commanded 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 th affliccion / 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 the 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 ? This president the priestes brouht forthagēst Jeremy nothing consydering that Vrias was vniustly slayn . 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 it / he feared and fled into Egypte . Then sent kinge Joachim officers into Egypte as Elnathan the sone of Achbor with certayne sergeants with him which led Vrias oute of Egypte / and brought him to kinge Joachim / whiche slewe him with his swerde / and caste his carkas into the comen place of other malefactours . But as for Jeremye is holpen of Ahikam the sone of Saphan / that he be not geuen into the handis of the peple to be slayne . These thingis were done of the Lorde / to Jeremye / in the beginninge of the raigne of Joachim sone of Josias kinge of Juda.

¶ The Argument of this Chapiter folowing .

¶ The Lorde decreid firmely to subdwe all the kingdoms of the este / to thonelyand head kingdome of Babylon . And declareth also that the Prophetis which prophecyed al thingis to be restored / and euery man to come home agene withyn two yeare : were but lyers .

¶ The .xxvii. Chapiter .

Thus spake the Lorde vnto me . Make the kolers and chaynes fet for thy necke / & sende them to the kinge of Edom / to the kinge of Moab / to the kinge of the childerne of Ammon / to the kinge of Tyre / to the kinge of Zidon / & that by th ambassiadours that be now come to Jerusalem to Zedechias kinge of Juda / commaunding them to bere these messages vnto their maisters . Thus commaundeth you the Lorde of powers and God of Israel / that ye tel your maisters thus . I am he that made the erthe / man and beast which ar vpon the face of the erth thorow my grete pour and forthstretched arme : & geuen it vnto him whom it hath pleased me . And nowe shal I geue vp al these regions into the power of my seruant Nebuchadnezar kinge of Babylon . I shal geue him also the beastis of the felde to do him seruice : And al nations shal serue him / and his sone & his neuye . Many nations and grete kingis shal serue him ( I saye ) vntil the * * tyme of destruccion tyme also of the same lande be come to . And that nacion or kingdome which wilnot serue Nebuchadnezer kinge of Babylon / nor wilnot put their neckis vnder the yoke of the kinge of Babylon / I shal viset euen the same nacion with swerde honger & pestelence vntil I haue consumed them in his handis saith the Lorde . Wherfore se that ye hear not your prophetes / dyuines / dreame sayers / sorcerers / charmers / whiche tel you : ye shal not serue the kinge of Babylon . For they preache you lyes / to sende you a waye farre from your lande : and that I shulde expel you that ye might perisshe . But the nacion that wil put his necke vnder the yoke of the kinge of Babylon and serue him : them shal I leue stil vpon their own lande / saith the Lorde : and they shal replenisshe it and inhabit it / ye and euen vnto Zedechias kinge of Juda haue I tolde the same thing in euery poynt sayng . Put your neckes vnder the yoke of the kinge of Babylon / and serue him and his peple / that al youers might be salfe . Wherfore shuldeye be slayne / bothe thou and thy peple with swerde / honger / and pestelence ? as the Lorde hath decreed it vpon what so euer nacion it be / that refuseth to serue the kinge of Babylon . And yet I tel you agene . Hear not the sermons of the Prophetis prechinge and sayng vnto you . Serue not the kinge of Babylon : for they preche you but a lye . Nether did I sende them / saith the Lorde / although they be so bolde to preche lyes in my name / that I shuld the soner caste you forthe to perisshe with these men that thus preche vnto you . Also I spake vnto the preistis & to al this peple thus . This commandeth the Lorde . Hear not the wordis of the prophetis preching you these thingis . Beholde / the Iwel●s of the house of the Lorde shal be brought agene shortly from Babylon : For thy preache you but a lye / hear them not / but serue the kinge of Babylon that ye may abyde salfe . Wherfore shulde this cite be brought into a wyldernes ? And if they wil nedis be proued trwe Prophetis & the worde of the Lorde to be committed vnto thim : let them make intercession ( I beseche you ) before the Lorde of powers that the reamnaunte of the iues & vessels of the lordis house / of the kingis house of Juda / & of Jerusalem come not to Babylon to . For thus spake the lorde of powers as towchinge the pylers / the lauer & the socketis withe other vessels & Iwels yet lefte in this cite : which Nebuchadnezar kinge of Babylon toke not a waye / whan he caried awaye Jechonias the sone of Joachim kinge of Juda / from Jerusalem to Babylon with al the rulers of Juda and Jerusalem . Thus ( I saye ) spake the Lorde of powers euen the God of Israel as concerninge the reste of these vessels & iuels both of the house of the Lorde and of the kingis house of Juda and of Jerusalem . They shal be translated to Babylon there to continwe til I shal viset them agene ( sathe the Corde ) and then shal I restore and bringe them agene into this same place .

¶ The .xxviii. Chapiter .

IT came so to passe / That in the four the year of Zedechias kinge of Juda / the fiste moneth : Ananias the sone of Azur / Prophete of Gabaon / spake vnto me in the house of the Lorde in the presence of the preistis and of al the peple saynge . Thus sayd the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . I haue broken in peises the yoke of the kinge of Babylon . So that aftir .ii. year / I shal restore into thissame place al the vessels & iuels of the house of the Lorde : Which Nebuchadnezar kinge of Babylon toke oute of this place and translated into Babylon . ye / and euen Jechonias sone of Joachim kinge of Juda with al the captiues of Juda which ar led to Babylon / I shal bringe agene vnto this place / saith the Lorde . For I shal breke the kinge of Babylonis yoke . Then Jeremy the Prophete answerde the prophete Anamas befor the priestis and al the peple standing by them in the house of the Lorde . And the Prophete Jeremie sayd Amen / the Lorde mought it so do / and make thy prophecie to stande / in restoringe the iuels of the lordis house and al the captiues from Babylon into this place . Nethelesse yet hear what I shal saye to the in the presens of al this peple . The Prophetis which were before vs in al tymes paste / bothe ouer many regions and great kingdoms / propheciyng other batail / calamite / pestilence / or peace / were proued trwe in this one thing / that the Lorde doutles had sent thez : if the thinge came so to passe / whiche the prophete had tolde them before . And Anamas the Prophet toke a chayne from the Prophete Jeremies necke and alto broke it in pieses / sayng on this maner / al the peple hearing it . Thus saith the Lorde .

Euen thus shal I breke the yoke of Nebuchadnezar kinge of Babylon with in these .ii. years from the nek of euery nacion . And here Jeremy went his wayes home . But the worde of the Lorde was shewed him aftir Ananias the Prophete had broken the chayne from the Prophet Jeremyes necke on this maner . Go and tel Ananias these wordes . Thus saith the Lorde . Ananias / thou hast broken cheynes of wode / but for them / Jeremye thou / shalt make agene chaynes of yerne . For thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . I shal laye a yoke of yerne vpon al these nacions that they shal serue Nebuchadnezar kinge of Babylon / that shal they . And euen the beastis of the felde shal I betake vnto him / so shal I. Than sayd the Prophete Jeremy vnto the Prophete Ananias . Hear ( I beseche the ) Ananias . The Lorde sente the not : but thou goist a boute to bringe this peple into a vayne and false hope . Wherfore thus saith the Lorde . Beholde / I shal sende the therfore : but whither ? verely euen from the face of the erthe . For withyn this same year shalt thou be dead . For ful emnyously and despightfully hast thou spoken agenste the Lorde . And so Ananias dyed the same year in the seuenth monethe .

¶ The argument of this .xxix. Chapiter . Ther arose certayn false Prophetis amonge the captynes in Babylon / whiche promised themselues liberty to retourne aftir Ananias his saing with in two year : but these false Prophetis Jeremye confutethe .

THese ar the wordes of the pistle which the prophete Jeremy sent from Jerusalem vnto the men in captiuite : both to the elders / priestes / prophets / & to the peple also whom Nebuchadnezar had led a waye to Babylon : aftir that kinge Jechonias and his quene / & the g●lded men / the rulers of Juda & Jerusalem / sinythes also with the artificers were gone . Aelassa sone of Saphan and Gamaria sone of helkie bering it .

Whom Zedechias kinge of Juda sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezar kinge of Babylon : the pistel ( I saye ) contayning these wordis . Thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel vnto al the captiues that ar led from Jerusalem to Babylon . Buyld ye houses to dwel in / plante gardens & hortyardis to eate their frutes / marye wyues to bringforth sonnes & daughters : ye / and geue your sonnes & your daughters housbandes that they maye bringforthe sonnes & daughters / & encrease there gretely . Studye in nowyse to be fewe in nowmber But study for the prosperouse peace of the same cite wheryn ye be holden captiue & praye to the Lorde for it : For their peace shal be yours . For thus saith the Lorde of powers the god of Israel . Let not the prophetes with your diuynes that ar with you deceyue you . Nether beleue your own dreames which ye dreame . For these men prophecye vnto you lyes in my name . I sent them not saith the lorde . But thus saith the Lorde . Whan ye haue fulfilled .lxx. years in Babylon / I shal viset & deal with you aftir my goodnes to bringe you agene into this place . For I forgete not my set purposes decreed vpon you / saith the Lorde . They ar counsels of holsom peace & not of troublouse affliccion / to geue you another maner chaunce / that ye might haue a fresshe a better hope . ye shal crye vnto me / & I shal hear you . ye shal seke me / & fynde me : If ye sek me with al your herte / I wil be fownde ( I saye ) of you / saith the Lorde : & I shal redeme you from captiuite : & gather you from oute of al the gentyles & from al places where yn to I had dispersed you / saith the Lorde / & restore you into thissame place fro whence I led you captiue . But as touching this / where ye saye the lorde to haue stered vp Prophets in Babylon . Thus saith the Lorde / both as concerninge thissame kinge that yet sitteth in the set of Dauid / & al the peple that inhabit this cite / with your brothern that ar not yet gone with you into captiuite : thus ( I saye ) saith the Lorde of powers vpon them . Lo / I shal sende amonge them the swerde / honger / & pestilence / & make them lyke vnrype figges which for their bitternes may not be eaten . And I shal persecute them with swerde / honger & pestilence . I shal geue them to be vexid of al the kīgdōs of therthinto an execracion to be aborred / into an outhissinge and obprobry among al nacions wher so euer I shal scater them / because they obayed not my commandements ( saith the Lorde ) which I sente them by my seruantis the Prophetis erly rysinge & euermore sendinge : but yet obayed they not / saithe the Lorde . And al you in captiuite / whom I sente from Jerusalem to Babylon / hear the worde of the Lorde . Thus saith the Lorde of powrs the God of Israel / as concerninge Ahab the sone of Colie / and Zedekia sone of Maasie whiche prophecy lyes vnto you in my name . Beholde / I shal geue them into the handis of Nebuchadnezar kinge of Babylon to slaye them before your faces . And al the captiues of Juda whiche ar in Babylon shall take vp this worde of excecracion vpon them saynge . The lorde rid them out of the waye as he did Zedekias and Ahab : whom the kinge of Babylon fryed in the fyer because they committed wyked folishnes agenste Israel : For whan they had defyled their neghbours wyues / yet went they and preched lyes in my name which I neuer commanded them . These thinges do I certifye and testifye vnto you saith the Lorde . But as touchinge Semeia the Neemalite / thus shalt thou tel him . Thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . Sith thou haste sente letters vnder thy nown name sealed / vnto the peple in Jerusalem and also vnto Zephanias * * zephanias is magister inquisitor heretice prauitatis : that is master heretike taker . sone of Maasie Prieste / and to al the Priestis also : in which thou spekest to him thus .

For as moche as the Lorde hath set the beinge Prieste / in the stede of the Prieste Joiada to bere rule in the house of the Lorde / and to serche for al furiouse sprited Prophetes that preache or prophecy / to caste them into presone or stockes : how hapeneth it / that thou takest not and correckest not Jeremy of Anathot that precheth with you so continually ? Whiche ouer al this yet he sente vnto vs that ar here holden in Babylon / sayng playnely our captiuite to be very longe / bidding vs to builde houses to dwelyn / and plante orteyardes whose frute we might eate . Whiche letters Zephanias the Priest red ouer / Jeremy the Prophete hearing them . Then was the worde of the Lorde shewed vnto Jeremy sayng thus : Tell the hole companye in captiuite thus . Thus saith the Lorde vpon Semeia that Neelamite . Sith Semeias hath thus preached vnto you with oute my commandement stuffinge you ful of vayne hopes : therfore this is the Lordes plesure . Beholde / I shal viset Semeias the Neelamyte & his sede / so that non of his shal neuermore dwel amonge this peple : nether shal they se that goodnes which I shal do vnto this peple saithe the Lorde : for he hathe preached emayously & spight fully vpon the Lorde .

¶ The .xxx. Chapiter .

THe sermone shewed of the Lorde vnto Jeremy : Thus spake the Lorde of Israel . Wryte me vp to gither in a boke al the sermons whiche I haue spoken vnto the. For lo / the tyme shal come saith the Lorde / that I shal make a ioyful and salfe returne of my captiued peple of Israel & Juda saith the Lorde . For I shal restore them agene into the lande which I gaue their fathers / & they shal possede it . But the Lorde added these thingis to / speking vpon Israel & Juda on this manerwyse . We hear a a terrible and dredeful noyse as thoughe al thingis were in fereful confusion . For what els signifieth this sight / euery man be he neuer so manly / thus to smyte his handis vpon his loynes lyke a woman trauelinge of chylde ? Who saw euer a man trauelinge of chylde ? Enquire and serche oute this vision if ye will . ye and euery mannis face is deformed with pale wanne colour . Oute ahlasse for this daye / so horrible so dreadful / that neuer was there any lyke . Oh tyme of tribulacion vnto Jacob : fro the whiche yet he shal be delyuerde . For the daye shal come / saith the Lorde of powers / that I wil breke of N●buchadnezars yoke from thy necke / and breke of thy bondis to / that thou set●est nomore strange gods vnder him . But euen they shal serue their Lorde God to / that is to saye their kinge Dauid : whom I shal sterevp for them . And thou Jacob my seruant / feare not / saith the Lorde : nor be not dismayde Israel . For lo / I shal saue the / althoughe thou beist yet farre of / and bringe thy seade from the lande of their captiuite . And Jacob shal be brought agene : he shal haue reste flowing in al prosperite / to fear noman . For I am withe the / saith the Lorde / to saue the : Albe it yet must I make an ende of al the nacions among whom I haue scaterd the : but yet the / shal I not make an ende of : but chastice the in the meane tyme / but yet with īugement and discrecion : For I know the not in any wyse for innocent . For thus saith the Lorde . I pytye thy decease & sorow for the smarte of thy wounde but ther is noman that maye auenge thy cause delyuering the by iugement bringe the agene into the waye / or bynde vp thy wounde / & so to further thy cure . All thy louers haue forgoten the / they seke the nomore . For I haue smyten the with a cruel plage / and correcked the sharpely / & that euen for the multitude of they nowne wikednes for thy synnes haue preuayled . Wherfore lamentest thou thy destruccion ? It is I myselfe that pityeth thy sorowful greife . But for the manifolde wikednes & outrage of thy sinnes / delte I thus with the. Wherfore al men that deuoure the / shal be deuoured agen / and al thy enymes shal be led into captiuite .

They that robbe the shal be robbed : and of al them that spoyle the / I shal make a spoyle of them agene . For I wil restore the thy helthe and heale thy woundis saith the Lorde / because they called the a neglecte abiecte oh Zion / & euen hir / whom noman wolde set bye . For thus saith the Lorde : Beholde I shal restore the tabernacles of Jacob & fauour his habitacions . Thy cyte shal be edifyed agen in hir olde place : & the temple shal haue hir iuste foundacion : & prayse & the voyce of gladmen shal goforth of them . I shal encrease them / & they shalnot be minisshed . I shal enlarge them / & they shalnot be drawne yn . And their chylderne shal be as before . And their chirche shal continwe and encrease before me / and al that moleste or oppresse them / I meselfe shal viset & loke vpon them . And I shal geue them a noble goyde & head ruler to go for the euen of the middes of them / and euen this man wil I sociat and ioyne vnto miself : & he shal be ful nighe me . But who shal this man be / whose herte shal so swetely be maryed vnto me / saith the Lorde ? Thorow this your goyde / shal ye be my peple and I shal be your God . But lo / first shal the fury of the Lorde come forth lyke a whirlewynde / ye lyke an hastye raueshing violent whirlewinde shal it come / euen into the heades of the vngodly . This furiouse wrathe of the Lorde shal not cease vntil he hath done & acomplesshed the thoughtis of his herte . Which ye shal knowe at laste in these later dayes . In that tyme ( saith the Lorde ) I shal be the God of al the famylye of Israel / and they shal be my peple .

¶ The .xxxi. Chapiter .

THus saith the Lorde . The peple of Israel / which escaped sometyme the swerde in the deserte : fownde fauour to come vnto their reste . And euen so now shal the Lorde shew himselfe vnto me beinge in farre partes sayng . I loue with a perpetual loue : wherfore I spread my mercy ouer the. I shal bylde the to be faste and suer / oh virgen Israel . Thou shalt take vp and tuwne thy tympanys agayn / & goforth merily leding the daunse . yet agein shalt thou plante vynyardis in the hilles of Samary : and the vyne kepers shal plante singinge . And when the tyme shal come the kepers shal crye thoroute the mountaine of Ephraim Aryse and let vs go vp to Zion vnto the Lorde our God : for thus saith the Lorde : Be glad and reioyse for Jacobs sake ●●ye●t forth euen at the head of the gentyles . Babylon was then the head cite of the gentils . Preche / singe / and tel them . The Lorde will desyuer and saue his peple / euen the reamnaunt of Israel . Lo / I shal bringe them agen from the northe regions / and gather them togither from the costis of the erth / with the blynd and lame which ar amonge them / with wemen great with childe / and with them also that now be delyuered . And ther shal be a great chirche or company of the returners hither agein . They wente awaye wepinge : but I shal bringe them agein with solace . By the swete ryuers / a playne and plesaunte straight waye where they shalnot stomble shal I lead them for to returne . For I wil be Israels father . And Ephraim shal be my firste begoten sonne . Hear ye Gentyles the worde of the Lorde : & tell it forthe thorow the eylandis which stande so farre in sondre / sainge : He that had scatred Israel gathereth them to gither agein / and shal kepe them as the herdemen his owne flocke . For the Lorde wil delyuer Jacob / and auenge him from a ful mighty hande . And they shal come and reioyse in the mounte Zion / and be encreased with the benefites which the Lorde shal geue them / as wheat / swete wynes / oyle / flockes and he●des . And their hertes shal be lyke a fruteful fresshe garden : nether shal they any more be hongrye . Than shal the mayde / and as wel that olde m●n as the yonge daunseful meresy . For I shal turne their weepy moorning into fressbe gladnes / & costforte & there them from their heuynes . Also I shal enbrewe the Priestis myndes with * * fat of fringes fatnes / & my peple shal be sated & filled with my benefits saith the Lorde . And yet thus also sayd the Lorde . The lamentable noyse of moornes & their bitter weping ascended vnto heuen : euen the voice of Rachel weping for hir childern / nether wolde she receyue any consolacion for them / because they were clene gone captiued But nowe saith the Lorde : peace and wepe nomore / wype thy eyes : for thy paynful labours shal be loked vpon saith the Lorde . And they shal returne from that cruel region : but yet shal it be thy posterite that shal hope for this / saith the Lorde . For they be your chylderne that shal returne into their owne region . Euen Ephraim goinge into captiuite did I hear verely thus complayninge . Thou haste chastised me oh Lorde / being then lyke a wylde bullok / but now shal I receyue thy nourtering and disciplyne . Our conuersion beginneth of God . a token of repentaunce But thou therfore now conuerte me / and I shal be conuerted : for thou Lorde art my God . Wherfore as sone as thou shalt conuerte me / I shal repente me / and anone as thou shalt make me to know my synne / I shal smyte my handis vpon my thighe . Very shame confoundeth me for my sinnes committed in my yougthe / which now greuously obrayde me to my grete peine . At this penitent complaynte of Ephraim / I thought thus with myselfe / saith the Lorde . Is not Ephraim my goodly plesaunt chylde ? Is he not my tender fayer whight sonne ? I remembir him euen from the tyme of our firste communicacion : wherfore my very herte yammerth & all my bowels ar moued vpon him . I wil gladly haue compassion vpon him saith the Lorde . Get the wel watchinge ouerseers standing on highe : & take vnto the sharpe teachers and warners : and let thy herte attende vnto the pathe of that same waye wherby thou muste walke . And returne oh virgin Israel : returne vnto these same / euen thy nowne cytes . How longe wilt thou erre oh strayng bakslyden daughter ? For the Lorde verely shal make ●a newe thinge in this lande : the woman shal take hir husbonde in hir armes . For thus saith the Lorde of powrs the God of Israel . The tyme shal come that they shal saye in the lande of Juda / and in hir cytes aftir that I haue brought them agene / euen these wordes . Ose. ii The Lorde whiche is the fayer spouse of rightuousnes mought fauour & blesse the oh holy hill . For there shal herdemen & tylmen inhabit bothe Juda and al hir cytes . For I shal satisfye the hongry soule & replenesshe euery meke soule . Whan I herde this / I cam to my selfe agene consydering as thoughe I had waked from a very swete sleape . Beholde / the tyme is come saith the Lorde / that I wil sowe the house of Israel & the house of Juda with man & beast . And the tyme shal come / that lykewyse as I was occupyed in plucking vp by the rotes / in scatering abrede / castinge dewne / desiroynge & scourginge them : euen so shal I studye diligently to edifye / & to plante them / saith the Lorde . In these dayes shal they nomore saye . ●hat is ●chyl●●ein be 〈◊〉 for ●heir fathers fawtis They were our fathers that eite the so●wer grape / & yet their childers tethe be 〈◊〉 . ● For euery man shal dye for his own● wykednes . So that euery man that eate the so● wer grape / his own tethe m●ste oe ●n edge . Beholde the dayes shal come saith the Lorde / that I wil smyte vp a 〈…〉 bothe with the house of Israel & with the house of Juda : not aftyr the bargen that I smote with their fathers what tyme I toke them by their handis and led them out of the lande of Egypte : whiche my bargen & testament they broke / and I punisshed them sharpely / saith the Lorde . But this is the couenaunt that I wil smyte with the house of Israel aftir these dayes new spoken of so ofte saith the Lorde I shal grif● my lawe into their myndes / and wryte it in their hertis / and I wil be their God / & they shal be my peple : so that it shal not be 〈◊〉 man that shal teache his neghbo●r or his brother by monesshing him sayng / knowlege the Lorde : but euery man shal knowe me from the leste to the gretest / saith the Lorde / because I wil be merciful to their wikednes and neuer more remember their sinnes .

Thus spake the Lorde which gaue the sone into the dayelight / and ordrely the mone and starres to shyne in the night : whiche troubleth the sea that it swelleth vp in to waues / whose name is the Lorde of powers . Lyke as this lawe shal neuer be taken awaye fro my sight / saith the Lorde : euen so ( I tell you ) shal the sead of Israel neuer cease / at any tyme neuer more to be a nacion before me . Also this sayd the Lorde . As the heuen aboue cannot be mesured : nether the foundacions of th erthe that be vnder vs / serched : euen so / nether shal I caste awaye al the sead of Israel for al the thinges that they haue committed / saith the Lorde . Lo the dayes shal come saith the Lorde / that the cyte of the Lorde shal be enlarged euen from the tower of Hananeel vnto the corner gate in the walles / & from thenceforthe shal mesure be taken forthe right before it vnto the hill toppe of Gareb / & shal so come aboute closing in Goatha & al the vale where they caste their carions & asshes or duste / & so forthe al Semeroth vnto the brook call●d Cedron / & so from thence vnto the corner of the horse fayer gate agenste the este : where the holy temple of the Lorde shal be sette . And this cite restored aftir this maner / shal nomore be beten downe nor destroyed for euer .

¶ The .xxxii. Chapiter

THe sermone of the Lorde / shewed to Jeremye the .x. year of Zedechias kinge of Juda : whiche was the .xviii. year of Nebuchadrezar . Than the hoste of the kinge of Babylon layd sege to Jerusalem . And Jeremy the Prophete was in holde in the vtter warde which was at the kinges house of Juda : wheryn Zedechias kinge of Juda had caste him / because he prophecyed thus . Thus saith the Lorde : Lo / I shal geue vp this cite into the handis of the kinge of Babylon / and he shal take it . And kinge Zedechias shal not escape the handis of the Chaldes : but douteles shal be delyuerde into the handis of the kinge of Babylon / which shal speak with him mouthe to mouthe / and shal beholde eche other face to face . And Zedechias shal be led to Babylon / there to continew til I viset him / saith the Lorde . But if thou wilt nedis fight agenste the Caldes : thou shalt fight infortunatly : Vnto the which accusacion / Jeremy thus answerde . It was the Lorde that spake vnto me on this maner : Lo Hananeel the sone of Sellum thy eames sone shal come to the / desyering the to redeme for thy selfe the felde whiche lyeth in Anathot / because it pertayneth to the to bye it agene by the reason thou arte nexte of kinne . Than came Hananeel my eames sone acording to the sayng of the Lorde vnto me into the vtterwarde of the presone / sayng : I praye the bye my felde which is in Anathot in the Lande of Beniamin : for it is thy right by the reason of nexte of our kin . Redeme it therfore I praye the. I know al this to be done by the Lordis commandement / wherfore I bought this felde of Hananeel my eames sone which dwelled at Anathot . And I wayed him forth his money euen .vii. sicles and .x. peses of syluer . And the writing made and sealed and witnes called to / I wayd forthe the money in the skoles : and receiued the copye wherby I chalenged and posseded it . Aftir this was it sealed acording to the forme of the lawe and dewe order / and rehersed with the copye therof . And I delyuerd this copye wherby I held it vnto Baruch the sonne of Nerie / sonne of Mahasie ( Hananeel my eames sonne being present before the witnesses whose names were writen in the instrument wherby I helde it ) al the Iwes at laste being by whiche sate aboute vs in the sayd warde : commanding this Baruch before them on this maner . This is the Lorde of powers plesure the God of Israel / that thou receyuest this instrument sealed with this copye / & put it into an erthen potte that it maye continew longe . For thus hath the Lorde of powers / the God of Israel decreed : That the houses / feldes / & vynyardis in this lande / shal be possessed agein . Wherfor I made my prayer to the Lorde aftyr the delyueraunce of this instrument vnto Baruch the sone of Neerie on this maner sayng : Ah lorde God : lo thou art he that made heuen & erthe by thy mighty power & highe strength & nothing is harde or of difficulty vnto thee . Thou doist mercy vpon thousandis / thou rewardest the wikednes of the fathers into the bosoms of their childern which ar borne aftir them . Thou art that great & mighty God / whose name is the Lorde of powers / great in counsel and infinite in thought . Thy eyen beholde al the wayes of man to rewarde euery man for his owne wayes & for the frutes of his inuencions . Which hast done signes & wondres in the lande of Egypte / as we wel knowe euen vnto this daye / as wel vpon this same Israel as vpon these men to magnifye thy name as it is right great vnto this daye . And thou leddest forth Israel thy peple oute of the lande of Egypt with signes & wounders / with a mighty hande / a forthstretched arme & great power . And gauest them thissame lande / as thou haddest sworne to their fathers to geue them a lande flowing with mylke & honey . But whan they were come & had posseded it : they obayed not thy voyce / nor walked not in thy lawe : but what so euer thou commandest them to do / that they did not . wherfore al these affliccions & plages ar come vpon them Lo they come with bulwarkis euen vnto this cite to take it / whiche ouercome withe swerde / honger / and pestelence / shal be delyuerd vp into the handes of the Chaldeis whiche euen nowe fight so sore agenst it . And what so euer thou hast sayd / it shal come to passe / for lo / al thinges ar present vnto thee . And yet / thou Lorde God notwithstanding / cōmādest me sayng : chalenge the thy felde / the money payd before witnes / whan the cyte in the mean ceason must come into the handis of the Cal●es ? Than came the worde of the lorde to me . Lo / I am the lorde God of al thinges lyuinge : is ther any thing harde vnto me ? Wherfor thus cōmanderh the lorde . Lo / I shal betake this cite into the power of the Caldes & into the nower of Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon which shal take it . For the Chaldes shal come & fight agenst this cyte and set fyer on it / and it shal be burned with the houses in whose parlers they burned sacrifices to Baal / and offred to strange Gods / that they might the more prouoke me to anger . For whan the childerne of Israel and Juda had done al maner of synne in my sight euen fro their yeugth . What els was it that they dyd than prouoked me onely by the workis of their owne handis / saith the lorde ? Or what els was this cyte / than a prouoking stocke of my wrathe fro the daye that it was bylded vnto this present hower ? In whiche hower / I shal wel worthely take it a waye frome oute of my sight for the synnes of the chylderne of Israel and Juda / whiche they committed to anger me / both they their selues / their kinges / their rulers / their priestes / their Prophetes / al Juda / & the cytesens of Jerusalem . They turned their backes and not their face to me / whan I taught them & warned them in tyme : nether gaue they eare to receyue my disciplyne . They did set their idolls in the house consecrated vnto my name to pollute it . They bylded highe places for Baal in the vale of Benhinnon their to consecrate and to geue their sonnes and daughters euen to Moloch : which thinge I neuer commanded them / nether did it euer touche my mynde / that I wolde thus drawe Juda into syn to committe these abominacions . Ouer this yet agein spake the Lorde God of Israel / as concerning this cyte whiche ( euen yourselues being present ) shal be geuen vp into the hande of the kinge of Babylon / the cyte ( I say ) first ouercomen with swerde / honger and pestelence . Lo I shal gather them from al the regions into whiche I had dispersed them in my wrathe / furye / and great indignacion / and shal bring them into this same place / where they shal dwel suer . They shal be my peple / and I their God . And I shal geue them one herte / and one waye that they mought feare me at al tymes . Which thinge shal profit them & their childerne aftir them .

Also I shal smyte an euerlasting couenant with them / that I wil neuer cease to do them good / that I wil geue my feare into their hertis / that they fall not fro me / that I shal delyght in doing them good / ye and that I shal plante them in this lande in very truthe with al my herte and with al my soule . For thus sayd the Lorde / lyke as I haue brought vpon this peple al this great affliccion : euen so shal I bringe vpon them ageine al maner of goodnes which I haue layd vp for them . And their feldis shal be possessed in this lande / which ye graunte now worthely to bedesolated & for saken of man & beast / & to be brought into the handis of the Caldes . The feldis ( I tell you ) shal be bought with money / instrumentis wryten ther vpon and sealed before witnes in the lande of Beniamin & rowndaboute Jerusalem / thorowout the cytes in the deserte . For I shal bringe ageyn their captiuite / saith the Lorde .

¶ The .xxxiii. Chapiter .

AGeyne / the worde of God came vnto Jeremye / whyle he was yet in holde in the vtter warde / on this maner . Thus saith the Lorde 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 / and 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 nacions of th erthe 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 the 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 ) the voyce of men makinge myrthe ioye & solace / euen the voyce of the brydegrome with 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 the 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 / herdemēnis 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 the 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 that rightuouse budde of Dauid which shal do equyte & rightuousnes vpon the erthe . Cryste is that rightwyse budde . 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 the daye nor the night folowe not in their tyme : so is it impossible my couenaunt to be voyde whiche I haue made with Dauid my seruant : & so not to haue a sonne raigninge in his seat . And euen lykewyse shalnot my seruice lake Leuite and Preiste . Cryste was of the sead of Dauid bothe preste & m●nister aftir the order of Me●chisedech .

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 the Lorde ageyn to Jeremy thus . Vnderstandest thou not what this peple saith ? Ther be two kynredis ( say they ) whom the 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 the Lorde . If I haue not smitten a bargen with the day & night . If I haue not geuen lawes to the 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 the Lorde vnto Jeremy ( whan Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon / with al his hoste gatherd from al the 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 the 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 the Lorde telleth the. That thou shalt not be slayne with swerde / but thou shalt dye in peace . For they shal burne the in the fyer / as they brente thy fathers the 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 sermons 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 the sironge defensed cytes of Juda. The sermone whiche the Lorde sh●●wed to the Prophete Jeremye / aftir that Zedechias had made a lawe with al the peple of Jerusalem : that lybertye & fredome shuld be proclaymed / so that euery man shuld let fre go his bonde seruant that were hebrewes / both man & w●man / & no iewe to suffre his brother to be his bondeman . And al the rulers with the hole peple that 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 the worde of the lorde was shewed from him vnto Jeremy thus . Thus saith the lorde god of Israel . I made a couenaunt with your fathers whan I led them forth of the lande of Egypte / that they shulde nomore lyue in bondage / with these wordis . At the seuen years ende / let euery man let go free his bonde seruant that is an Hebrew and bought / aftir hath serued vi . year / let him go free . But your fathers obayed me not 〈◊〉 yet herkened to me . And ye were 〈◊〉 turned / doinge that iuste and right 〈◊〉 in my sight / euery man proclayming fredome to his neghbour / smyting the bargen in my presence / euen in the temple whiche bereth my name . But your myndis sone changed / ye haue defyled my name / euery man callinge home agein / his bonde man & mayde whom ye had once let go free at their owne lybertye . Wherfore this is the lordis plesure / saynge . ye obayed me not / whan eueryman proclaymed lyberty to his brother & neghbour / wherfor I my selfe shal call you vnto a lybertye saith the lorde : euen into the lybertye of the swerde / pestelence & honger . Theryte of conuenants to be confirmed then bothe with Iwes & gentyls And I shal delyuer you for the to be vexed of al nacions of the erthe : euen these men which haue broken my bargen not obseruing the wordis of the couenaunt smiten in my presence ( the bullok cleft in twayn : & the goinge thorow betwene the partes therof solempnly done ) euen the rulers ( I saye ) of Juda / the rulers of Jerusalem with their geldid men / the priestis and al the peple of the lande which passed thorow betwene the two sydes of this bullok / I shal betake into the power of their enimes which longe to drawe oute their hertis . And their karions shal be meat for the foules of the ayer & beastis of the erthe . And as for Zedechias kinge of Juda & hir rulers / I shal delyuer them into their enimes handis which thirste for their lyfe / euen into the handis of the kinge of Babylons hoste : whiche nowe goithe awaye from you / but at my becke / ( saith the Lorde ) he shal returne vnto this cyte / whiche wone and taken / they shal set on fyer . And the cytes of Juda / I shal leue desolate noman to inhabit them .

¶ The .xxxv. Chapitre .

THe sermon shewed of the Lorde vnto Jeremy / in the raigne of Joachim the sone of Josias kinge of Juda / on this maner . Go to the house of the Rechabites / and call them forthe / and bringe them to the house of the Lorde into some of the reuestrys / and geue them wyne to drinke .

Then toke I Jazaniam the sone of Jeremy the sone of Habaznie / and his bretherne with al his chylderne and al the famylye of the Rechabites / & brought them to the house of the Lorde into the reuestrye of the chylderne of Hanan sonne of Igdalie the man of God / whiche reuestry was by the reuestry of the rulers : this was ouer the vestry of Maasie sonne of Sallum cheife of the tresure house . And I set before the sonnes of the famylye of the Rechabites / tankerdis ful of wyne and cuppes / and bad them drinke wyne . ●f the ●echa●tesfa ●er re●e the .iiii ●●ke of ●e kin●s ca● .x. And they answerde / we drynke no wyne . For Jonadab our father the sone of Rechab commanded vs sayng . Drynke neuer no wyne / nother you nor your sonnes . Bilde no houses / sowe no corne : Also ye shal nether plante nor possede any vyneyardes : but dwel ye in tentis al your lyfe the ye may lyue longe vpon the lande wheryn ye be strangers . Wherfore we obayed the commandement of Jonadab the sonne of our father Rechab in al that he bode vs / so that nether we / our wyues / our sonnes nor daughters drynke wyne al our lyues / nor bylde vs houses to dwelyn nother haue we vynyardes nor corne feldis amonge vs : but dwel in tabernacles obayng & doing to our power al that our father Jonadab bode vs . But now it chaunsed so / that whan Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon cam vp into this prouince / we comoned togither saynge . Let vs go to Jerusalem that we mought scape the hoste of the Chaldes & Assyrions . Wherfore we dwel now in houses here in Jerusalez . Than came the worde of the lorde to Jeremy sayng Thus saith the lorde of powers the god of Israel . Go & saye vnto al Juda & to the cytes of Jerusalez . Wil ye receyue no disciplyne that ye might obaye my wordis saith the Lorde ? The wordis of Jonadab / sone of Rechab commanding his chylderne to drynk no wyne stande faste / for they drynk non vnto this daye / but obayed the precept of their father . But I meselfe haue spoken to you both erly rysing & diligently warning & yet obayed ye not me : ouer al this / I sent you al my seruantis / the prophetis / both erly rysinge / ouer sendinge & saynge . Lome ageyn ( I praie you ) euery man from his own yl waye & turne your myndes into a better state / & go not thus awaye aftir strange goddis to worship them that ye might abyde stil in this lande whiche I gaue you & your fathers : but ye gaue no eare nor obayed me . The childerne of Jonadab / sone of Rechab kept faste their fathers precepte whiche he gaue thez : but this peple obayed not me . Wherfore the Lorde God of powers the God of Israel commandeth me thus to saye . Lo / I shal bringe al thaffli●●iōs vpon Juda & vpon al the cytesens of Jerusalem / which I haue decreed agenste them . For I spake to them / but they obayed me not . I called them / but they answerde not . Than sayd Jeremy vnto the familye of the Rechabites . Thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . For that ye obayed the commandement of Jonadab your father & kept al his preceptis doing aftir al that he body you : therfore thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . The stok of Jonadab sonne of Rechab shal not be with oute a man to continewe and stande in my presence for euer .

¶ The .xxxvi. Chapiter .

THe fowerth yere of Joachim the sonne of Josias kinge of Juda : thus did the Lorde his worde vnto Jeremy sayng . Take the a grete boke and wryte therin al the sermons whiche I haue spoken vnto the to be preched vnto Israel / Juda / and to al nacions : sence I begane to fpeke with the in the raygne of Josias / vnto this present daye : If paraduenture yet the house of Juda hearing / al these affliccions wiche I purpose to do to them / turne euery man from his euil waye / & I forgeue them their wykednes and synne . Then Jeremy called to him Baruch the sone of Nerie : And Baruch did wryte in the boke / at the mouthe of Jeremy al the sermons of the Lorde spoken vnto Jeremy . And Jeremy commanded Baruch sayng . It is not suer for me to come into the house of the Lorde . Go thou therfore / and rede this boke wryten of my mouthe / the very wordis of the Lorde / al the peple hearing it in the daye of the faste / and al Juda hearing it to / ye & euen vnto them to that ar comen hither from their cytes shalt thou rede them . If paraduenture they wil submitte their prayers vnto the presence of the Lorde / & so returne euery man from his euelwaye . For grete is the wrathe & indignacion ordened of God for this peple . Then did Baruch the sone of Nerie to his powr al that Jeremy the Prophet commanded him reding of the boke the sermons of the Lorde / in the house of the Lorde . And this was done the fyfte yere of Joachim sone of Josias kinge of Juda in the nyenthe moneth whan they commanded al the peple to faste to pease the Lorde : It wa● noue●● by r . as wet the peple of Jerusalem as them that came thither frome the other cytes . Then did Baruch rede on the boke / Jeremyes sermons at the house of the Lorde / standing in the vestry of Gamarie sone of Saphan the scrybe : whiche vestry is by the ouer vestry before the newe dore of the temple / al the peple hering them . And when Micheas / sone of Gamarie the sone of Saphan had herde al the sermons of the Lorde oute of the boke : He wente downe to the kinges house vnto the scrybes counting house . For ther sate the rulers / Elisama scrybe / Dalias sone of Semei / Elnathan the sone of Achbori / Gamarias sone of Saphan / Zedechias sone of Hanany with al the rulers . And Micheas tolde them al the sermons whiche he had herde of Baruch red out of the boke / al the peple hearing . And al the rulers sente Jehudi the sone of Nathany sone of Salamy sone of Chusi vnto Baruch on message saynge . Take the boke in thy hande where vpon thou reddist / the peple hering the / and come thy wais with me .

Then toke Baruch the sone of Nery the boke in his hande and came to them . And they sayd vnto him . Sit downe ( I pray the ) and rede / and let vs here them .

And Baruch red them / they herkening thervnto : And when they had herde al these sermons / they wer astonned one gasyng vpon a nother / sayng vnto Baruch / verely we shal shewe the kinge al these wordis . And they asked Baruch thus . Tel vs I pray the how thow wrotest al these sermons of his mouthe ? Whom Baruch answerde : he spake them to me with his owne mouthe / whiche I alone being with him receiued with my penne into this boke . Then sayd the rulers vnto Baruch . Go & hyde the with Jeremy so that noman knowe where you be . And these rulers went in to the courte to the kinge leuing the boke in Elisams the scrybis studye / & tolde al the sermons vnto the kingis presence . Then sente the kinge one Jehudi to fetche the boke : whiche brought frome Elisams the scrybis study : and Jehudi had red it / bothe the kinge himselfe & al the rulers present hering it . The kinge then abode in his wynter house : for it was then nouembyr / and ther was a grete fyer before him : And whan Jehudi had red thre or fower leues / the boke was cut in pesis with a penne knyfe and caste into the fyer vpon the harthe tyl al the boke was brente vp : notwithstandinge yet in the mene ceason / they nether fered nor cut their clothes / nother the kinge himselfe nor his seruantis when they had herde al these sermons . But Elnathan / Dalias / and Gamarias made intercession to the kinge that the boke shulde not haue had ben brente / but he herde them not : but commanded Jerachmiel the sone of Hameleche / Sarie the sone of Ezriel and Salamie sone of Achdiel to take Baruch / that wrote it / & Jeremy the Prophete to . But the Lorde had hid them . Than came the worde of the Lorde to Jeremy / aftir the kinge had brente the boke with the sermons which Baruch had writen at the mouthe of Jeremy . The worde of the Lorde came to Jeremy on this maner . yet agene take the a nother boke / & wryte in it al the forsayde sermons whiche wer in the boke before : whiche Joachim kinge of Juda brente : And tell Joachim kinge of Juda. Thus saith the Lorde : Thou hast brente this boke / thus reuoluinge in thy mynde . For what entent haste thou wryten in it this mater : that the kinge of Babylon shal come & subuerte this lande ? & that he shulde leue it desolate bothe man & beast ? Wherfore the Lorde saith as concerning Joachim kinge of Juda. There shal non of his stocke sit in the sete of Dauid . His carkase shal be caste agenste the heat of the daye & colde of the night . And I shal loke vpon the wikednes both of him / of his sede / & of his seruantis : and bringe vpon them & the inhabitours of Jerusalem and vpon al Juda / al that grete affliccion whiche I tolde them before / albeit they herde me not . Then Jeremy toke a nother boke / and gaue it to Baruch the scrybe sone of Nery / whiche wrote in it at Jeremyes mouthe al the sermons of the same boke that Joachim kinge of Juda had brente : moreouer there were added vnto them moo then before .

¶ The .xxxvii. Chapiter .

ZEdechias the sone of Josias / made kinge of Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon / raigned ouer the lande of Juda / in the stede of Jechonias sone of Joachim sone of Joachim . But nether he / nor his seruantis / nor the peple of the lande obayd the sermons of the Lorde whiche he spake by Jeremy the Prophet . Nethelesse yet was kinge Zedechias fayne to sende Jehuchal sone of Selemy and Zephaniam sone of Maasy Prieste vnto the Prophet Jeremy / that they shulde say to him . Praye for vs vnto our Lorde God we beseche the. For Jeremy wente frely amonge the peple / not yet put in preson . But nowe was Pharaous hoste come out of Egypte : whom when the Caldeis nowe layng sege to Jerusalem perceiued / they went bake from the cite . And then was the worde of God shewed vnto Jeremy the Prophet on this maner : Thus saith the Lorde God of Israel : These thing is shal ye answer the kinge of Juda whiche sente you to enquyre it of me . Beholde Pharaous hoste whiche came forthe to helpe you / shal turne home agen into Egypte : and the Caldes shal come hither agen / and wyn and take this cyte and set fyer on it : For so saith the Lorde : Let it not synke in to your hertis to thinke thus . Now ar the Caldes douteles gone awaye from vs . For I ensuer you they shal come agene . For albe it / ye had slayne al the Caldes hoste that fightith yet agenste you / so that very fewe of them / & that wounded to / had ben yet lefte eche man in his tente / yet shulde these ryse & burne vp this cyte . And when the Caldes hoste was remoued frome Jerusalem for fere of the Egypcians hoste : Jeremy went oute of Jerusalem to go vnto the lande of Beniamin to set an order among his kynsfolke . And when he came to the gate called Beniamins gate / ther was a certayn man / chief of the warde or watche called Jerias sone of Selemy the sone of Hanany / whiche toke him imputing vnto him that he wolde haue slipte from them to the Caldes . Which thing Jeremy sayd was false / sayng I entended no thing lesse then to fle to the Caldes . Whom Jerias wolde not beleue : but toke Jeremy and led him vnto the rulers . And the rulers being angry with Jeremy / be it 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 dongen 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 that this besegynge of this cyte now in doing is done of the Lorde ? And Jeremy answerde : ye . adding also / that 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 the 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 sermons spoken vnto the peple in this sence : Thus saith the Lorde / who so euer shal abyde styll in this cyte / shal dye ether with swerde / or honger / or pestelence . But whoso go forthe vnto the Caldes shal lyue & saue themselve 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 dongen of Malchy the sone of Hamalech whiche before was in the fore entrye of the preson . And they lete downe Jeremy with ropes into a dongen wher was no water but myer . And Jeremy was rolled & set faste in the myer . And when Abdemeleche the Ethyope / a gelded man & offycer in the kingis house herde that they had caste Jeremy into this doungen / he wente from the kingis place & spake to the kinge whiche then chaunced to sit in iugement in Beniamyns gate / these wordis : Lorde my kinge / it is not rightwysely done that these men haue done to Jeremy the 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 the cyte . Then the kinge bode this Addemelech th ethiope sayng : Take with the from hence 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 the Ethiope called to Jeremy bidding him put these roten 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 . Than sent kinge Zedechias and called the Prophete Jeremy before him vnto the thyrde warde whiche was by the house of the Lorde . And the kinge sayd to Jeremy . I will aske the a thinge / so that thou hydest nothing fro me . And Jeremy answerde Zedechias . If I tel it the / thow wylt suerly slay me . And if I geue the counsel / 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 . Euen thus saith the lorde God of powers the 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 with fyer / & thou shalt be salfe with al thy house . But if thou wilt not fle to the kinge of Babylons prynces : this cyte shal be geuen vp into the handis of the Caldes which shal set fyer on it . And thou thy selfe shalt not escape their handis . Than sayd Zedechias to Jeremy . I fere these iwes which ar fled al redy to the Caldes lest I be betrayd into their handis and they laught me to scorne . Jeremy answerde / they shalnot betraye thee . Beleue ( I praye the ) thee 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 : euen this thing hathe the Lorde shewed me . Lo / al the women lefte in the kingis house of Juda / shal go forthe to the princes of the kinge of Babylon : For they are persuaded the thou ar deceyued in that thou trustest so miche the men whiche haue ruled the. They / in whom thou didist put al thy truste / haue set thy fete faste in the myer to leue the 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 taken captyue in the kinge of Babylons handis / & thy cyte brent vp . Then sayd Zedechias vnto Jeremy . Let noman knowe these thingis / & thou shalt not dye . But if the rulers perceyue that I haue comoned with the / & so come to the / sayng : Tell vs ( we praye the ) what wordis thou haddist with the kinge / hid nothing from vs / & we wilnot slaye the 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 helde their peace . For they knewe nothing of the mater . Then abode Jeremy still in then trye of the presone vntil the same daye that Jerusalem was taken . And al this was done whyle Jerusalem was in beseging and taking .

¶ The .xxxix. Chapiter .

FOr in the nynthe yere of kinge Zedechias of Juda the .x. moneth came Nebuchadnezar Decembyr . kinge of Babylon with al his hoste vnto Jerusalem and beseged it . And in the .xi. yere of Zedechias the .iiii. moneth the nynth daye of the monithe be broke in to the cyte / and al the rulers and cheiftens of the kinge of Babylon came in and sate downe togither in iugement in the open gate / as Nergal / Garezer / Samgarnebo / Sarsechim / Rabsaris / Nergal / Sarezaer / Babinag / with al the other kingis of Babylonis rulers and capitayns . Whom whan Zedechias kinge of Juda sawe : he with al his hoste fledde & conuayed themselues oute of the cyte be night thorowe the kingis backe ortcharde & so thorow at a preuy gate betwene two wallis / and went for the towerde the deserte . But the Caldes hoste persued vpon them / and toke Zedechias in the playne of Jericho / and brought him to Nebuchadrezar king of Babylon in Riblatham in the londe of Hamathe . Where the kinge layd sore to Zedechias his charge in iugement . And Zedechias sonnes slayne in the sighte of their father in Riblatham / the kinge of Babylon ( after he had slayne also al the nobles of Juda ) he put out Zedechias eyen : & his fete bownde togither / sente him to Babylon . And the kinges palace with the wother comens houses / the caldes brent vp / and threw down the wallis of Jerusalem . And the peple left in the cyte / withe them to that fled to him for socour the reste of the comens / Nebuzar Adan chieften of the hoste translated vnto Babylon . But the raskal & pore forlorne wretches this Nebuzar Adan chieften lefte stil in the londe of Juda / and diuyded amonge them the vynyardis and feldis the same tyme . But Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon / as concerninge Jeremy / commanded Nebuzar Adan their cheiften on this maner . Take him to the and be fauourable to him / and se thou doiste him no harme / but what so euer he asketh of the / let him haue it . Then Nebuzar Adan the archeiften of the hoste / Nebusasban chieften of the geldedmen & Nergal Sarezer chief auditour with al thother officers and rulers vnder the kinge of Babylon / sente & called Jeremy frome th entrye of the presone and committed him vnto Gedolias sene of Ahicam sone of Saphan that he shulde take him home to his house / and so he dwelled and continued still abrode amonge the peple . But whyle Jeremy was shut in th entry of the presone / the worde of the Lorde was shewed him on this maner . Go & tel Abdemelech th ethiope : Thus saith the Lorde of powrs the god of Israel . Beholde I shal bringe to passe my purpose right sharpe suerly & nothing plesaunt whiche I haue decreed vpon this cyte euen thissame daye / thou seing it : In whiche daye / yet wil I delyuer the / saith the Lorde : so that thou shalt not come into the handis of these men whom thou ferest somyche . Vndowted I shal preserue the frome the swerde so that thy lyfe shal be a proye vnto thyselfe because thou doist truste in me saithe the Lorde .

¶ The argument of the .xl. Chapiter .

This Chapi. with certayn other folowing declare the miserable ende of the cite nowe taken and the peple ouercome . For the vngraciouse reamnant wer so tossed aboute and discorded amonge them selues one betrayng a nother : that the prophecy of Moses as the lorde thretened them was now verifyed on them / euen this : That they shulde be ouercome and led captyue into their enymes lande : he wolde persecute them still with swerde .

¶ The .xl. Chapiter .

HOw the Lorde dealt withe Jeremy aftir that Nabuzar Adan archeiften of the hoste had delyuerd him from Ra●a / whither he had led him bownde among al the other captynes of Jer●salem and Juda. This Nabuzaradan called Jeremy vnto him sayng . Thy Lorde God testifyed fermely this same calamite to fal vpon this place : wherfore the Lorde hath brought it vpon them & fynesshed it accordinge to his worde / because ye sinned agenst the Lorde & obayed not his voyce : Wherfore this mysery is chaunced vnto you .

Now therfore / lo : I loose thy bondis whiche ar now vpon thy handis : and if it please the to go with me to Babylon / come : for I wil chourisshe the & se thou wantest nothinge . And if it lyke the not to go with me : me : abyde here stil. Beholde al this lande is at thy plesure / dwel in it where it lyke the best / and it lyke the not to dwela brode alone : go dwel with Gedolias sone of Ahicam sone of Saphan whom the kinge of Babylon hath made gouerner ouer the cite of Juda / and abyde with him amonge the peple / or els wher so euer it please the. And the archeiften of the hoste gaue him mete and drinke and rewardis & lete him go . Then wente Jeremy vnto Gedoliam sone of Ahikam vnto Masphat / and dwelt with him among the other peple lefte in the lande . And when it came to the ears of al the pety capitayns in Juda dispe●sed with their felowes thorow the felds that the kinge of Babylon had made Gedoliam son of Ahikam ruler of the lande / and that men women and chyldern with the pore men of the lande whiche wer not led captyue to Babylon / al shuld be vnder his dominion : they came to Gedoliam in Masphat . Ther came Ismael the sone of Nathanie / Johanna and Jonathan sonnes of Care / Saraias son of Thanhumeth / and the sonnes of Ephai the Netophathite / Zemeias sone of Maachathi with their felaws . And Gedolias sone of Ahikam sone of Saphan swore both to them and to their felows in this maner . Fere not to serue the Caldes / dwel ye stil in this lande / and serue the kinge of Babylon / & ye shal prosper . For I meselfe lo / dwel in Masphat to gouerne and be hed in the Caldeis name to answere & to contente who so cometh vnto vs . Go ye therfore and gather your grapis to make wyne / gather yn your whete / corne / and oyle / and lay it vp in your garners / & dwel stil in your towns whiche ye holde . Then al the Iwes being among the Moabites and Ammonitis in Idumea & in al these regions vnderstanding that the kinge of Babylon had geuen Gedoliam sone of Ahikam sone of Saphan to be ruler of the reamnant left in Juda retourned from euery place whither they had fled before / and came into the lande of Juda vnto Gedoliam in Masphat and gatherd grapis and grete plently of corne . Then came Johanna the sone of Caree and al the pety capitayns dispersed thorow the region vnto Gedolias in Masphat sayng vnto him : knowst thou not howe Baalis kinge of Ammon hath sent Ismael sone of Nathany to slaye the ? And yet Gedolias beleued them not . And Johanna sone of Lare sayd vnto Gedolias preuyly in Masphat these wordis : Wilt thou that I go and slaye Ismael sone of Nathanie so that none be aware of it ? wherfore shulde he slaye the and the Iwes also whiche be gatherd vnto the / to scater them awaye and so the reste of Juda vtterly to perysshe ? And Gedolias sone of Ahikam sayd vnto Johanna sone of Cart. Se thou doist it not / for they be but lyes that ar tolde of Ismael .

¶ The .xli. Chapiter .

IN the seuenth moneth came Ismael the sone of Nathanie sone of Elisame / whiche was of the kingis blode with the gretest aboute the kinge & with x. mo of their conspyred complices vnto Gedolias sone of Ahikam in Masphat where they sate downe to meate altogither . And Ismael the sone of Nathany start vp with his .x. conspyred complices that were with him / and smote Gedolias sone of Ahikam sone of Saphan with his swerde . And so slew they him whom the king of Babylon had made ruler of the lande . And Ismael also slew al the Iwes that were with Gedolias in Masphat and the Chaldes ther lefte to assiste him . And it came to passe that the nexte daye folowing the deth of Gedolias whiche yet was kept secrete : ther came certain men frome Sichem / from Silo and Samary .lxxx. in nowmber their heads clipped / their clothes cutte al sadde & kareful bringing giftes & sense in their handis to offer them vp in the house of the Lorde . And Ismael the sone of Nathany goyng forthe of Masphat met them comynge a grete pase wepinge . And when he met them / he sayd : Go your ways to Gedoliam sone of Ahikam . And when they were comen into the mids of the cite : Ismael sone of Nathany with his coniured slew them by the middis of the dyke or lake . And amonge these .lxxx. men : there werten that sayd to Ismael : slay vs not / for we haue tresur in the fel●e / bothe whete / barley / oyle and honey . Then he spared them / and slew them not with their brothern . And the lake into whiche Ismael threw the bodyes of the slayne whom he slew for Gedolias sake / was the same whiche kinge Asa made for fere of Baase kinge of Israel / the same lake Ismael filled withe the carkasis . And he led away captiue al the reste of the peple / as the kinges daughters with al the peple lefte in Masphat : ouer whom Nebuzaradan tharehieften had set Gedolias ruler . And Ismael toke them al & went his waye to go to the Ammonitis . Then Johanna the sone of Caree & al the pety capitayns ouer the company hering al this mischiefe that Ismael had done / toke al their company and went forthe to fight with Ismael sone of Nathany / and fownde him at the waters of Rabim whiche arin Gabaon . And when al the peple led captyue with Ismael sawe Johan the sone of Caree with al these pety capitayns and their company / they wer glad . There brought they agen al the peple that Ismael had caryed from Masphat / whiche retourned / came to Johan the sone of Caree . But Ismael escaped with .viii. of his coniured from the face of Johan / & wente to thāmonitis . Then Johan sone of Caree & al his capitayns / toke al this reste of the peple whom they reskewed & toke from Ismael caried fro Masphat aftir the dethe of Godolias / whiche were men valeaunt in batail / their wyues / chyldern and geldedmen whom they brought agen from Gabaon / & went & sate downe in Geruth Chimham which place is by Bethlehem / entending so to goforthe into Egypte for fere of the Caldes / whom they fered for this cause / that Ismael had slayne Gedolias sone of Ahikam / whom the kinge of Babylon had made ruler and ouerseer of the lande .

¶ The .xlii. Chapiter .

THen came al these gonerners / as Johan sone of Caree / Jezanias sone of Hosie & al the peple from the leste to the moste sayng vnto Jeremy the Prophete . Here our peticion ( we beseche the ) that is / pray for vs vnto thy Lorde God for al this remnaunt here lefte of so many / which ar now very fewe ( as thou seist vs ) that thy Lorde God wolde shew vs what waye we mought go / and what we mought do . Whom Jeremy the Prophete answerde . I haue he●de you effectuouly . Lo / I shal pray vnto your Lorde God according to your desyer . And what so euer the Lorde answer you / I shal shew it you / hyding nothinge from you . Then sayd these men vnto Jeremy . The Lorde of trouthe and faithe be our witnes / if we do not aftir euery worde which thy Lorde God shal answer concerninge vs / be it good or yll . The voice of our Lorde God vnto whom we sende the / we shal here : that we mought prosper if we obaye the voyce of our Lorde God . Aftir x. dayes the worde of the Lorde came to Jeremy . And then he called Johan the sone of Caree and al the headis of the company that wer with him / with al the peple from the leste vnto the moste & tolde them . Thus spake the Lorde God of Israel vnto whom ye sente me to laye forth your prayers before him . If ye wyl dwel stil in this lande / I shal encrese you & not destroye you / plante you / and not pluck / you vp by the rotis . For I am wel apayed and peased as towching the affliccion whiche I decreed vpon you . Fere nomore the kinge of Babylon / whom ye yet fere / and nede not saith the Lorde . For I shal be withe you to saue and delyuer you from his hande . I wil forgeue and be merciful vnto you & bringe you agen in to your owne lande . But if ye wilnot set your myndis at reste to dwel stil in this lande / not abaying the voyce of your Lorde God / sayng let vs not abyde here / but go into the lande of Egypte / where we shal se no warre nor here of any pealis to batayl / nor suffer any honger / ther let vs dwel . Wherfore here the worde of the Lorde ye reamnant of Juda. Thus spake the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . If ye be ful bente to go into Egypte / ther to be in exyle : it shal come to passe that the swerde whiche ye now fere shal ouer take you in Egypte : and the honger that ye here fere / shal cleue vpon you euen into Egypte / there to dye . For as many as shal sette their faces fermely bente thitherwarde there to ease their exyle or banishment / shal dye withe swerde honger and pes●elence . Ther shal not one of them escape the plage whiche I shal bringe vpon them . For thus saith the lorde of powers the God of Israel . Lyke as my wrathe and furye did flowforthe vpon the inhabitours of Jerusalem : euen so shal it flowforthe ouer you if ye go into Egypte . For ye shal be an execracion / a wondering stocke / detested / reuyled & in obprobry to men / neuer more to se this lande agene . It is the Lorde that biddeth you ( Oh reamnaunt of Juda ) that ye go not into Egypte / and that ye forget not what he hath testifyed vnto you this daye . For ye shulde trappe your owne selues . For ye sent me to your Lorde God sayng . Praye our Lorde God for vs : And what so ouer our Lorde God answere / tel vs : and we will do it . Nowe therfore haue I shewed you the voyce of your Lorde God : for the whiche thinge he hathe sente me vnto you : and yet wil ye not obaye . Be ye suer therfore to dye withe swerde / honger and pestilence in that same place whiche delyte you so gretely to fle vnto .

¶ The .xliiii. Chapiter .

ANd aftir that Jeremy had lefte preching to al the peple / al these wordis of the Lorde God : for whose cause he sent him to them : Azarias sone of Holy / & Johan sone of Caree with al that heady presumptuouse peple sayd vnto Jeremy . Thou lyest vnto vs : nether hath our Lorde God sente the to commande vs that we go not into Egypte to dwel there . But Baruch the sone of Nery hath let the slip among vs to betraye & delyuer vs into the power of the Babylonytis to lede vs captiue to Babylon there to slaye vs . And this Johan the sone of Caree with al the captins of the hoste and al the peple / obayd not the lordis wordis that they shulde dwel stil in the lande of Juda. Then toke Johan sone of Caree & al the cheiftens of the multitude & led a waye al the remnant of Juda which wer nowe come to gither agen from al the nacions amonge whom they had benscatred / to dwel agene in the lande of Juda as strangers : they toke and led awaye ( I saye ) men wemen and chylderne / the kingis daughters / and al them that Nebuzaradan tharchieften had lefte with Gedoliam sone of Ahikam sone of Saphan : They toke also Jeremy the Prophete and Baruch the sone of Nery & came into Egypte . For they obayd not the lordis voice . And they came into Thaphnis : & in Thaphnis the worde of the lorde was shewed vnto Jeremy sayng . Take in thy hande grete stones & hyde them in an hole in the grownde by the brik wall vnder the dore of Pharos house in Thaphnis in the sight of the men of Juda sayng vnto them . Thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . Beholde I shal sende & cal hither Nebuchadrezar my seruant kinge of Babylon / & set his trone vpon these stones which I haue hid / which shal bende his tente ouer them . For he shal come and plage the lande of Egypte : some with slaughter / some with captiuite / & some with swerde : he shal set fyer on the temples of the Goddis of Egypte and burne them vp / and holde their godis captiue . And the lande of Egypt aftir this shal clothe hirselfe as the herdeman putteth on his clothes to get him hence in peace . Also he shal alto breke the pilers of the temple of the sonne in Egypt and the temples of the Gods of Egypte / he shal consume with fyer .

¶ The .xliiii. Chapiter .

THe sermon shewed vnto Jeremye / vpon al the Jews that dwelt in Egypt in Migdalo / in Thaphna / in Memphi & in the lande of patheres on this maner . Thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel ye haue sene al the miserable calamite whiche I brought vpon Jerusalem & vpon al the cytes of Juda how they be desolate vnto this daye no man dwelling in them / & that euen for their sinnes whiche they committed prouoking my wrathe whyle they wente and kindled their fyers worshipping strange gods / whiche nether they their selues knewe / nor yet you / nor your fathers . Albeit yet I sent them al my seruantis the Prophetis erly rysing continually sendinge and mou●sshing in tyme sayng . Se ( I praye you ) that ye committe not this abominacion whiche I aborre so gretely / and yet they obayd not / nor once moued their ears to them / to go from their myscheife nomore to kindle their fyers before these strange gods . Wherfore my hotte indignacion & wrathe was kindled & burned vp their cytes & feldis with the stretis of Jerusalem : and so were they made desolate & forsaken as ye maye se euen this daye . Now therfor saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel . Wherfore do ye so grete wykednes agenst your owne selues to spill your men & women soukelingis & infantis of Juda / so that ye shal at laste leue none a lyue while ye prouoke me to anger with the workis of your owne handis kindlinge lyghtis vnto strange Gods in the lande of Egypte into whiche ye ar gone to dwel in to be clene cut awaye / execrable / accursed & ignominiouse among al the nacions of the erthe . Remember ye not the synnes of your fathers ? the synnes of the kingis of Juda / & of their wyues ? your owne synnes & your wyues ? which ye committed in the lande of Juda both in the felde & stretis of Jerusalem ? And yet be ye not sorye or humbled vnto this daye / ye fere not / ye walke not in my lawe and preceptis which I gaue bothe to you / & your fathers . Werfore thus saith the Lorde of powers the God of Israel Beholde I am fermely decreod to scourge you & to pluckup al Juda by the rotes : & take the reamnaunt of Juda the bente their faces so stifeneckedly to enter into Egypt / ther to dwel & take their plesures . And they shal be al wasted awaye / they shal be al smyten downe in the lande of Egypt / & consumed with swerde & honger . Frome the leste to the gretest shal they dye with swerde & honger . They shal be an execracion / aborred / wondred at / curssed and into obprobrye . For I shal so vyset th inhabitours of the lande of egypt / as I haue visited Jerusalem with swerd honger and pestelence / that of al the remnaunt of Juda whiche went into Egypt there to dwel / shal be none lefte salfe to returne into the lande of Juda / although their myndes was to come agene : yet shal ther none returne but siche as shal fle & escape . Then al these men whiche wer preuye to their wyues sacryfiyng vnto strange gods and al the women ther present in the hole multitude / and al the peple to / that ther dwelled in Egypte in the cyte of patheres / answerd Jeremy on this maner . The sermone whiche thou madist vnto vs in the name of the Lorde / in nomaner wyse wil we receyue / but we wil do what so euer goith forthe of owr owne mouthe / whether it be sacrifising vnto the quene of heuen / or offering any other oblacion / lyke as both we & our fathers haue done before vs / as wel our kingis & rulers bothe in the cytes of Juda / as wel with oute as with in Jerusalem . For then had we plenty of foode / then wer we happye and sawe no plagis . But as sone as we ceassed from sacrificing to the quene of heuen & from geuing hir gyftis : we were nedy of al thingis & consumed with swerde & honger . And laste of al : when we women did sacrifice to the quene of heuen geuing hir giftis : did we then make hir kake brede housbandlesse / and offred to hir lyquet sacryfices to prouoke hir to anger ? Then sayd Jeremy vnto al the peple / to men and women and al the comens that answerd him on this maner . Remembred not the Lorde / the facrifices whiche ye offred in the cytes of Juda and Jerusalem both with in & with oute / bothe you and your fathers / bothe your kingis and rulers and the peple of the lande ? Did he not reuolue them in his minde ? And the Lorde coude suffer no lenger your maliciouse thoughtis and abominacions which ye committed . Was not your lande therfore made desolate / forsaken & so detestable that no man may dwel in it vnto this daye ? And euen for this cause / that ye sacrificed and synned agenst the Lorde / not obaing his voice that ye mought haue had walked in his lawe / his ordinancis / & testimonis / for these causes / I saye / these affliccions & plages came vpon you / as this daye wel witnesseth . Morouer Jeremy added vnto al the peple and al the women these wordis . Here ye the worde of the Lorde al Juda whiche ar in the lande of Egypte . For thus saith the Lorde of powrs the God of Israel / you & your wyues haue spoken the thinge with your mouthes whiche ye haue accomplesshed with your dedis : sayng we wil with oute any stoppe do our owne decreed plesures whiche we haue vowed / that is to wite to do sacrifice vnto the quene of heuen & powr hir forth lyquet sacrifices before hir : thus stoutely haue ye set vp your owne set plesures and with oute any refrayne haue ye fin●sshed your own vowes . Wherfore here ye the worde of the Lorde al Juda whiche dwel in the lande of Egypt . Beholde / I haue sworne by my nowne name that is so grete / saith the Lorde . My name shal nomore be named in the mouthe of any man of Juda / that he may saye in al the lande of Juda. The Lorde God lyueth . For I shal be their watche man to scourge & not to defend them that they might reste . And al Juda shal be consumed whiche is in the lande of Egypte with swerde & honger tyl they be clene gone . And they that shal escape the swerde shal returne from Egypte vnto the lande of Juda : but these shal be very fewe . And the remnaunt of Juda comen into the lande of Egypte ther to be strangers shal knowe whose wordis abyde moste certayne & trwe of theirs or myne . And take this for a token amonge you . That I wil vyset you in this same lande / that ye maye knowe certaynly that I wil stablisshe my purpose as towching your affliccion . Lo / I shal delyuer vp Pharao Haphraz kinge of Egypt into the powr of his enymes which thirste for his life : euen as I delyuered up zedechias king of Juda into the handis of Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon / his enmy thirsting for his lyfe .

¶ The .xlv. Chapiter .

THe wordis whiche Jeremy the Prophete spake vnto Baruch the sone of Nery / when he wrote these sermons in a boke receiued at the mouthe of Jeremy / the fowerth yere of Joachim sone of Josias kinge of Juda / on this maner . Thus saith the lorde God of Israel vnto the o Baruch . Thou saydst as thou wast in wrytinge . Ah lasse for sorowe wretche that I am : for the Lorde hathe sawced my labours with sorowe & care / I labored with grete desyer / & shal I fynde no reste ? Thou therfore Jeremy tel him thus . Thus saith the lorde . Beholde me / these thingis which I haue bylded / I shal caste downe : & that I haue planted / I shal pluck vp by the roots / euen al this same lande : & gapest thou for any grete promocion or to be magnified ? Be not couetouse nor ambiciouse / for lo / I shal bringe a miserable calamite vpon euery man saith the Lorde : Nethelesse yet shalt thou enioye thy lyfe / and take it for a vauntage . where so euer thou becomest . ¶ Here folowe the sermons of the Lorde shewed vnto the Prophete Jeremy : whiche he preched vnto the gentylis .

¶ The .xlvi. Chapiter .

THis sermone folowing Jeremy preched vnto the Egypcions / as concerning To the Egyptians . the hoost of Pharao Necho kinge of Egypt / when he was in Charchamis by the flowde Euphrates / where he was slayne of Nebuchadrezer kinge of Babylon / the fowerth yere of Joachim sone of Jos●as kinge of Juda. ye make redye buckler and shylde / and ye goforthe to fyght : ye harnes your horse & lightvp on their backis / oh horse men . ye sett on faste your salettis / ye bringe forthe your speres / ye skower your swerdis and clothe your selues with cotis of mayse . But herken hoiwe seirs : wherfore seme ye to be afrayde ? shrinke ye now backe ? ar your valeaunt waryers thus slayne ? fle you so that none dare loke backe ? Tremblyng fere muste cloose them in saith the Lorde . The lightest of fote shal not fle awaye / nor the strongest shalnot escape . Northwarde by the floude Euphrates shal they be smyten downe and fall al togither . But who is this that swelieth rysing vp lyke a flowde / roringe lyke a grete rysing water ? They ar th egypcions that swell lyke a flowde casting oute their stremes with so grete noyse : for they saye . Let vs aryse & kouer the lande / let vs destroye the cytes withe their inhabitours : Get ye to horse backe / romble forthe charietis : Set forthe ye stronge waryers : ye Morians and Lybeons that beare shylde / & ye Lydeons withe your bowes redy bente . But this same daye shal be the daye of vengeance of the Lorde God of powrs to take vengeance vpon his enemes . The swerde shal deuoure themvp & be satisfyed / it shal be bathed in their blode : For the Lorde God of powrs will make a sacrifyce northe warde by the flowde Euphrates . Go vp oh Galaad & bringe medecynable rosen or triacle for the virgen and daughter Egypte / but thou shalt multiplye and make thy plasters in vayne . For the woundes cannot be closed vp . The nacions shal here of thy ignomynye : & thy infamy shal fill al the lande . For where one stronge man falleth vpon a nother / shal they not come bothe downe to gither ? The sermon spoken of the Lorde vnto the Prophete Jeremy / of the setting forthe of Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon to slaye and conquere the londe of Egypte . Shewsorth thorowe Egypte & preche in Migdalo / Memphi & Taphna sayng . Stande still and make thy selfe redye . For the swerde shal deuoure the in euery partye . Wherfore ar thy valeaunte men fallne downe ? Wherfore stode they not faste ? For the lorde thrusted them downe . Grete was the slaughter : For one fill vpon a nother whyle they stode takinge their aduysment saynge . Herken howe syers / let vs returne vnto our owne folke and natyue lande from the edge of the deuoweringe swerde . Call hence kinge Pharao and tell him / oh Pharao kinge of Egypt / this daye wil be thy confusion . As verely as I lyue / faith the kinge whose name is the Lorde of powers : That Thabor stande not so faste amonge the hilles / nother yet Carmelus recheth not so verely vnto the sea / as thissame plage shal come . Make the therfore ( oh daughter inhabirres of Egypte ) vessels & packes to flit thy waye . For Memphis shal be desolate & throne downe that noman inhabit hir . Egypte is a fayer fatte welthy bulloke : but there shal come vnto hir a prodder with a pricke frome the northe . Hyr hyerde soldyers which ar in hir as fatte as bullockis shal take them to their fete : nether shal they stande and abyde / for their slaughter daye / & tyme of visitacion shal be present . The noyse of their enymes shal sowne in vpon them as hard as yerne . For they shal come with an hoost & downe slayers with polaxes lyke tre fellers : & hewe downe hir wodes saith the Lorde with oute any stoppe or choise . They shal excede the swarminge locuste flyes & be innumerable . The daughter of Egypt delyuerd vp into the powr of the peple of the northe shal be ashamed . And yetagayn saith the Lorde of powrs the God of Israel . Beholde I shal vyset the pryde of Alexandrye / Pharao & Egypte / hir gods & kinges / euen Pharao & them that truste in him : And betake them into the power of them that seke their lyues / euen into the handis of Nebuchadreser kynge of Babylon & of his seruantis . And aftir this it shal be inhabited as before saith the Lorde . But thou my seruant Jacob fere not / nether dread thou Israel . For lo / I shal saue the frome a farre & thy sede to / from the lande of their captiuite . And Jacob shal returne & haue reste / he shal be ryche / noman to trowble him . Be not afrayde my seruant Jacob yet agen I warne the saith the Lorde : For I am with the / & wil make an ende of al the nacions into amonge whom I scatred the : but of the / wil I not make an ende : but correcke the / & that with discrecion / for in no maner wyse art thou innocent & fautelesse .

THe sermon of the Lorde shewed vnto Jeremy the Prophete agenst the Palestyns before Pharao wonne Gazam . Agenst the Palestyns . Thus sayd the Lorde : Beholde / waters shal come downe frome the northe & ryse vp into a flowde runninge ouer the lande and al that is in it / and bothe cytes and their inhabitours shal howle at the noyse of the comynge of the armye & stampinge of their barbed horses / at the shakinge of their charietis & romblynge of their whelis . The fathers shal haue no respecte vnto their chylderne / their handis shal tremble for fere . And euen the same tyme that he shal be present to destroye al Palestyne withe other eylandis deuyded from the lande : there shal come a shauyng and chipping vpon Gazam . Ascalon with hir other valis shal kepe sylence . Ah how longe wilt thou slaye oh swerde of the Lorde ? How longe shal it be ere thou ceasse ? Retourne into thy sheath / reste & ceasse . But how shuld it ceasse sith the Lorde hathe commanded it and stered it vp agenst Ascalon & other cytes vpon the sea coostis ?

¶ Chapitre . xlviii .

AGenst Moab / thus spake the Lorde of powrs the God of Israel . Sitfast proude Moab . Wo be to Nebon / for it shal be subuerted / she shal be ashamed and taken . Beware / Rome . Also that stronge kiriatham shal be ashamed & afrayd / she shal nomore be the gloriouse shyninge beutye of Moab . Vpon Esebon shal there be taken shrewed counsel / Come & let vs cut hir awaye from the nowmbir of the gentyls / so that she be neuer more spoken of / the swerde shal so persecute hir . There shal a voyce crye frome horonaim : Destroy & kyll . And Moab is alto destroyed / an oute cryinge shal be herde thorow hir villages . For weping & waylinge shal sty vp ouer al the hanging of the hill of luhit : and this cruel noyse of destruccion shal come downe and be herde vnto Horonaim / fle / saue your lyues : And euen vnto the very haith of the deserte be ye lyke . Because thou didist trust in thy stronge defensed holdis and tresure / thou shalt be taken awaye to . * * A deuowering v●ciouse god . Chamos shal be caryed into captiuite / bothe preistis and rulers al togither : And the destroyer shal come vnto euery cyte / none shal escape . Dales shal perisshe / and feldis shal be destroyed / as the Lorde hath decreed . Lyfte vp a sygne vnto Moab that she may fle away swiftly : hir cytes shal be so desolate that noman may dwel in them . Cursed be he that shal do this worke of the Lorde deceytfully or negligently . ☞ And cursed be he that holdeth backe his swerde from blode . Ful riche & suer hath Moab ben euen from hir yougthe / and hath sit at reste carelesse in the middis of hir fylthy fast layd vp ryches . She was not yet neuer set a broche / drawne oute of one vessel into a nother / that is to wyt / she came neuer yet into captiuite / wherfore hir verdcur & taste yet abydeth & endwreth / & hir vigour & sauour is not chanched . But lo the daye shal come saith the lorde / that I shal sende hir trussers / whiche shal trusse and pak hir vp / prepare & ceason hir vessels but hir pottis & baggis they shal so shake to gither that Moab shal be as miche ashamed of hir Chamos as euer was Israel of Bethel euen their owne hope . Wherfore thinke ye thus / we ar stronge and valeaunt to fyght ? Moab shal be destroyed & hir cytes shal fleup into asshes . And hir chosen lusty lance kneightis shal be slayne saith the kinge whose name is the Lorde of powrs . Moabs dethe & fall is at hande / & his miserable calamite cometh faste vpon : whom al of his faccion rownde aboute him shal lamente and bewayle / And as many as knowe his name / shal saye . Howe happeneth this so stronge a staffe and so gaye a rodde to be thus alto broken ? And euen thou to / daughter whiche dwellest in Dibon shal come downe from thy glorye & sitte in a drye thyrste . For the destroyer of Moab shal come vnto the / and ouerthrow thy stronge holdes . And thou / oh inhabitres of Aroer shalt stonde by the waye & beholde askinge thez that flee escaped / saing what is chaunced ? For Moab shal be confounded & ouercome . They shal howle and cry oute / & tel it forthe vnto Arnon that Moab is destroyd . And lyke calamite shal come euen vnto the playns / vnto Holon Jahazam and Mephat / Dibon / Nebo / and vnto the house of Diblathaim / vnto Kiriathaim / Bethganrob and Betheneon / Kirioth / Bassra & vnto al the cytes of the lande of Moab both farre and nighe . Of th● horne r●de . apo● where i● now ye●ur ▪ brachium culare ? Moabs horne shal be alto broken / and his arme shal be shaken in pesis saith the Lorde . ye shal make him dronken because * * 2. tes. Moabe thefte deceyte he magnifyed himselfe aboue the Lorde : And Moab in his vomyte shal be clapped oute with handis / and be a laughing stocke to Shal he not be a laughing stocke vnto the ( oh Israel ) whiche is fownde amonge theues ? Thou shalte 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 arrogancy / 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 . We sewe nomore to Rome , Moab get no more peter petence &ce . Beware your herde Moab . 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 the 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 the 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 ii . Th●ssa . ii . Lorde . Fere shal be vnto the ( oh Moab ) and both pitte and snare to / saith the 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 the Moab / for thou shalt be vndone oh peple of Chamos . And thy sonnes and daughters shal be led awaye into captiuite . * * Mencion is here made of the calling of the gentyls . But I shal se that Moab shal come agene 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 the lorde . Ammon Moabs brother howthe● were begoten of their dronken father by his own daughters red● Gen. 19 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 the cyte of Gad ? For this cause / lo / the tyme shal come saith the 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 the chyldern of Isarel shal possesse them / which before kept Israel vnder saith the Lorde . Let Hesebon howise / for it shal be vtterly subue●ted . Let the towns of ●abbath cry oute and gyrde themselues with sak / let them wayle wanderinge al oute their hedges : For * * Then abeminable fil thy god . 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 that ar aboute the / saith the lorde god of powrs / And ye shal be scatred euery man from other the non may bringe the men fleing / togither agen . The calling of the gentyls is here prophecyed 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 . The bu●den of Idumea 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 the one grape . If theues had come vpon the in the night / they shulde haue robbed the 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 : i. Petri iiii . 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 / & contemned amonge men . ☞ Thy nowe arrogancy and audacite of thy hyghe mynde hathe vndone the : 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 the downe oute of it saith the Lorde . Idum● 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 the 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 enimye and stere him vp to runne agenst hir . But who is this yonge man whom I shal chose to do this dede ? And who may matche me ? Who will wrestle with me ? or whiche one amonge al the herdemen may stande in my handis ? Wherfore here the counsel of the Lorde / whiche he hath taken & begun vpon Idumea . Here his thoughtis whiche he hathe deuised vpon the citezens of Theman / that the feste of the flocke shal tere them in peses / & their fayerest habitacions shal be lefte desolate / and they to The erthe shal crak at the noyse of their fall : the crye of their voyce shal be herde in the red sea . Se / their enymye mownteth vp lyke an egle / he shal come fleing / his winges spred a brode ouer Bosra . And then shal the hertis of the moste stronge & bolde men of Idumea be lyke the herte of a woman traueling of chylde . The burden of Damask Vpon Damask thus prophecied Jeremy . Hemath and Arphat shal be shamefully confownded : for they shal here right cuil tydingis . They shal runne here and there for fere lyke the sea that cannot reste . Damask shal be fainte herted and flee . Fere shal ouer whelme hir : Anguysshe & sorowe shal betake and holde hir as a woman trauelinge of chylde . But shal that mery cyte so populose be lefte desolate ? ye verely . For euen their yonge men shal be smyten downe in hir stretis : and al hir noble men of armes shal be layed a slepe the same daye saith the lorde of powrs . And I shal kyndle a fyer vpon the wallis of Damask which shal deuoure the houses of Benhadad . The bur●en of Cedar . Vnto Cedar and the kingdoms of Hazor which Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon smote downe / thus sayd the Lorde . Aryse and go yp vnto Cedar and destroye / ye chyldern of the este . Then shal they take awaye their tabernacles / their flockis / their skinnis with al their armour / stuffe / and substance . They shal also take a waye their Camelis / and close them in withe fere rownde a boute . Fle / get ye hence at once and crepe into caues there to dwel oh inhabitours of Hazor saith the Lorde . For Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon hath decreed and bente his plesure agenste you . Aryse and go vp to those ryche folke which dwel so suerly saith the Lorde : which haue nether gatis nor dore barres / but dwel one frome a nother . Their Camelis shal be stolen / and their herdis of beastis drouen awaye . And I shal disperse these polled or shauen crownes into euery wynde / and brynge them into destruccion / ye and that of eueryone of their owne familiaris saith the Lorde . And Hazor shal be a denne for dragons and a perpetual wyldernes / noman shal there inhabit / nether dwel there any of the sonnes of Adam . The burden of Elam . The sermon of the Lorde shewed vnto Jeremy the Prophete vpon Elam in the begynning of the raigne of Zedechie kynge of Juda.

Thus saith the Lorde of pwrs . Lo I shal al to breke Elam his bowe / the cheif weapen of their power : and brynge vpon Elam fower wyndis from the fourte plagis of heuen : and I shal we nowe them into al these foure wyndis / so that ther shal be no nacion vnto whom Elam be not come fleynge for socour . For I shal so bringe it to passe that Elam shal be a frayd of their emmes / euen of those that seke the lyues of them . And I shal bringe vpon them the greuouse plage of my furiouse wrathe saith the Lorde . And perswe them with swerde tyl I haue consumed thez . I shal set my sete in Elam / & there destroye bothe kinge & rulers saith the lorde . The calling of the gentyls . Babylon is Rome . Agenst the king ●●om of ●●ntichri f●te . ●●eel their ●●od / the ●●ope . But at faste / in processe of tyme / I shal restore the captiuite of Elam / saith the Lorde . The sermon whiche the Lorde spake vpon Babylon / and of the londe of the Chaldeis vnto Jeremy the Prophete . Tel it forthe vnto the gentyls and preche it . Gyue them a token . Shew it them / and hyd it not . But tel them . Babylon shal be taken . Beel shal be confounded with shame . Merodach shal be taken / hir grauen images shal be shamefully confounded / and their Idolis shal be taken . For ther shal come forthe agenst them / a peple frome the northe / which shal bringe their region into a wildernes / that none maye dwel in it / nother man nor beast . For they shal fle and go their wayes . In those dayes and tyme saith the Lorde / the chyldern of Israel / bothe they and the chyldern of Juda shal come to gither weping & hasting to seke their Lorde God . They shal aske redely the waye vnto Zion : and their faces turned thither warde / they shal be ioyned to the Lorde in a couenaunt neuer to be broken . My peple were of a long space loste shepe . My herde men led them oute of the right waye / and made them to wander in mountayns / Fro mountayns they wente to lytel hyllis / forgettinge their own bedde : Who so fowonde them / deuoured them : And euen their enymes sayde we synned not / because they ar offenders of the Lorde / euen that lorde whiche is the beutiful glorye & flower of rightwysnes / and the trw hope of their fathers that preserued them . But ye shal fle from oute of the middes of Babylon : and get ye oute from the londe of the Caldes : and shal be as rammes that go before the flocke . For beholde / I shal stere vp and bringeforth from the northe region an hoste or congregacion of a grete nacion agenste Babylon : which shal fyght agenst hir / and aftirwarde take hir . Their arowes shal not rebowne voide but steke faste lyke arows of an experte & stronge archer . The Caldes shal be a proye / and al hir spoilers shal be satisfyed saith the Lorde : Because ye reioysed & gloryed in the tredingdowne of my heretage / taking your plesure ouer them / lyke the wealy bullok ouer hir grasse / neainge ouer them as stallandis : your mother shal be gretely confounded and she that brought you forthe shal be ashamed of you . She shal be raskall of al gentyls / desolate / laied laye and drye . ☞ The wrathe of God shal make hir al forlaten vnable to be inhabited . Whoso euer shal go for bye Babylon / shal sodenly stoppe and wondre hyssing at hir plagis . Sette your araye / and ordir your hoste agenst Babylon closyng hir in rownd aboute . Al the can handle a bowe / shote at hir : spare no arows : For she haue synned agenst the Lorde . Blow vp trompets vpon hir rownd aboute . She hath yilded hirselfe / hir foundacions ar fallen / and hir wallis be downe . For this is the vengeaunce of the Lorde . For they shal take vengeance vpon hir . And as she haue serued other / euen so shal she be serued agayne . They shal caste oute the sedis man oute of Babylon / and the syithe man in tyme of mowinge . For feare of the dente of the blody swerde / euery man shal conuaye himself home agayn to his owne nacion & fle to his countrye . Israel is a pore scatered flocke . Lyons haue scatred them abrode . The firste lyon the deuoured them / was the kinge of the Assyrions . And the laste the shal al to breke their bones is this Nebuchadrezar kinge of Babylon . Wherfore thus saith the lorde of powrs the God of Israel . Beholde / I shal viset the kinge of Babylon & his kingdom / euen as I visited the kinge of Assyrie . And shal bringe Israel agene vnto hir plesaunte pasturs / & they shal fede vpon Carmelus & Basan : And in the mounte Ephraim & Galaad shal they be wel filled . In these dayes & this tyme saith the Lorde . If the wikednes of Israel be sought for / ther shal none be fownde . If the syn of Juda be sought : it shal not be fownde . For I shal be mercyful vnto this litel reānant escaped by me . Ascende ( oh auenger ) vnto this cruel & lordely londe & viset hir inhabitours : take vengeaunce & laye vpon their backis ( saith the lorde ) & finisshe al that I haue commanded the. The rumor of batail & grete destruccion shal fle thorow the londe / men talking / How is this grete hammer of al the worlde / ihus now broken alto peses ? Rome hath k●●ked vs ful long tyme . How hapeneth it that Babylon amonge al the nacions is thus brought into desolation ? It was I that layd waite for the / & thou wast taken oh Babylon / thou wast espyed vnwares / and thus trapped / because thou prouokedst the Lorde to anger . The Lorde layd opon his house of ordinance & brought forthe the dartes of his indignacion . For this is the wurk of the Lorde God of powers done of him in the londe of Calde . These thingis shal come vpon hir at laste : They shal breke ynto hir preuey tresure houses / & leue hir as bare as stones taken & caste vpon an heape . And they shal so cut hir awaye / that nothinge be lefte of hir . They shal destroye al hir valeaunt soldeyers and put them to dethe . Wo be to them : for the day & howr of their visitacion shal be at hande . Me thinketh / I here euen now the noyse / bothe of men fleyng and escapen from the londe of Babylon : which voice or noyse shal declare in Zion the vengeaunce of our Lorde God euen the taking vengeaunce for his temple : and also the noyse of men cryinge : Cal vp agenst Babylon the multitude of al the bowemen . Pitche your tentes agenst hir rowndaboute the none escape . Serue hir aftir hir owne dealinge / and as she haue done to other / so do to hir agen . ☞ For she presumed to boldely agenst the Lorde / euen him that sanctifyeth Israel . Wherfore hir myghty soldiers shal be smyten downe in the stretis / & al hir noble men of warre shal be layed a slepe togither in that daye saith the Lorde . It it I lo / that tell it the ( * * Rome ●s as●nich to ●aye as ●nowde . oh thow prowde ) saith the Lorde God of powers . For the daye shal come / euen the hower of thy visitacion / and the prowde shal fall sodenly and be al to broken / noman to lyfte him vp agene . I shal sette fyer on his cites / which shal ete vp al rownd aboute him . These thingis saith the Lorde of powers : The chyldern of Israel & Juda shal suffer both a lyke grete violence and wronge . Whoso haue taken them / shal holde them faste lothe to let them go . But their stronge auenger and mighty redemer / whose name is the lorde of powrs shal so defende their cause : that he wil ster vp a dissension amonge themselues / & sette the chirche of Babylon togither by the eares . the gretwyse writer o● their vnwriten v●●●rites / wher i● he now become● The swerde vpon the Caldes saith the Lorde / and vpon the inhabitours of Babylon / vpon hir rulers / and vpon hir wyse men / the swerde vpon hir soithe sayers / & they shal be made foles .

The swerde vpon hir bolde valeaunt / and they shal be afrayde . The swerde vpon hir horsemen / chariets / and vpon al the comen peple in hir / so that they be al lyke women . The swerde vpon hir tresurs that they be stolen awaye . The swerde vpon their waters / that they be dryed vp : For this londe is an image seruer / and delyteth in strange & wounderouse inuencions . Wherfore these cruel vnsaciable satyris / with marmesaits / apes & mermaydes shal inhabite hir : nether shal she be inhabited for euer / nor dwelled yn from age to age . Lyke as God subuerted Sodome & Gomor with their cytes annexed saith the Lorde / euen so shal ther here noman dwell / nether the sone of Adam shal inhabit hir . Beholde / peple shal come from the northe with grete power / & many kinges stered vp from the coosts of the crt●e . They bear bowe & buckler / they be cruel & mercyles / their noyse is lyke a fyerce swelling sea . They come houering on horsebak / they come forth well armed to fyght agenst the / oh daughter Babylon . The fame of these men once herde / the kynge of Babylons handis shal tremble for fere / Anguisshe and sorowe ful peine shal holde hym as a woman traueling of childe . As the lyon lo / cometh vpfrome the grene fennes of Jordane vnto the fatte fayer pasturs of Ethan : euen so shal I prick them forthwarde & stere them vp agenst hir . But whom shal I chose chefe capitayne to do this dede ? Who is lyke vnto me ? or may stryue with me ? or whiche one of the herdemen may resiste my face ? Wherfore heare the counsel of the Lorde conceyued agenst Babylon / heare his entente entered agenst the londe of Caldey . That is to wyt / euen the most weake and lowest of the flocke shal teare them in pieses . And their most plesaunt placis with their owne selues also / shal be desolate . Al the worlde shal tremble & quake at the fame of the taking of Babylon / and the rumor of hir shal be herde into amonge the gentyles .

¶ The .li. Chapiter .

THus sayd the Lorde . Beholde / I shal stere vp a pestelent wind agenst Babylon and hir cytesens whiche ar bente cruelly agenst me . And than shal I sende wenowers into Babylon / which shal we now hir and destroye hir felde . For they shal close hir in rownd aboute in the daye of hir affliccion . Also vnto the archers and harnest men enteringe the walles thus sayd the Lorde : Spare not hir men of armes . Of with the hedis of al hir hoste / that they maye lye dead thorow the felde of the Caldes and smyten thorow in hir stretes . For Israel and Juda although they haue filled the erthe with their synnes : yet shal they not be forsaken of their God the Lorde of powrs & maker holy of Israel / & so lefte vnto the worlde . Fle from oute of the middis of Babylon : & let euery man saue himselfe . Let noman dissemble the wykednes of Babylon . For the tyme of the vengeance of the Lorde is now present . For he wil acquyte hir ageyne . Babylon was the golden cuppe in the lande of the Lorde . Which cuppe hath made dronken al the worlde . Of hir wyne the peple hathe dronken : wherfore they ar oute of their wittis . But sodenly Babylon is fallen / & alto broken . Bewayle hir therfore / & laye the plaster of resyne vnto ●esyne ●aster / 〈◊〉 the ●●riptu . heir woundis / that if thus paraduenture she may be yet healed agayne . But we haue done our cure ( say they ) right diligently : & yet is she not healed . We shal therfore forsake hir / & go our wayes euery man to his owne region . For hir iugement is turned vp vnto heuen & remoued vp vnto the clowdis . The Lorde hath layd forth our ryghtwysnes . Come hither therfore & let vs put Zion in mynde of the worke of our Lorde God . Sharpen your arows / & fill your quyuers : For the Lorde shal ster vp the spryte of the kinge of Mede agenst Babylon / euen now redy bente to destroye hir . For this shal be the vengeance of the Lorde / euen the auenginge of his owne temple . Lyft vp your sygnes & shyldes vpon the wallis of Babylon / warne watches ynowe / set kepers / laye good a waite aboute . And yet nethelesse shal the Lorde do his purpose decreed vpon the inhabitours of Babylon . Oh thou Babylon whiche haste thy situacion by so goodly grete waters / hauing siche riches & so grete tresure / thy ende is come / thou maist sitdowne and tell vp thy wynninge . The Lorde of powers hathe sworne by his owne selfe to ouerwhelme the with men as with locustis / whiche shal aninate & encourage one a nother agenste thee . Whiche Lorde made the erthe by his might & did set faste the worlde by his wysedome & stretched abrode the heuens by his prudence At his worde / the waters in heuen aryse & swell . He calleth forthe the clowdes frome the coosts of the erthe / & changeth thondre into rayne / & leadeth forthe the wynde oute of his secrete place . Euery man is but a foole / if thou estemest him of his coninge . Euery man shal be confownded the casteth or engraueth images . For it is but deceitfully blowme & framed to gither of lyes / nether is there any brethe in it . Dayne thingis ar they / & workes worthy to be scorned / in the tyme of their visitacion shal they perisshe . The porcion of Jacob is farre vnlyke these thingis . But he that made al thinges whose name is the Lorde of powrs / he is the met rodde of his heretage . Thou haste scatered our weapens of warre . And I haue for thy sake scatered the gentyles / & dispersed kyngdoms . For thy sake haue I scatered horse and man / chariet and him that rode in it . For thy plesure I dispersed men & women / olde and yonge / bacheler and mayde . For thy plesure I dispersed the herdeman and his flocke : the tylman withe his catell / Princes and rulers . And now shal I rewarde Babylon / al his cytesens / and the Caldes al that calamite whiche they did to Zion . ye and that your selues lokyng vpon saith the Lorde . Beholde me here vpon the / thou perniciouse pestelent hill saith the Lorde whiche vndoist al the hole worlde . It is I ( I tell the ) that shal stretche forth my hande vpon the & rolle the downe frome the rockes / and make the a perpetual burning hil / that noman may take ether corner stonne / or toppe stonne / or foundacion stone at the : othere is ●ow our bu●ler : of 〈◊〉 Pe●us & 〈◊〉 hanc●etram , ●ce . but thou shalt be a perpetual deserte saith the Lorde . Sprede your baners ouer the londe / blow vp trompets vpon the gentylis . Moue ye the nacions to take vengeance on them . Call vp these kingdoms agenste them / Ararat / Minni & Aseenez / and tell oute Tiphsar to be agenst hir . Bringeforh horses lyke swarmes of locustis . Appoynte forth agenst hir the peple of Mede with their kinge / princes and al their rulers / ye euen al the hole londe vnder his empery . Then shal the londe quake and be ful heuy when the counsels of the Lorde shal come agenst Babylon to make the londe of Babylon desolate that noman inhabit it . The valcant men of Babylon shal nomore defende hir / they shal krepe into their holdes / their strength shal fayl them / they shal be lyke wemen / hir habitacions shal be brente / hir barres shal be broken / one poste shal come runninge agenst a nother / and messenger agenst messenger to bringe tydingis to the kinge of Babylon / that his cyte is taken on euery syde / and his foordis layed and occupyed / hir ●ennes set on fyer / and the soudyers oute of their witte for fear . For thus saith the Lorde of powrs the God of Israel . Daughter Babylon hath ben in hir tyme lyke a ry●e plentuouse felde of corne : but shortely oftir was come hir repyng tyme . Nebuchadrezar kynge of Babylon hath deuourerd & vndone me / he hath made an empty vessel / & swelowed me vp lyke a dragon he hathe filled his bely with my tendernes . He expelled me & toke a waye my substance / & at the I had lefte & did caste me forth vnto Babylon saith the inhabitres Zion / & expelled my blode vnto the cytesens of Calde saith Jerusalem . Wherfore thus saith the Lorde . Beholde I shal defende thy cause & auenge thy hurte . I shal sowp vp hir sea & dry vp her vaynes / And Babylon shal lye lyke moll hyllis or graues . It shal be an habitacion for dragons / fear and wondre for that there dwelleth no bodye . Then shal they rore togither lyke lyons and lyons whelpes when they ar angrye shaking their lockes . In their hete I shal set drynke before them / and they shal be dronken for ioye / and then shal they slepe a longe sleape / from whiche they shal not be waked saith the Lorde . I shal lede them forthe to veslayne lyke shepe lyke wethers & gotes . Howe was Sesach taken ? Howe was this noble daughter / flower of al the erthe thus ●●atched ? Howe came Babylon into this wondring stok amonge the gentyls ? The sea swelled & arose ouer Babylon which is ouer whelmed with hir grete waues : hir cytes ar desolate / hir londe ouer growne the noman maye come to it / a londe wheryn noman dwelleth / nor yet any sonne of Adam maye passe thorow it . And euen the same * * The Bisshopes & gods of Rome . Beel in Babylon shal I vyset / and pluck oute of his mouthe that thinge whiche he hath so swelowedyn / And those folke shal nomore swarme so faste to him . Also the walle of Babylon shal falldowne . Gette ye oute frome the myddis of it my peple / and let euery man saue him selfe from the furiouse wrathe of the Lorde . Let not your hertis faynte nor feare at euery rumour that shal be herde in the londe . For yere by yere shal ye hear newes & diuerse tydinges / now this & then that strange tyrannye and wykednes / soden & ofte chaunge of rule and empery . More ouer / beholde / the daye shal come that I shal visete the grauen images of Babylon into the vtter shame & confusion of al the region : & hir moste dere beloued shal lyedede in hir . Heuen & erthe and what so euer is in them shal reioyse vpon Babylon / when these destroyers shal come vpon hir from the northe / saith the Lorde . As Babylon threwdowne the derebeloued of Israel : euen so shal the beste beloued of Babylon be thronedowne thorouout al the realme . ye that fle from the swerde / spede you : stonde not still . Remember the Lorde in the mean tyme / euen from a farre . And let Jerusalem come into your minde . For we shamed to here of the obbraydes : very shame made vs to hyde our faces / to se the aleants come vnto the holy house of the 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 the region . ☞ If Babylon be extolled vnto heuen / ye & defende hir power whithe neuer so highe autorite : yet shal I sende hir destroyers / saith the Lorde . A noyse ful of cōpsaynte 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 the waues of the maigne sea / & made so grete crackis withe their wordis . For ther shal come vnto hir ( euen Babylon I mean ) destroyers : whiche shal take hir baseaūt men & breke their bowes . For the Lorde is redy to recquyte them / and the Lorde shal rewarde them aboundantly . Also I shal make dronken ( 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 brente . 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 the 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 the calamite that shuld happen vnto Babylon / in a boke : that is to witte al these sermons whiche ar wryten 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 when thou hast all redde the 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 th affliccions 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 : ●iii . Regum xxiiii . & . xxv . 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 : Decembyr 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 drouen rownaboute it . And the besege of the cyte enduered vnto the xi yere of kinge Zedechias . June . And the ix daye of the iiii moneth / the cyte was so famesshed / that there was no foode for the peple of that lande . Then did all the men of armes brekeforthe and fled from the cyte be nyght / comingforth by the waye to the gate of the two wallis / thorow the 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 the felde of Jericho / when 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 the lande of Hemath . Where he gaue iugement vpon him . And the kinge of Babylon slewe Zedechias sones before his eyen : & slewe also the rulers of Juda in Reblath● . And then he put oute Zedechias eyes / and dow●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 the houses in Jerusalem / and so brente vp al the goodly and grete houses . Morouer al the hoste of the 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 the hoste caried a waye with him . But the pore peple of the lande / Nabuzaradan cheif capitayn left behynde still to plante and kepe the 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 them 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 / tankerdis / basons / candelstickis / morters / cuppes / of whiche some wer al of golde and some syluer / the cheif capitayn toke awaye with 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 the toppe of this rope / was ther standerds 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 ●●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 the cyte he toke a gelded man / which was master of the kinges garde / and vii men that wher the kinges seruants which were fownde in the 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 them to Reblatha vnto the kinge of Babylon . And the kinge of Babylon slewe them in Reblatha in the lande of Hemath . And thus was Juda translated & led captiue oute of their owne lande .

¶ This is the some of the peple led awaye into captiuite of Nebuchadrezar .

IN the vii yere of his raigne he led awaye .iii. M. & .xxiii. In the xviii yere of his raigne . Nebuchadrezar ledawaye captyue from Jerusalem .viii. C. men and .xxxii. The xxiii yere of Nebuchadrezar / Nebuzaradan cheif capitayn & ruler ouer the Iwes / ledawaye vii honderd & .xlv. The hole some of al the captyues iiii M. and .vi C. It came to passe in the day the lxxiii . yere of the captiuite of Joachin kinge of Juda the .xxv daye of the xii moneth : that Aeuil Merodach kinge of Babylon / the same yere that he raigned / wolde restore Joachin kinge of Juda vnto his dignite : and so brought him oute of the preson : And there talked with him very ientely : And ordened him a kingis seat aboue the place of other kingis that were with him in Babylon . He changed the clothes of his captiuite . And he did ete at the kinges coste al his lyfe . Also he had his lyuinge continually geuen him of the kinge of Babylon / for euery daye a certayn allowed him vntyl he dyed .